Ken “Okarun” Takakura is Dandadan’s introverted high school protagonist, and his real name deliberately references the real-life Japanese film legend Ken Takakura (1931-2014), which becomes a recurring joke because Momo admires the actor.
For how old is Ken Takakura Dandadan, his exact age isn’t officially confirmed, but he’s generally estimated at 15-17 based on typical Japanese high school ages.
When researching his age, be careful not to confuse Okarun (the character) with Ken Takakura (the actor).
Want the clearest answer to how old is ken takakura Dandadan? Read this quick guide on HariManga to see Okarun’s most accurate age estimate and why sources sometimes differ.
Who is Ken Takakura in Dandadan?
Ken Takakura in Dandadan is the series’ introverted high school protagonist, best known by his nickname “Okarun.”
His real name is a deliberate reference to the real-life Japanese film legend Ken Takakura (1931-2014), which becomes a running gag because Momo Ayase admires the actor and reacts strongly to Okarun sharing that name.
After meeting Momo, Okarun’s quiet life flips into nonstop chaos involving aliens and the paranormal, including threats like Turbo Granny.
And if you’re also searching “how old is Ken Takakura Dandadan”, note that his exact age isn’t stated outright, he’s simply portrayed as a Japanese high school student, so most estimates place him in the mid-teen range.
How old is Ken Takakura Dandadan?
Ken “Okarun” Takakura is most likely around 15-17 years old.
karun’s exact age is not officially confirmed in Dandadan. Because of that, his age is usually given as an estimate, based on the fact that he’s a Japanese high school student.
Most sources place Ken “Okarun” Takakura at around 15-16 years old. This matches the typical age for a first-year high school student in Japan.
However, some sources estimate him at 16-17. This usually happens when people interpret him as being in a slightly higher year, or assume he may turn 17 during the story’s timeline.
Why doesn’t Dandadan confirm Ken Takakura’s official age?
In many school-life manga and anime, authors focus on the “teen setting” (uniforms, classrooms, school clubs, after-school routines) rather than locking characters into a precise age with an official birthday.
That approach keeps the story flexible and prevents small continuity issues, especially in series where time can feel both fast (arc-to-arc action) and vague (school days repeating).
Because of that, Okarun’s age is usually inferred, not stated. Readers estimate it from context: he’s clearly a Japanese high school student and part of the same core student group as the main cast.
In other words, the series signals “mid-teen high schooler” through setting and behavior, without needing a hard number.
What grade is Okarun in Dandadan?
When people ask what grade Ken “Okarun” Takakura is in, most Dandadan characters summaries and character roundups tend to fall into two common interpretations.
The difference mainly comes from how different guides describe his school year, rather than a universally quoted “official” line.
Interpretation 1
First-year high school → about 15-16
Some write-ups describe Okarun as a first-year high school student. If you map that to typical Japanese school ages, a first-year high schooler is usually around 15–16 years old.
This is why you’ll often see answers that confidently place him in the 15–16 range.
Interpretation 2
Second-year high school → about 16-17
Other compilations describe Okarun (and sometimes Momo) as second-year students, often referencing a school name like “Kami High.” Under that interpretation, the standard age range becomes 16–17 years old.
That’s where the “Okarun is 16–17” claim usually comes from.
Note (important for “how old is Ken Takakura Dandadan”)
Ken Takakura the character vs. Ken Takakura the actor
In Dandadan, Ken Takakura is a fictional character, the introverted high school boy nicknamed Okarun. He shares the exact same name as Ken Takakura (1931–2014), a legendary real-life Japanese actor.
This name overlap is an intentional pop-culture joke and a key detail behind Okarun’s naming, which often comes up in Dandadan character ages discussions.
So when you’re researching how old is Ken Takakura Dandadan, make sure you’re looking at Okarun’s age estimate (the character), not biographical information about the actor.
FAQs
Here are quick, search-friendly FAQs that directly address how old is Ken Takakura Dandadan and the most common related questions readers ask.
How old are Momo and Ken?
Ken “Okarun” Takakura is commonly listed as 16-17, while Momo’s age isn’t stated as a fixed number in-story, so many guides place her in the same mid-teen (high school) range.
Why is she in love with Ken Takakura?
Momo has a celebrity crush on the real-life actor Ken Takakura, and she gets flustered when she hears his name or famous lines.
That’s also why she avoids calling Okarun by his real name and uses a nickname instead.
How old is the granny from Dandadan?
Turbo Granny is a yōkai (spirit), so she doesn’t have a confirmed “human age.”
Dandadan
If you mean Seiko Ayase (Momo’s grandmother), her exact age isn’t officially stated, and most numbers you see (e.g., “55–60”) are estimates from character-age roundups rather than canon.
Also, “You Won’t Get Away With This!” is the title of Chapter 43, not an age
Who has a crush on Takakura?
Momo Ayase has a crush on Ken Takakura the actor, which is a recurring gag because Okarun shares the same name.
Over time, she also develops serious feelings for Okarun (the character).
What race is Ken Takakura?
In Dandadan, Ken “Okarun” Takakura’s race is human.
If you mean the real-life Ken Takakura, he was a Japanese actor (nationality: Japanese).
Who does Ken Takakura date?
Okarun is not officially “dating” anyone, but the story frames Momo as his main love interest, and he explicitly acknowledges/confesses his feelings.
Even character relationship summaries note the two have strong romantic tension despite not officially dating yet.
In the end, the most accurate way to answer how old is Ken Takakura Dandadan is to treat Okarun’s age as an estimate: he’s a Japanese high school teen, most commonly placed around 15-17 depending on the assumed school year and timeline.
For more clear, spoiler-light character guides and updates, keep reading on HariManga.
