Reiko Kashima (カシマレイコ Kashima Reiko), also known as the Slit-Mouthed Woman (口裂け女, Kuchisake-onna), is a yokai who once inhabited a desolate, ruined area within Kamigoe City. Following her defeat at the hands of Momo, Reiko Kashima developed a deep-seated grudge against the girl, vowing to seek revenge upon their next encounter. However, her perspective began to shift after observing the bond between Momo and Okarun. Witnessing their relationship ultimately led Reiko Kashima to abandon her feelings of resentment, redirecting her focus toward finding a suitable partner of her own.
Within the Dandadan series, Reiko Kashima takes on the role of one of the primary antagonists during the Space Globalists Arc, playing a significant part in the events of that storyline.
Appearance
In Anime and Original Manga
Reiko Kashima is a tall, imposing female yokai whose height allows her to tower over the average human. Her physique is notably muscular, with well-defined arms and legs that highlight her physical strength. Her most recognizable feature—and the source of her Slit-Mouthed Woman epithet—is her unnaturally wide mouth, filled with multiple rows of sharp, jagged teeth that give her a fearsome and unsettling appearance. She wears heavy makeup that accentuates her facial features, including dark mascara that highlights her round eyes and bold lipstick that emphasizes her distinctive mouth. Her nails are painted a dark color, adding to her striking appearance. Her long, jet-black hair is styled with a bow, and she wears a crown atop her head, further enhancing her commanding presence. Without her makeup, Reiko Kashima’s appearance transforms significantly. Her head is well-proportioned, and her facial features appear more delicate and natural, giving her a more human-like appearance. Her eyes become normal in size, framed by long, elegant eyelashes, and her mouth returns to a standard shape with neatly applied lipstick. This more subdued appearance is noted to be remarkably beautiful, as observed by both Momo and Jiji, revealing a striking contrast between her fearsome yokai form and her more human-like visage.
Reiko Kashima’s attire consists of a collared dress paired with a bow tie and dress shoes. While pursuing revenge against Momo, her appearance became more disheveled, with her long ponytail remaining intact but the rest of her hair growing wild and unkempt. Her eyes transformed into concentric circles, giving her a more intense and unsettling gaze. Her dress also changed, featuring puffy sleeves and four vertical lines running down to the waist. The bow tie became larger, with a gemstone placed at its center, and her shoes were replaced with black dress shoes. After deciding to wear less makeup, Reiko Kashima’s outfit slightly changed from the version she wore during her search for Momo. The most noticeable difference was the removal of the puffy sleeves, giving the dress a more streamlined appearance. Additionally, she no longer wore the crown that had once adorned her head, marking a shift toward a more simplified and less imposing look.
During her life, Reiko Kashima was a young girl with long, flowing black hair, neatly tied at the end with a bow—a style that closely resembles her current appearance as a yokai. Her choice of clothing typically included a simple dress that complemented her youthful demeanor, along with a hat that added an element of charm to her overall look. Her appearance reflected the innocence and simplicity of her early years. However, the final moments of her life presented a stark contrast to her former self. By that time, her once-long hair had been cut short and had grown messy and unkempt, reflecting the harsh circumstances she faced. Her dress, which was once clean and intact, had become worn, ragged, and torn from prolonged suffering and neglect. The most tragic aspect of her appearance was her physical condition—crippled and unable to walk, with both legs severed. The stumps where her legs had been were wrapped in bandages, symbolizing the pain and trauma she endured before her death, leaving a lasting image of her tragic fate.
In Age-Restricted Manga
In Age-Restricted Manga, the character Reiko Kashima 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
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.
Personality
Reiko Kashima is a yokai characterized by her vanity and narcissism, with an intense obsession with her own reflection. She frequently gazes into her mirror, admiring her appearance, and has a preference for things she considers grotesque or unattractive, as their presence enhances her own beauty by comparison. This mindset drives her to trap such individuals or entities within her mirror, treating them as tools to highlight her perceived elegance. However, Reiko Kashima is willing to release her captives if they obstruct her reflection by occupying too much space within the mirror. She becomes particularly displeased if they “defile” her mirror by displaying behavior she perceives as cute or appealing, as it undermines her desire to stand out as the most beautiful figure within the frame. If someone insults her appearance by calling her “ugly” or dares to steal her mirror, Reiko Kashima loses her composure, flying into a state of intense agitation and anger directed at the offender. Although she believes her beauty is enhanced when she applies makeup, she remains unaware that her natural face—when devoid of cosmetics—is considered strikingly beautiful, even more so than her heavily made-up appearance.
Reiko Kashima also displays a modest side, as seen when she attempted to cover herself after her attack on Bamora accidentally caused her dress to lift, revealing her underwear. Despite her vanity, this moment shows that she retains a sense of personal dignity.
However, her temperament is far from gentle, especially when confronted with the expulsion spell word “pomade”, which she deeply despises. The mere utterance of the word provokes her into an immediate and aggressive attack against the offender. Her cruelty extends to a deep-seated bitterness and sadistic streak when dealing with her enemies. After Momo used the word “pomade” to temporarily banish her from the living world, Reiko Kashima became consumed with a desire for revenge. Driven by this obsession, she relentlessly pursued Momo with the intention of capturing her and imprisoning her within the confines of her mirror. Her ultimate plan was to torment Momo endlessly, treating her as nothing more than a personal “plaything”, illustrating her ruthless and vindictive nature.
Due to the circumstances surrounding her death, Reiko Kashima harbors a deep hatred for the sight of aerial bombardment. When the main force of the Kur launched their attack within the Empty Space by dropping bombs, her fury was immediate and intense. Using her mirror abilities, she retaliated by destroying their main ship and capturing every last member of the Kur within her mirror. Consumed by rage, she proceeded to annihilate them, her actions fueled by the painful memories of her own demise.
However, Reiko Kashima’s perspective began to shift after observing Momo’s growing relationship with Okarun. Frustrated by Momo’s reluctance to be honest with her own feelings, Reiko found herself reflecting on her own desires. Inspired by what she witnessed, she ultimately decided to pursue love for herself, marking a turning point in her character’s development.
Background
Little is known about Reiko Kashima’s life before her transformation into a yokai. The few details that have emerged indicate that she had a loved one during her lifetime. Tragically, her life was cut short when she became a victim of an airplane bombing attack, an event that would leave a lasting impact on her spirit and shape her existence as a yokai.
Synopsis
Space Globalists Arc
While attempting to reach school through a ruined area, Momo and Bamora encounter Reiko Kashima, who stops them and asks if she looks pretty. When Momo responds by shouting the word “pomade” in an attempt to make the yokai disappear, Reiko Kashima becomes annoyed and attacks her in retaliation. In defense, Bamora uses her exosuit to unleash a barrage of punches, but the assault proves ineffective as Reiko Kashima stands unfazed. Amused, she comments that the exosuit’s appearance makes her look even more attractive by comparison, before effortlessly countering Bamora’s attack with a suplex. As Momo attempts to repeat the word “pomade” ten times to banish her, Reiko Kashima uses her mirror ability to interrupt her. A fist emerges from a shard of glass, striking Momo, while additional shards scattered across the ground trap her in place, preventing her from escaping. Grabbing Bamora, Reiko Kashima decides to trap her inside her mirror, intending to keep her as a permanent fixture to further highlight her own beauty. She warns Momo that completing the “pomade” spell will result in Bamora disappearing along with her. However, Momo remains defiant, claiming she has no concern for Bamora’s fate and insults Reiko Kashima by calling her ugly, determined not to lose the fight. Infuriated by the insult, Reiko Kashima’s rage intensifies when Momo manages to snatch her mirror. Enraged, she gives chase as Momo attempts to free Bamora from the mirror’s confines, but Reiko Kashima ends up trapping Momo inside as well. However, both Momo and Bamora begin acting playfully and cutely within the mirror, blocking Reiko Kashima’s reflection. Frustrated by their antics, she ultimately releases both of them to restore her view of herself, unaware that she had fallen for their trick. Seizing the opportunity, Momo uses Bamora’s exosuit to turn invisible and successfully completes the “pomade” spell, causing Reiko Kashima to vanish from the living world once again.
After returning to the living world, Reiko Kashima sets out to exact revenge on Momo for their previous encounter. At the Ayase household, she attempts to lure Momo out of her room by disguising her voice to sound like Okarun. However, her deception fails when Momo catches on to the trick, realizing the impostor had mistakenly referred to Jiji incorrectly. Despite the failure, Reiko Kashima continues to mimic Okarun’s voice throughout the rest of the night, determined to unsettle her target.
The following day, Reiko Kashima tracks Momo to a manga café, where she possesses one of the front desk workers to locate her. Sensing something off, Momo grows cautious as the possessed worker approaches her private room. Seeking to avoid detection, she hides behind the Serpo accompanying her. Reiko Kashima, still controlling the worker, attempts to expose Momo by engaging the Serpo in conversation, hoping to draw her out. However, Momo quickly acts to break the possession by using her bandages to cover the worker’s mirror, severing Reiko Kashima’s connection and thwarting her plan once again.
Reiko Kashima finally confronts Momo at the same moment the main force of the Kur enters the Empty Space and begins their attack. Announcing her intention to imprison Momo within her mirror and subject her to endless torment, Reiko Kashima watches as Momo falls to her knees in despair, overwhelmed by the combined threat of the yokai before her and the alien invasion unfolding around her. In her moment of hopelessness, Momo expresses a desire to see Seiko again. This scene, coupled with the sight of bombs raining down from the Kur’s ships, triggers a painful memory from Reiko Kashima’s past life—a moment tied to her tragic death. Overcome with fury at the reenactment of her own demise, she unleashes her mirror ability with devastating force, destroying the Kur’s main ship in a single strike. Without hesitation, she proceeds to trap every alien within her mirror, where she annihilates them in a fit of rage, exacting vengeance on the invaders. After the destruction is complete, Reiko Kashima observes Okarun and Momo as they desperately try to protect each other from her wrath. The sight of their bond sparks a flashback to a time in her own life when she shared a moment of happiness with a loved one. Moved by the memory and the emotions it stirs, Reiko Kashima’s resolve begins to waver. Choosing to let go of her desire for revenge, she silently turns away and departs from the scene without uttering a word.
Later, Reiko Kashima crosses paths with Momo and her friends as they head to the market. Momo is startled to see the yokai’s altered appearance, as Reiko is now without her usual makeup, revealing a more natural face. Confused by the change, Momo initially assumes that Reiko had attained Nirvana, given her mysterious disappearance during their previous encounter. However, Reiko quickly clarifies that such an outcome is impossible for her, as she believes that her hatred cannot be extinguished. She goes on to admit her disdain for Momo, revealing that during the time she spent seeking vengeance, she had secretly observed Momo’s interactions with Okarun. Reiko found Momo’s inability to be honest about her feelings for him both frustrating and annoying. Yet, despite her resentment, witnessing their bond unexpectedly inspired Reiko to pursue love for herself. Before departing, she issues a pointed warning to Momo: if she continues to suppress her true feelings, Reiko will not hesitate to take Okarun away from her. With that final threat, Reiko leaves, determined to begin her search for a romantic partner.
Abilities and Powers
Yokai Abilities
Mirror Power
Reiko Kashima possesses the ability to control the mirror she carries with her, granting her a range of supernatural powers. By manipulating the mirror, she can perform various feats that make her a formidable opponent, using it both as a weapon and a tool to trap and manipulate her victims.
Remote Attacking
To attack her enemies, Reiko Kashima can extend parts of her body through her mirror and project them into other mirrors or shards of glass within her surroundings, effectively using them as portals. This ability allows her to strike from unexpected angles, catching her opponents off guard by appearing from multiple reflective surfaces at once.
Strengths and Weaknesses
The primary advantage of Reiko Kashima’s ability to attack remotely through her mirror is that it enables her to engage her opponents from a distance, delivering surprise strikes without needing to be physically present. By extending her hand through the mirror, she can launch attacks from any reflective surface or shard of glass within range, striking her enemies from unexpected angles. Additionally, she can use this ability to immobilize her targets, such as grabbing their legs through glass fragments on the ground to prevent them from escaping. As long as her hand remains inside her mirror, Reiko Kashima can manifest multiple hands simultaneously from various glass surfaces, overwhelming her opponents with a barrage of attacks from multiple directions. Her connection to glass extends across a considerable distance, with her range shown to reach at least city-wide levels. This was demonstrated when she used scattered glass shards from Empty Space Tokyo to generate a massive fist capable of destroying the Kur’s main battleship in a single strike.
However, Reiko Kashima’s reliance on her mirror presents a vulnerability. If her opponent manages to seize the mirror, they can prevent her from using her abilities, neutralizing her primary means of attack and leaving her at a disadvantage.
Usage
Reiko Kashima employs her remote attacking ability against anyone who dares to provoke her, particularly those who utter the word “pomade” in an attempt to banish her from the living world. By striking from mirrors and glass surfaces nearby, she swiftly retaliates against those who invoke the forbidden word, ensuring they face the consequences of challenging her.
Imprisonment
Reiko Kashima possesses the ability to imprison her targets within a pocket dimension that exists inside her mirror. To activate this power, she first needs her target’s reflection to appear within the mirror’s surface. Once captured, the victim is transported into an alternate realm characterized by a dark, shadowy space. At the center of this dimension lies a circular portal that acts as the mirror’s opposite side, serving as the only connection between the pocket dimension and the real world. This portal allows Reiko Kashima to observe her trapped victims while maintaining control over their confinement.
Strengths and Weaknesses
The primary strength of Reiko Kashima’s mirror imprisonment ability lies in the fact that no external force can free a victim once they are trapped within the mirror. Only Reiko Kashima herself has the power to release those she has captured. Any attempt to interfere from the outside places the rescuer at risk of becoming trapped as well, provided their reflection appears within the mirror and Reiko Kashima is nearby to activate her ability. Once inside the pocket dimension, the yokai has complete control over her prisoners, allowing her to do as she pleases without restriction. This ability extends beyond capturing individuals—it is powerful enough to trap an entire army. To ensnare such a large group, Reiko Kashima merely needs her mirror to reflect a partial view of the army. Once activated, anything or anyone associated with the group is instantly transported into the alternate dimension, suggesting that the pocket dimension has infinite capacity, with no limit to the number of entities or objects it can contain. Furthermore, those trapped inside appear proportionally smaller compared to Reiko Kashima if she chooses to manifest a part of her body within the dimension, further reinforcing her dominance over those imprisoned in her mirror.
Reiko Kashima relies on her mirror to activate and carry out her abilities, which means that if her enemy is able to seize it at the right moment, they can effectively neutralize her powers and prevent her from using them. While it is impossible for those trapped inside her mirror to escape on their own, they may be able to manipulate her narcissistic nature to their advantage. By blocking her reflection and acting in a way that appeals to her vanity, they can force her to release them, exploiting her obsession with her own image to escape their confinement.
Usage
Reiko Kashima uses her mirror imprisonment ability to capture those she deems unattractive, as it allows her to further admire her own beauty in comparison. Once she has trapped those who have annoyed her, she either becomes playful, using her lipstick to draw on their faces, or cruel, viewing them as her “playthings” and torturing them for her amusement. In some cases, she goes so far as to kill her captives, using her enormous fist—far larger than her prisoner—to strike and eliminate them. Her treatment of those she captures depends on her mood, ranging from light-hearted mischief to violent retribution.
Possession
Reiko Kashima’s ability to control other mirrors grants her the power to possess anyone who gazes at their own reflection. By establishing a connection through the mirrors, she can take control of individuals simply by having them look into them, allowing her to manipulate them at will.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Reiko Kashima uses her ability to possess individuals through their reflection as a deceptive method to get close to her intended target. Once she possesses someone, she must ensure that the mirror through which she gained control remains with the person at all times to maintain the connection. If the mirror is covered or removed, the possession will be broken. While this method allows her to approach her targets secretly, it becomes less effective if her enemies are cautious and aware of her attempts to make contact, potentially thwarting her plan before she can fully take advantage of it.
Heart Reading
Reiko Kashima’s connection to her mirror also grants her the ability to peer into her target’s heart, allowing her to read their emotions. Through this connection, she can sense their true feelings and intentions, giving her an advantage in understanding and manipulating them.
Usage
By using her mirror ability to read people’s hearts in conjunction with her yokai power to perfectly imitate any voice, Reiko Kashima can deceive her enemies into believing they are speaking with an ally. After glimpsing into Momo’s heart, Reiko Kashima discovered that Momo had feelings for Okarun and sought to exploit this information. She attempted to lure Momo out of her bedroom by mimicking Okarun’s voice flawlessly. Her plan nearly succeeded, but it faltered when she mistakenly referred to Jiji by the wrong name, causing Momo to realize the deception.
Surveillance
Reiko Kashima can use her mirror to monitor the actions of her targets, giving her the ability to track their movements and know their location at all times. This allows her to wait for the perfect moment to confront them, ensuring she can catch them off guard and strike when they least expect it.
Vocal Replication
As a yokai, Reiko Kashima has the ability to flawlessly imitate anyone’s voice, using this power to deceive her enemies. This skill becomes even more potent when combined with her mirror ability to read people’s emotions, allowing her to mimic the voice of someone her target has feelings for. However, this tactic is only effective if she is speaking to her enemy while out of their line of sight. For her impersonation to be perfect, she must also match the tone and mannerisms of the person she is copying, ensuring her deception goes unnoticed.
Trivia
- Reiko Kashima appears to incorporate elements from several different yokai and urban legends, which may hint at the vast extent of her powers. These legends include:
- The Kuchisake-onna is a relatively modern yokai featuring a beautiful woman with a mouth scarred from ear to ear. She asks her victims if they think she is beautiful, and if they do not answer correctly, she either kills them or scars them to resemble her own disfigured face.
- Reiko Kashima is also connected to a specific version of the Teke Teke legend, which tells of a vengeful spirit of a young woman who lost her legs.
- Hachishakusama is a well-known internet urban legend about a woman who is eight feet tall and wears a white dress. She is said to relentlessly stalk her victims, typically young boys or men. Some versions of this legend describe how the victim must survive the night with closed doors and covered windows, as Hachishakusama mimics the voices of family members to trick them into letting her inside.
- Bloody Mary, a famous western urban legend, may have inspired Reiko Kashima’s mirror-based powers. In this tale, a malevolent spirit appears in a mirror when her name is spoken aloud.
- Aonyōbō is a yokai depicted as a blue-skinned ogre who brings poverty and misfortune. This creature inhabits abandoned houses, once belonging to fallen nobles or ruined families, where it spends its time obsessively applying makeup, fixing its hair, and adjusting its appearance while awaiting guests who never arrive—like a lover who lost interest or a husband who abandoned his wife.
- In Chapter 117, it is revealed that Reiko Kashima’s final moments were during an aerial strike. Interestingly, the release of this chapter coincides with the anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, suggesting that her tragic past may be a reference to these historic events.
