Shonen Jump's Upcoming Hit Anime Finally Discloses the Meaning of Its Bizarre Name

Summary The meaning behind Dandadan's title is linked to Hindu mythology, possibly referencing a powerful godly weapon.

The focus of Dandadan's story is likely to shift to people vying for control of the Dandadan.

The reveal of the title's meaning hints that Dandadan might be approaching its end.

Warning: Contains spoilers for Dandadan chapter #163. Dandadan, the Shonen Jump manga with an anticipated anime on its way, has always been a weird story, and one of the strangest things about it has been its name. In every language, the title has come across as just a random assortment of syllables, and while that can be seen as being in line with the bizarre nature of the story, it turns out there is much more behind it.

Ever since its debut, the meaning of Yukinobu Tatsu's Dandadan's title has been a mystery, if there even was one, but the series seems to have finally hinted at the truth behind it. Dandadan chapter #163 ended with a major reveal of what the title means, and while nothing was stated outright, it’s heavily implied that Dandadan’s title references an important facet of Hindu mythology.

The biggest theory about the meaning of Dadadan's title until now came from the cover of the third Japanese volume, which used the words kai-dan, ki-dan, and taiken-dan, which means ghost tales, strange tales, and recounting tales. However, there is never been any official confirmation from the author.

The True Meaning Of Dandadan’s Title Will Get Explained Soon

The Word Is About To Play a Major Role in the Story

In Dandadan chapter #163, after Count Saint-Germain, an enigmatic figure who may or may not be a villain, stole the power of the Fairy Tail Card yokai, he then asked him if he was familiar with “Dandadan”, with the background showing a collage of deities from Hindu mythology. In Hinduism, the word “Danda” refers to scepters that are both weapons of the gods and symbols of power, so that means Dandadan’s title likely refers to the most powerful godly weapon to exist in the story.

Dandadan’s title referring to a physical object also sets up what the story surrounding it will be. Count Saint-Germain is noted to be a collector of paranormal powers and paraphernalia, and with him working with the Space Globalists in some capacity, that’s bound to put him in conflict with Momo, Okarun, and the other main characters, so Dandadan’s story will likely be about the heroes and villains fighting for control of the Dandadan. How that will play out is unclear, but once Dandadan comes off its hiatus, the way the story will progress is bound to become more apparent.

Dandadan Might Be Heading Into Its Final Arc

Is Dandadan Going To End Soon?

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Another point worth considering about the reveal of the meaning behind Dandadan’s title is what it implies about the story’s longevity. With Okarun having finally recovered his missing testicle, the main arc of the story has finally been resolved. With the reveal surrounding the title, Dandadan might be heading toward its final story arc.

Dandadan has been one of the best manga under the Shonen Jump label for years, and the series is finally getting more recognition thanks to the anime announcement. If it really is heading toward its end, it’s sure to be great to watch play out.