Manga Review: Mao, Volumes 11-13 by Rumiko Takashashi
Quick recap: Nanoka Kiba is by this point not at all an ordinary Japanese schoolgirl. Years ago she was transported to the Taisho Era (the 1920s) and “cursed” by the cat spirit Byoki. When she reached puberty, Nanoka became able to pass between the 21st Century and the Taisho Era thanks to a more or less permanent gate. In the past, she met and befriended Mao, a doctor/onmyoji/exorcist who is nigh-immortal, having lived since the Heian Era. Several of his fellow apprentices are still around, some allies, and others are enemies. Mysteries abound, as do dangers!
Volume 11 opens with a ghost explaining the background of Akanemaru, the cursed sword. Kanae’s deceased father believed the sword to bring wealth to the family that owned it, but after three generations, death. So he gave it to Kanae as a wedding present (note: This is considered insanely bad luck in Japan) so that the curse would transfer over to her new family. A week after the wedding, robbers came and killed Kanae’s husband.
Kanae willed the sword to be unsheathed, activating the curse. When she woke up, everyone else in the house was dead, drained of blood. Since then, Akanemaru has coerced her to kill and kill again. Mao decides he needs to stop the curse–by killing Kanae! Nanoka manages to find another way, by grabbing Akanemaru herself.
We are then introduced to Meimeido, a steel ayakashi, who specializes in sword smithing and agrees to reforge Akanemaru into something Nanoka can use. When our heroes return three days later, Meimeido has been attacked by a white tiger, and the sword stolen.
The tiger turns out to be part of Soma’s beast–he’s gotten a lot better at working with it, and Akanemaru turns out to be another of the Goko clan’s lost treasures. Nanoka and Mao fight Soma and his beasts, and Nanoka is able to retrieve Akanemaru. It’s her sword now, but its powers come from blood, and there’s only so much in that girl’s body.
Hakubi is lenient with Soma’s failure…this time, but makes it clear that if the boy fails again, he’ll implant the beast in one of his brothers.
It’s time for another Goko clan servant to take the field, Renji the Funeral Pyre. He comes to Mao’s office (where we learn that in both the Reiwa and Taisho Eras, it’s illegal to openly carry swords in public) and uses his fireflies to extort Mao into coming to visit Shiranui. When Mao turns the table, Renji bluffs that he’s still got a kakachu inside Nanoka, but by this point Hyakka shows up and Renji is forced to retreat.
Hyakka’s been researching Renji’s background, and has hit something of a brick wall, but there was a series of mysterious arsons a decade ago.
Renji and Mei meet in the Garden of Longevity, where we see Mei’s experimental methods at work as she’s been breeding stronger kakachu. Hyakka, Mao and Nanoka have trailed him there, and Renji confirms the truth behind the arsons. His backstory is tragic, and the volume ends with a particularly nasty twist.
In Volume 12, Renji continues to reveal his backstory. It’s very tragic, and there’s a reason why his weapon is a Chinese lute. Hyakka is, “cool motive, still murder” and a fight begins. It’s made trickier as he’s backed up by Mei, who’s a plant user, and they’re all inside her Garden of Longevity.
Nanoka manages to turn the tide, but she still doesn’t have full control over Akanemaru and its blood drinking powers.
A bit later, we get a…cute…after-action moment with Mei patching up Renji and “I wish you a long, happy life before you go to Hell.”
Elsewhere, two petty thieves have stolen a large leather bag. It turns out there’s something inside that’s bigger and stronger than them.
Natsuno shows up and shares a rumor about people disappearing from the back alleys, leaving behind empty clothing. It might have something to do with a hand coming out of a bag. Mao’s asleep, so Nanoka volunteers to help Natsuno search. Sure enough, there’s an ayakashi pharmacy that’s been abducting people for nefarious purposes. It’s a tough fight, but Nanoka finally learns the true nature of Akanemaru.
Natsuno suffers a wound in a way that doesn’t look quite human.
Back in the 21st Century, it’s still 2020 and Covid exists. Byoki tries to meet up with Nanoka but is driven off. And then suddenly a sinkhole opens up in the street where Nanoka’s parents were killed. Byoki returns to the Taisho Era. What’s he up to, and how does it involve the Five-Sided Temple?
Nanoka returns to the Taisho Era at the beginning of Volume 13. Mao has been eagerly awaiting her. Byoki completes the next step of its plan, but realizes it’s not quite complete. Natsuno recruits Hyakka for a mission.
At the military barracks, metal master Hakubi and curse mistress Yurako have tea. Hakubi is getting annoyed by the fireworks from outside. He goes out just in time for Mao and Nanoka to join Natsuno and Hyakka for the upcoming confrontation.
We learn why Hakubi has been lying about Mao killing Sana all these years, and some more backstory on Yurako (though it is Hakubi telling the story, so there may be some shading of the truth.) We also learned who set fire to the Goko clan treasure house. But many mysteries still remain.
Next up, a series of villages have been having droughts. All but one in that area. That one has been taken over by a gangster named Onitake. He’s forcing the villagers to build a factory for him. Mei and Renji arrive, and it turns out Mei has beef with Onitake. The gangster’s men fall easily, but it turns out his main bodyguard is Sasuga, a wandering monk with a seashell that projects water.
Mao and Nanoka arrive just in time to see Mei flung in their direction and impaled. Turns out impaling is not her one weakness, as the Haku Seed in her body simply knits her heart back together.
Mei explains her tragic backstory. Her foreign father had brought her to her mother’s home village after Mom died. He knew the latest agricultural science, and helped the village prosper. After that, Onitake and his polluting factory came, and well, bad things happened.
Her life was saved by Shiranui, and she’s devoted her remaining time to revenge. Mao isn’t necessarily against her killing this asshole in a slow and horrific way, but does want her to leave the Goko Clan. Sasuga hears the words “Goko Clan” and immediately switches sides. Turns out he’s not good at business and needs direction he thinks the villains can provide.
The volume ends with a seemingly random job exorcising a haunted house. The cliffhanger is the real menace of the house being revealed.
We get some questions answered, more fleshing out of the bad guy ranks, and a combat upgrade for Nanoka. Not bad! The art remains good and the plotting is interesting.
My least favorite part of these volumes is that it’s becoming ever more obvious that Nanoka is falling in love with Mao. Between Mao being rather stoic, having other things on his mind, and dealing with the outcome of his previous romantic feelings, it’s not as clear if Mao reciprocates. A more interesting “ship” is Mei and Renji, who have a lot in common and good banter, even if neither of them would ever admit being attracted.
Content note: Violence, often lethal and especially gory when Akanemaru is involved. Body horror and how. Child abuse. Children in peril. Implied rape. Some closeups of female cleavage.
Another good set of volumes, if you liked the previous ones, these will also please.
