Noway resembles a cream-colored wall with a blue-colored roof and a diamond-patterned base. He has yellowish-colored arms and legs, diminutive eyes and a odd-shaped mouth, both with orange lining. He wears sandals.
In Yo-kai Watch 2, Noway's form in Fleshy Souls is uncommon having blue colored bags under his eyes rather than red bags. He as well has a skill change, which is Endurance. In Bony Spirits, his form is common with his original appearance and his original skill.
Noway appears to have a rigid personality and refuses anything asked of him with "no way". He can also be seen somewhere with blue lining on his eyes and purple lining on his mouth.
Noway has the power to make someone say "No way" (or in the Japanese version, Murii~, meaning "impossible" in the Japanese version) by clapping his hands and sending an energy wave towards his target. This causes the Inspirited victim to refuse anything asked of them by saying "No way" and clapping their hands in an annoying manner, similar to Noway. It is shown that while this happens, the victim retains full awareness of what they are doing but is unable to resist.
However, Noway's refusal powers can be gotten around through reverse psychology, by asking the Inspirited victims to do the opposite of what is actually wanted.
Noway is one of the Bottom-of-the-barrel blasters available to the player at the beginning of the game thus is automatically befriended. Noway can also be found on Patrol Missions in Blossom Heights.
Noway can be found on stage 9, 20, 89 and 109 as well as stage 1 on Mystery Way, stage 11 on Super Mystery Way and stage 5 in Terror Time. He can also be freed from the Crank-a-kai with a One-Star Coin, a Thrill Coin, or an Orange Coin.
Befriended: "There's no way I can beat you! So then I join you!"
Loafing: "I just can't!"
Receiving food (favourite):"Good!"
Receiving food (normal): "It's OK!"
Receiving food (disliked): "No way!"
Freed from Crank-a-kai: "We're gonna be friends! There's no way you can say 'No way'!"
In the anime
Main article: Noway (anime)
Noway inspirits Nate in Yo-kai Noway and made him say "No way" with him still having full realization of his mouth to a barbeque party planned by Katie. Once Nate goes to the school roof, he starts searching for Noway, and eventually uncovers the Yo-kai close to the roof access door despite Whisper's skepticism. When asked to check up on what Yo-kai they were facing, Noway struck with his abilities, making Whisper unable to do so, though Nate pops Whisper's head open to get at Whisper's pad. With Whisper still possessed, Nate summons Tattletell because she only says "Tell" and his line of thinking was that she should be immune to Noway's abilities because of her limited speech; alas, she was not. Undeterred, Nate summons Blazion, with his line of thinking being that Blazion would be too motivated to be swayed. As it turns out, the two Yo-kai are evenly matched, but Noway's aura eventually wins out, and despite Blazion's resistance he ends up screaming "No way!" in an exploding fiery aura. Bummed out at Blazion's loss to Noway, Nate asked for help from Whisper, but loses his cool when the still-possessed butler kept saying no. It was only when Nate said "don't help me" did Whisper go into action and started giving Noway a piece of his mind. Once he realized exactly what was going on with Whisper, Nate summoned Jibanyan to deal with Noway by telling him not to fight. Predictably, Jibanyan came under Noway's influence, causing him to fight the wall Yo-kai at his hardest. Realizing that Noway's effects could be countered by reverse psychology, Nate ordered Noway to say "No way!", trapping the Yo-kai in a logical paradox. Nate then asked Noway not to be his friend, forcing Noway to surrender its Yo-kai medal. Nate later reveals that Noway had secretly wanted to be friends all along and Inspirited Nate to get his attention.
In EP119, Noway takes part in the Yo-1 Grand Prix.
In EP129, is revealed that before turning into a Yo-kai, Noway was a kabuki actor, specialized in holding big walls from falling with one hand. He seems very frustrated because the walls he uses are to small and easy to hold, so he orders to get bigger ones. His helpers bring a very big wall. First, he tries to hold it, however, the wall is to heavy for him and ends up falling, crushing him.
Movie
In M01, Noway is summoned by Nate along with the others Yo-kai during the final battle against Dame Dedtime where he interferes in a battle between Roughraff and one Wicked. He uses his power defeating the Wicked with his Soultimate move: "No Way Through!", but also hitting Roughraff in the process.
Etymology
"Murikabe" is a pun/portmanteau of muri (無理, "impossible", or "no way!"/"can't do it!" when used as an exclamation), muro (Italian for "wall") and nurikabe.
"Noway" is a contraction of the phrase no way!
In Spanish, "Nihablar" is a contraction of the phrase ni hablar (No way).
In German, "Nixda" is a contraction of the phrase "Nix da!" (No way).
"Nono-no" comes from "No." Curiously, "nono" means ninth, and might indicate how often he says "no."
Origin
Noway is based on the nurikabe (Japanese: 塗り壁,nurikabe "plastered wall"), a wall-shaped youkai that renders itself invisible and impedes travelers on the road by blocking it with its tall, wide body. Going around it or trying to push it down is useless, as he's immovable and can extend his body as much as he wants. The only way to make it disappear it to tap the ground at his feet with one's walking stick.
"Nurikabe" is also the name of a logic puzzle where the player has to figure out the number of white spaces in a grid by using the numbers written on it, and darken the "invisible walls" around them with a pencil.
Trivia
In Other Languages
Language
Name
Meaning
Japanese
ムリカベ Murikabe
Spanish
Nihablar
From the phrase Ni hablar ("Absolutely not").
French
Nanpart
Portmanteau of nan ("nope"), pars ("I leave") and rempart ("rampart").
Italian
Nono-no
Three times repetition of no ("no"). Coincidentally, "nono" means "ninth", and may indicate the frequency with which he says "no."
Japanese
Spanish
French
Italian
German
Korean
Arabic
Chinese (Cantonese)*
Portuguese (Brazilian)