Mao (stylized in
all caps) is a Japanese
manga series written and illustrated by
Rumiko Takahashi. It has been serialized in
Shogakukan's Weekly Shōnen Sunday magazine since May 2019, with its chapters collected in 20 tankōbon volumes as of May 2024. In North America, the series is licensed for English release by
Viz Media.
Plot
Eight years ago, Nanoka Kiba was saved from the wreckage of a fatal accident at Gogyō Town Shopping Center. Drawn to the abandoned passage of storefronts on her walk home from school in present day, she becomes inexplicably transported to Japan's
Taishō period where she meets the mysterious Mao, a fellow traveler whose arrival at a ghost-inhabited village is simultaneous with hers. Together, they investigate the bizarre events that begin to occur around them, and Nanoka soon pieces together her broken memories of the accident and how she and Mao may have something more sinister in common.
Characters
Mao (摩緒)
The wielder of a deadly longsword, Hagunsei (破軍星), Mao is a man cursed in many ways. Known as an onmyōji, he searches for the whereabouts of the byōki, a powerful
kodoku created from a terrifying ritual. He is also able to lend some of his blood to Nanoka as they share byōki blood. Mao sees himself as sort of a guardian to Nanoka. He is one of the Kou Clan Manor disciples from 900 years ago and lives as a doctor in the Taishō era.
Nanoka Kiba (黄葉 菜花, Kiba Nanoka)
A plucky third-year middle school student. She died when she was eight years old, but miraculously still lives on. Now fifteen, she uses an abandoned shopping district passage to travel to the Taishō era and investigate mysterious killings, cults, and disappearances with Mao. Like Mao, she is also cursed by the byōki and can therefore wield the Hagunsei and lend some of her blood to Mao. She currently wields the Akanemaru (地血丸), a sword that sucks blood from its wielder. She seems to have developed a crush on Mao.
Otoya (乙弥)
A shikigami and Mao's assistant. He is very knowledgeable about medicine and is rational, helping in battle.
Uozumi (魚住)
A shikigami sent by Mao to look after Nanoka. She creates the "disgusting" shakes that suppress Nanoka's byōki energy.
Byōki (猫鬼)
A demon with similar appearance to the cat once known as Haimaru (灰丸), who cursed Mao and Nanoka to be its unwilling vessels. It has visited Nanoka and provided information a few times, thought its goal is unknown.
Tenko (貂子)
A friend of Mao's who operates a dining establishment and through a network of connections provides him with the latest gossip in the Taishō period.
Hyakka (百火)
A fire element user who was on friendly terms with Mao and his senior when they lived at the Kou Clan Manor in the
Heian period. Hyakka was once in love with Sana and was led to believe Mao was guilty in ending her life.
Kuchinawa (朽縄)
A wood element user who occasionally joins forces with Mao when it is convenient for him. Known in the Heian period as Kamon (華紋), both he and Mao were disciples of the Kou Clan Manor. He has an interest in Masago's fate.
Masago (真砂)
A kind and powerful water element user and disciple of the Kou Clan Manor. Although dead, she was captured by Shiranui for her powers. She saves Kamon, who was about to die underwater in battle, by kissing him before she passes away.
Shiranui (不知火)
A water element user who has an obsessive interest in Mao. He was also a rather lackluster disciple of the Kou Clan Manor.
Captain Shirasu (白洲)
A cunning metal element user and disciple of the Kou Clan Manor formerly known as Hakubi (白眉). He previously fought against Hyakka in the
Russo-Japanese War, holding a grudge against him, and has an old alliance with Yurako.
Yurako (幽羅子)
A mysterious woman who bears resemblance to Sana. She was confined to a cave to become a vessel for other poisonous curses and have sutras inked on her skin before she escaped. It is at this time that she first met Mao. She reveals her past and true appearance to Nanoka.
Sana (紗那)
Daughter of the Kou Clan Master, who Mao knows to have been in love with another. As a result of the master's wishes, Mao and Sana believed themselves to be betrothed. However, Sana was in love with Daigo. Her cat was Haimaru (灰丸).
Daigo (大五)
An orphan and older brother figure to Mao. After leaving the orphanage where they were both raised, he recommends Mao to join the Kou Clan as he did. During his time in the Kou clan, he grew to be one of the best earth element users. He was in love with Sana but soon died an ominous death.
Natsuno (夏野)
A laid-back earth element user and disciple of the Kou Clan Manor who Mao occasionally calls upon for help. She is looking for an earthen golem she made a pact with 900 years ago when she fell ill.
Renji (蓮次)
Working under Shiranui as an assassin known as Okuribi no Renji, he uses a
Yuechin(月琴) as a medium to store the fire flies powered by a
kodoku from a Life Extension Garden called Enmei no Niwa (延命の庭). He has a fondness for prostitutes, providing them money and being kind, stemming from his childhood abuse. His presumably kind parents adopted children to make them earn money, abused them, and sold them off, including their biological son, Renji. His adopted sister, Tsuyu, was Renji's only solace. She played the Yueqin and treated his wounds. Later, she sold herself in place of Renji, was abused by her husband till her death, who buried her in the garden soil "like trash" with her Yueqin, and paid a large sum to the parents to avoid any suspicion. Renji vowed to avenge her and burned the house his parents were in as well as the households that abused the sold-off, adopted children. Mao has cut his right arm twice to prevent him from playing the Yueqin that releases fireflies that go through any gap into humans and burn them from inside. His arm is always healed by Mei, who takes care of the Enmei no Niwa. He is from the Taishō period.
Mei Mitazono (芽生)
From the Taishō period, Mei also works under Shiranui as a doctor managing a Life Extension Garden called Enmei no Niwa (延命の庭).
Publication
Mao is written and illustrated by
Rumiko Takahashi and was announced in
Shogakukan's Weekly Shōnen Sunday in December 2018.[3][4] The manga started in Weekly Shōnen Sunday on May 8, 2019.[5][6][7] A 2-part interview between Takahashi and
Satoru Noda, author of Golden Kamuy, was published in Weekly Shōnen Sunday and
Shueisha's Weekly Young Jump to celebrate the then upcoming first volume of Mao and the new volume of Golden Kamuy in September 2019.[8][9] Shogakukan has collected the manga chapters into individual tankōbon volumes. The first volume was published on September 18, 2019.[10] A promotional commercial for the fifth volume release, narrated by Inuyasha's character
Sesshomaru (
Ken Narita), was posted in August 2020.[2] A promotional commercial for sixth volume release, narrated by Inuyasha's characters
Inuyasha (
Kappei Yamaguchi) and
Kagome (
Satsuki Yukino), was posted in October 2020.[11] On July 7, 2021, the series reached 100 chapters and a promotional commercial, featuring
Yuki Kaji as Mao (who previously expressed his interest to participate in an eventual
anime adaptation of the series),[12]Hiro Shimono as Hyakka and
Toshiyuki Toyonaga as Kamon, was posted.[13] As of May 17, 2024, 20 volumes have been released.[14]
In February 2021,
Viz Media announced that they licensed the series for English release in North America and the first volume was published on September 14, 2021.[15][16][17] On May 9, 2023, Viz Media launched their Viz Manga digital manga service, with the series' chapters receiving simultaneous English publication in North America as they are released in Japan.[18]
"The Price of Regeneration" (修復の代償, Shūfuku no Daishō)
"Human Heart" (人の心, Hito no Kokoro)
"Beyond Admiration" (その先, Sono Saki)
"The Power to Exorcise" (祓う力, Harau Chikara)
"Byoki and Yurako" (猫鬼と幽羅子, Byoki to Yurako)
"Yurako's Wish" (幽羅子の望み, Yurako no Nozomi)
"Whereabouts of the Soul" (魂の在所, Tamashī no Zaisho)
"Dark Shadow" (暗い影, Kurai Kage)
Chapters not yet in tankōbon format
"The Reason Behind the Curse" (呪った理由, Norotta Wake)
"The Determination to Curse" (呪う覚悟, Narau Kakugo)
"The Bewitching Flute" (子寄せの笛, Koyose no Fue)
"The Flute Player" (笛使い, Fuetsukai)
"The Curse of the Flute's Tune" (笛の音の呪縛, Fue no ne no Jubaku)
"The Living Doll" (生人形, Ikiningyō)
"Dollmaker" (人形師, Ningyōshi)
"Doll Workshop" (人形工房, Ningyō Kōbō)
"Power Source" (動力, Dōryoku)
"A Fitting Punishment" (耐えがたい罰, Taegatai Batsu)
"Metal Vanquishes Wood" (金尅木, Kin Koku Moku)
"Made an Example of Him" (見せしめ, Miseshime)
"Black Snakes" (黒い蛇, Kuroi Hebi)
"Separated" (分離, Bunri)
"Anxiety" (不安, Fuan)
"The Oni's Arm" (鬼の腕, Oni no Ude)
"Sacrifice" (身代わり, Migawari)
"Praying" (祈り, Inori)
"Nightmare" (悪夢, Akumu)
"Blood and Fragrant Wood" (血と香木, Chi to Kōboku)
"Daigo's Divine Protection" (大五の加護, Daigo no Kago)
"Warning" (警告, Keikoku)
"Parting Words" (別れの言葉, Wakare no Kotoba)
"Where It All Began" (始まりの場所, Hajimari no Basho)
"Curse of Immortality" (不死の呪い, Fushi no Noroi)
"The Spell of Pot Binding" (壺結の術, Koketsu no Jutsu)
"Shiranui's Sin" (不知火の罪, Shiranui no Tsumi)
"The Goko Clan's Boat" (御降家の舟, Gokoke no Fune)
"Unkillable" (不死身の化け物, Fujimi no Bakemono)
"Family Ties" (身内の情, Miuchi no Jō)
"Hope and Salvation" (望みと救い, Nozomi to Sukui)
"Molder of Faces" (造顔師, Zouganshi)
Reception
By July 2021, the manga had 1 million copies in circulation.[13] In December 2019, Brutus magazine listed Mao on their "Most Dangerous Manga" list, which included works with the most "stimulating" and thought-provoking themes.[57] The
School Library Journal listed the first volume of Mao as one of the top 10 manga of 2021.[58]
In her review of the first volume, Rebecca Silverman of Anime News Network ranked it as B−. Silverman called the series’ time period and its world building elements interesting, praising as well Takahashi's art. Silverman, however, criticized the series for its "reused" story elements and character designs, noting similarities to Takahashi's previous works like Inuyasha and Rin-ne.[59] Also reviewing the first volume, Nick Smith of ICv2 commented that Mao is "closest to Inuyasha in style", and while he stated that the series has "nothing new or innovative", he praised the story and its artwork, adding: "[t]his is the start of what could turn out to be another classic series, if the story develops from this starting point."[60]
^「MAO」特集 梶裕貴インタビュー. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. January 17, 2020.
Archived from the original on January 17, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
Mao (stylized in
all caps) is a Japanese
manga series written and illustrated by
Rumiko Takahashi. It has been serialized in
Shogakukan's Weekly Shōnen Sunday magazine since May 2019, with its chapters collected in 20 tankōbon volumes as of May 2024. In North America, the series is licensed for English release by
Viz Media.
Plot
Eight years ago, Nanoka Kiba was saved from the wreckage of a fatal accident at Gogyō Town Shopping Center. Drawn to the abandoned passage of storefronts on her walk home from school in present day, she becomes inexplicably transported to Japan's
Taishō period where she meets the mysterious Mao, a fellow traveler whose arrival at a ghost-inhabited village is simultaneous with hers. Together, they investigate the bizarre events that begin to occur around them, and Nanoka soon pieces together her broken memories of the accident and how she and Mao may have something more sinister in common.
Characters
Mao (摩緒)
The wielder of a deadly longsword, Hagunsei (破軍星), Mao is a man cursed in many ways. Known as an onmyōji, he searches for the whereabouts of the byōki, a powerful
kodoku created from a terrifying ritual. He is also able to lend some of his blood to Nanoka as they share byōki blood. Mao sees himself as sort of a guardian to Nanoka. He is one of the Kou Clan Manor disciples from 900 years ago and lives as a doctor in the Taishō era.
Nanoka Kiba (黄葉 菜花, Kiba Nanoka)
A plucky third-year middle school student. She died when she was eight years old, but miraculously still lives on. Now fifteen, she uses an abandoned shopping district passage to travel to the Taishō era and investigate mysterious killings, cults, and disappearances with Mao. Like Mao, she is also cursed by the byōki and can therefore wield the Hagunsei and lend some of her blood to Mao. She currently wields the Akanemaru (地血丸), a sword that sucks blood from its wielder. She seems to have developed a crush on Mao.
Otoya (乙弥)
A shikigami and Mao's assistant. He is very knowledgeable about medicine and is rational, helping in battle.
Uozumi (魚住)
A shikigami sent by Mao to look after Nanoka. She creates the "disgusting" shakes that suppress Nanoka's byōki energy.
Byōki (猫鬼)
A demon with similar appearance to the cat once known as Haimaru (灰丸), who cursed Mao and Nanoka to be its unwilling vessels. It has visited Nanoka and provided information a few times, thought its goal is unknown.
Tenko (貂子)
A friend of Mao's who operates a dining establishment and through a network of connections provides him with the latest gossip in the Taishō period.
Hyakka (百火)
A fire element user who was on friendly terms with Mao and his senior when they lived at the Kou Clan Manor in the
Heian period. Hyakka was once in love with Sana and was led to believe Mao was guilty in ending her life.
Kuchinawa (朽縄)
A wood element user who occasionally joins forces with Mao when it is convenient for him. Known in the Heian period as Kamon (華紋), both he and Mao were disciples of the Kou Clan Manor. He has an interest in Masago's fate.
Masago (真砂)
A kind and powerful water element user and disciple of the Kou Clan Manor. Although dead, she was captured by Shiranui for her powers. She saves Kamon, who was about to die underwater in battle, by kissing him before she passes away.
Shiranui (不知火)
A water element user who has an obsessive interest in Mao. He was also a rather lackluster disciple of the Kou Clan Manor.
Captain Shirasu (白洲)
A cunning metal element user and disciple of the Kou Clan Manor formerly known as Hakubi (白眉). He previously fought against Hyakka in the
Russo-Japanese War, holding a grudge against him, and has an old alliance with Yurako.
Yurako (幽羅子)
A mysterious woman who bears resemblance to Sana. She was confined to a cave to become a vessel for other poisonous curses and have sutras inked on her skin before she escaped. It is at this time that she first met Mao. She reveals her past and true appearance to Nanoka.
Sana (紗那)
Daughter of the Kou Clan Master, who Mao knows to have been in love with another. As a result of the master's wishes, Mao and Sana believed themselves to be betrothed. However, Sana was in love with Daigo. Her cat was Haimaru (灰丸).
Daigo (大五)
An orphan and older brother figure to Mao. After leaving the orphanage where they were both raised, he recommends Mao to join the Kou Clan as he did. During his time in the Kou clan, he grew to be one of the best earth element users. He was in love with Sana but soon died an ominous death.
Natsuno (夏野)
A laid-back earth element user and disciple of the Kou Clan Manor who Mao occasionally calls upon for help. She is looking for an earthen golem she made a pact with 900 years ago when she fell ill.
Renji (蓮次)
Working under Shiranui as an assassin known as Okuribi no Renji, he uses a
Yuechin(月琴) as a medium to store the fire flies powered by a
kodoku from a Life Extension Garden called Enmei no Niwa (延命の庭). He has a fondness for prostitutes, providing them money and being kind, stemming from his childhood abuse. His presumably kind parents adopted children to make them earn money, abused them, and sold them off, including their biological son, Renji. His adopted sister, Tsuyu, was Renji's only solace. She played the Yueqin and treated his wounds. Later, she sold herself in place of Renji, was abused by her husband till her death, who buried her in the garden soil "like trash" with her Yueqin, and paid a large sum to the parents to avoid any suspicion. Renji vowed to avenge her and burned the house his parents were in as well as the households that abused the sold-off, adopted children. Mao has cut his right arm twice to prevent him from playing the Yueqin that releases fireflies that go through any gap into humans and burn them from inside. His arm is always healed by Mei, who takes care of the Enmei no Niwa. He is from the Taishō period.
Mei Mitazono (芽生)
From the Taishō period, Mei also works under Shiranui as a doctor managing a Life Extension Garden called Enmei no Niwa (延命の庭).
Publication
Mao is written and illustrated by
Rumiko Takahashi and was announced in
Shogakukan's Weekly Shōnen Sunday in December 2018.[3][4] The manga started in Weekly Shōnen Sunday on May 8, 2019.[5][6][7] A 2-part interview between Takahashi and
Satoru Noda, author of Golden Kamuy, was published in Weekly Shōnen Sunday and
Shueisha's Weekly Young Jump to celebrate the then upcoming first volume of Mao and the new volume of Golden Kamuy in September 2019.[8][9] Shogakukan has collected the manga chapters into individual tankōbon volumes. The first volume was published on September 18, 2019.[10] A promotional commercial for the fifth volume release, narrated by Inuyasha's character
Sesshomaru (
Ken Narita), was posted in August 2020.[2] A promotional commercial for sixth volume release, narrated by Inuyasha's characters
Inuyasha (
Kappei Yamaguchi) and
Kagome (
Satsuki Yukino), was posted in October 2020.[11] On July 7, 2021, the series reached 100 chapters and a promotional commercial, featuring
Yuki Kaji as Mao (who previously expressed his interest to participate in an eventual
anime adaptation of the series),[12]Hiro Shimono as Hyakka and
Toshiyuki Toyonaga as Kamon, was posted.[13] As of May 17, 2024, 20 volumes have been released.[14]
In February 2021,
Viz Media announced that they licensed the series for English release in North America and the first volume was published on September 14, 2021.[15][16][17] On May 9, 2023, Viz Media launched their Viz Manga digital manga service, with the series' chapters receiving simultaneous English publication in North America as they are released in Japan.[18]
"The Price of Regeneration" (修復の代償, Shūfuku no Daishō)
"Human Heart" (人の心, Hito no Kokoro)
"Beyond Admiration" (その先, Sono Saki)
"The Power to Exorcise" (祓う力, Harau Chikara)
"Byoki and Yurako" (猫鬼と幽羅子, Byoki to Yurako)
"Yurako's Wish" (幽羅子の望み, Yurako no Nozomi)
"Whereabouts of the Soul" (魂の在所, Tamashī no Zaisho)
"Dark Shadow" (暗い影, Kurai Kage)
Chapters not yet in tankōbon format
"The Reason Behind the Curse" (呪った理由, Norotta Wake)
"The Determination to Curse" (呪う覚悟, Narau Kakugo)
"The Bewitching Flute" (子寄せの笛, Koyose no Fue)
"The Flute Player" (笛使い, Fuetsukai)
"The Curse of the Flute's Tune" (笛の音の呪縛, Fue no ne no Jubaku)
"The Living Doll" (生人形, Ikiningyō)
"Dollmaker" (人形師, Ningyōshi)
"Doll Workshop" (人形工房, Ningyō Kōbō)
"Power Source" (動力, Dōryoku)
"A Fitting Punishment" (耐えがたい罰, Taegatai Batsu)
"Metal Vanquishes Wood" (金尅木, Kin Koku Moku)
"Made an Example of Him" (見せしめ, Miseshime)
"Black Snakes" (黒い蛇, Kuroi Hebi)
"Separated" (分離, Bunri)
"Anxiety" (不安, Fuan)
"The Oni's Arm" (鬼の腕, Oni no Ude)
"Sacrifice" (身代わり, Migawari)
"Praying" (祈り, Inori)
"Nightmare" (悪夢, Akumu)
"Blood and Fragrant Wood" (血と香木, Chi to Kōboku)
"Daigo's Divine Protection" (大五の加護, Daigo no Kago)
"Warning" (警告, Keikoku)
"Parting Words" (別れの言葉, Wakare no Kotoba)
"Where It All Began" (始まりの場所, Hajimari no Basho)
"Curse of Immortality" (不死の呪い, Fushi no Noroi)
"The Spell of Pot Binding" (壺結の術, Koketsu no Jutsu)
"Shiranui's Sin" (不知火の罪, Shiranui no Tsumi)
"The Goko Clan's Boat" (御降家の舟, Gokoke no Fune)
"Unkillable" (不死身の化け物, Fujimi no Bakemono)
"Family Ties" (身内の情, Miuchi no Jō)
"Hope and Salvation" (望みと救い, Nozomi to Sukui)
"Molder of Faces" (造顔師, Zouganshi)
Reception
By July 2021, the manga had 1 million copies in circulation.[13] In December 2019, Brutus magazine listed Mao on their "Most Dangerous Manga" list, which included works with the most "stimulating" and thought-provoking themes.[57] The
School Library Journal listed the first volume of Mao as one of the top 10 manga of 2021.[58]
In her review of the first volume, Rebecca Silverman of Anime News Network ranked it as B−. Silverman called the series’ time period and its world building elements interesting, praising as well Takahashi's art. Silverman, however, criticized the series for its "reused" story elements and character designs, noting similarities to Takahashi's previous works like Inuyasha and Rin-ne.[59] Also reviewing the first volume, Nick Smith of ICv2 commented that Mao is "closest to Inuyasha in style", and while he stated that the series has "nothing new or innovative", he praised the story and its artwork, adding: "[t]his is the start of what could turn out to be another classic series, if the story develops from this starting point."[60]
^「MAO」特集 梶裕貴インタビュー. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. January 17, 2020.
Archived from the original on January 17, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2019.