**Yo-kai Watch** is a TV anime based on Level-5's cross-media franchise project.
The story begins when ordinary elementary school student Keita Amano obtains a "Yo-kai Watch" one day, gaining the ability to see yokai lurking all around him.
Broadcasting began in January 2014, produced by OLM, and it triggered a social phenomenon that swept up children across all of Japan! It became a massive boom rivaling Pokemon, achieving record-breaking sales across games, toys, and movies.
Theme songs "Gera Gera Po no Uta" and "Yokai Exercise Number One" became viral sensations nationwide, with everyone from kids to adults dancing along 🎶
With laughs, tears, and a touch of horror, it's the ultimate entertainment that families can enjoy together!
✨ Highlights
🧑 👥 Main Characters
❓ FAQ
🌟 注目コメント
01① Rivaling Pokemon! A Social Phenomenon-Level Boom
Yo-kai Watch was a social phenomenon that completely dominated Japanese kids' culture from 2014 to 2015.
Yo-kai Medals sold out instantly upon release, and toy store shelves descended into chaos during the Christmas shopping season. The game software also achieved multi-million copy sales.
With a social impact described as "the biggest since Pokemon," Yo-kai Watch was life itself for children of that era 🏆
02② The Addictiveness of "Yokai Exercise No. 1" and "Gera Gera Po Song"
The ED theme "Yokai Exercise Number One" is an ultra-addictive song that sticks in your head after just one listen.
With easy-to-learn choreography, it became a national dance performed even at kindergarten and elementary school sports festivals. The OP theme "Gera Gera Po no Uta" was similarly a massive hit, resonating across Japan beyond the anime song genre.
The degree to which these anime themes permeated children's daily lives is truly legendary 🎵
03③ Everyday Problems = All the Yokai's Fault!
"Can't get motivated," "Getting into fights," "Can't stop farting" — the genius concept that everyday relatable problems are actually caused by yokai!
Kids started saying "I did badly on today's test because of yokai!" — that's how deeply this worldview permeated daily life.
By adding yokai interpretations to familiar phenomena, its immeasurable contribution was passing on Japan's traditional yokai culture to modern children 👻
04④ Explosively Charming Yokai Personalities
Jibanyan, Whisper, Komasan, Komajiro — the yokai characters are incredibly charming.
Especially Jibanyan's bittersweet backstory as a "cat spirit who doesn't want to be hit by cars," yet still acts cheerfully — it can move even adults to tears. Komasan's city adventure series "Country Bumpkin in the Big City" is also hugely popular.
With over 400 yokai appearing, the joy of finding your favorite yokai is limitless ✨
05⑤ Touching Episodes That Shine Through the Laughter
It's fundamentally a comedy, but the occasional emotional episodes pack a devastating punch.
Episodes where Jibanyan reflects on memories with his previous owner, or episodes depicting the brotherly bond between Komasan and Komajiro, cannot be watched without tears.
Precisely because it's a kids' anime, it carries messages that resonate straight to the heart, with numerous masterpiece episodes that can move adults too 😭
06① The Encounter with the Yo-kai Watch
Keita Amano, an ordinary fifth-grader, one day finds a mysterious machine resembling a capsule toy machine in the forest.
From it appears the yokai butler Whisper, who bestows upon him the "Yo-kai Watch," enabling him to see yokai that were previously invisible.
From this classic beginning of "an ordinary boy gaining a mysterious power," Keita's yokai-filled daily life begins 🔮
07② Summoning Friends with Yo-kai Medals!
Keita negotiates with yokai causing problems, and when they become friends, he receives "Yo-kai Medals."
By setting medals in the Yo-kai Watch, he can summon his yokai friends anytime to borrow their power. The approach of "becoming friends" rather than fighting is a defining feature of Yo-kai Watch.
The summoning bank scenes with iconic lines like "Monge!" and "Friend Summon!" completely captivated children's hearts 🏅
08③ Yokai Patrol Protecting the Town's Peace
Using the Yo-kai Watch's power, Keita discovers yokai causing mischief around town and solves problems.
Friends fighting, mom being in a bad mood — it might all be the work of yokai. Finding the cause with the Yo-kai Watch, sometimes fighting, sometimes persuading — that's Keita's daily life.
With many self-contained episodes, the show is structured so you can enjoy it starting from anywhere 🕵️
09④ Evolution and Expansion of the Series
Yo-kai Watch spawned multiple TV series including "Yo-kai Watch," "Yo-kai Watch!," "Yo-kai Watch♪," and "Yo-kai Watch Shadowside."
Shadowside shifted to a darker atmosphere set 30 years in the future, expanding the fan base. Multiple theatrical films were also released, with the first grossing over 7.8 billion yen.
As a massive cross-media franchise where games, anime, movies, and toys all interconnect, it carved its name into Japanese entertainment history 🎬
10⑤ Passing Down Yokai Culture Beloved Across Generations
Yo-kai Watch succeeded in entertaining modern children while passing down Japan's ancient yokai culture.
Incorporating essences of traditional yokai like "Nurarihyon," "Karakasa Obake," and "Rokurokubi," while introducing masses of newly designed yokai with modern twists.
The concept of "it's the yokai's fault" is actually a cultural mindset Japanese people have held since ancient times. The achievement of connecting this spirit to the next generation transcends mere entertainment 🇯🇵
Keita Amano (Nate Adams)
The protagonist of the series. An ordinary fifth-grader living in Sakura New Town whose catchphrase is "ordinary." After obtaining the Yo-kai Watch, he gains the ability to see yokai, befriending them while solving daily problems. Though he has no special powers, he wins the trust of yokai through kindness and sincerity — the best kind of protagonist 🌟
Jibanyan
The series' signature character. A cat spirit yokai — originally a cat that lost its life being hit by a car at an intersection. Haunted by his former owner Amy calling him "lame," he bravely challenges trucks at the intersection every day. His verbal tic ends sentences with "nyan," and he loves Chocobars 🐱
Whisper
A yokai who calls himself Keita's yokai butler. He's the one who gave Keita the Yo-kai Watch, and while he should be knowledgeable about yokai, it's obvious he's actually just searching on his smartphone Yo-kai Pad. Supremely confident yet totally useless — the ultimate comedic character 😂
Komasan
A guardian lion-dog yokai who came from the countryside to the city. With a pure and innocent personality, he's adorably amazed by everything urban, exclaiming "Monge!" His favorite food is soft serve ice cream, and his duo with younger brother Komajiro boasts top-tier popularity in the series. The spin-off "Country Bumpkin in the Big City" achieved popularity rivaling the main story 🍦
Komajiro
Komasan's younger brother. He came from the countryside with his brother, but he adapted to city life faster than his older brother with surprising savvy. He reveals unexpected potential, such as displaying talent as a DJ. His kind personality and devotion to his older brother Komasan are the secrets to his popularity 🎧
Fumichan (Fumika Kodama / Katie Forester)
Keita's classmate and the girl he secretly has a crush on. An excellent student and the class madonna with a reliable personality. Since she can't see yokai, she's generally not involved in yokai incidents, but she often serves as motivation for Keita's adventures. She has a surprisingly airheaded side, and that gap is part of her charm 💖
