Who is Unji Zuma in Dandadan? Explained

Modified Nov 24, 2024 20:00 GMT

Who is Unji Zuma in Dandadan? Explained (Images via Shueisha)

As the Fall 2024 broadcast season progresses, Science SARU’s television anime adaptation of mangaka Yukinobu Tatsu’s Dandadan series continues to prove itself as the season’s best. Likewise, many anime-only fans, whose first exposure to Tatsu’s story was through its anime adaptation, have switched to the manga and become involved in its online community.

Likewise, this has led many fans to ask “who is Unji Zuma in Dandadan” because his name is consistently mentioned due to his involvement in the Danmanra Arc. Unji Zuma is a supporting character introduced in the Danmanra Arc, memorable and beloved by fans for his harrowing backstory and Umbrella Boy yokai powers.

Disclaimer: This article contains canon-typical mentions of sensitive topics. Readers’s discretion is advised.

Unji’s origins, explained

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Before fully answering “who is Unji Zuma in Dandadan” by discussing his role in the series, it’s worth examining his tragic origins, which significantly endeared him to fans. Unji’s story starts with being raised in a poor family with brother Futa following his father’s death. The two were very close to each other until Unji discovered that his brother drowned in a nearby river. However, rather than mourn, Unji’s mother took him to an amusement park for a day of fun.

Her actions were later explained by her attempt to take her own life and kill Unji by jumping in front of an oncoming train. Tragically, Unji was able to free himself and survive but was forced to watch his mother die. This event changed Unji’s life profoundly, leaving him to hate the world and one day lead an attack against the police. This led to him being apprehended by Officer Bega and placed in Bega’s custody after leaving juvenile detention.

Unji's backstory in Dandadan rivals even Acrobatic Silky's in terms of sadness (Image via Science SARU)

Their relationship was tenuous at first but eventually grew after a key incident. One day, Unji visited the river where his brother died and saw a child go into the river to retrieve a bag some bullies threw in. Bega also arrived at that moment and jumped in the water to save the boy, but he ended up needing to be saved by Unji, who also jumped in. This led him to encounter the Umbrella Boy yokai, gaining and using his yokai powers to save both the boy and Bega.

The next day, Unji expressed regret that he lived rather than his brother, believing his brother may have sustained his own will to live. Bega told Unji he must live no matter what, cementing their father-son relationship. Unji spent his high school years assisting his peers who had similar tragic or circumstantial backgrounds and made a place for them. This led to him having a loyal following, which directly plays into his role in the series.

Unji’s role in Dandadan

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Unji’s role in Dandadan starts when he comes into possession of a diorama, eventually being persuaded by a mysterious man to enter the diorama’s inner world and destroy it. This man is presumed to be Count Saint-Germain, who appears in-person for the first time in the series at the end of the Danmanra Arc. This man then led Unji to possess Okarun’s second kintama, entering the diorama shortly thereafter.

Momo Ayase enters two weeks later, traversing the world with Unji, where his Umbrella Boy powers prove pivotal in their survival and the battles they face. The two traverse through the world until its final stage, which transitions into the fight against the Fairy-Tale Card yokai. After being possessed by it, Unji breaks free and helps defeat the yokai. He’s seen celebrating with the others after but has yet to reappear in the series since as of this article’s writing.

In summation

While Unji has primarily only interacted with Momo, he's expected to return to the series at some point (Image via Science SARU)

The answer to “who is Unji Zuma in Dandadan" lies in the characters’ tragic origins and role in the Danmanra Arc. Unji has one of the saddest backstories in the series, truly having undergone a tragic life. However, he eventually overcomes that and proves a pivotal ally during the Danmanra Arc, directly responsible for keeping Momo alive in many different situations.