Momo Ayase

Lore & Background

Yukinobu Tatsu, the author of Dandadan, first released it in April 2021. He created the character Momo Ayase and favored her. He often redrew her to protect how he wanted her to appear and compared her to Superman. In Dandadan, Momo Ayase is a high school girl who believes in spirits and has psychic powers. She appears in the first chapter of the manga, released in 2021, and the first episode of the anime. Her grandmother raised her when she grew up. She behaves typical of a gyaru and is irritable. She shows interest in Ken Takakura and protects him from bullies. Because she does not believe in extraterrestrials, but Ken does, she visits a hospital alleged to have extraterrestrials. Because of her affection for a well-known individual named Ken Takakura, she calls Ken 'Okarun'. Throughout the series, she works with Ken to fight with paranormal forces and shows affection for him.

In Their Own Story

In Dandadan, Momo Ayase is a high school girl who believes in spirits and has psychic powers. She appears in the first chapter of the manga, released in 2021, and the first episode of the anime. Her grandmother raised her when she grew up. She behaves typical of a gyaru and is irritable. She shows interest in Ken Takakura and protects him from bullies. Because she does not believe in extraterrestrials, but Ken does, she visits a hospital alleged to have extraterrestrials. Because of her affection for a well-known individual named Ken Takakura, she calls Ken 'Okarun'. Throughout the series, she works with Ken to fight with paranormal forces and shows affection for him. In the stage play, scheduled to premiere August 26, 2026, Yuiri Murayama portrays Momo. Murayama formerly participated in AKB48, and she said she felt happy and fully committed to perform her on stage. Momo appears in the games Honor of Kings and Monster Strike.

Reader's Guide

Momo Ayase is a high school girl who believes in spirits and has psychic powers. She appears in the first chapter of the manga, released in 2021, and the first episode of the anime. Her grandmother raised her when she grew up. She behaves typical of a gyaru and is irritable. She shows interest in Ken Takakura and protects him from bullies. Because she does not believe in extraterrestrials, but Ken does, she visits a hospital alleged to have extraterrestrials. Because of her affection for a well-known individual named Ken Takakura, she calls Ken 'Okarun'. Throughout the series, she works with Ken to fight with paranormal forces and shows affection for him. A writer for Animate Times appreciated Momo Ayase's appearance. Viewers similarly thought Momo looked and sounded prepossessing. Annie Banks of The Mary Sue praised Momo's character, stating that she subverts the 'Mary Sue' argument and Dandadan lets her strengthen beyond her appearance and psychic powers. Moreover, Banks stated that the lack of objectifying traits lets Momo express herself, and because she is confirmed to be a gyaru, the gyaru archetype lets her reject social norms in terms of appearance and behavior. Banks called Momo 'the female character that anime has desperately needed' because Dandadan lets Momo be tough, tender, and feminine in her narrative. Another contributor for The Mary Sue, Kirsten Carey, criticized the use of sexual assault in Dandadan, when the 12th episode of the anime showed Momo going in a hot spring, but five older men join in, comment on her, and attack her. Carey said that waiting months for resolution on a contentious issue such as sexual assault can offend people. Viewers reacted favorably to Momo wearing a maid outfit in the 18th episode of the anime and considered it an example of moe. Pedro Bustamente of El Comercio said that Momo's surprise with her psychic powers changes the course of the series. Josh Piedra of The Outerhaven considered Momo to be a boisterous girl behaving similarly to a boy and that Momo and Ken's relationship with each other is favorable. He wrote that her concern for Ken 'shows a nicer, softer side' to her and prevents her from being too excited. Writing for THEM Anime Reviews, Allen Moody appreciated Momo's characterization in the first season despite her eccentric behavior. When Anthony Flagg of The Cosmic Circus was reviewing the first season of the anime, he called her 'lovably stupid' in a way people support her, and he noted the clarity of her attraction and need for Ken when they are alone. Aaheli Pradhan of FandomWire and Daniel Kurland of Bloody Disgusting said that Momo's behavior is normal for an adolescent. Pradhan appreciated her intelligence in the series and Tatsu's decision to make her the female lead, and Kurland appreciated Momo's willingness to consider Ken's beliefs and her characterization. Laveena Joshi, also writing for FandomWire, stated that Momo defies film norms of strong female characters and wrote that Reese Witherspoon would admire Momo because of Momo's independent resolve.

Did You Know?

• Momo Ayase is played by Shion Wakayama in Japanese and Abby Trott in English.
• Shion Wakayama received an award for Best Actor in a Leading Role at the 20th Seiyu Awards for portraying Momo.
• Momo was nominated for Best Main Character at the ninth and tenth editions of the Crunchyroll Anime Awards.
• In the stage play scheduled to premiere August 26, 2026, Yuiri Murayama portrays Momo.
• Momo appears in the games Honor of Kings and Monster Strike.