Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan

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Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan
File:Nurarihyon no Mago Japanese Vol 1 Cover.jpg
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, Adventure, Fantasy, Supernatural
Manga
Written by Hiroshi Shiibashi
Published by Shueisha
English publisher
Demographic Shōnen
Magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump (former), Jump Next!
English magazine
Original run March 2008 – December 2012
Volumes 25 (List of volumes)
Anime television series
Directed by Junji Nishimura
Written by Natsuko Takahashi
Music by Kohei Tanaka
Studio Studio Deen
Network Yomiuri TV, Tokyo MX, Chukyo TV, BS11, ABS-CBN, ABS-CBN Sports+Action
English network
Original run July 6, 2010 – December 21, 2010
Episodes 26+1 special (List of episodes)
Anime television series
Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan: Demon Capital
Directed by Michio Fukuda
Music by Kazuhiko Sawaguchi
& Keiji Iuchi
Studio Studio Deen
Network Yomiuri TV, Tokyo MX, BS11, Nagoya Broadcasting Network
English network
Original run July 3, 2011 – December 18, 2011
Episodes 26+2 OVA (List of episodes)
Portal icon Anime and Manga portal

Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, known in Japan as Nurarihyon's Grandson (Japanese: ぬらりひょんの孫 Hepburn: Nurarihyon no Mago?), 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 25 tankōbon volumes as of December 2012. 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]

Plot

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See also: List of Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan characters

Rikuo Nura is 3/4 human and 1/4 yōkai. He has a human form in the day but transforms into his yōkai form at night. He lives in a house full of yōkai 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 the Third Head of the Nura Clan. Rikuo is different because he helps humans. He eventually comes to terms with his yōkai blood and decides to take up the position of the Third Head of the Nura Clan. 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's Test Arc
The Kiyojuji Paranormal Patrol travels to Mt. Nejireme at the invitation of a supposed yōkai specialist. However, the invitation turns out to have been a trap by the head of the Gyuki Clan. Separated, the members of the Kiyojuji Paranormal Patrol must deal with yōkai 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.The two 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 Clan 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 Yakō battle with Tamazuki and his Hachijuuhakki Yakō (consisting of 88 demons, instead of the 100 of a Hyakki Yakō) and emerge victorious.However, Rikuo decides to spare Tamazuki after the battle 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 yōkai 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 yōkai Nurarihyon possesses and, having grown stronger, leaves along with several Tono Yokai to return to the Nura House and prepare for the assault on Kyoto.
Kyoto Arc
Rikuo, along with the vast majority of the Nura Clan and several yōkai 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 Yakō to replace the fallen barriers and stop Hagoromo Gitsune from giving birth to a new evil.
Hundred Tales Clan Arc
After the battle with Hagoromo Gitsune's forces and the resurrected Abe no Seimei, also known as Nue, Rikuo and the Nura Clan are challenged by the remnants of the Hundred Tales Clan and its executives. The clan was once led by a human named Sanmoto Gorozaemon who grew in power by spreading stories about yōkai and in turn created them. The group was destroyed by Rihan and the Nura Clan 350 years ago. Now, the clan is encroaching on the Nura Clan's territory and working to revive Sanmoto's main body, which resides in hell.
Gokadoin House Arc
Following the battle with Sanmoto Gorozaemon and his Hundred Tales Clan, it was revealed that the onmyoji sect known as the Gokadoin House is composed of Abe no Seimei's descendants who used Seimei's forbidden research on immortality to prolong their lives. When the Gokadoin house starts mobilizing to "purify" the land of yōkai and humans, Rikuo starts to establish an alliance between the various yokai clans throughout Japan.

Terminology

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  • Sakazuki (盃 Sakazuki?) is the term used for a pledge of loyalty made over an exchange of wine or sake. A 50-50 portion division gives equal footing to both parties, and is considered a sakazuki of sworn brothers. A 70-30 portion division is a pledge of fealty between a boss and his subordinates.[3]
  • Ikigimo (生き肝 Ikigimo?) is a term for when a person's liver is taken out while they are still alive. Many yōkai in Nurarihyon's time believed ingesting the life force (i.e. liver) of infants, priests/priestesses and noble persons would increase their strength.
  • Osore (畏 Osore?) is the term that denotes the unique skills and traits of each yōkai. It refers to the "Fear" of the unknown, an emotional reaction produced when the yōkai represent themselves as "monsters". It is especially important for leaders who wish to draw together gangs of yōkai. There are different types of "Fear" depending on the type of yōkai, such as water or ice. It also plays an important role in battles between yōkai, in which they must "scare one another".
  • Hatsu (鬼發 Hatsu?) is the first stage of activating "Fear", and is simply an attempt to scare an opponent by exerting a frightening aura. Those affected by "Manifestation" will experience an overwhelming sense of intimidation, and depending on their opponent's skills, may hallucinate. This aura produces a palpable wall of pressure in the atmosphere, and cutting through this tension to reach the enemy is an important part of yōkai combat.
  • Hyoui (鬼憑 Hyoui?) is the second stage of activating "Fear" used in yōkai battles. It is the process by which a yōkai materializes their "Fear" into an attack that can harm their enemy by severing their "Manifestation". Yōkai can produce a variety of attacks and techniques based on their type of "Fear".
  • Matoi (鬼纏 Matoi?) is a special technique allowing the leader of the Hyakki Yakō to strengthen their "Fear". This technique was created by the Second Head of the Nura Clan, Rihan Nura, and will only work for a leader who is part human. The explanation for this requirement is that the leader must have a "human heart" to be able to empathize or "understand" his subordinates, in order to invoke Matoi. The technique works by "layering" or "covering" the leader in his subordinate's fear, which augments and strengthens his own power. The leader literally "wears" his subordinate, which also gives him access to his subordinate's unique abilities (when Rikuo used Matoi with Tsurara, his attacks gained the ability to freeze his targets). When Matoi is invoked with a subordinate for the first time, a tattoo-like marking appears on the leader's body, symbolizing the pact they have made.

Media

Manga

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Main article: List of Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan chapters

Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan is written and illustrated by Hiroshi Shiibashi and has been serialized in the manga anthology Weekly Shōnen Jump since March 2008. As of December 4, 2012, the series has been collected into 24 tankōbon volumes by Shueisha,[4] with the first being released on August 4, 2008.[5] In the thirtieth issue (2012) of Weekly Shōnen Jump, it was announced that the manga would be leaving the magazine for the conclusion to its final story arc which will run in the seasonally published Jump NEXT! Starting on August 11, 2012 the first of three chapters will be published with a 64-page chapter, and will continue in October and December.[6][7] The manga was licensed for an English language release by Viz Media who publishes the series chapter wise in its manga anthology Weekly Shonen Jump Alpha since the magazines launch on January 30, 2012,[8] and in bound volumes since February 1, 2011.[9] As of February 5, 2013, 13 English-language volumes have been released.[10] The first tankobon was translated by localization company AltJapan Co., Ltd.

The covers of each volume make a continuing picture of all the characters.

Anime

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Main article: List of Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan episodes

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.[11] New episodes, subtitled in English, are made available for streaming on their website several hours after they air in Japan.[12] 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.[13]

The second season, Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan: Demon Capital (ぬらりひょんの孫 千年魔京 Nurarihyon no Mago: Sennen Makyō?), premiered in Japan on July 3, 2011; and was made available for streaming with English subtitles the next day.[14][15] The season follows Rikuo as he trains for his upcoming battle with Hagoromo Gitsune.

The English dub of the series was posted for streaming on Viz Media's online network, Neon Alley, on October 2, 2012.[11]

Other print media

A character data book titled Nurarihyon no Mago: Official Character Data Book: Secret Ayakashi Notes (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.

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 Yohime's wedding ceremony and a strange encounter between Zen and Kuromaru, as well as an original tale centering on the yōkai who live in Ukiyoe Town.[16]

Video game

A video game called Nurarihyon no Mago: Great Profuse Hyakki War (ぬらりひょんの孫:百鬼繚乱大戦 Nurarihyon no Mago: Hyakki Ryōran Taisen?) has been announced as developed by Arc System Works and published by Konami.[17]

Reception

The first tankōbon ranked 9th on Tohan manga charts,[18] the third ranked 5th,[19] the fourth ranked 10th,[20] the fifth ranked 9th,[21] and the sixth ranked 8th,[22] and each volume starting from the third sold over 100,000 copies.[19][20][22][23] Тhe manga has sold 11 million copies as of volume 21.

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.[citation needed]

See also

Teito Monogatari: A historical fantasy novel by Hiroshi Aramata widely recognized for starting the "onmyoji boom" in Japan. The fourth volume of the light novel adaptation of Nurarihyon no Mago (entitled Teito Koi Monogatari) is a direct reference to it.[24]

References

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  3. ↑ Chapter 40
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  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ [1] ぬらりひょんの孫 帝都鯉物語

External links

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