aforrd

+ the first time I ever drew them. it's also a ship chart hehe

Ritsu: Karasu-Tengu.

The feather fan he holds is a magic item used by Tengu to create wind, and his geta (sandals) only have one tooth. You can also see the tokin on his head and the pompom sash on his outfit, which Tengu are very commonly associated with. Tengu are usually depicted with avian and/or monkey features. Specifically, Ritsu is a Karasu Tengu (crow Tengu). In early stories, they would abduct boys and preists and drive them mad until they returned them. In later stories, they were seen as fierce protectors of temples and forests. It is said that people become Tengu after death because they cannot go to hell (usually because they're Buddhist), but cannot go to heaven either.

Serizawa: Tanuki/Raccoon dog.

Tanuki are similar to Kistune in the fact they represent normal animals and they have magic and shape-shifting abilities, but also because they enjoy playing tricks on humans. The smartest of Tanuki can live their whole lives among humans without being noticed. Tanuki are neither malicious nor pacifist, as each is an individual. They also have massive balls. Magic balls. Balls that can transform into weapons or places.

Mob and Dimple: Oni.

I originally thought Mob was a Kirin because I saw people calling him that, but it doesn't make any sense for him to have a weapon because Kirin are pacifists. The weapon is also a kanabou club, which is commonly depicted with Oni. Oni are the demons of yokai, being created before or after an evil human dies. They can shapeshift to fool victims. They're usually seen as malicious beings with one or more horns.

Something I found interesting, though, was that in the story The Red Oni who Cried, a red Oni wants to befriend humans but is afraid, so he cries. A blue Oni decides to help the red Oni by terrorizing humans and letting the red Oni protect them. That way, they would want to be friends with the red Oni. When the red Oni realizes this and goes to thank the blue Oni, he finds that the blue Oni is gone, and cries out of gratitude for what he did. The art is likely a reference to this story as Dimple has a blue hat (?) and Mob is wearing red. This reminds me a lot of the end of the Divine Tree Arc where Mob cries over Dimple's sacrifice to him as a friend.

Reigen: Kitsune.

I knew he was a Kitsune before the art was even dropped. There's nothing I think would fit him better. Like Tanuki, Kitsune are fox yokai that are known for their tricky nature, magic, and shape-shifting abilities that allow them to live amongst humans. One popular trick is that they will trade humans fake leaf money instead of real money, which is very Reigen. Some Kitsune are messengers of Inari, gods, or greater spirits. Messengers of Inari specifically are white foxes.

☆𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓾☆: Tatsu/Dragon.