Sakuranbou (Cherry)

Troublemaking wandering monk with spiritual powers

A wandering monk with spiritual powers who makes prophecies to Ataru Moroboshi or stirs up trouble. Distinctive for his unique face, he appears suddenly to disrupt the story.

Quotes

  • It's fate (sadame)!
  • It's going to explode!
  • Namandabu
  • It's ominous!
  • Get into the kotatsu

Trivia

  • Initially 4.5-head body proportion, later changed to comical 2-head body type
  • Never once struck by Lum's electric shocks in the series
  • Frequent explosion effects from close-up face upon appearance
  • Good friends with Kotatsu Neko and has interactions with the principal
  • Niece Sakura serves as the school nurse at Tomobiki High School
  • Appears as a hidden character in other Rumiko Takahashi anime works

Alternate names

Sakuranbou Cherry

Tags

Urusei Yatsura Sakuranbou Cherry Wandering Monk Spiritualist Troublemaker Tomobiki Town Surfing Prophet

Profile

Species
Human (Wandering Monk)
Gender
Male

Appearance

Overall appearance
A wandering monk in typical monk attire with a unique facial appearance. Initially 4.5-head body proportion, later changes to a comical 2-head body type. Short in stature, sometimes cropped out of panels.
Height
Short (considerably smaller than other characters)
Distinguishing features
  • Face with tremendous destructive power
  • Face often featured in close-ups
  • Sometimes uses bamboo stilts
Iconic items
  • Monk robes
  • Tent (used as a dwelling)
  • Surfing gear
  • Nembutsu chant

Personality and abilities

Core personality
Eccentric
Detailed personality
Kind-hearted at times but also brings misfortune and destructive trouble. Prophecies often come true, yet tends to worsen bad outcomes. Extremely humorous and boisterous, confuses those around with unpredictable actions.
Keywords
  • Prophet
  • Troublemaker
  • Spiritualist
  • Eccentric
  • Humor
  • Destructive
  • Misfortune
Motto
It's fate (sadame)!
Talents
  • Prophecy ability
  • Spiritual vision
  • Exorcism
  • Magic power
  • Projecting Mandala images
Skills
  • Surfing
  • Yoga
  • Making miraculous medicine
  • Exorcism rituals
Motivation
To accumulate merit by prophesying Ataru's fate and troubles and sealing away demons
Habits
Suddenly appears out of nowhere, startling those around like an 'explosion.' Often uses catchphrases or chants nembutsu.
Hobbies
Surfing, Yoga
Favorite foods
Manjuu

History

Backstory
A wandering monk of unknown real name. Related to a shrine maiden sister and niece Sakura, who closely resemble him in face. Intervenes in Ataru Moroboshi's daily life with extreme misfortune and prophecy abilities, frequently causing trouble. Usually settles in Tomobiki Town, living in a tent pitched in an empty lot, and sometimes freeloading meals at the Moroboshi house. Possesses high monk powers such as projecting future fates onto a Mandala.
Debut date
circa 1980
Work title
Urusei Yatsura
Media type
Manga

Frequent prophecies of Ataru's misfortunes and the resulting outbreaks of trouble

Significant event
Frequent prophecies of Ataru's misfortunes and the resulting outbreaks of trouble
Description
Reads Ataru's facial physiognomy to prophesy ill fortune, leading to bad results, though he himself often becomes the source of the trouble.

Settling down in Tomobiki Town and tent living

Significant event
Settling down in Tomobiki Town and tent living
Description
Usually pitches a tent in an empty lot to live there, often acting together with Kotatsu Neko.

Exercising magic power

Significant event
Exercising magic power
Description
Projects a Mandala, chants strange nembutsu, attempts to seal demons but often fails.

Explosive appearance upon entry

Significant event
Explosive appearance upon entry
Description
Entry scenes frequently use explosion-like effects to express the surprise of those around.

Relationships

Sakuranbou's sister (name unknown)

Sibling

A sister who looks just like him. A shrine maiden and Sakura's mother.

Sakura

Child

Sakuranbou's niece. A shrine maiden with a complicated relationship to Sakuranbou.

Kotatsu Neko

Moodmaker

A large monster cat that haunts in front of Sakuranbou's tent or the Moroboshi house, frequently acting together.

Tomobiki Town Residents

Tomobiki Town Residents: unknown

Media appearances

Urusei Yatsura

Manga / Supporting

1978-1987

Urusei Yatsura (1981 version)

Anime / Supporting

1981-1986

Urusei Yatsura (2022 version)

Anime

2022 onward (does not appear in 2022 version)

Urusei Yatsura theatrical series

Movie / Supporting

1983-1992

Urusei Yatsura related games

Game / Supporting

P Urusei Yatsura ~Lum's Love Song~

Pachinko / Supporting

Voice cast and creators

Ichiro Nagai

Voice actor
Ichiro Nagai
Language
Japanese
Version or series
1981 version anime
Notes
Original voice actor

Wataru Takagi

Voice actor
Wataru Takagi
Language
Japanese
Version or series
2022 version anime
Notes
Latest voice actor

Hideyuki Umezu

Voice actor
Hideyuki Umezu
Language
Japanese
Version or series
Pachislot and Pachinko related

Rumiko Takahashi

Creator name
Rumiko Takahashi
Role
Original author

Studio Pierrot

Creator name
Studio Pierrot
Role
Animation studio

Studio Deen

Creator name
Studio Deen
Role
Animation studio

Shogakukan

Creator name
Shogakukan
Role
Publisher

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