James Nicoll Reviews

2009’s Rin-ne, Volume One is the first tankōbon of Rumiko Takahashi’s contemporary fantasy manga series Rin-ne. Rin-ne debuted in April 2009 in Weekly Shōnen Sunday. The 398^thand final chapter appeared December 13, 2017.

When she was a young girl, Sakura Mamiya gained the ability to see ghosts. This is a gift of surprisingly little utility to a modern Japanese schoolgirl. However, when she discovers she can see her classmate Rinne Rokudo when nobody else in the class can, her gift offers her a clue as to Rinne’s nature. Clearly, the red-haired boy wearing the unusual robes is just another ghost.

This conclusion is clear, simple, and wrong.

Read more ➤

Mao, Volume 2 collects issues 9 through 18 of Rumiko Takahashi’s supernatural time-hopping fantasy. Originally serialized in Shogakukan’s Weekly Shōnen Sunday magazine, Volume 2 was first published in 2019. The English language translation was published in 2021. 

Third-year student Nanoka Kiba continues her adventures with the taciturn demon hunter Mao as he searches for the cat demon Byōki. Nanoka brings to their investigation resources and information new to Mao. Nanoka comes from the modern era, a century after the time in which Mao lives. She can reach Mao’s rustic town through a torii gate which serves as a time portal through an obscure mechanism, moving easily between times. She consults modern libraries to see what is in store for Mao’s town. 

Nothing good.

Read more ➤

Mao, Volume 1 is the first of four volumes in Rumiko Takahashi’s time-spanning fantasy series. It was first published in Japan in 2019. The English translation came out in 2021. 

Schoolgirl Nanoka survived the road accident that killed her parents. Her doting grandparents see her as frail and coddle her. Nanoka has never had any reason to doubt their assessment. After all, she is without a doubt the worst athlete in school. 

Although she dislikes passing by the spot where her parents died, it’s on the shortest way home from school. One day she takes a route she has never taken before. She steps almost a century into the past.

Read more ➤

2020’s Mermaid Saga Collector’s Edition, Vol. 1 collects five of Rumiko Takahashi’s nine Mermaid Saga horror stories. The series was originally published in Shogakukan’s Shōnen Sunday Zōkan and Weekly Shōnen Sunday from 1984 to 1994.

Immortality! It’s merely a meal away. There are, however, a few small caveats.

Read more ➤

Rumiko Takahashi​’s Urusei Yatsura romantic harem-parody manga ran from 1978 to 1989. Other popular manga followed, making Takahashi one of the more influential (and affluent) manga authors. 

In volume one, Ataru Moroboshi learns the importance of precise phrasing. 

Read more ➤

Ranma 1/2, Volume One collects the first fourteen chapters of Rumiko Takahashi’s best-selling manga. This volume was first published in Japan in 1988, Gerard Jones and Matt Thorn’s English adaptation of Volume One was published in 1993. 

Soun Tendo surprises his three daughters with the news that long ago he agreed to marry one of them to Ranma, the son of his good friend (and complete stranger to the girls) Genma Saotome. This marriage will secure the future of the Tendo family dojo and the indiscriminate grappling school of martial arts. 

Soun and Genma’s contract did not specify which daughter would marry Gemma’s’ son, Ranma. Soun is happy to leave that detail to his daughters. Oldest daughter Kasumi and second oldest daughter Nabiki graciously agree between them that they should grant the youngest daughter, Akane, this precious opportunity. Akane is shockingly ungrateful. 

As soon as Genma and son arrive at the dojo, the sisters notice previously unmentioned details that could well complicate the betrothal. Genma is a large panda. Ranma is human … but also a girl. 

Read more ➤