Manga Review: Rin-ne Volume 33 by Rumiko Takahashi
Quick recap: High-schooler Rinne Rokudo is a shinigami (death spirit) partially of mortal human descent. As such, his powers are less than those of full-blooded shinigami, and he must use special booster items to perform his job as a psychopomp. Rinne’s assisted in bringing wandering spirits to rest by Rokumon, his black cat by contract, and Sakura Mamiya, a classmate who has the rare combination of spirit sight and common sense. A large cast of eccentrics helps or hinders Rinne, sometimes both at the same time.
The volume opens with Ichigo, the first-grader who’s the reincarnation of Rinne’s mother Otome, being invited to play a game of Kokkuri-san (a Japanese equivalent to an Ouija board.) Unsurprisingly, this attracts the attention of a ghost who recognizes Otome and has unfinished business with her. Other than her memories, Ichigo is a normal human, so must call upon her son to assist. Hilarity ensues, and Kokkuri-san is banned from Ichigo’s school.
The end story begins with Rinne’s grandmother sending him a sample of detergent that will make his haori jacket whistle-clean, saving on dry cleaning fees. But while the haori is hung out to dry, the narrow-minded devil Masato happens by and steals it. Masato’s desire to be cruel to Rinne may be his undoing yet again.
In between are numerous single chapter stories about cat cafes, student films, spicy baked goods and even the philosopher’s stone. I liked the student film one the best, as it truly captured how awful an amateur production can be, even before it gets haunted! The philosopher’s stone one falls a bit flat if you were expecting serious danger to arise from it.
This is an average filler volume of this supernatural comedy manga; amusing as always, but no new characters or plot movement, so skippable if you’re on a budget.
