WARNING: This contains spoilers for the Dandadan manga not yet covered in the anime
Summary
Dandadan’s Acrobatic Silky arc follows Ken Takakura, Momo, and Turbo Granny collectively looking for Okarun’s missing kintama. As suspected by the trio, it has accidentally ended up in the hands of Aira Shiratori, who has gained the ability to seeand be seen by yokai. During an ordinary day at school, when Momo, Turbo Granny, and Ken are present on the school’s premises, Aira is shocked to see a woman in a red dress whom none of her friends can see.
Ken and Momo’s search for the former’s kintama accidentally leads them to Aira. But in a strange turn of events, they are confronted by a yokai named Acrobatic Silky, who, for some inexplicable reason, claims that she is Shiratori’s mother. In this article, we discuss Acrobatic Silky’s origins and her connection with Aira.
Acrobatic Silky’s Tragic Human Life
The Supernatural Entity Once Used to be an Ordinary Person
In the past, Acrobatic Silky used to be an ordinary human being. Unfortunately,her life was filled with hardshipsand sorrow as she struggled to grab onto any sense of normalcy amidst countless personal tragedies. Despite the turmoil, she found peace when she returned home and met her daughter, who slowly became her reason for existence.
As a mother, Acrobatic Silky was dedicated to giving her child a comfortable life. However, her financial hardships made any stabilityseem like an unachievable dream. Crushed by debt, she had no option but to work two jobs but still struggled to make ends meet. She was further demoralized as one of the two jobs she took was demeaning and made her feel stripped of any pride. But driven to ensure that her daughter could eventually lead a dignified life, she worked hard every day to put food on the table and a smile on her precious child’s face.
Life’s challenges and sufferingbecame bearable for Acrobatic Silky because of her daughter, but things eventually took a tragic turn. One day, her creditors lost patience and barged into her home. They beat her up and took all the money she had. As if this was not horrible enough, they kidnapped her daughter, taking away her only motivation to be alive.
Acrobatic Silky chased after the men to get back her child but failed to catch up. The incident naturally pushed her over the edge, and all the pain she had been carrying in her heart led to a tragic decision. That evening, in her battered and bruised state, Acrobatic Silky climbed to the terrace of her apartment complex. Overcome by grief and recalling all the precious moments she had with her daughter, Acrobatic Silky started performing an acrobatic dance. She kept dancing in the rain until she felt she had had enough and suddenly plunged to her death from the building.
Acrobatic Silky’s Strange Bond With Aira Shiratori and Her Selfless Sacrifice
The Broken Mother Who Took Her Own Life and Turned Into a Yokai
After her unfortunate death, the debt-ridden mother turned into a yokai named Acrobatic Silky. But in a strange turn of events, all her memories of her tragic human life were gone. However, she still had a lingering feeling that she had lost something precious. As a yokai, she took the shape of a tall lady with straightened satin black hair.
One day on the street, Aira Shiratori, who at the time was just a little girl, mistook Acrobatic Silky for her deceased mother and called her “mommy.” Her father was quick to respond and took her away. However, the brief interactionreignited Acrobatic Silky’s motherly instincts, and she came to believe that she was actually Aira’s real mother in her past life. Since that day, she started stalking Shiratori, hoping that she would be able to see her one day. Many years later, her patience bore fruit as Aira accidentally found Okarun’s kintama and gained the ability to see yokai and spirits.
Meanwhile, Momo, Turbo Granny, and Ken’s search for the kintama ends when they learn thatAira is the mysterious humanwho has found it. Just when they confront her, Acrobatic Silky arrives at the scene and grabs Shiratori. She is relieved to learn that Aira can finally see her and, in her desperation, tries to force her to call her “mommy” again. Naturally, Okarun and Momo are alarmed and fight the yokai to save Shiratori. In the scuffle, Acrobatic Silky easily overwhelms the duo and swallows Ken. However, when Aira comes back to her senses and calls her a monster, Acrobatic Silky is infuriated and swallows her alive.
Momo is helpless as the furious yokai turns to her and asks her to call her “mother” if she wishes to be forgiven. Ayase is stubborn, as always, and refuses to pay heed to her request, following which Acrobatic Silky swallows her too. But little does she realize that Momo has a trick up her sleeve. Using Aira’s rosary lighter, she sets the yokai’s hair, caught in her mouth, on fire. Caught off-guard by the unexpected plan, Acrobatic Silky vomits the trio.
Okarun and Momo then realize that they must defeat their adversary as soon as possible. Acrobatic Silky is prepared for a showdown and chases the duo with the unconscious Aira in her grasp. Okarun displaysextreme agility by outrunning the yokaiand then finishes the fight by slamming her against the wall with ferocious speed. But before they can celebrate the victory, Momo and Okarun are informed by Turbo Granny that Aira is dead.
Acrobatic Silky is dismayed to learn that her actions led to Aira’s death. She offers torevive her by replenishing Shiratori’s aurawith her own. Okarun and Momo express scepticism and are prepared to fight as they do not trust her. But to prove that she is serious about helping them and won’t swallow them alive this time, Acrobatic Silky rips out her jaw. Turbo Granny reassures the duo that replenishing Shiratori’s aura is the only way to revive her.
Realizing that there is no other choice, Okarun and Momo reluctantly allow Acrobatic Silky to help Aira. Once the aura transfer is completed, Aira is miraculously revived. However, Acrobatic Silky’s body crumbles because of the procedure, and she dies soon afterwards. In her last moments, she regains memories of her daughterand expresses regret for not being able to give her the life she deserved. As Acrobatic Silky bemoans her mistakes as a mother, Aira embraces her, promising to never forget her.
Dandadan
Cast
Based on Yukinobu Tatsu’s popular manga that debuted in 2021 on Shonen Jump+, Dandadan blends action, comedy, romance, and supernatural thrills to create a unique and satisfying adventure. Momo Ayase and Ken Takakura believe in the extraordinary, although the former believes in ghosts and the latter believes in aliens. Determined to confirm their side’s existence, they set out to find their proof.
