Unji Zuma (頭間雲児, Zuma Unji) is a student at Renjaku High School and the leader of a gang composed of outcasts from various other schools. After obtaining Okarun’s kintama from a mysterious individual, Unji takes on the challenge of conquering the diorama board game Danmanra, determined to prove his skills and achieve victory.
Appearance
In Anime and Original Manga
Unji is a tall young man with short-cropped hair, shaved on the sides, featuring two horizontal yellow stripes. He has chin stubble, a piercing in his left eyebrow, and wears stud earrings. His typical outfit consists of a dark long-sleeve T-shirt layered under a long-sleeve collared shirt adorned with a white spot pattern, paired with dark pants secured with a belt. For footwear, Unji prefers traditional geta sandals.
As a child, Unji already sported a shaved hairstyle and wore a simple long-sleeve shirt and pants. Following the loss of his parents, he developed dark rings around his eyes, which have remained a defining feature throughout most of his life.
During his early adolescence, Unji styled his hair into an undercut that was pushed back, with a light color that appeared to be dyed. His eyebrows were shaved off, and by this time, he had already acquired his piercings along with a small scar on the left side of his chin. His attire consisted of a coat worn over a dark shirt, paired with tracksuit pants.
After being released from juvenile detention, Unji’s hair returned to its original cropped style, and his eyebrows had grown back. His post-detention outfit included a dark jacket over an undershirt, along with pants and shoes, giving him a more composed and mature appearance.
After being discharged from the hospital following his escape from the Danmanra trunk, Unji’s hair grew out in a slightly scruffy style with a subtle center part. Due to the effects of the treats that had shrunk Momo, his eyesight worsened, leading him to start wearing glasses. Additionally, he shaved off his chin stubble. His clothing style reverted to the attire he wore during his time as a gang leader, reflecting a return to his earlier aesthetic.
In Age-Restricted Manga
In Age-Restricted Manga, the character Unji Zuma has not appeared yet. He might be introduced in Episode 1, Session 2, or possibly in Episode 2. Please stay tuned for his 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.
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
Unji is an exceptionally kind, generous, and compassionate individual who consistently prioritizes the well-being of others. His selfless nature is evident in his dedication to helping and caring for troubled teenagers, an act that has earned him deep respect and loyalty from the group. These teens, inspired by his kindness, were willing to go to great lengths to help him escape from Danmanra.
Unji also demonstrates chivalry, especially in his interactions with females. Before he and Momo faced the second stage of Danmanra, he selflessly offered her his pants to ensure she wouldn’t have to worry about her skirt while navigating the obstacle course. Even after they successfully completed the stage, Unji insisted that Momo continue wearing the pants for her comfort.
His good-hearted nature is further highlighted when using his yokai powers, which typically alter the user’s personality. Despite this influence, Unji’s compassionate and considerate demeanor remains intact, showcasing the strength of his character. Although he often maintains a calm and stoic expression, he is capable of displaying a full range of emotions, revealing a more nuanced and relatable side to his personality.
Unji is known to have moments of simple-mindedness. During the second stage of Danmanra, he struggled to maintain his balance, only to realize—after Momo pointed it out—that his difficulty was due to wearing geta sandals. By the end of the stage, Momo was left in disbelief when Unji accidentally lost his sandals.
Despite his occasional absentmindedness, Unji has great confidence in his abilities, especially after acquiring yokai powers. His self-assurance was evident when he boldly declared to his peers that he would conquer the world of Danmanra with ease.
Unji’s preferred footwear is geta sandals, which he chooses to wear simply because he finds them stylish and cool.
Background
Unji grew up in a poor family alongside his younger brother, Futa. Following their father’s death, Unji took on the role of protector, standing by Futa’s side and shielding him from bullies and hardships as their mother struggled to provide for them.
One rainy day, when Futa failed to return home, Unji set out to search for him, only to receive the devastating news that his brother had drowned in a river. Overcome with grief after Futa’s passing, Unji’s mother attempted to lift his spirits by taking him to an amusement park. However, what began as a day of fun turned into a tragic event when she attempted to commit a murder-suicide by pulling both of them toward an oncoming train. Desperate to survive, Unji struggled to break free from her grasp. Managing to escape at the last moment, he was forced to witness the heartbreaking sight of his mother taking her own life alone.
After the loss of his family, Unji developed a deep resentment toward the world, believing it had brought him nothing but misfortune. Left orphaned, he was placed in a foster home, but after defending himself against bullying from other foster children, he eventually ran away. During his teenage years, Unji became a delinquent gang leader, driven by a desire to instigate conflict and assert his dominance. His rebellious behavior escalated when he led his gang in an attack against the police, resulting in his capture by Officer Bega and subsequent placement in juvenile detention.
Following his release, Unji was placed under Bega’s custody. Harboring a grudge against the officer for his arrest, Unji repeatedly attempted to take revenge by striking Bega with an umbrella but failed each time. On one occasion, he had the opportunity to attack Bega while the officer was asleep in his room. However, upon noticing a photograph of Bega with his wife and daughter beside him, Unji hesitated and chose not to follow through. Even after learning about Bega’s tragic loss and his sincere pledge to protect him, Unji found it difficult to accept the officer’s care and support.
Conflicted, Unji ventured out into the rain and visited the site where Futa had drowned. While there, he witnessed a young boy being harassed by a group of children. His concern grew as the boy attempted to retrieve his lunch bag, which the bullies had thrown into the river. Suddenly, Bega appeared and jumped into the river to save the drowning boy. Realizing the urgency of the situation, Unji rushed to help but was interrupted by the appearance of Umbrella Boy, a mysterious figure who offered to share his powers with him. Using Umbrella Boy’s umbrellas to propel himself forward, Unji managed to reach Bega and the boy in time, pulling them both out of the river. Overcome with relief, he was reassured to see that Bega was still breathing, marking a pivotal moment in Unji’s journey toward understanding compassion and responsibility.
The next day, Unji visited the family grave alongside Bega, where he tearfully expressed his deep regret for being the one who survived instead of Futa. He believed that his younger brother’s constant happiness and close bond with their mother might have given her the strength to continue living. Despite Unji’s feelings of guilt and sorrow, Bega reassured him that, no matter what had happened, he must continue to live and move forward.
Although Unji rarely attended Renjaku High School, he dedicated much of his time to supporting peers from difficult backgrounds. He established a building that served as a safe haven where they could gather, which led the teenagers to develop deep loyalty toward him as a gesture of gratitude.
One day, Unji encountered an elderly man who had been released from a diorama. Showing compassion, Unji allowed the man to stay at his place and later took possession of the diorama himself. Curious about its origins, Unji began researching cursed artifacts at a library, hoping to gain a better understanding of the diorama’s nature. During his investigation, a mysterious man approached him and encouraged Unji to venture into the cursed trunk’s inner world, claiming that destroying it would put an end to its curse.
Following the man’s guidance, Unji went to a police box, where he was given Okarun’s second kintama, which he was told would help him unlock his powers. Shortly after, his gang informed him that one of the girls under his care had entered the diorama. Determined to rescue her, Unji instructed his followers to stay behind, reserving the next entry into the diorama for himself.
Once inside, Unji managed to locate the girl and, after their encounter led to her release, he willingly took her place within the diorama. Although uncertain about how the inner world operated, Unji began his mission to destroy it by systematically eliminating the various monsters that inhabited the cursed realm, determined to fulfill the task entrusted to him.
Abilities and Powers
Supernatural Abilities
Umbrella Boy Form
Unji possesses supernatural abilities derived from the yokai known as Umbrella Boy. Similar to the yokai powers exhibited by Okarun and Aira, the activation of Unji’s abilities causes a mask to manifest on his face and slightly alters his personality. However, in Unji’s case, this transformation enhances his sense of duty and compassion, making him more noble-minded and dedicated to protecting his allies. Unlike others who are aware of the yokai origins of their abilities, Unji remains unaware that his powers stem from Umbrella Boy, instead believing them to be a form of spiritual energy within himself.
The mask that appears during Unji’s transformation covers the majority of his face, leaving only his left eye and a portion of his forehead exposed. Its dark, menacing design is characterized by sharp, jagged teeth, a pointed chin, and an octant-shaped right eye that gives it an eerie, almost mechanical appearance. In addition, Unji’s facial features undergo a notable transformation: two thick vertical stripes run down across his eyes, similar to Okarun’s Turbo Granny form, though the stripes change to a different color when his powers are fully activated. His hair turns stark white, contrasting sharply against the mask, while his fingernails darken to a glossy black, adding to his intimidating appearance.
Unji’s connection with Umbrella Boy deepens even further after he falls under the control of the Fairy-Tale Card, which forces him into an advanced transformation that allows the yokai’s power to be fully unleashed. In this enhanced state, Unji’s appearance becomes nearly identical to that of Umbrella Boy itself. His head is encased in a dark, helmet-like structure that resembles the yokai’s face, serving as a complete version of the partial mask that typically appears when using his powers. This helmet extends down to his collarbone, creating an imposing silhouette that radiates a sense of both power and menace. At the center of the helmet is a circular target-like symbol, reminiscent of Umbrella Boy’s single, oversized eye. Horizontal lines extend from the eye’s outer circle to the helmet’s spiked chin, accentuating the design’s sharp, angular features. The helmet also boasts a wide, tooth-filled mouth that often gapes open, revealing Unji’s actual mouth within, blending the human and yokai elements into a single, unsettling visage.
In this advanced form, Unji’s posture and movements are also influenced by the yokai’s nature. Mimicking Umbrella Boy’s traditional depiction as a one-legged spirit, Unji is compelled to balance on a single leg, further reinforcing the connection between his physical form and the essence of the yokai that empowers him. This stance not only symbolizes his fusion with Umbrella Boy but also serves as a reminder of the spirit’s supernatural origins, blending human strength with the eerie characteristics of Japanese folklore.
Enhanced Strength
Unji’s powers, derived from Umbrella Boy, grant him a significant boost in physical strength, allowing him to deliver powerful attacks with ease. This enhanced strength was notably demonstrated during the Castle Siege stage of Danmanra, where Unji showcased both his agility and combat prowess. With a single kick, he was able to knock down an entire group of archers, effortlessly breaking through their defensive line. Additionally, he demonstrated impressive precision and force by hurling his umbrella with enough power to shatter through another group of enemies, proving that his enhanced abilities allow him to take down multiple opponents simultaneously with minimal effort. This combination of brute strength and projectile force highlights the versatility and destructive potential of his yokai-infused combat style.
Enhanced Speed
Unji’s Umbrella Boy powers also grant him enhanced speed, allowing him to react swiftly and cover distances in a short amount of time. This increased agility was evident during the confrontation with the Dark Knight in Danmanra. Just as the opponent’s sword was about to strike, Unji arrived in the nick of time, moving quickly enough to grab Momo and pull her out of harm’s way before the blade could make contact. His rapid reflexes and quick movements not only showcased his heightened speed but also demonstrated his ability to use this power to protect others, further emphasizing his role as a dependable ally in critical moments.
Parasol Materialization
Unji has the ability to wield Umbrella Boy’s signature weapons—traditional oil-paper umbrellas—that manifest automatically whenever he activates his yokai powers. These umbrellas are not ordinary objects but are imbued with supernatural properties, allowing Unji to use them both defensively and offensively in combat. However, his ability is limited to summoning and controlling only two umbrellas at a time, requiring him to strategically balance their use during battles. Despite this limitation, the umbrellas’ durability and versatility make them essential tools in his fighting style, enhancing his effectiveness in both close-range and long-range encounters.
Strengths and Weaknesses
The primary strength of Unji’s umbrellas lies in their ability to generate powerful shockwaves capable of destroying anything in their path. This effect is activated by pressing a switch located on the handle, causing the umbrella to open and release a concentrated blast of force. Beyond their offensive capabilities, the umbrellas’ shockwaves also provide propulsive force, enabling Unji to launch himself into the air and travel across vast distances with remarkable speed and agility.
However, Unji’s use of these umbrellas comes with limitations. He can only materialize two umbrellas at a time, and once they are opened, they disappear and cannot be summoned again during the same activation of his powers. If both umbrellas are used, Unji’s connection to Umbrella Boy’s power becomes depleted, requiring a cooldown period before he can recharge and reactivate his abilities.
Interestingly, this limitation did not appear to affect Unji during his initial use of Umbrella Boy’s powers. When rescuing Bega and a child from the river, he was able to open the umbrellas multiple times, using their propulsive force repeatedly without any noticeable depletion. This suggests that the restriction may have developed as a result of subsequent power usage or evolved as part of the yokai’s influence over time. Despite this limitation, the umbrellas remain a crucial aspect of Unji’s combat and mobility, offering both destructive power and enhanced movement capabilities.
Full Power
In his full-power form, Unji’s use of Umbrella Boy’s abilities is altered, granting him enhanced combat capabilities with a few notable differences from his initial state. Unlike his earlier form, where he can summon and use two umbrellas, this advanced transformation limits him to wielding only one umbrella. However, this single umbrella comes with a significant advantage: Unji can unleash multiple rounds of shockwave blasts without the usual drawback of depleting his power and reverting to his normal state. This continuous firing capability allows him to maintain relentless pressure on his opponents, delivering successive shockwaves without interruption.
Additionally, Unji’s mobility is greatly enhanced in this form. By using the shockwaves as propulsion, he achieves a form of pseudo-flight, enabling him to maneuver through the air with agility and precision. Unlike his initial rocket-like launches, which were limited to a single burst per umbrella, this advanced state allows Unji to repeatedly propel himself while airborne, giving him sustained aerial mobility. This improvement not only increases his versatility in combat but also allows him to outmaneuver and overwhelm opponents from both the ground and the air, making him a far more formidable fighter in his fully empowered state.
Usage
Unji incorporates his umbrellas as versatile melee weapons during combat, using them both for close-range and long-range attacks. In hand-to-hand combat, he wields the umbrellas similarly to a lance, thrusting them toward his opponents with precision and force. Upon impact, he can trigger the umbrellas to open, releasing powerful shockwaves that deliver destructive bursts capable of overwhelming his enemies.
For ranged combat, Unji uses the umbrellas as projectile weapons, hurling them with impressive strength and accuracy. Thanks to his enhanced physical power, he can throw an umbrella with enough force to penetrate through multiple targets, knocking back a significant portion of soldiers within an opposing army. This long-range capability allows him to engage enemies from a distance, giving him both offensive reach and tactical flexibility.
Unji also utilizes the umbrellas for defensive and mobility purposes. While airborne, he can open an umbrella to slow his descent, allowing him to float and land safely on the ground. This ability grants him greater control over his movements during aerial maneuvers, enhancing both his combat effectiveness and evasive capabilities.
Outside of combat, Unji demonstrates the practical use of his umbrellas as well. While working alongside Momo in Danmanra, he used one of the umbrellas in a conventional manner, shielding them both from the rain, showcasing their everyday functionality in addition to their combat applications.
Etymology
- The name Unji (雲児) carries the meaning of “cloud” (雲, un) and “child” (児, ji),
- which together translate to “cloud child”. This meaning may symbolically connect to his Umbrella Boy powers, as both clouds and umbrellas are associated with rain and the sky, reflecting the atmospheric nature of his abilities.
- Unji’s surname, Zuma (頭間), is composed of the characters for “head” (頭, zu) and “space” (間, ma), which can be interpreted as referring to the concept of one’s mind or mental space. This could subtly allude to Unji’s introspective nature and the internal struggles he faces, as well as his heightened awareness and control when using his yokai powers. Together, his name reflects both the elemental and personal aspects of his character, aligning with his journey of harnessing supernatural abilities while grappling with his past and sense of identity.
Trivia
- Similar to the concept behind Danmanra, the romanized spelling of Unji’s full name contains a subtle reference to the fictional board game Jumanji. The arrangement of “Zuma Unji” serves as a play on words, resembling the sound and structure of the name Jumanji. This clever wordplay aligns with the theme of supernatural games present in both Danmanra and Jumanji, further emphasizing the connection between Unji’s character and the mysterious, game-like challenges he faces.
Notes
- Unji is a tenth-grade student at Renjaku High School, which indicates that he is likely around 15 or 16 years old.
