Ken Takakura is Dandadan’s male lead, nicknamed Okarun.
Key aspects: Momo nicknames Ken Takakura “Okarun”; he’s awkward but brave, believes in aliens, gets cursed by Turbo Granny and searches for his kintama, and teams up with Momo to fight spirits and aliens.
Dandadan gives Okarun the name Ken Takakura as a joke referencing a famous Japanese actor.
Okarun starts the story by betting with Momo about aliens vs. ghosts, which pulls them into real fights with both.
He’s memorable because he’s awkward and scared, but still steps up to protect others and grows over time.
Momo calls him “Okarun” as a teasing nickname and it becomes the name everyone uses.
Read this guide on Who Is Ken Takakura in Dandadan with HariManga to quickly understand Okarun’s identity, role, and the famous name reference behind him.
Who is Ken Takakura in Dandadan?
Ken Takakura is the male co-protagonist of Dandadan and the boy Momo Ayase nicknames “Okarun.”
He’s a shy, awkward high schooler who’s obsessed with UFOs and aliens, then gets pulled into the series’ central premise, aliens and spirits both exist, after an early supernatural encounter changes his life.
Key aspects of Ken “Okarun” Takakura
Nickname: “Okarun”
Momo calls him “Okarun,” and the nickname becomes the default name used by most characters and fans.
Personality: awkward at first, brave under pressure
Okarun starts out introverted and socially clumsy, but when paranormal threats escalate, he consistently steps up, especially when Momo is in danger.
That contrast (nervous teen, real courage) is a major part of his appeal.
Beliefs: the aliens-and-UFOs believer
In the opening setup, Okarun believes in aliens but not ghosts, while Momo believes in ghosts but not aliens.
Their “prove it” challenge is what triggers the first major incident and sets the tone for the series’ genre-mix.
Origin of powers and curse: Turbo Granny and the “kintama” quest
Okarun’s turning point involves the yokai Turbo Granny, which leaves him cursed and kicks off a running objective tied to recovering his missing kintama (a slang term the series turns into “golden orb” imagery).
Partnership: why he teams up with Momo Ayase
After the initial chaos, Okarun and Momo function as a two-lead engine for the plot: they investigate, fight, and survive a rotating lineup of spirits and alien threats, with their teamwork driving both the action and the comedy.
Why his name is a pop-culture reference?
Dandadan intentionally gives the character the same name as Ken Takakura, a legendary Japanese film actor widely nicknamed “Japan’s Clint Eastwood.”
For Japanese audiences, that reference lands immediately as a joke: the story links a timid modern teen to an iconic, stoic tough-guy image.
International readers often miss that context, which is why this topic trends in global search and AI summaries.
In essence, Okarun is the down-to-earth, alien-loving counterpart to the legendary actor reference, an extra layer of humor sitting on top of a supernatural sci-fi romcom thriller premise, which is exactly why people keep asking: Who is Ken Takakura in Dandadan.
What Ken Takakura does in Dandadan?
Among Dandadan characters, Ken Takakura (nicknamed Okarun) is the plot catalyst and male co-lead of Dandadan.
At the start, he insists aliens are real and dismisses ghosts, while Momo Ayase believes the opposite, so they make a bet and separately visit locations tied to the extraterrestrial and the occult, which immediately triggers the first wave of incidents that define the series’ premise.
How his actions drive the story forward:
- He triggers the “aliens vs. ghosts” kickoff: The bet forces both characters into firsthand encounters, proving that both aliens and spirits exist in their world and locking them into ongoing conflict.
- He becomes a supernatural combatant: Okarun is possessed/cursed early on, and that condition becomes a practical engine for battles, power growth, and recurring objectives.
- He anchors major arcs through growth and choices: As a continuing co-protagonist, his decisions, training, protecting Momo, and confronting escalating threats, help set the pacing and direction of successive story arcs.
- Functionally, Okarun isn’t just “the alien believer”, he’s a structural lead whose initial skepticism, early exposure to the paranormal, and evolving resolve keep the series moving from one major confrontation to the next.
What makes Okarun a standout protagonist?
Okarun stands out because Dandadan builds him on a deliberate contradiction. He is anxious, socially isolated and often unsure of himself, yet he repeatedly chooses to act when someone else is in danger.
That tension makes him compelling because his courage is not presented as effortless confidence. It is shown as a decision he makes under pressure.
Relatable insecurity with clear growth
His awkwardness is not a quick gimmick that disappears after an early power up. It stays part of his identity while he improves in small, observable steps.
He speaks up more, holds his position longer, and makes better choices in tense situations.
That gradual progress is satisfying because it feels like real personal development rather than a sudden personality switch.
A strong moral core without speeches
Okarun’s integrity is mainly communicated through actions instead of dramatic monologues.
He protects others, takes responsibility for outcomes, and returns to the conflict even when he is embarrassed or overwhelmed.
This keeps him principled while still feeling natural inside a fast moving, comedic action story.
Strong character chemistry with Momo
Okarun works especially well because he is not written as a solo power fantasy.
His dynamic with Momo creates balance in temperament and decision making.
Their interactions also turn personal moments into plot momentum, because trust, teamwork, and disagreement directly shape how they survive each new threat.
Vulnerability that increases the stakes
Because Okarun does not project constant confidence, danger feels sharper. When he is afraid, readers can feel the risk more clearly.
When he steadies himself and acts anyway, it reads as a meaningful turning point, not just another routine fight beat.
A grounded lens inside an absurd world
Dandadan can get extremely chaotic. Okarun’s human scale reactions help anchor the story so the comedy lands and the tension remains readable.
He gives the audience a relatable point of view inside a world where supernatural rules and alien logic can escalate quickly.
Okarun is memorable because he is not fearless. He is someone who repeatedly becomes brave at the exact moment it matters, and that is what makes his character arc feel authentic.
Why Momo calls him “Okarun”?
Momo calls Ken Takakura “Okarun” because it is a teasing nickname built around his vibe and interests.
Early on, he comes off as an awkward boy obsessed with aliens and the occult, so Momo shortens and softens his identity into “Okarun” as a casual label she can use instead of his full name.
In practice, the nickname also works as a quick way to separate him from the famous real life Ken Takakura reference, and it becomes the name most characters and fans use for him throughout the series.
FAQs
If you’re searching Who Is Ken Takakura in Dandadan, the FAQs below clarify the character-versus-actor name confusion and answer the most common related questions in a quick, scan-friendly way.
Who is the real Ken Takakura in Dandadan?
The “real” Ken Takakura is a famous Japanese film actor that Okarun is named after. He began acting in 1956 and became widely known after Abashiri Prison (1965), later starring in a huge number of films.
Why is Momo in love with Ken?
Because Momo has a strong celebrity crush on the real actor Ken Takakura, and she admires him intensely. Hearing his name or iconic lines is enough to make her flustered, and her fixation even influenced who she dated before.
Is Okarun actually Ken?
Yes. “Okarun” is just a nickname, and his real name in the story is Ken Takakura.
Who is Okarun’s love interest?
Momo Ayase is Okarun’s main love interest. Their bond starts as friendship and gradually deepens into romantic feelings over time.
What did Ken Takakura lose?
He lost his kintama, which were taken by Turbo Granny, and recovering them becomes a recurring early objective.
Who has a crush on Takakura?
Momo Ayase has a crush on the real life celebrity Ken Takakura, and that is why the shared name becomes a running joke in the series.
In summary, Ken “Okarun” Takakura is Dandadan’s awkward but courageous male lead, while the shared name with Japan’s legendary actor adds an extra layer of comedy and pop-culture meaning.
If you came here searching Who Is Ken Takakura in Dandadan, the key takeaway is simple: Okarun is the fictional protagonist, and the actor is the reference behind his name.
For more character guides, arc breakdowns, and spoiler-light explanations, read more on HariManga.
