Momo Ayase
Momo Ayase (綾瀬 桃)
Series: Dandadan
Momo Ayase is a leading female character in the manga series Dandadan. This article covers her role in the story, appearance, personality, background, and abilities.
Overview
The story begins with her unlikely friendship with classmate Ken Takakura—an eccentric fascinated by the occult—whom she later nicknames “Okarun.” Drawn into escalating supernatural chaos, they clash with the fearsome Turbo Granny. During this battle Momo awakens her latent psychic powers, while Okarun suffers a misfortune, losing his kintama to a curse. Determined to restore what was taken, Momo teams up with Okarun to face otherworldly dangers and unravel eerie mysteries.
Fairy-Tale Card Dimension Arc
In a later arc, Momo accidentally eats magical food in the Fairy-Tale Card dimension and shrinks to a miniature size. What begins as a seeming farewell twist plunges the group into uncertainty and a new struggle to return her to normal, adding fresh obstacles to their adventures.
Appearance
Momo is introduced as a high school girl with medium-length auburn hair swept to the right and striking reddish-brown eyes. Many, including Okarun, comment on her beauty.
Her outfits vary, but her iconic look is her school uniform: a white blouse over a light pink sweater, a loosely tied red ribbon, a navy skirt, baggy white socks, and brown brogues. Her style aligns with trends associated with gyaru subculture.
She often wears round green earrings and a black choker with a green ornament—signature accessories that appear with many of her outfits and express her individual style.
Personality
Momo is daring, confident, and feisty, rarely showing fear regardless of circumstance. She has a no-nonsense, spunky attitude and openly expresses frustration—especially when friends misbehave or disrespect her. Hot-blooded and impulsive, she often erupts in comedic yet authoritative outbursts toward those who test her patience. When she recognizes that she has overreacted, however, she can be sincerely remorseful. Her sharp tongue frequently surfaces in playful quarrels, particularly with Aira.
Beneath her tough exterior, Momo is kind, compassionate, and cheerful. Her empathy and drive to protect others from harm or injustice are strong. Early on, she intervenes to save Okarun from bullies despite barely knowing him. Later, even while cursed by Turbo Granny, she willingly helps him reverse the curse—evidence of her loyalty and sense of justice. Her quick formation of a friendship with Okarun after their frenzied first encounter underscores her sincerity and openness.
Protective of those she loves, Momo swiftly confronts anyone who harms or insults her friends. For example, upon overhearing Aira toying with Okarun’s feelings, she uses her powers to drop a basin on Aira’s head and delivers a sharp rebuke. Still, she is not too proud to rely on friends when teamwork is necessary, showing humility and trust—traits that contrast with her stern grandmother.
Momo does not offer unconditional trust. She has little tolerance for lies and may distance herself from those who violate her moral boundaries. Even so, she can empathize with adversaries; when she learns about an antagonist’s tragic circumstances or inner humanity, she does not dismiss their suffering, revealing emotional intelligence and cognitive empathy beneath her fiery surface.
Resolute and unflinching in adversity, Momo refuses to give up even when odds are against her. She has fought the Kito Family, taken on multiple assailants at once, and stood alone against Kūr surging from a warped gate. Even after being badly wounded by the Imotako Kūr and left helpless, she still challenged the surrounding Serpo—convinced she could muster enough strength to unleash her signature “Moe Moe Tri-Beam.” While not entirely immune to fear or shock, such reactions are rare and short-lived.
Beyond bravery, Momo is clever and frequently thinks her way out of danger. Her deductive ability has saved her group multiple times, and both Okarun and Unji refer to her as a genius. She takes pride in her achievements and isn’t shy about acknowledging them.
When needed, she employs playful manipulation—using charm or theatrics to gain an edge. Examples include acting innocently to coax Okarun into entering Turbo Granny’s tunnel first or dramatically pleading with her grandmother Seiko for money to buy new uniforms for herself, Okarun, and Aira. These antics seldom fool those closest to her, who know her tricks well.
Her spontaneity peaks when friends are threatened. Momo will act recklessly to protect them—even considering a leap into magma to save Okarun despite likely death. This blend of quick wit, fearless courage, and fierce devotion makes her both a formidable ally and a deeply human character.
Background
Momo was raised by her grandmother, Seiko Ayase, a renowned spirit medium. As a child, she was best friends with Jiji and developed an innocent crush on him. Her early years were difficult: Seiko made her perform a daily public ritual to invite good luck, drawing unwanted attention and mockery from other children—including Jiji—leading to frequent bullying and embarrassment.
Initially, Momo blamed her grandmother for the humiliation and questioned Seiko’s skill as a medium. Over time, her perspective shifted. She realized the cruelty she faced targeted Seiko’s unconventional lifestyle rather than herself. As resentment faded, deep respect and love for her grandmother grew.
This turning point helped Momo reconcile Seiko’s mediumship with her own mixed feelings about the supernatural. Though not always certain of spirits or her grandmother’s powers, she chose to believe—embracing Seiko’s world with loyalty and pride.
Abilities and Powers
Following her encounter with Turbo Granny, Momo awakens formidable innate psychic powers. Though initially inexperienced in combat, she rapidly proves herself capable of standing against powerful supernatural foes.
Signature Techniques
- Moe Moe Beam: A focused blast of spiritual energy capable of mowing down monstrous opponents.
- Moe Moe Tri-Beam: An advanced, amplified form that increases destructive output and effectiveness against multiple enemies or larger threats.
Combat Traits
- Instinct and Resilience: She endures overwhelming odds and keeps fighting despite severe injuries.
- Psychic Awareness: Heightened intuition aids detection and decision-making during battles.
- Tactical Intelligence: Quick thinking and deduction allow her to outwit opponents as often as she overpowers them.
Limitations
Extended use of her powers is exhausting and risky in prolonged combat. Her ambition and heroism sometimes push her beyond safe limits, making her a relentless—but not inexhaustible—combatant.
In sum, Momo Ayase’s powers reflect her bold, fierce, and unshakable character. With psychic strength, keen intellect, and unwavering spirit, she stands as a central force against the supernatural threats plaguing her world.
Reference List
Collected citations across manga volumes/chapters, official materials, and socials.
| # | Source Type | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daizukan | Dandadan Daizukan, Page 7 |
| 2 | Manga | Dandadan — Chapter 12, Pages 5–6 |
| 3 | Manga | Dandadan — Chapter 10, Pages 10–14 |
| 4 | Manga | Dandadan — Chapter 1, Page 4 |
| 5 | Manga | Dandadan — Chapter 14, Pages 7–9 |
| 6 | Manga | Dandadan — Chapter 36, Pages 4–5 |
| 7 | Manga | Dandadan — Chapter 4, Page 5 |
| 8 | Manga | Dandadan — Chapter 14, Page 6 |
| 9 | Manga | Dandadan — Chapter 75, Pages 14–15 |
| 10 | Manga | Dandadan — Chapter 23, Page 18 |
| 11 | Social | |
| 12 | Daizukan | Dandadan Daizukan, Pages 7–10, 87 |
| 13 | Manga | Dandadan — Chapter 54, Page 11 |
| 14 | Social | |
| 15 | Manga | Dandadan — Chapter 1, Page 11 |
| 16 | Manga | Dandadan — Chapter 70, Pages 20–21 |
| 17 | Manga | Dandadan — Chapter 70, Pages 19–21 |
| 18 | Manga | Dandadan — Chapter 107, Page 14 |
