Seiko Ayase

WARNING! This article may contain major spoilers for the Dandadan manga series. Please read at your own risk.

Overview

Synopsis

Relationships

Image Gallery

Seiko Ayase
Kanji	綾瀬 星子
Rōmaji	Ayase Seiko
Alias	Santa Dodoria (ドドリア三太, Dodoria Santa?)
Characteristics
Race	Human
Home Planet	Earth
Gender	Female
Hair Color	White
Eye Color	Brown
Personal Status
Status	Alive
Occupation	Spirit Medium
Affiliation	Family
Residence	Kamigoe City (Ayase Residence)
Combat Style	Bat Mastery Barrier Casting
Relationships
Relative(s)	Momo Ayase (Granddaughter)
Portrayal
Japanese Voice	Nana Mizuki
English Voice	Kari Wahlgren
Debuts
Manga Debut	Chapter 1 (Flashback) Chapter 3 (Debut)
Anime Debut	Episode 1 (Flashback) Episode 3 (Debut)
Movie Debut	Dandadan: First Encounter

Seiko Ayase (綾あや瀬せ星せい子こ, Ayase Seiko^?) is a major supporting character of the manga series Dandadan.

She is a well-known spirit medium who also goes by the name Santa Dodoria (ドドリア三太, Dodoria Santa^?) and the grandmother of Momo Ayase. While performing her duties, Seiko provides support to Momo and her friends as they become involved with spirits, aliens, and other paranormal activities.

Appearance

Despite being a grandmother, Seiko has the appearance of a slender woman in her prime. Seiko possesses long snow-white hair that she generally ties up in a large top knot, wears red rectangular glasses. She is a chain smoker and can almost always be seen smoking cigarettes. On top of her youthful appearance, Seiko has been noted for her beauty that she claims others might go so far as to describe her as being bewitching. Due to this, many have mistaken her to be Momo's mother and leave them in shock once they learn her true relation to the girl. In terms of height, she is shown to stand no taller than her granddaughter.

When out in public, Seiko wears a yellow open large button cardigan that reveals her cross-strap top, a blue baseball jacket that has white sleeves with a symbol on the back, hoop earrings, and sandals. When at home, Seiko is shown to wear a white tank top, shorts, a beige haramaki, and light grey arm warmers with matching thigh-high stirrups.

As Santa Dodoria, Seiko wears a mask, sharp finger-tipped gloves, and a cloak covering up her entire body while leaving only her large top knot visible.

In the past when Momo was a little girl, Seiko wore the respectful attire of a shrine maiden and had her hair tied in a regular ponytail.

Gallery

Seiko's anime concept art.

Seiko in her casual outfit.

Seiko's common outfit.

Seiko as Santa Dodoria.

Seiko wearing her spirit medium robes.

Seiko as she appeared in Momo's childhood memory.

Seiko as she appeared years ago.

Personality

Seiko has a phlegmatic personality and a highly uncouth manner of speech. At the same time, she is selfless and empathetic to help others in need if it's within her power, with the greatest example being her taking people into her house if they need a place to stay. As such, she follows the concept of "being in it together". Instead of accepting Okarun's generous compensation for looking after him while he was cursed by the Turbo Granny, Seiko told him that the only way he could repay her was to help other people who were in trouble. When involving herself with children, Seiko believes that, as an adult, she should be able to shoulder their burdens to allow them to be free to do what they want in life. Because of this, she felt saddened that she was unable to honor Jiji's wishes to help him keep the Evil Eye under control in order to spare the yokai from being exorcised. While willing to help others, Seiko is too proud to admit when she needs help herself or burden others with her problems, having at first refused Okarun and Mr. Mantis Shrimp's offer to help rebuild her house when it was in ruins after the Evil Eye's stay.

Seiko teasing Momo.

Seiko can also come off as being a bit immature, such times being when she joked about Momo having a crush on Okarun, due to him having the same name as Ken Takakura, and having her granddaughter make a Hiroshi Abe impression in exchange for having to buy her a new school uniform. Despite this and her unladylike way of speaking, Seiko can act polite if she feels that she has made a mistake that involves the well-being of others. This side of Seiko is seen as being rare and out of character to those who know her well. Though she claims that she has never been moved by emotion, Seiko subconsciously favors those who compliment her, such as her youthful appearance which she takes great pride in.

As a spirit medium, Seiko follows the rules of coexistence between the living and the dead, which is to not disrespect the dead and send them to the afterlife, by using force if necessary, if they choose to attack the living.

Seiko hastily cooking takoyaki.

Seiko has a passion for food, believing that it should not be taken lightly since "living begins with eating". As a cook who occasionally serves food for Momo and her acquittances, she finds it delightful to see a person who knows how to eat by filling up on the food she makes and even becomes motivated to make more to further satisfy their appetite. She was even willing to feed a restaurant full of Renjaku High School student at the cost of her entire paycheck. On the other hand, she dislikes picky eaters.

While a believer in spirits, Seiko is a disbeliever in UFOs or aliens. Even after Momo brought home Mr. Mantis Shrimp as proof, Seiko only saw him as being a kappa and did not think much of the alien's spacecraft after abducting a cow. She enjoys watching television shows, which is the only thing that brings her a sense of joy and laughter in life.

Background

Seiko took in her granddaughter Momo when she was little and wanted to pass on a little of her ways as a spirit medium, instructing her to perform a daily spell routine that would potentially help her to release her ki. Following her grandmother's instructions, Momo faced bullying from children whenever she performed the daily spell in public. This then resulted in Momo blaming Seiko for the mistreatment and accusing her of being a fraudulent spirit medium, a claim that deeply affected her. Eventually, their relationship began to heal after Momo apologized to Seiko.

Abilities and Powers

Overall Abilities

Seiko is heavily relied on by Momo, Okarun, and their friends and allies whenever they are faced with powerful forces that are beyond their capabilities to confront together, whether they are spirit related or not.

Natural Abilities

Physical Prowess

Enhanced Human Condition: Seiko has demonstrated to have physical prowess that are above an average human. In her fight against the Evil Eye, she was shown capable of putting enough physical power into her bat to knock down the yokai and create a crater on the ground with one swing. She has also shown to possess impressive speed and reflexes, as she was able to avoid being hit by the Evil Eye's attacks in close combat.

Mental Prowess

Seiko using her barriers to protect herself from Turbo Granny and to trap her.

Tactical Intellect: Seiko has great strategic skills, having formulated the plan to lure Turbo Granny out of Shono City and into a trap to exorcise her and the Earthbound Spirit Crab and organized the operation to release Rin of the Onbusuman. During her face-off with Turbo Granny, who had taken over Okarun, Seiko foresaw the yokai's strike from her blind spot and had preemptively erected a mystic barrier to protect herself. Additionally, she was clever enough to prepare a tight space secondary barrier to trap Turbo Granny, which then allowed her to strike Turbo Granny relentlessly with her bat from various angles, with each blow also knocking Turbo Granny back out of the barrier, resulting in further harm from being ignited.

Skill Set

Seiko, Momo, and Manjiro attempt to exorcise the Evil Eye out from Jiji.

Mediumship: Seiko is recognized for her profound knowledge and understanding of spirits, being a highly esteemed spirit medium. Her capabilities to exorcise evil spirits from individuals or locations is considered exceptionally high among the most experienced spirit mediums, as five, previously employed by the Enjoji Family to rid the Evil Eye from their house, recommended Seiko to Jiji as a final measure following their failed attempts.

Master Hand-to-Hand Combatant: Seiko possesses exceptional prowess in unarmed combat, demonstrating impeccable martial arts skills in countering a group of kung fu fighting jiangshi and defeat them single-handedly.

Armed Combat Mastery: Seiko mainly fights using her bat Nessie to overpower her enemies into submission. She handles her bat using both one-handed and two-handed grips; with the two-handed approach allowing her to deliver more forceful strikes, powerful enough to make her opponents create craters in the ground when they're knocked down. Along with this weapon, she uses her talismans and charm nails when up against spirits to exorcise them with her mystic barriers.

In a situation where she doesn't have her bat or charms on hand, Seiko is able to improvise by using whatever is around her as a weapon, such as using a piece of wood as a blunt weapon to swing as a substitute for Nessie.

Cooking: Seiko is a skilled cook, shown being able to prepare various dishes for the Family at times.

Supernatural Abilities

Spiritual Awareness
Seiko is capable of seeing spirits, such as earthbound spirits and yokai.
Divination
Seiko has demonstrated to be able to glean information about people using a crystal ball, as she was able to accurately uncover Shoma's secrets.
Power Borrowing
Seiko has the ability to borrow power from gods that reside within regions, with her main region being Kamigoe City where she lives.

Mystic Barrier
	By borrowing power from a god through unknown means, Seiko is able to erect mystic barriers that are able to exorcise evil spirits, or anyone cursed by an evil spirit for that matter. This is done with the use of her charm nails and talisman.

Strengths and Weaknesses
The primary power of the barrier lies in its ability to enable Seiko to fend off evil spirits, using its flame ignition effects to incinerate them until they turn to ash. The lethality of the barrier is heightened when more than one nail is placed on the ground. Since her barriers are only effective if the god she is borrowing power from is around, Seiko is limited to exorcising evil spirits within the perimeter of the region the god resides in. In exchange for the privilege of wielding the god's power, Seiko is also obligated to fulfill the condition of visiting temples for three days to express gratitude. While this condition was established after Seiko borrowed power from the god of Hokkaido, it is unclear if there are conditions that vary with each god she borrows power from, if it is Seiko or the god who sets the condition, or if the temple visiting is a standard condition associated with her power borrowing.
Usage
An interior barrier that prevents evil spirits from entering the circle. An exterior barrier that prevents evil spirits from going outside the circle. Seiko throwing a brick with a barrier to harm Turbo Granny. Seiko uses her mystic barriers to ward off evil spirits from her home by placing her talismans inside her house and on the torii gate. To safeguard herself against evil spirits, Seiko forms a protective barrier by tracing a large circle on the ground with the retractable pencil tip of her bat, Nessie, and positions a charm nail within the circle. This method can also trap an evil spirit by drawing a circle around them and placing a charm nail from the outside, resulting in the exterior of the circle acting as a mystical barrier that will activate the barrier's ignition if said evil spirit steps passed the circle. This renders the evil spirit vulnerable to Seiko's mercy, enabling her to relentlessly strike them with her bat from different angles, while the barrier sets them ablaze from being knocking back with each strike. Seiko can then finish off the evil spirit by placing a charm nail within the circle. Seiko is also able to use the barrier for offense as well, as she stopped Turbo Granny from eating Momo by placing a drawing a small circle on a brick and placing a charm nail within the circle, using it as a throwing weapon that sets off the barrier's flames once made contact.

Power of Words (言霊, Kotodama?)
Seiko is able to harness the Power of Words, referring to the power to alter reality through one's words that are said with conviction behind them.

Usage
Seiko has been shown using the Power of Words for combat purposes to enhance her physical strength. With it, she could increase the power of her batting swings to knock back her targets a good distance. She also utilized it to give herself enough strength to pull Rin up to the top of the dashi float.
Techniques
Nessie (ネッシー, Nesshī?)
	Seiko's signature and sole use of the Power of Words in which she shouts out the "Nessie" to enhance her physical strength. She mainly employs this technique to increase the swinging power of her bat (or any slender blunt object) to knock back her target with great force. Seiko formulated this technique in a training session with Momo when her granddaughter was little. She demonstrated the Power of Words by striking a sandbag, propelling it into the air with a swing of her bat while calling out "Nessie", this name being inspired by Momo's assertion of what she believed to be the strongest creature in the world.

Equipment

Nessie (ネッシー, Nesshī?)
Seiko's signature weapon is a bat inscribed with the words "Power of Nessie" (ネッシーの力, Nesshī no Chikara?). Her formidable strength, along with her use of the Power of Words, allows her to deliver powerful swings. Additionally, the bat is equipped with a retractable pencil tip, which Seiko utilizes for her barrier magic.

Talisman
Talismans that are capable of casting Seiko's mystical barriers, detecting nearby evil spirits, and perform sealing rituals.	AnimeAnime | MangaManga
Usage
Seiko has positioned talismans in her home as a defense against any invading evil spirits.

Charm Nails
Special nails that are linked to Seiko's ability to borrow power from regional gods to cast her mystic barriers.

Crystal Ball
A crystal ball that Seiko uses to perform her divinations.

Spirit Medium Robes
Clothing that function similarly to bulletproof vests against evil spirits.

Harisen
A harisen that is capable of driving out evil spirits sealed within a person.

Chapter Appearances

Kintama Hunt Saga

Cursed House Arc
28. That's A Premonition About The Turmoils of Love!	Appears
29. First Love!	Absent
30. Don't Give Up!	Absent
31. The Life of an Anatomical Doll	Appears
32. Let's Go to the Cursed House	Absent
33. Better Decide Which One's Into Her	Absent
34. The Kito Family Is Coming	Flashback
35. Where's The Tsuchinoko Monster?	Absent
36. The Kito Family's Old Lady	Mentioned
37. Like, This Is the Legend of the Giant Snake	Absent
38. Mongolian Death Worms Are Deadly	Absent
39. The Evil Eye	Absent
40. Contract	Absent
41. Jiji the Prodigy	Mentioned
42. Escape! Multistage!	Absent
43. You Won't Get Away With This!	Absent
44. That House Is a Damn Eyesore	Absent
45. It's a Pump	Absent
46. Put That Fire Out	Flashback
47. That's, Like, Way Deadly	Appears
48. That UFO Is Awesome	Appears
49. He's, Like, Sealed	Appears
50. Let's All Carry Around Hot Water	Appears

Evil Eye Arc
51. We Can All Stay There Together!	Appears
52. The Hayashi Performers Are Here	Appears
53. We Became a Family	Appears
54. Get a Part-Time Job	Appears
55. Moe Moe Tri-Beam	Appears
56. Feeling Kinda Gloomy	Appears
57. Scary Dudes at School	Absent
58. Symphony No. 6	Absent
59. Symphony No. 9	Absent
60. You Can Do It, Okarun!	Appears
61. The Evil Eye's Briefs	Appears
62. I Want to Rebuild the House	Appears

Space Globalists Arc
74. Let's Go to School	Appears
75. Ran Into Someone Deadly	Absent
76. What Do We Do With Her?	Absent
77. This Person is a Pain in the Butt	Appears
78. A Pulse-Pounding Night	Appears
79. Just Who the Heck Is This Person?	Appears
80. Ran Into Some Deadly Dudes 2	Absent
81. What Do We Do About These Deadly Dudes?	Absent
82. Number One Deadliest Dude	Absent
83. At Work	Absent
84. Annoying Dudes	Absent
85. The Power of Nessie	Flashback
86. I Just Wanna Leave Already	Absent
87. Can Never Sleep at a Manga Cafe	Mentioned
88. Spy	Absent
89. Argument	Appears
90. What're We Gonna Do?	Absent
91. Initiate! The Road to Counterattack!	Absent
92. Just Can't Sleep	Mentioned
93. Astral Body Adventure	Appears
94. Please Tell Me How To Get Back Into My Body	Appears
95. Day of the Decisive Battle	Absent
96. Motivation	Absent
97. What To Do About the Name?	Absent
98. What To Do About My Beauty Treatment	Absent
99. My Turn	Absent
100. Close That Gate	Absent
101. Vamola	Absent
102. Vamola 2	Absent
103. Vamola 3	Absent
104. Vamola 4	Absent
105. Banga	Absent
106. Vamola's Reasons	Absent
107. I've Decided On Takoyaki	Absent
108. I'm Gonna Kick Ya Into Tomorrow	Flashback
109. Mantis Shrimp's Calculation	Absent
110. Wicked Power	Absent
111. Everyone's Reconvened	Absent
112. Today is a Tuesday	Absent
113. Wreck 'Em	Flashback
114. A Persistent Bastard	Absent
115. It's Kinta's Turn Onstage	Mentioned
116. Howl, Great Kinta!	Absent
117. Out of the Frying Pan	Flashback
118. The Power of Reiko Kashima	Absent
119. That Note	Appears
120. Reiko Kashima's Maiden Heart	Absent

Onbusuman Arc
121. Who's This Person?	Appears
122. Let's Form a Club	Absent
123. The Class Rep's Secret	Appears
124. Ombusman	Appears
125. Let's Do an Exorcism	Appears
126. It's a Parade Float. It's a Festival. It's Ninomiya	Appears
127. Float Performance Face-Off	Appears
128. Let's Be Idols	Appears

Danmanra Arc
129. Kawabanga	Absent
130. Mission Impossible	Absent
131. It's, Like, Pride	Absent
132. Delinquents' Track Meet	Absent
133. Where's Zuma?	Absent
134. Deadly Magic Object	Absent
135. She Went and Entered It	Absent
136. It's, Like, a Board Game	Absent
137. That Zuma Dude	Absent
138. Start Game	Absent
139. Let 'Em Eat Cake	Absent
140. How to Use Powers	Absent
141. Eatin' Too Many Treats	Appears
142. That's Enough Of Sweets!	Mentioned
143. Let's Take a Break!	Absent
144. Let's Go On An Adventure!	Absent
145. Commence Castle Siege	Absent
146. Castle Sieges Are Hard	Absent
147. It's a Megabrawl	Absent
148. Game Cleared	Absent
149. That Devil, the Fairy-Tale Card	Absent
150. This Guy's a Pain	Absent
151. Get That Family Jewel Back	Absent
152. Turbo Granny vs. Brella Boy	Absent
153. Unji Zuma	Absent
154. Unji Zuma 2	Absent
155. Unji Zuma 3	Absent
156. 'Brella Boy	Absent
157. Masamichi Bega	Absent
158. That Kawabanga Girl	Absent
159. Escape from the Cursed Trunk!	Absent
160. The Power of the Demonic Fairy-Tale Card	Absent
161. Saint-Germain, the Mysterious Man	Absent
162. Let's Blow the Demonic Fairy-Tale Card Away!	Absent
163. Saviors, Don't Be Late!	Absent
164. She's Gone All Little!	Appears
165. Family Jewels—Intact	Appears

Current Saga

Kozuka Knives Arc
166. Is This a Little Fairy?	Appears
167. Hey, There's Something There	Flashback
168. There's Someone Here	Absent
169. Find The Culprit!	Absent
170. A Suspicious Woman	Absent
171. Corner the Perp!	Absent
172. Those Pygmies Are Scary	Absent
173. Corner the Criminal!	Absent
174. Queen Sensei's Infirmary	Absent
175. So Who's the True Perp?	Absent
176. Scattering the Bait	Appears
177. Let's Do Some Kung Fu	Appears
178. The Power of a God	Appears
179. This Seems Kinda Deadly	Appears
180. The Owner of the Kozuka Knives	Absent
181. Must Be the Influence of a Curse	Absent

Etymology

• The name Seiko means "star" (星) (sei) and "child" (子) (ko).
• Seiko's surname Ayase means "design" (綾) (aya) and "swift current, rapids" (瀬) (se).

Trivia

• Throughout the series, a recurring theme Seiko does is cook or purchase food for Momo, her friends, and allies, typically at the conclusion or onset of each arc, as a celebration of their triumph over paranormal challenges.
• Seiko's sleep mask is identical to a one used by Sougo Okita from the manga series Gintama.