Mao (stylized as MAO) 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 eight tankōbon volumes as of March 2021. In North America, the series is licensed for English release by Viz Media.
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 apart 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, 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.
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.
A demon with similar appearance to the cat once known as Haimaru (灰丸), who cursed Mao and Nanoka to be its unwilling vessels.
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.
Hyakka (百火)
A fire element user who was on friendly terms with Mao 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.
Shiranui (不知火)
A water element user who has a obsessive interest with 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, and has an old alliance with Yurako.
Yurako (幽羅子)
A mysterious woman who bears resemblance to Sana.
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.
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.
Natsuno (夏野)
A laid-back earth element user and disciple of the Kou Clan Manor who Mao occasionally calls upon for help.
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 July 16, 2021, nine 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] The series has also been licensed in France by Glénat,[18][19] in Italy by Star Comics[20] and in Indonesia by Elex Media Komputindo.[21]
"Village Play Troupe" (村芝居の一座, Murashibai no Ichiza)
"Right Hand" (右手, Migite)
"Curse Play" (呪い遊び, Noroi Asobi)
"Kagari" (かがり, Kagari)
"Needle Marks" (針の跡, Hari no Ato)
"Ghost and Rakshasa" (幽鬼と羅刹, Yūki to Rasetsu)
"Yurako's World" (幽羅子の世界, Yurako no Sekai)
Chapters not yet in tankōbon format[]
"Sympathy" (いたわり, Itawari)
"Words are a Curse" (言葉は呪い, Kotoba wa Noroi)
"Fiery Insect" (苛火虫, Kakachu)
"Renji" (漣次, Renji)
"Life or Death Choice" (生死の選択, Seishi no Sentaku)
"Life Extension Garden" (延命の庭, Enmei no Niwa)
"Ambition" (野望, Yabō)
"Hakubi's Intentions" (白眉の胸中, Hakubi no Kyōchū)
"Family Matters" (家の事情, Ke no jijō)
"The First Victim" (最初の被害者, Saisho no Higaisha)
"The Protective Sword" (護り刀, Mamori Katana)
"Curse Transfer" (呪い移し, Noroi Utsushi)
"Meimeido" (冥命堂, Meimeido)
"Soma's Mission" (双馬の使命, Soma no Shimei)
"Ready to Kill" (殺す覚悟, Korosu Kakugo)
"Akanemaru" (地血丸, Akanemaru)
"The Katana's Master" (刀の主, Katana no Aruji)
"Bargaining" (駆け引き, Kakehiki)
"Mao's Impatience" (魔緒の焦り, Mao no Aseri)
"Philanthropic Couple" (慈善家夫婦, Jizenkafufuu)
Reception[]
As of 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.[30]
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.[31]