Akamata

Akamata (アカマタ Akamata, lit. Red Face) is a powerful yōkai from South Asia, who is often seen working with Chinpo and Yashi-Otoshi. He first appeared in the Shonen Magazine chapter Yōkai Army.
==Appearance==
His true identity in early adaptations until the third anime was unclear as he, in gas-like form, possesses human and animal bodies. Akamata in earlier adaptations appeared as a gas-like yōkai possessing the body of an old man.
==Personality==
In the 1996 anime, he has an intense hatred for the many Japanese people that appear on Baruru Island in the hopes of profiting from the Water of Life and damage and pollute their home and scared places, and longs to overpower them for good.GeGeGe no Kitarō: Dai-Kaijū
==History==
===First Anime===
He appears in Episode #39 of the first anime adaptation, Yōkai Army.
===Third Anime===
He appears in the first movie based on the third anime adaptation, GeGeGe no Kitarō (1985 film). Here, he serves as one of Chinpo's minions, along with Yashi-Otoshi. After Kitarō is injured by one of Yashi-Otoshi's coconuts, the two of them, along with Nezumi-Otoko, begin to celebrate the boy's defeat. Unbeknownst to them, Kitarō has freed himself of his rope bindings. A fight ensues, and Kitarō injures Akamata's left eye with his Hair Needles. Kitarō has the upper hand at first, but is soon overwhelmed by the two South Asian Yōkai. Suddenly, backup arrives in the form of Neko-Musume, Sunakake-Babaa, Konaki-Jijii, and Ittan-Momen. As Sunakake-Babaa and Konaki-Jijii fight Yashi-Otoshi, Kitarō continues to battle Akamata. Using his Chanchanko, he deflects the yōkai's acid attack. It hits Akamata, turning him into stone. Kitarō takes the stone, and throws it into the sea.
Later in the film, when Nezumi-Otoko attempts to save Yumekō, he finds the stone and discovers that Akamata is still alive inside. Akamata convinces Nezumi-Otoko to crack open the rock, freeing him. A blinding light comes out, and Akamata reveals that he has the ability to possess other creatures. He takes control of Nezumi-Otoko, and sets off to defeat Kitarō.GeGeGe no Kitarō (1985 film)
===Fourth Anime===
He appears as the main antagonist in the fourth anime film, GeGeGe no Kitarō: Dai-Kaijū.
===Fifth Anime===
He appears in Episode 25 and 71 of the fifth anime adaptation, The Great Yōkai Sports Festival and Southern Yōkai Landing on Japan!!
In this adaptation, he is actually a friend of Kitarō, and one of the 47 Yōkai Warriors. He's also a member of the South Asian Yōkai Five (南方妖怪五人衆), along with Asanbosam, Yashi-Otoshi, Chinpo, and Langsuyar.
===Sixth Anime===
He appears in the second ending of the sixth anime adaptation, GET A NOTE.
==Powers and Abilities==
Possession: Akamata in the 1985 anime is a spirit-like entity to possess on living or deceased organisms and control over their bodies, and Akamata's human-like appearance in this incarnation is due to him possessing on a corpse of an old man.
Transformation: Akamata in the 2007 anime can shape-shift his lower-body to that of a serpent at will.
Breath Attacks: Akamata in the 1996 anime can use various breath attacks to petrify and to paralyze targets and sapping targets' spiritual and physical energies. He can also shoot more focused and empowered version of the attacks.GeGeGe no Kitarō: Dai-Kaijū In the 1985 anime, he primary spited acid and petrifying liquid.GeGeGe no Kitarō (1985 film).
Whirlwind: Akamata in the 1996 anime can create a whirlwind out of nowhere and carry the target at will.
Poison Sucking: Akamata in the 2007 anime can suck out poisons out of targets to recover them.
Enhanced Flexibility: As a snake, Akamata is very flexible, and is capable of coiling around his targets to bind them.
Enhanced Swimming Capability: Akamata in the 2007 anime can swim across a long distance without difficulties. 
47 Warrior Power Activation: When he was chosen to be one of the 47 Warriors, he transferred Kitarō his power, and Kitarō's internal electricity formed a shape of a giant serpent.
Akamata Petrification Breath.png|Petrifying breath
Akamata96 Sunning Breath.png|Paralyzing breath
Akamata Breath 1996.png|Empowered breath attack
Akamata Energy Taking.png|Energy Taking
Akamata Breath 1985.png|Acid attack
Akamata Energy Serpent.png|Kitarō's Internal Electricity empowered by Akamata
==Legend==
According to Shinto belief, it's one of a group of three gods: Akamata (アカマタ, Red Face), Kuromata (クロマタ, Black Face), and Shiromata (シロマタ, White Face). Akamata and Kuromata are said to be husband-and-wife, and Shiromata is their child. The term "Mata" in this case refers to the masks that the Gods would wear. It hails from the Yaeyama Islands in the Okinawa Prefecture. Very little is known about the Akamata, as the myth surrounding the deity is shrouded in secrecy. Non-islanders aren't allowed to take photos or see the ceremony in which these Gods are summoned, making information on it scarce.Information provided in English about the Akamata-Kuromata legend. Akamata is also sometimes depicted as a female serpent-yōkai.
==Trivia==
*When Akamata first debuted in Yōkai Army in 1968, Okinawa was not part of Japan, but was instead a territory of the United States until 1972. This is likely the reason Akamata was initially classified as a South Asian Yokai.
==References==
==Navigation==
Category:Characters
Category:Males
Category:Yōkai
Category:Water Yōkai
Category:Human-like Yōkai
Category:Parasite Yōkai
Category:Southern Yōkai
Category:Animal-like Yōkai
Category:Antagonists
Category:Former antagonists
Category:47 Yōkai Warriors
Category:Japanese Mythology
Category:Snake Yōkai
Category:Former Antagonist (1996)
Category:Antagonist (1985)
Category:Antagonist (1968)
Category:New Guinean Yōkai
Category:Ryūkyū Mythology
Category:Spirit-like Yōkai
Category:Rock Yōkai
Category:Wind Yōkai
Category:Poison Yōkai