Acrobatic Silky (アクロバティックさらさら, Akurobatikku Sarasara) was a yokai that had been persistently stalking Aira Shiratori since her early childhood, haunting her throughout her formative years.
Within the Dandadan series, Acrobatic Silky served as the main antagonist during the Acrobatic Silky Arc, playing a central role in the events that unfolded during that storyline.
Appearance
In Anime and Original Manga
Acrobatic Silky appeared as an unnaturally tall woman with gray skin, elongated limbs, and long, silky jet-black hair cascading down her back. Her narrow face featured hollowed eyes and deep wrinkles etched across the upper half of her face, while her lips were stretched into a permanent smile, revealing large, unnerving teeth. Her fingers and toes were adorned with red nail polish, and her fingernails were notably long. She moved barefoot, dressed in a red wide-brimmed hat and a matching red dress, which resembled the one she had bought for her daughter. The violet collar of the dress accentuated her long, slender neck. Initially, Acrobatic Silky’s facial appearance was more natural, resembling how she looked in life, until the day she encountered Aira Shiratori.
In life, Acrobatic Silky was a woman with fair skin and brown eyes. Her long black hair often covered the right side of her face, and a small mole was visible at the corner of her left eye.
In Age-Restricted Manga
In Age-Restricted Manga, the character Akrobatic Silky has not appeared yet. She might be introduced in Episode 1, Session 2, or possibly in Episode 2. Please stay tuned for her appearance. If you are interested in Age-Restricted Manga from Dandadan, you can read the wiki.
Gallery
In Anime and Original Manga
Yokai
Human
In Age-Restricted Manga
This manga contains content intended for mature audiences. It explores complex themes and may not be suitable for younger readers. The storyline delves into deep character development, intense drama, and emotional narratives. Viewer discretion is advised.
In FanArt
Discover stunning fanart featuring unique interpretations of your favorite characters. From dynamic action scenes to stylish outfits, explore creative artworks that bring them to life.
Personality
Marked by the sorrow of losing her child, Acrobatic Silky became a yokai driven by an overwhelming desire to find a child she could love and who would call her “mother.” Her fixation centered on Aira Shiratori, as her delusions led her to believe that Aira was her daughter from her time among the living. This obsession consumed her, fueling her desire to keep Aira entirely to herself. Despite her unsettling behavior, Acrobatic Silky’s motives were also rooted in maternal instincts, as she sought to protect the one she loved. Her devotion was so profound that she willingly sacrificed her own aura to revive Aira and, in an act of reassurance, tore out her own jaw to demonstrate to Momo Ayase that she posed no threat of harming her.
In addition to her maternal instincts, Acrobatic Silky took immense pride in her acrobatic prowess, considering it one of her defining abilities.
Background
When she was alive, Acrobatic Silky was a woman burdened by heavy debt, forcing her to juggle multiple jobs to make ends meet. She worked as a prostitute, a janitor, and a convenience store clerk, all while caring for her only daughter, whom she cherished deeply. Despite her financial struggles, she decided to use part of her hard-earned money to buy a dress for her daughter as a token of her love. However, tragedy struck when the men to whom she owed money came to her home, demanding repayment. When she couldn’t meet their demands, they brutally beat her until she was bloodied and then abducted her daughter. Desperate to save her child, the mother chased after the van that carried her away, but her pursuit was in vain. She stumbled and fell to the ground, forced to watch helplessly as the vehicle disappeared into the distance, taking her daughter with it. Overcome with despair and the painful realization that she would never see her child again, the mother climbed to the rooftop of a building and performed one final dance—a sorrowful tribute to her lost daughter. With her child as her last thought, she leaped from the roof, ending her life in grief and longing.
The woman’s spirit wandered the city aimlessly for an unknown length of time, having lost all memories of her life. Despite this amnesia, she carried a deep sense of sorrow, feeling as though she had lost something profoundly important. One day, while drifting through the streets, she encountered a young girl named Aira Shiratori. Mistaking the spirit for her deceased mother, Aira approached her but quickly realized her error and walked away with her father. This brief encounter triggered a profound shift within the woman’s spirit. Misinterpreting Aira’s approach as a sign that she had been her mother in a past life, the spirit became consumed by an obsessive desire to protect the girl. Over time, this fixation twisted her soul, transforming her into a yokai known as Acrobatic Silky. Driven by this belief, she spent the next ten years secretly following Aira, waiting for the moment when the girl would see her again and call her “mother.”
Synopsis
Kintama Hunt Saga
Acrobatic Silky Arc
Upon discovering that Aira Shiratori could see her again, Acrobatic Silky seized the opportunity to capture the girl, determined to force her to call her “mother” after Aira had unknowingly led Momo Ayase into a trap. While holding Aira tightly, Momo and Okarun intervened to rescue her from Acrobatic Silky’s grasp. However, the yokai swiftly swallowed Okarun and kicked Momo aside, using the moment to speak with Aira, hoping to rekindle their connection by reminding her of their previous encounter. When Aira responded by calling her a monster, Acrobatic Silky was devastated. Heartbroken by the rejection, she swallowed Aira as well and shifted the blame onto Momo, accusing her of influencing Aira’s behavior. Turning her focus to Momo, Acrobatic Silky used her long hair as a weapon to attack the girl but offered forgiveness if Momo would call her “mother.” Despite the offer, Momo firmly rejected her request. Frustrated, Acrobatic Silky swallowed Momo, leaving all three children trapped inside her stomach. As Acrobatic Silky mourned aloud, questioning the whereabouts of her lost child, Turbo Granny—inhabiting the body of a talking maneki-neko—demanded that she release the children. Ignoring the warning, Acrobatic Silky was taken by surprise when the rosary lighter that Aira had been carrying ignited, causing her long hair to catch fire after Momo lit the flame inside her mouth. Overwhelmed by the sudden blaze, Acrobatic Silky had no choice but to vomit, releasing Momo, Okarun, and Aira from her stomach.
After attacking Momo, Acrobatic Silky shifted her focus to Okarun, who was carrying an unconscious Aira. She quickly managed to separate him from the girl and prepared to devour Aira. However, as she attempted to approach her, Acrobatic Silky found herself unable to move any closer. Realizing that her permed hair had become tangled within the building’s structure, she understood too late that Momo had anticipated this outcome, having instructed Okarun to move around the building to ensnare her. As Acrobatic Silky struggled to free herself from the tangled strands of her own hair, Okarun seized the opportunity to launch a counterattack. Channeling Turbo Granny’s immense speed and power, he charged at Acrobatic Silky with enough force to break her free from the building’s hold—only to send her crashing through the walls and out of the building, incapacitating her with the impact.
After realizing that Aira had died as a result of being swallowed, Acrobatic Silky chose to sacrifice her aura to bring the girl back to life. Despite Momo and Okarun’s cautious skepticism regarding her true intentions, Acrobatic Silky sought to prove her sincerity by tearing off her own jaw, symbolizing her willingness to prevent further harm. To reassure them further, she even suggested that they could kill her if she betrayed their trust. With this display of genuine remorse, Momo proceeded to channel the yokai’s aura into Aira’s lifeless body. During the process, Momo experienced a vision of Acrobatic Silky’s tragic past, witnessing fragments of her life and her fateful encounter with Aira. As the aura took effect, Aira was successfully revived. However, the sacrifice came at a cost—Acrobatic Silky’s physical form began to dissolve, signifying the loss of her chance to ascend to Nirvana and marking her descent into oblivion. In her final moments, Acrobatic Silky reflected on her failure to protect her daughter during her lifetime. Yet, as if granting her spirit a sense of closure, Aira embraced the fading yokai and gently called her “mother.” The heartfelt gesture brought comfort and peace to Acrobatic Silky’s tormented soul, allowing her to depart from the world with a sense of solace and serenity.
Legacy
The transfer of Acrobatic Silky’s aura to Aira had an unexpected side effect, granting the young girl the yokai’s spiritual abilities. From the moment this latent power awakened within her, Aira began harnessing it to defend herself against paranormal threats and support her allies in battle, using her newfound strength to confront the supernatural forces that crossed her path.
Abilities and Powers
Physical Prowess
Immense Speed and Agility: True to her name, Acrobatic Silky possessed remarkable acrobatic prowess, characterized by exceptional speed, agility, and reflexes. Her swift reaction time allowed her to evade Okarun’s rapid charge attack, despite him using Turbo Granny’s speed, demonstrating her ability to anticipate and counter high-velocity assaults.
Immense Strength: Acrobatic Silky also exhibited tremendous leg strength, capable of sending a human flying with a single kick. Her physical power extended beyond offense, as she could break free from Momo Ayase’s psychic restraints, showcasing both raw strength and resilience.
Immense Stamina and Endurance: Acrobatic Silky displayed impressive durability, recovering quickly after sustaining significant damage. Even after being struck by Okarun’s full-speed charge, which sent her crashing out of a building, she managed to get back on her feet, illustrating her ability to withstand intense physical impact without being incapacitated.
Spiritual Power
Acrobatics
Acrobatic Silky had the ability to control her long, jet-black hair at will, using it as both a weapon and a means of restraint. Her hair could extend, move, and strike with precision, allowing her to ensnare targets, defend herself, and launch powerful attacks from a distance.
Strengths and Weaknesses
The primary advantage of this ability was Acrobatic Silky’s capacity to extend her long, jet-black hair to impressive lengths and manipulate it with precision. Her hair could ensnare objects and individuals within its reach, enabling her to capture, immobilize, and hurl her opponents with ease. Beyond its offensive applications, her hair also assisted her in navigating difficult terrains, acting as a means of movement and support in challenging environments.
However, this ability came with a notable weakness: susceptibility to fire. When exposed to flames, her hair could become singed or permed, significantly reducing its flexibility and making it more difficult to control. This impairment not only limited her capacity to maneuver but also complicated the process of untangling her hair from objects or structures it had latched onto, leaving her vulnerable during combat.
Usage
Complementing her agile and acrobatic movements, Acrobatic Silky skillfully used her hair to manipulate her surroundings. With precise control, she could ensnare her enemies by wrapping them tightly in her hair, rendering them immobile and vulnerable to further attacks. Her hair could also be used as a weapon, allowing her to seize nearby objects and swing them as blunt instruments to strike her opponents with force. Beyond its offensive capabilities, her hair served as a tool for mobility, aiding her in traversing challenging environments. By extending and anchoring her hair to various surfaces, she could maneuver across difficult terrain with ease, ensuring that she could pursue and capture any enemies attempting to escape her grasp. This combination of offense, defense, and mobility made her hair a versatile and formidable asset in combat.
Urban Legend
Acrobatic Sara Sara, also known as Akusara, is a Japanese urban legend centered around a mysterious figure resembling a tall, slender woman with pale skin. She is typically described as wearing a flowing red dress paired with a wide-brimmed hat of the same color, while her long, silky black hair cascades down her back, adding to her eerie and unsettling presence. Sightings of Acrobatic Sara Sara often occur in bustling cities, where she is known for performing perilous stunts. These include dancing atop towering buildings, moving erratically across distant rooftops, and leaping from one structure to another with the grace and agility of an acrobat. Her movements, both captivating and unnerving, attract the attention of unsuspecting onlookers. However, once her performance concludes, she vanishes without a trace, leaving those who witness her feats both bewildered and fearful. According to legend, simply observing Acrobatic Sara Sara’s acrobatic display brings a terrible curse upon the viewer. Those marked by this curse are said to be doomed to experience a string of misfortunes, with some versions of the tale even suggesting that the curse can lead to an untimely death. As a result, the mere mention of her presence is enough to instill dread in those familiar with her story, solidifying her place as one of Japan’s most chilling urban legends.
Trivia
- Acrobatic Silky stands as the first and only yokai in the series to have attained Nirvana, marking her as a unique figure within the storyline.
- Her urban legend, which depicts her as the spirit of a grieving mother endlessly searching for her lost child, shares notable similarities with the Mexican folklore of La Llorona, a vengeful ghost renowned for her sorrowful cries as she searches for her missing children.
- This parallel is further emphasized during the scene in which Acrobatic Silky, after swallowing Momo, breaks down in tears while lamenting the whereabouts of her child. This moment echoes La Llorona’s mournful cries, which earned her the name “the Crying Woman,” “the Weeping Woman,” or “the Wailer” in reference to her haunting attempts to find her sons. The shared themes of maternal grief and sorrowful wails create a striking connection between Acrobatic Silky and the legendary spirit of La Llorona, adding depth to her character and tragic backstory.
References
- Dandadan Manga: Chapter 13, Pages 22-23
- Dandadan Manga: Chapter 15, Pages 1-16
- Dandadan Manga: Chapter 16, Pages 4-21
- Dandadan Manga: Chapter 17, Pages 1-3, 5-8, 10-19, 21
