Nurarihyon no Mago or otherwise more known with the name “Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan” is a Japanese manga series with themes of action, adventure, fantasy and definitely supernatural.
Nurarihyon no Mago was written and illustrated by the same man who brought us the sensationally provocative Illegal Rare, Hiroshi Shiibashi.
Nurarihyon no Mago was first published as a one shot comic back in 2007.
It was later picked up for serialization in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump which is now renamed to Jump Next.
Nurarihyon no Mago started publishing since March 2008 and ended last December 2012 with 26 tankonbon volumes published thus far.
Junji Nishimura directed the anime adaptation of Nurarihyon no Mago which made its debut last July 2010.
With 26 thrilling and action-packed episodes, Nurarihyon no Mago ended last December 2010.
PLOT:
Nurarihyon no Mago follows Rikuo Nura who may appear to be your average middle-school student but is actually part human and a quarter yokai.
He is usually in human form during the day but he suddenly transforms into his yokai form during the night.
He lives in a house full of yokai along with his grandfather, who happens to be the current clan head of the Nura yokai clan.
Trying to escape his fate, Rikuo is determined to live a normal life as much as he possibly can, despite his grandfather’s wish for him to succeed as the Third Head of the Nura Clan.
Initially adamant about being part yokai, Rikuo eventually comes to terms with his yokai blood and decides to take up the position of becoming the next Head of the Nura Clan.
Rikuo is forced to gather his friends and allies against multiple factions that are against him, trying to usurp his position or question his loyalty to the clan.
CHARACTERS:
Rikuo Nura is an average 13-year old who inherited his grandfather’s yokai (demon) blood which would make him ¾ human and ¼ yokai. He has grown to hate his yokai blood and tries to live his life as normally as he possible can. During the day, he is usually in his human form, but during times of impending danger, his yokai blood awakens and he transforms into his yokai form to become the “Master of all Yokai”. Rikuo is seemingly weak in his human form but his yokai form instills confidence, strength and “Fear” among all his allies leading many to join him.
Nurarihyon is Rikuo’s grandfather and is the Supreme Commander of the Nura Clan. He is fond of playing pranks on the humans although he doesn’t really hate them – rather he doesn’t believe that humans should meddle in yokai affairs. When Nurarihyon was in his prime, his strength is unparalleled wherein he could just as easily beat “Night” Rikuo and Muchi even in his old age. He exude so much “Fear” that it makes him invisible in the eyes of his opponent until the moment he strikes (later known as the Shin Meikyo Shisui).
UPDATE:
Nurarihyon no Mago has ranked several times on the Tohan Manga Charts with each volume selling as much as 100,000 copies worldwide.
In 2007, Nurarihyon no Mago ranked number one in the Future Gold Cup.
A second season of Nurarihyon no Mago was in the works together with Michio Fukuda, Kazuhiko Sawaguchi and Keiji Iuchi.
Nurarihyon no Mago: Demon Capital premiered on July 2011 and ended with 26 breathtaking episodes last December 2011.
Nurarihyon no Mago: Demon Capital follows the events after the first season wherein Rikuo is sent to Tonoo to train his Fear in hopes of defeating the all-powerful and ever-growing darkness, Hagoromo Gitsune, the nine-tailed demon fox.