Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan

Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan

Japanese manga cover of the first volume of Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan
ぬらりひょんの孫
(Nurarihyon no Mago)
Genre Action, Supernatural
Manga
Written by Hiroshi Shiibashi
Published by Shueisha
English publisher Viz Media
Demographic Shōnen
Magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump
Original run March, 2008 – ongoing
Volumes 19 (List of volumes)
TV anime
Directed by Junji Nishimura
Written by Natsuko Takahashi
Music by Kohei Tanaka
Studio Studio Deen
Network Yomiuri TV, Tokyo MX, Chukyo TV, BS11, Animax Asia
Original run July 5, 2010December 27, 2010
Episodes 26 (List of episodes)
TV anime
Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan: Demon Capital
Directed by Michio Fukuda
Music by Kazuhiko Sawaguchi, Keiji Iuchi, Kouhei Tanaka
Studio Studio Deen
Network Yomiuri TV, Tokyo MX, BS11, Animax Asia, Nagoya Broadcasting Network
Original run July 3, 2011December 18, 2011
Episodes 26 (List of episodes)
Anime and Manga Portal

Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, known in Japan as Nurarihyon no Mago (ぬらりひょんの孫?, "Nurarihyon's Grandchild") is a manga series written and illustrated by Hiroshi Shiibashi. The series was first published in Shueisha as a oneshot in 2007. The manga has been continuously serialized in the Japanese manga anthology Weekly Shōnen Jump since March 2008 and has been collected into 17 tankōbon volumes as of July 2011. A Drama CD was released in December 2009.[1] An anime adaptation by Studio DEEN began airing in Japan on July 5, 2010, with the first season consisting of 26 episodes.

Viz Media acquired the licensing rights for a North American release of the manga and anime adaptations. The anime episodes have been streamed on Viz Media's anime streaming site, Viz Anime, since July 2010, while the first manga volume was released February 2011.[2]

Contents

Plot

Rikuo Nura is part human and a quarter yōkai (demon). Because he is only a quarter yōkai, Rikuo is able to turn into his yōkai form only after sunset, when the moon is out; he turns back into his human self when the sun rises. He lives in a house full of spirits along with his yōkai grandfather. Trying to escape his fate, he does good deeds in order to avoid becoming a yōkai, despite his grandfather's wish that Rikuo succeed him as master of the Nura yōkai clan. Rikuo is a different yōkai because he helps humans. He eventually comes to terms with his demon blood and decides to take up the position of Young Head of the Nura house. Multiple factions aim to stop him or usurp his position, and he must gather friends and allies, a new Hyakki Yakō under his banner of "Fear".

Storyline

Gyuki Arc
The Kiyo Cross Squad travels to Mt. Nejireme at the invitation of a supposed yokai specialist. However, the invitation turns out to have been a trap by the head of the yokai Gyuki Clan. Separated, the members of the Kiyo Cross Squad must deal with yokai of the Gyuki Clan and Rikuo ultimately faces Gyuki himself. Rikuo learns that Gyuki set up the trap because he didn't want the Nura Clan, which he greatly cherishes, to suffer under the influence of a weak leader, they clash and Gyuki is overwhelmed by Rikuo's night form. Afterward, Rikuo decides to take up the mantle of Nurarihyon and officially become the next Nura Clan head.
Shikoku Arc
When one of the board members of the Nura Group is attacked and killed, and Nurarihyon subsequently disappears without notice, the Nura Clan is thrown into chaos. Trying to keep them together, Rikuo encounters a rival faction from the Shikoku area who intend to take over the Nura Clan's territory. Their leader, Tamazuki, is ruthless and willing to sacrifice his subordinates to further his own goals. Rikuo and his Hyakki Yako battle with Tamazuki and his 88-ki Yako (consisting of 88 demons, instead of the 100 of a Hyakki Yako) and emerge victorious, but spare Tamazuki in the end at the request of his father - who Nurarihyon had gone to visit. Tamazuki is spared under the condition that he build a memorial in honor of the subordinates who died by his hand.
Past Arc
The story of Rikuo's grandparents: Nurarihyon and Yohime, the creation of the spirit blade Nenekirimaru, and the battle against Hagoromo-Gitsune 400 years ago.
Tono Arc
When Haguromo-Gitsune resurfaces in Kyoto, Rikuo is determined to fight her and take revenge for his father's death - as well as rescue Yura, who has gone to aid the rest of the Keikain family in protecting Kyoto. However, as he is still too inexperienced and weak, his grandfather asks the head of the yokai Tono Village to take in and train Rikuo. After an encounter with one of the Kyoto yokai, Rikuo comes to realize what sort of power the yokai Nuriarihyon possesses and, having grown stronger, leaves along with several Tono yokai to return to the Nura main house and prepare for the assault on Kyoto.
Kyoto Arc
Rikuo, along with the vast majority of the Nuria Clan and several yokai from Tono, invade Kyoto. Nearly all of the onmyoji barriers around the city have been destroyed by Kyoto yokai, and the Keikain house itself struggles to fight against Hagoromo-Gitsune's forces. They ultimately join forces with Rikuo's Hyakki Yako to replace the fallen barriers and stop Hagoromo-Gitsune from giving birth to a new evil.
Hundred Tales Clan Arc
Following a time skip, the Nura Clan begins to expand its territory in order to prepare for the coming battle with Seimei. Various yokai appear and cause interference with the expansion, one of whom was the Toryanse the Ripper, who tells Rikuo of the Hundred Tales Clan.

Terminology

Media

Manga

The manga has been serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump since March 2008. As of December 2, 2011, it has been collected into 19 volumes.[4]

Anime

The anime series, produced by Studio Deen, premiered on July 5, 2010 and is licensed for North America by Viz Media under the name Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan. New episodes, subtitled in English, are simulcast each week on their website several hours after they air in Japan.[5] The opening themes are Fast Forward and Sunshine performed by Monkey Majik and the ending themes are Sparky☆Start and Symphonic Dream performed by Katate Size (Aya Hirano, Yui Horie and Ai Maeda). The anime is slated to be released on eight DVDs.[6] A second season was announced and began broadcasting in Japan on July 3rd, 2011; as well as a 24-hour delayed broadcast with English subtitles on Hulu.com[7] The Second Season, Sennen Makyou, is now out and in the climax of the storyline, following Rikou as he trains for his upcoming battle with Seimei.

Data Book

A character data book titled Nurarihyon no Mago: Official Character Data Book: Ayakashi Hiroku (ぬらりひょんの孫 キャラクター公式データブック 妖秘録 Nurarihyon no Mago: Kyarakutā Kōshiki Dēta Bukku: Ayakashi Hiroku?) was released on July 2, 2010. At 264 pages, it contains information on all the major factions in the series, as well as on Shiibashi and his assistants.

Light Novel

A light novel adaptation written by Satoshi Oosaki with art by Hiroshi Shiibashi was published by J-Books in December 2009. It features the stories of Nurarihyon and Youhime's wedding ceremony and a strange encounter between Zen and Kuroumaru, as well as an original tale centering on the yōkai who live in Ukiyoe Town.[8]

Video Game

A fighting game adaptation called Nurarihyon no Mago: Hyakki Ryouran Taisen has been announced as developed by Arc System Works and published by Konami.[9]

Reception

The first tankōbon ranked 9th on Tohan manga charts,[10] the third ranked 5th,[11] the fourth ranked 10th,[12] the fifth ranked 9th,[13] and the sixth ranked 8th,[14] and each volume starting from the third sold over 100,000 copies.[11][12][14][15]

Weekly Shōnen Jump allows its readers to vote on their favorite manga, giving out the Future Gold Cup award each year to the most popular manga one-shot it publishes. In 2007, Nurarihyon no Mago ranked number one in the Future Gold Cup.

References

  1. ^ http://www.shueisha.co.jp/drama_cd/nurari/index.html
  2. ^ "Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan Manga Listed in English". http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-08-17/nura/rise-of-the-yokai-clan-manga-listed-in-english. 
  3. ^ Chapter 40
  4. ^ "ぬらりひょんの孫17" (in Japanese). Shueisha. http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=978-4-08-870266-7&mode=1. Retrieved 2011-07-01. 
  5. ^ http://www.viz.com/vizblog/index.php?id=623
  6. ^ http://www.nuramago.jp/
  7. ^ News: Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan TV Anime Gets 2nd Season
  8. ^ http://j-books.shueisha.co.jp/book/book129.html
  9. ^ Nuranihyon no Mago Official Product Page
  10. ^ "Japanese Comic Ranking, August 5–11". Anime News Network. August 13, 2008. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-08-13/japanese-comic-ranking-august-5-11. Retrieved October 2, 2009. 
  11. ^ a b "Japanese Comic Ranking, January 6–12". Anime News Network. January 14, 2009. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-01-14/japanese-comic-ranking-january-6-12. Retrieved October 2, 2009. 
  12. ^ a b "Japanese Comic Ranking, April 7–13". Anime News Network. April 15, 2009. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-04-15/japanese-comic-ranking-april-7-13. Retrieved October 2, 2009. 
  13. ^ "Japanese Comic Ranking, June 1–7 (Updated)". Anime News Network. June 10, 2009. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-06-10/japanese-comic-ranking-june-1-7. Retrieved October 2, 2009. 
  14. ^ a b "Japanese Comic Ranking, August 3–9". Anime News Network. August 12, 2009. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-08-12/japanese-comic-ranking-august-3-9. Retrieved October 2, 2009. 
  15. ^ "Japanese Comic Ranking, June 8–14 (Updated)". Anime News Network. June 17, 2009. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-06-17/japanese-comic-ranking-june-8-14. Retrieved October 2, 2009. 

External links