Nura Rise Of The Yokai Clan is worth a read or not?
Hiroshi Shiibashi has written one hell of a manga series Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, also known as Nurarihyon no Mago, in japan. It was published in Shueisha‘s Weekly Shōnen Jump from March 2008 to June 2012, and later in Jump Next! from August to December 2012. Its chapters were also collected in 25 tankōbon volumes by Shueisha.
Studio Deen produced two cour anime series on Nura Rise Of The Yokai Clan which were broadcasted in Japan from July to December 2010.
The Plot of Nura Rise Of The Yokai Clan
Rikuo Nura is 3/4 human and 1/4 yōkai; this is why he is a human by day but transforms into a yokai at night. He lives in a house with his yōkai grandfather and other yokai as well. He tried to change his fate by doing good deeds instead of becoming a yōkai, even though his grandfather’s wish was that Rikuo becomes the Third Head of the Nura Clan.
Rikuo is different because he helps humans, unlike yokai. As the story goes on, he had to come to terms with his yōkai blood and decides to take up the Third Head of the Nura Clan position. Multiple factions aim to stop him or take up his position, and he must gather friends and allies to take the position.
Official News
One good news (for Nura Rise Of The Yokai Clan fans) from the February edition of Shueisha‘s Ultra Jump magazine is that Hiroshi Shiibashi will launch a new manga titled Iwamoto-senpai no Suisen (Upperclassman Iwamoto’s Recommendation) in the magazine’s next issue, which is on February 18.
The original one-shot manga is a story based on a military academy middle school student named Iwamoto, tasked by his headmaster to investigate the Donji Festival in the town of Shikibe, to find out whether the town’s “Shining Miko” is merely a trick or real. Did you know Violet Evergarden had sold a million tickets? To know more, click here.
Shiibashi had already published the original one-shot on Shueisha’s Shonen Jump+ app in March 2020.
Shinsaibashi ( creator of the Rise of the Yokai Clan, Illegal Rare, and Tsukumogami: ). Nura Rise Of The Yokai Clan was aired between 2008 and 2012 in 25 volumes and 2 anime seasons were adapted in 2010 and 2011. Viz Media published the manga in English.
Review on Nura Rise Of The Yokai Clan
Nura Rise Of The Yokai Clan didn’t have a great start, in my opinion. The first couple of chapters were more like a cliche, the lead was boring, and there were way too many characters to care about, and it was quite boring. The whole “youkai” was just a facade/cheap gimmick to cover up the mediocre story. However, I kept reading because I thought it had some potential, and there it was! a turning point that made it into something else.
The beginning of Nura Rise Of The Yokai Clan manga was the worst part, to be honest. Unlike most shounen, where strong beginnings are supposed to be good and interesting to keep the readers engaged, Mago plays it completely differently and does the opposite. The beginning is weak, which picks up a sizzling pace after the first couple of volumes, and finally, it really takes off and becomes amazing—a diamond in the coal mine.
The story of Nura Rise Of The Yokai Clan revolves around a half-human and half Youkai/Ayakashi named Rikuo who becomes his yokai clan leader. It feels like a pretty cliched premise. I won’t say I liked that annoying “Yami Rikuo” thing that the mangaka had going, but thankfully, it got replaced with another personality.
This happens over time and is never done away with quickly but subtly, which is one of the manga’s strong points. While in the first few arcs, small bits of interesting information are scattered, only to be brought up later. Reading this manga can be understood that a lot of time and effort went into making the story good, and it really begins to show later on.
The story of Nura Rise Of The Yokai Clan gets better after chapter 50 when the main villain gets introduced, and finally, there is an ultimate goal for the lead. This manga focuses heavily on a lot of old Japanese myths and legends. The story of Nura Rise Of The Yokai Clangets is fascinating, especially during the significant flashback arcs.
You can also watch a review video on Nura Rise Of The Yokai Clan.
Why is it boring in the beginning?
Mago introduces A LOT of characters into the reader’s face at the beginning, which feels unnecessary. No one would even remember any of the youkai that hang around Rikuo all the time. However, as the manga goes on, many of the youkai get some time to show off their power, and they get reintroduced to the audience.
The truth is, the beginning felt off-track because the mangaka was trying to lay the foundation quickly and Get all the necessary exposition out of the way. Everything that comes after has more focus and better engagement.
How’s the art style?
The art is extremely eye-catching after the 50th chapter, especially because it’s a weekly manga. Not a single youkai design is similar because hundreds of unnamed youkai designs are in the manga.
Never mind the main cast, who all have really unique designs that range from quirky to downright evilest. It has a paint-brush like quality to it, which makes it better than other manga styles.
The art style in this manga is just dripping with imagination, just like One Piece in that regard. The fights range from forgettable to unforgettable. However, this factor fluctuates a lot more than the other elements, but most of the time, they kept it consistent, and they’re all solid.
Where to Read?
Overall Review – Nura Rise Of The Yokai Clan
Mago had put in a lot of effort to stand out from the standard shounen fare. Sure it has some cliches and archetypes, but everything works together well somehow. For me, it’s definitely the most consistent manga with base foundations in the Jump series.
It is probably going into a long-running shounen, but it also has the advantage of having a limitless scope. I’m not too worried about it in this case since it could go anywhere after the first few arcs and it’d still work. It is still in its early stages, but the unique thing is much other long-running shounen don’t: focus and pacing like Mago. So if you’re still reading this review, then go pick up Mago. Bear with the beginning because it’ll pay off tenfolds later I can promise you that.
I’ll rate the beginning 2/5 stars but overall 4/5 stars.
FAQs on Nura Rise Of The Yokai Clan
1. Is Nura Rise of the Yokai Clan finished?
Yes
2. Who killed Nura Rikuo’s father?
Nura Rikuo’s father’s killer was Hagoromo Kitsune, who stabbed his father to death, and young Rikuo witnessed it.
3. Will Nurarihyon no Mago continue?
NO, the anime or manga won’t continue because the manga was concluded an extended time ago, and talking about the anime, the second season’s sales weren’t up to the mark. Hence, the profit wasn’t enough for them to supply another season.