Alright, it is Thursday and I am gonna post the twenty-seventh volume of MAO. Feel free to react or comment on any panel, though I appreciate if image replies are not used during the dump. Feel free to discuss anything related to MAO after the dump. In addition, as MAO is atypically plot-heavy as a Rumiko Takahashi manga, please be mindful of others and use spoilers tags when discussing things that are revealed later in chapters that have not been dumped. MAO is Rumiko Takahashi's current ongoing series, a dark fantasy manga with a more serious tone than most of her other major series. I highly recommend it, as there genuinely is a lot of intrigue.Previous thread: >>287028757I will be using the official localization of the manga by VIZ (despite my issues with it), though we are now getting into chapters from volumes that have not yet been collected in English (hence the Japanese cover being used for the image here). Keep in mind that the nature of the writing in MAO and this localization in particular has resulted in some mistranslated lines. Be aware that some of the larger images may have been edited to be lower quality due to image size limits.
Furinkan notes that the original title for this chapter, 密告 "could also be translated as "snitching" or "tip-off"."January 15th, 2025. Author's note:"Q: Please tell us what you would like to try at least once in your life?A: Mammoth meat."
>>287197979
>>287198001Yurako says 私は昔からあなたを知っているけど･･･ here, which is a bit less specific but I do think she knew of Hyakka in the Heian era.
>>287197979>Q: Please tell us what you would like to try at least once in your life?>A: Mammoth meat.I think there's some mummified remains out there
>>287198046A bit surprised they haven't encountered each other yet, honestly. But yeah, Hyakka isn't uninformed.
>>287198072?!>>287198050Doesn't taste the same as fresh.
>>287198104
>>287198129Man, imagine if the story went in that direction and Hyakka did try to kill them. Would be insane. And wrong.
>>287198144Barrier blocks birds.
>>287198159Birds become blocked by barrier.
>>287198159>shirtless hatless hakubiwe got to see everyone shirtless after all!
>>287198187I am honestly a little disappointed by myself not considering this until Yurako pointed out the possibility.
>>287197893About time for a Yurako cover.
>>287198224
>>287198276I appreciate that Hyakka's tsundere nature is blatant to everyone.
>>287198334Never too injured for this.
>>287198352
>>287198363...
>>287198388
>>287198406Just missed him.
>>287198159>Barrier blocks birds.Pretty realistic, they have a funny way of smashing into windows
>>287198423End of chapter. I understand your ambivalence, Yurako, but if you want Mao alive by the end of all this, you probably want Hyakka to win.
January 22nd, 2025. Author's note:"Q: What is your favorite food to eat during winter?A: Nabe."Furinkan's note: "Nabe (鍋) includes various "hot pot" dishes such as sukiyaki, oden and shabu shabu and chankonabe."
>>287198575
>>287198588Hence the proboscising.
>>287198614
>>287198635The inferno rages.
>>287198646Tigah. Tigah, tigah...
>>287198665YesYESThe tiger is out
>>287198665You know, a bit funny that tigers fall under furred beasts but cats don't, given that tigers are ultimately cats. I can't imagine Japan encountered many tigers before domesticated cats historically, but I guess that might be the case for China.
>>287198761
>>287198773China apparently also had leopard cats, which are about the same size as domesticated cats. They're pretty cute. Don't buy any as pets though.
>>287198847Hakubi's rival being the direct counter to his own doesn't really make for a balanced fight.
>>287198893!
>>287198928so shocked by daigo's appearance, OP dropped the next page!
>>287198904
>>287199010Certainly not getting Hyakka's help in killing you!>>287199009He's so sudden.
>>287199029Daigo's line in the first panel was 百火になにか･･･吹きこんだのか? though I like VIZ's choice here, even if it is a bit cliche.
>>287199081
>>287199088How does it feel, Hakubi?
>>287199258
>>287199272End of chapter. Hm...
Original title was 山の怪異January 29th, 2025. Author's note:"Q: Is there anything you've decided to do in 2025?A: Organize my collection of goods."Furinkan's note: "Takahashi-sensei keeps a large amount of merchandise from the decades of her series' publications."
>>287199338I thought the difference in time speed was being brought up again, but the original Japanese for Mao's line was just 菜花、まだ三日目だよ。
>>287199396
>>287199258You say that every time, Hyakka...
>>287199417Okay, so VIZ's localization in the third panel is funny but it isn't correct from what I can tell. Hyakka's line in the Japanese was やっぱ黙ってらんねえ。 which could refer to his wounds keeping him from being quiet, but more likely refer to him not being able to not mention Daigo, despite it being a difficult topic. I assume this is a double meaning that is a bit lost in this localization, but maybe you feel it works. When just reading it, I just laughed, but I think the idea is that Hyakka isn't sighing about the wound at all.
>>287199493
>>287199510I'm glad Rumiko wrote these guys communicating, because it would drive me nuts if they just kept silent.
>>287199545
>>287199569Anyway, something different.
>>287199583
>>287199597Great expression and pose on Hyakka here.
>>287199625
>>287199665A key question of the series.
>>287199686Great face here. I'm just going to post Otoya's line in full, since he used a different term than romantic tension that might be a bit less direct. 百火さまは･･･摩緒さまと菜花さんの間に漂う微妙な感情には気づいておられないようだ。Also, Nanoka's second thought bubble specifically referred to Hyakka getting misled by Yurako's face.･･･ていうか百火こそ･･･幽羅子の顔に惑わされてない?
So this is just about a romance or it has cool fights and history porn like Inuyasha?
>>287199923I love it whenever Nanoka and Hyakka hang out, they have great chemistry
>>287199923Got ourselves a dead animal page. >>287199941It has intrigue and history. The fights have gotten better, I feel though they aren't exactly very strategic a lot of the time because of the abilities of the characters. The romance is definitely secondary to uncovering alliances, motives and solving mysteries.
>>287200055I don't really think much sensing is required here.
>>287199941the romance is rather secondary honestlyrumiko double-dipped on the history side for this one, main setting is 1920s japan but there's the heian era comes up a lot
>>287200071Exorcist here is being used for Onmyoji once again. The line was お･･･陰陽師さま･･･
>>287200119
>>287200130End of chapter! And yeah, ya think? Admittedly, this is a VIZ issue, Mao's line was a much more placid この化け物･･･土の術で･･･
Cute cover. February 5th, 2025. Author's note:"Q: February 5th is "Smile Day" please tell us something that has made you smile recently!A: When I finish a manuscript sooner than expected."
>>287200185
>>287200200Let's see what these ones do.
>>287200213Naturally. At some point, we brought up whether Mao can use every element with his ofuda and I think we've hit all of them by now.
>>287200235In twain.
>>287200280Anyway, that's that.
>>287200352Kind of funny what lines end up being much longer after translation vs. what lines end up being much shorter. The original line here was 摩緒…祓ってくれたのか。
>>287200412I think Rumiko Takahashi just winged this bear skeleton. Though some cave bear skeletons seem to have short snouts like this. And yes, this appears to have been a chapter title drop in the original.
>>287200449The bear was man-eating before the magic got involved.
>>287200474VIZ added the "somewhere on his person" part from what I can tell. I understand it is magic, but it is a bit funny to describe a gigantic spear that way. The original line was 犬五さまは退魔の槍を隠し持っているかもしれない･･･ so I don't know what the intent was.
>>287200527Hm.
>>287200537Does this count as on his person?
>>287200550
>>287200566So, this wasn't a long-winded way to stab Mao with it here and now. Furinkan reminds us that: "The scene with Mizuchi is a flashback to chapter 36."
>when you think it's a side case but it turns out it's plot
>>287200581
>>287200607Would you look at that? I will say that Mao's first line in the fourth panel was 今、私華紋さま百火さまと協力している。 今 seems to have been omitted by the localization, which might not be correct. >>287200591Happened a few times, lately. Honestly, we've only gotten a few side cases lately and they've been mainly related to the New Goko Clan. Which admittedly, has pretty much been how the series operates.
>>287200679Rumiko Takahashi giving us this thought bubble to Daigo does seem to give the game away a bit, seeing as he seems to think "ignore the battle and live forever, let the Goko Clan rot away" is not an option and Highlander is inevitable. But admittedly, even Kamon has used rhetoric like this before. What Kamon, Hyakka and Mao would do if all the other participants fall is not really clear. Presumably, they don't really want to live forever even if they don't want to die right now.
>>287200756End of chapter. This seems like a good deal, but there's always a catch, right...?
Got ourselves a very cute color cover. This is the chapter I would stop at if I wanted to have a bit of a definitive end to my story times, but I'm okay with continuing through the volume even if it ends on setup for the next one. MAO as part of the Rumic World Story Time was always a bonus, ultimately since it is an ongoing story. I consider my work finished with RIN-NE. February 12th, 2025. Author's note:"Q: Valentine's Day is coming up soon! Please tell us about your favorite romantic comedies!A: Skip and Loafer."Furinkan's note: "Gosho Aoyama stated, "Touch, Maison Ikkoku, Kimi ni Todoke, Chihayafuru and Yamada-kun and Sato-san (laughs)." Takuya Mitsuda said, "Miyuki, Maison Ikkoku and Sayonara Sangaku." Shinta Harekawa said, Ranma 1/2! Cheeky Angel! Hayate the Combat Butler!" and Mitsutani said, "I like Ranma 1/2 and Nodame Cantabile.""I recently started Skip and Loafer. It is very cute.
>>287200882
>>287200898Pretty cool visual.
>>287200882naruhodo so that's what you decided on
>>287200913
>>287201047Daigo's are white on black so you can tell them apart. If that matters.
>>287201066Off it goes.
i think this is the only time we've seen black sutras, even up to the current chaptersi guess they're for sealing? and the cast hasn't done much long-term sealing of objects on screen, they usually exorcise an object or put up temporary barrier seals
>>287201075Hm...>>287201177I'll be honest, the sutras, ofuda, etc. etc. just do whatever is needed for the scene.
>>287201229It is a strange world. Also, Nanoka's line here was そう･･･ なんだ･･･ドライだな。 which features a fun little loanword.
>>287201292Even our beacon of positivity describes the situation is predestined to one man standing, so I assume we're not necessarily supposed to think Daigo is out for blood by virtue of that line of thinking.
>>287201329At least she's considering alternatives.
>>287201349It does seem a little strange if that's how it works. Immortality through a poorly thought through pact? Is it that simple? Why even bother with the Taizanfukun spell with earth and what not then?
>>287201394I'm a little quick to take exposition at face value because a lot of Rumiko Takahashi manga and manga in general typically don't stray from that, but that might not be wise for MAO.
>>287201414Cute.
>>287201431
>>287201439Otoya is the authority here.
>>287201598
>>287201066His also seem to have a six-pointed star as opposed to a five-pointed one.This whole setup feels similar to the koketsu spell with the Master and the Byouki. Somehow I can't imagine Daigo not having some kind of loophole in this arrangement.
>>287201606How lovely. They match the outfit on the cover. Though I think the little stripes is a common motif for "homemade" chocolate in Japan.
>>287197893We're going to be free!!!
>>287201685Per Furinkan: "Founded in 1899, the Morinaga company began selling milk chocolate in 1918, though it had been introduced to Japan on a very small scale in the late 1700s by the Dutch. Meiji is the most famous maker of Japanese milk chocolate began producing it in 1926 shortly after this chapter would have taken place. It was not until 1960 that Morinaga advertised the concept of giving chocolate on Valentine's Day, which helped grow the holiday in Japan." So, Mao's heard of it at least. Man, I can't imagine never having chocolate.
>>287201708End of chapter. Unsurprisingly, Mao didn't quite get it. Oh, I wanted to check what term Nanoka used in the third panel and the line was actually 手作りなんだ。Also, apparently 本命 isn't actually a loanword from English like I thought. It just means favorite.
The original title of this chapter was 姥捨山 and Furinkan says the following: "The title of the chapter refers to a mountain (rather than a house) where the elderly were taken to be abandoned after they had become too much of a burden to care for. The facility where the elderly have gone missing is named after this folk-history location. The actual practice of ubasute (姥捨て), abandoning an elderly person on a mountain or other remote location, is fictional, though the concept has appeared in various Japanese films and novels frequently. The most notable depiction of ubasute is found in Shichiro Fukuzawa's (深沢七郎) novel The Ballad of Narayama (楢山節考/Narayama bushiko) and its film adaptations."February 19th, 2025. Author's note:"Q: Well, according to the calendar its almost spring, tell us what you like about the season?A: When the cherry blossoms bloom."
>>287201828Per Furinkan: "Lord Uwayama (宇和山さま) is written with the kanji for "house", "harmony" and "mountain". The "yama/mountain" in his family name is what connects this retirement home to the folklore mountain where the elderly are abandoned (and the nickname, "The House of Abandonment"). "
>>287201866Man, the previous page's first lines were darker in the original (though the sentiment is the same). The lines were すまねえかあちゃん。このままじゃ一家心中しなけりゃなんねえ。
>>287201439Old man Mao's sleepy again
>>287201926Given his background, I imagine Renji is very skeptical.
>>287201958Per Furinkan: "Reiko (礼子) is written with the standard kanji for her name "ceremony" and "child"."
>>287201988
>>287201998How odd.
>>287202007Yes, as Furinkan mentioned, this facility was referred to as 姥捨山 in original Japanese.
>>287202029Per Furinkan: "Haru (ハル), is written simply with katakana."
>>287198072he's on fire!!>>287198144>daigo will not hesitate mao's his baby bro though but he doesn't have a relationship with kamon, so kamon might need to watch out (and something i noticed with this reread is that it's usually kamon who's suspicious of daigo, so kamon may be aware that their lack of relationship might put him at risk)>>287198224>Actually... I hadn't noticed...hyakka-kun....>>287198352>Never too injured for this.a man's always ready
>>287202036
>>287202205On first read through, it seemed like the man was just unfamiliar with the concept of aging somehow. However, it seems he's describing that she would seem to age suddenly after not changing for a long time. I blame the localization here.
>>287202268We've seen a few stories like this in MAO already, honestly.
>>287202285Not a saint. Renji's line here was 太客か･･･ which is translated correctly, I just find the term interesting.
>>287202309Rumiko Takahashi doesn't do the chibi heads in bubbles very often because I assume she sees it as a bit of a crutch and tries to panel her conversations directly (I'm speculating entirely here). But I am rather fond of this technique. Nanoka's little head next to her usual ええ!? is pretty great.
>>287202348As usual, since we don't have a reasonable equivalent to 妖気, we get yokai power in a series that normally uses the term ayakashi. It is what it is.
>>287202376
>>287202390Bit of a mess.
>>287202554End of chapter. There she is. Probably.
>>287202376Doesn't yoki usually translate to demonic energy?
>>287198363it truly is the 1920s, hakubi put his hat back on to go outside, even threw on a coat>>287198514>let them fight>>287198614>Hence the proboscising.>proboscising.like an insect's proboscis?>>287198646>>287198665>your new arm is no different from your old--ENTER the white tiger of the metal element!!we got another summon bros!
February 26th, 2025. Author's note:"Q: Please tell us what snack you've eaten most in you life?A: Kaki no tane."Furinkan's note: "Kaki no tane (柿の種) translates as "persimmon seeds" however they are actually a Japanese snack of onions-flavored rice crisps (senbei) and peanuts. The persimmon seed name comes from the fact that senbei look like persimmon seeds. These are also known as "Kaki-pi", a portmanteau of "kaki no tane" and "peanuts"."
>>287202677Man, I would hope so.>>287202656I mean, it depends on how you translate 妖, right? In MAO, they've been pretty consistent with yokai energy, which I think is fair. The term means attractive or bewitching, but it is clearly being used here in reference to how the term exists in yokai. You can also go with "strange energy" or "mysterious energy". Demonic energy comes across as really hellish, which isn't exactly the connotation you want. If this was Inuyasha and we still were localizing every instance of yokai (or ayakashi in MAO's case) as demon, then demonic energy would be fine but I don't think it makes sense unless you just mentally swap "demon" with "yokai" in your head and at that point, you may as well just say yokai energy.>>287202674Yeah, that's what I was referring to.
>>287202791
>>287202802This was a chapter title drop in the original.
>>287202819
>>287202833Oh hey, a spread. I've seen so many of these by now, Rumiko Takahashi.
>>287202656>>287202791Translating Yokai into Demon has always sat poorly with me because of how the english word Demon often has an association with Hell, and Yokai don't necessarily require that association.'Monster' would probably be a more fitting umbrella term translation of the word Yokai than Demon.
>>287202846Not spreads, I mean people pods. Though these are mainly corpses of course.
>>287198761>a bit funny that tigers fall under furred beasts but cats don'tnot only that, but the tiger is the beast that represents the metal element the same way genbu does for the water element>>287198847>China apparently also had leopard cats, which are about the same size as domesticated cats.looking it up and...>Archaeological evidence indicates that the leopard cat was the first cat species domesticated in Neolithic China about 5,000 years ago in Shaanxi and Henan Provinces.china you made your own cats! what do you mean they're not metal element?!
>>287202861
>>287202891Fair concern. Mei's "no reaction" reaction panel is something.
>>287202964This is what you say when you're a normal person.
>>287202974Well, he definitely got those two but another instance of the kakachu not being unbeatable.
>>287202996They translated 糸 as string in the last chapter, so going with yarn seems a little odd. Especially since the cocoons don't really resemble yarn balls. Maybe spools of string? I dunno.
>>287203027
>>287203043Not quite ready.
>>287203109Ooo, misbegotten. How fun, VIZ. Original line was just ここは一旦封じよう。
>>287203140!
>>287198893the tiger is new, hakubi hasn't finished training it yet please understand>Hakubi's rival being the direct counter to his own doesn't really make for a balanced fight.hakubi's strong enough to hold out, and he has hurt hyakka before, including heregives hakubi a challenge>>287198904between wanting control of the byoki and mao, and now this, it seems that hakubi aspires to be a beastmasterhe needs a whip
>>287203158End of chapter. Not going so hot.
Original title was 宿リ蛾March 5th, 2025. Author's note:"Q: What is something that hasn't changed since you were a child?A: My love of manga hasn't changed."
>>287203214
>>287203235!
>>287203261Not all the cool hero pose pages work for me, but I like this one.
>>287203276Heh, Nanoka in the third panel made me laugh. She said 違います! in Japanese.
>>287203300There might've been some editorial issue here if Nanoka is intending to be repeating a part of what Mao said. Like, he originally said prey instead of victims or something. Originally, he said この塔はおまえたちの餌の貯蔵庫だな･･･ and Nanoka responded with 餌…!?It might've been okay if they were just eating dead old people.
>>287203340Hard to say though, since you know, desecrating the dead seems to be more important in Japan. Especially in a mystical setting like this. Eating healthy, alive young women is obviously wrong though. Don't do it.
>>287203364
>>287203377Chapter title drop. Obviously some similarities to the first part of Mermaid Saga. And the one bit in Inuyasha, unless I am misremembering.
>>287203300Mao's like>not the time for that, Nanoka
>>287203416Hm.
>>287203552
>>287203567Final line here was 痛くも痒くもない。This is an idiom that essentially means no big deal, so I see why VIZ went with this. It might've been used to convey a double meaning though, so I figured I'd mention it.
>>287203621
>>287203631Always like this, yeah? So sudden after the big monster reveal.
>>287203644Heh, even Nanoka. Her line here was originally 瞬殺…
>>287203663There's a resemblance.
>>287203672
>>287203663Stop being so tsun-tsun, Renji
>>287203693End of chapter. I like this conclusion. Still bitter, still jaded but putting up what he can.
Original title was 予行練習March 12th, 2025. Author's note:"Q: Sensei, what is something that you are willing to spare no expense for?A: Food."
>>287203750
>>287203761Poor boys.
>>287203772What a go-getter.
>>287203842And people got onto Soma so much for being too overt.
>>287203861Glad we can just have the word bento in localized manga.
>>287203869Ugh.
>>287203882
>>287203893Per Furinkan: "The flashback to when Kagari had last practiced on students is a reference to her introductory storyline from chapter 84."
>>287203922
>>287203933This does explain a bit about Ayame's disdain for the Goko clan.
>>287203952Per Furinkan: "The date of the rally that Kagari tries to stage the assassination at takes place on April 13th according to the sign. Presuming that chapter 263 took place near or around Valentine's Day due to Nanoka bringing chocolate (and the real life publication date of the chapter also being February 12th) roughly two months have passed in the last four chapters."VIZ managed to redraw the sign. The text in the book was not altered from the original.
>>287203967
>>287199010>I always know where you are, yurakobased line but he kind of gave away that he has a tracker on her>>287199029neat effect on his barrier>>287199081>>287199258>How does it feel, Hakubi?hehehehehe>why didn't he fight?because hyakka's adorable and helped sana burn down the treasure room so he gets to be on daigo's safe list :-)>>287199295>does daigo sincerely care about that...?you noted it yourself hyakka, he could've let you and hakubi fight to the deathand then finish off who's left, but he abandoned the chance the moment he noticed you bleeding>yurako seemed terrified of himbecause yurako is on his revenge list don't end up on his revenge list, hyakka-kun
>>287203978Who else.
>>287204043
>>287204053Bit of a step up from the chopstick plan.
>>287204067Honestly, a bit surprising that he wouldn't just die then and there. I guess the eye thing was part of Ayame's resistance to it.
>>287204099End of chapter. Hm...
Original title was 妖狐針March 19th, 2025. Author's note:"Q: March 19th is "Music Day", tell us your favorite song, sensei!A: Sakanaction's "Kaiju"."
>>287204168Her complex has not abated.
>>287204193Kagari may have realized it sounded silly.
>>287204212
>>287202376>>287202853What's the difference between a yokai and an ayakashi?
>>287203967Last time we saw Kagari's book, it was the Rubaiyyat, but this page frankly leaves me stumped. It looks like some kind of Latin-derived language, but that's all I've got.But hey, at least we get a solid date for the events. Seems like we're well into 1925 at this point. Little less than two years until the end of the Taisho era...
>>287204223!>>287204233There basically are no yokai in MAO as a series. I think the term may have been used a few times in the original Japanese? But I'm not sure. Furinkan has a note describing it, but honestly, it seems like Rumiko Takahashi liked the way it sounded or felt it was a good way to differentiate her series." Furinkan's note:"The difference between an ayakashi (妖) and a yokai (妖怪) can be difficult to parse depending on the context. In the larger Japanese culture an ayakashi is a term for a water-based yokai, something that that might be encountered out at sea. A yokai is commonly translated as a "demon" or a "ghost". In truth they are supernatural creatures that are unique to Japan but could be considered as similar to cryptids. "I know some series use ayakashi specifically to refer to animal based yokai, but that isn't the case here.
>>287204347Per Furinkan: "Hakubi's metal tendrils are named by Nanoka in this chapter, she calls the technique the "silver sash" (銀の帯/gin no obi)."
>>287204356
>>287204367Reminder for us and Mao.
>>287199396shirtless hyakka!>>287199417>just after we came back from the seasidefortunate timing>>287199545>I'm glad Rumiko wrote these guys communicatinghyakka wasn't always so forthcoming though, remember he took a while to say anything about burning the treasure room on sana's orders and what he saw therebut yeah it is nice that they're sharing info sooner rather than later>>287199597poor dogs>that's no bear!who's that pokem- i mean, ayakashi!
>>287204384
>>287204396Furinkan also reminds us that: "Of note, Kagari always refers to Hakubi as "Hakubi-sama" (Lord Hakubi) when speaking to him in Japanese. Because the honorifics are left out of the English translation, it can sometimes seem as if she is speaking with over-familiarity to her senior, but in the original Japanese this is not the case."
>>287204411Hakubi doing what he does.
>>287204419
>>287204233who knows>>287204347>I think the term may have been used a few times in the original Japanese? But I'm not sure.nanoka and otoya using yokai to refer to mao's non-human patients is the main scene i remember
>>287204411What a romantic rescue>>287204419He knows how to butter them up
>>287204430Nanoka feeling guilty. >>287204465I may have mistranslated it then? It took me a bit long to realize that the kanji were the same for both. We'll see what they say in the anime, I guess.
>>287204629Ayame's final line here was 術者を殺すための大針です。so exorcist was from 術者 this time.
>>287204669Sororicide.
>>287204692
>>287204709Kind of pretty.
>>287204717Slipping her lead, as in getting off of her leash not dropping into second. The original line said つまり、もはやかがりの暴走ではない･･･
>>287204629>I may have mistranslated it then?it wasn't, it was 妖怪 with furigana ようかい
>>287204762End of chapter, end of volume, end of Story Time. Thanks anyone who read along, but also thanks anyone who reads it after. I completely understand. A bit awkward to end on a cliffhanger, but the anime is coming on Saturday and I can't keep going forever. If you're enjoying the story and want to read what's next, please check out the VIZ manga app. Or buy the volumes. Or read the dedicated fan translation that an anon has been making for years now on desuarchive https://desuarchive.org/a/thread/277448397/#277448397. I greatly appreciate their work. Feel free to use the thread to discuss anything MAO related. I have some stuff I'll posting here and there to bump the thread.I will be coming back next Thursday to start a new thing. I haven't actually read Yashahime, but I know Shiina is the world's biggest Rumiko Takahashi fan so I expect it to be better than the anime by a good margin. I'll be reading the first volume and going one week at a time though my commentary will be very sparse, since it'll be all new to me. I'll be adjusting my name but keep the trip the same, so hopefully you see YashahimeStoryTime next week.
>>287204887>I'll be adjusting my name end of an eraowari... da
>>287204958 (me)wait what if 4chan crashes again after this thread archives the way it did after the last inuyasha storytime thread archived lolalso i saw a recent comment say that the daily one piece chapter threads had caught up to the current mangai remember back when you finished inuyasha, someone mentioned people had previously failed to complete storytimes for inuyasha and gintama and that now both had been finishedOP and one piece daily anon what have you done!
>>287204887Thank you for you work, OP. It's been fun reading the whole series from the start again (and seeing all the parts where I screwed up my own translation...) A fairly varied volume to end on. I quite liked the moth mansion as an isolated setpiece. (Volume 28 technically came out a couple days ago, but I'm not going to demand that you drop everything to do those chapters as well.)I'm also happy that this finally gave me the impulse to do a proper timeline to keep track of what's happened, too (I'm not totally happy with how it looks, but I'll see if I can tweak it while I spend a few weeks getting it up to date with the latest chapters.) I'll probably be there for Yashahime too, since I've never gotten around to actually reading the Japanese volumes I've bought, although I'm probably not going to be staying up until 6-7am just to catch it live.
>>287205231>but I'll see if I can tweak it while I spend a few weeks getting it up to date with the latest chapters.you should post your remaining timelines in the chapter threads, one volume/week at a time to maintain pace, and so i can catch you slippin :-)>picreli'll look over 27's timeline later
>>287199625>Great expression and pose on Hyakka here.otoya and nanoka really help complete the moment too heh
>>287204887Thank you for all you do OP. Been reading along since UY and the time seems to have slipped by in a blur.
>>287206473>since UYlet's see how long that's been...>https://desuarchive.org/a/thread/258674340/#258674340late october 2023, roughly 2 and a half years then
>>287204887Wow, thank you so much RumicOP. I personally hold you as my favorite storytimer. I've been reading since the Volume 2 thread of UY (attached is my earliest saved pic from these dumps), so it has been a long time I have spent with you. I will be honest I did not personally enjoy MAO as much as most of the other series but it got better as it went along. Will definitely catch up to the latest release in time. Sad to see this storytime end, but all good things must go with time. Will see you next week for Yashahime.My final personal rankings:1. Urusei Yatsura2. Ranma 1/23. Maison Ikkoku4. One Pound Gospel5. Rin-ne6. MAO7. Mermaid Saga8. Inuyasha
>>287200882Here is the cover of Weekly Shonen Sunday where this chapter debuted.>>287205231Thank you as always for this incredible image. I really appreciate it. It is so much fun. >>287206473>>287207386>>287206726I love that there're people who stuck with me all these years. I love that there's some people who would've otherwise not read these works if it wasn't for these threads. Thanks for reading, truly.
>>287199686I forget, did hyakka know about mao's feelings for sana on his own, for once, or did he overhear that in the taisho era?because he already missed kamon/masago, daigo/sana, and what's going on between mao and nanoka>>287199923>Great face here.heh, I kept that one>>287200055bear plopped down right on the waterfall too>>287200071that looks like a really deep cut, is it even flesh anymore?
>>287200130i brought this up in one of the chapter threads that any time we see daigo he's always chillin out in the mountains/woodsthis man does not seem to be staying at any type of residence, he's out there in what looks like dress shoes toowhere do you even sleep daigo>>287200235take a shot>I think we've hit all of them by now.have we?>>287200412he also always looks chill whenever he's not being smug>>287200474>destroyed the barrierthe one with a tiny twig and a rope on the ground? what were the odds
>>287200537an anon turned that last panel into a gif when this chapter dropped>>287200550>Does this count as on his person?the earth is always with himhe is the earth, the earth is him>>287200581daigo's really living up to the "like a big brother" description because an older brother would do something like toss a zappy-thing for the younger one to catch lol>The scene with Mizuchi is a flashback to chapter 36which we'll be seeing animated soon!
>>287200756>ignore the battle and live foreverbut hakubi and shiranui are not ignoring the battle and are actively seeking them out>Highlander is inevitable.heh>>287200913it's got the spiral design again, guess that's just a signature touch of his>>287201075>Off it goes.you'd think he'd bury that thing...suddenly realizing he must've had the spear following him underground the whole time before this lol>>287201229>I'll be honest, the sutras, ofuda, etc. etc. just do whatever is needed for the scene.yeah i know, it's just that those black sutras really stand out
Tomorrow it is lads.What time GMT is the episode airing? I'm traveling but will try to download it. Will be home for episode 2
>>287208667it will air on live on japanese tv at their 11:45pm on saturdayseems hulu will stream it a few hours later, and ani-one will stream it on their monday afternoon despite being next to japan
>>287204168>Q: March 19th is "Music Day", tell us your favorite song, sensei!>A: Sakanaction's "Kaiju"the music video for this involves an egg, and this weekend is easter :-)>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8dgNdJVluc
they have a countdown>https://www.livechart.me/anime/13241
>>287204887Thanks OP for all the threads, see you next week
>>287201329even nanoka thinks highlander is inevitable...>no wonder he looks so depressedcheer up mao, your anime premieres tomorrow!>>287201394the spell they're under puts them in a kodoku situation, and was cast by othersit would be tricky to convince someone to cast that for you i guess, we also don't know how much power it takes to cast that kind of spell in the first place>>287201431>doesn't even set up his own futonmao-kun...
>>287201685>>287201708>>287201794>Mao's heard of it at least. Man, I can't imagine never having chocolate.mao needs to lock this downhe's got a girl that can bring in exotic luxurious treats!
New rumic one-shot dropped today
>>287204168Here is the cover of Weekly Shonen Sunday where this chapter debuted. Per Furinkan: "This issue of Shonen Sunday celebrates the magazine's 66th anniversary. A new podcast from the Sunday editors is announced as well as a limited edition print that is up for sale featuring the color artwork from chapter 255 of MAO.">>287208756Hulu of all places. >>287208554I meant after those two die.
>>287212426Here's the announcement for the print.>>287212064Oh cool.
>>287202348
>>287212426>A new podcast from the Sunday editors is announcedrumiko was on that podcast last month, once solo and then with gosho aoyamafurinkan recently translated them just a few days ago but I haven't read them yet
>>287214034Oh, that's pretty cool. I should check that out.
>>287210026getting closer
>>287212064Rumiko's twitter posted the first couple pages. The title is "Onsenkyou no Hanayome" (Onsen Village Bride). Something about a dude nearing fifty suddenly getting married, and a village that holds on to some curious customs. (Not planning to translate this one though, in case anyone was hoping)
>>287217338
>>287217362Apparently the issue came with some Rumiko stickers, too.
One more mini-trailer before the anime.>https://x.com/MAOanimation/status/2039900696653218120They put all the classics in this one.
>>287217338>>287217387I was hoping. Ah well. There's some great panels in this one. I love the finale Ataru and Lum.
>>287198224The absolute state of OP. Never trust the guy with the smile and distinctive glare.
>>287198665>EL GRANDE GATITO (FORMA DE METAL ARDIENTE)>>287199923>Unintended comedic panelRumiko really can't help to slap some comedy even in her serious works. Comedy is in her veins.>>287199941It's like a Inuyasha but the romance is actually explicit so you don't feel it brought back at last minute with little to no development. So; more romance and less fights than Inuyasha (secondary is in doubt but certainly worse fights).>>287200474>Mao: "You expect me to believe that a bear, out of the nowhere, casually strolled, tripped, fell over the hill and, by chance took in his rolling away a small piece of of sceneray that worked as seal of the cursed soil?"
>>287200591>you now realize all the side cases where padding dripping plot by one literal drip at the time>>287200756Kamon's endgame is pretty much glaring by now. Hyakka is a big if which means he will get killed by Daigo or Hakubi since he had his own arc and it was about closure so he's pretty much there just because until that point.>>287200782>QuestionNo, he sees everything through Natsuno and by extension her legacies.>>287202348>that incredibly subtle storytelling in that one panelStellar work.>>287202564NARAKU!! AGAIN?!>>287202846No wait, it's an early volumes callback.
Last storyboards for the storytime, starting with >>287198001Sana looks kind of irked in the finished page, doesn't she?
>>287198588Another example of a page that was reworked between the sketch and the finished version. Added some establishing shots and moved the bottom panel to the next page. Was it really important for someone that he keep his hat on while shirtless?
>>287199493I feel like Hyakka looks almost like Ataru in the profile shot here
>>287200200I wonder how common it is to include sound effects in the storyboard stage?
>>287201329You can really see the emphasis on Nanoka's eyebrows on some of these
>>287201866
>>287202833The candle turned into a lantern... Maybe they thought the moths wouldn't want open flames around the cocoons?
>>287203235
>>287203842Notes in the margins again. I think it's for page that's off-camera, though.
>>287221492>Was it really important for someone that he keep his hat on while shirtless?a man never leaves his house without his hat
>>287204193And that's all. The top right corner says... I'm not sure. Something color. Probably related to the color page.I generally post the week's storyboard in the chapter threads on Wednesdays, so look out for those if you're just craving for more of Rumiko's sketches for some reason.
>>287222021i think that's トビラ tobira which usually means "door" but i think is also used for title pages don't know why that note would be written on this page though
>>287223200I suppose it might force some layout constraints on them
the other day i saw someone point out that the character design sheets shown in the special actually had heights for nanoka and maonanoka's 153 cm and mao's 177 cmso anons, what are hyakka and daigo's heights based on this info? >>287199258 >>287199272
>>287224458the height is at the top in the center
>>287224545
>>287204887Thanks for the journey OP! I'm looking forward to Yashahime next week.>but I know Shiina is the world's biggest Rumiko Takahashi fan so I expect it to be better than the anime by a good margin.It's so much better and it's not even close. You can really tell how much Shiina loves the characters with all the soul he puts into the writing for them.>I'll be reading the first volume and going one week at a time though my commentary will be very sparse, since it'll be all new to meI followed the Yashahime manga myself monthly since it's inception, so I will provide some little tidbits and info bits when I can OP! I dunno if it'll be as in depth as what you regularly provide, but I'll do my best. My biggest issue is the dump usually happens while I am at work, and 4chan has blocked the ip range for my whole city.
>>287224660>has blocked the ip range for my whole city.>my whole city.anon wh- what did you do??!!!
Episode 1 is called "Nanoka and Mao"
>>287225732 (me)>upcoming
>>287225732>attuned adolescentthat's one way to phrase "autistic girl" I suppose
>>287204887>Still not overOh no>But it's YashahimeOH NO--->But it's the one made by ShiinaOH... this could be good. OP's reincarnation will need to wait a little longer.
>>287225890>>287225732Yeah, pretty goofy.
>>287201998nice lights>>287202036>Haru (ハル), is written simply with katakana.couldn't afford kanji, shame>>287202309probably why renji and mei were sent outbeing a regular customer for curses/assassinations gets them get less-murderous services as well>>287202348>picrelthat's it, that's our girl
>>287202390so that's how paper butterflies are bornlooks like コイヨ but no idea what word it was forming>>287202677>Kaki no tane.google images show they looks like this>picrelwonder if she'll be eating those to watch the anime>>287202861>I mean people pods.probably full of demonic insect eggs>>287202974>This is what you say when you're a normal person.totally, i'm rather ambivalent with my current form myself>>287203043those sutras woke them up! damn it mao!
>>287225732
>>287203140>Ooo, misbegotten.words to remember to use >>287203235renji needs to learn how to summon his fire bugs through whistling or something, for situations like these>>287203276>DOUBLE ENTER>>287203416>infest human women>人に寄生するmao what do you mean by that...
>>287221397Thanks again for finding and posting these.
>>287203567>>287203621poor reiko didn't know she had confided in a demon bug woman...>>287203663>FATALITYeven the minions disintegratedalso look at renji lol>picrel>>287203718silver lining at least
>>287200280Really beautiful page
>>287201828Do we know who did the calligraphy for the title text / logo?
>>287203761oh nyo!>>287203882with a fucking chopstick>>287203952they just create some traumatized victims is all>>287203967>April 13th so close to lining up with this volume's storytime>>287203978surprise pyrotechnics!also kagari almost looks like she's flipping someone off in that first panel heh
>>287204887Thanks, OP. I've only been following since the start of Rinne, but it's been a hell of a year. Constantly trapped in the archives, late nights desperately trying to catch myself back up.Rumiko Takahashi is the greatest of all time. It's a real task to storytime her complete works. Congratulations.
>>287233439>Constantly trapped in the archives, late nights desperately trying to catch myself back up.
>>287233140don't knowhmm would furinkan be autistic enough to find out?
>>287204067ayame knows about their human kodoku pit?>>287204115fatherless behavior (even though her actual father is alive)>>287204356how the hell does hakubi always know when his minions are about to lose? is he watching them from his own magic mirror?>>287204411>picrel>>287204430fatherless behavior!!mr. hosho where even are you?!
>>287224762IPv4 address exhaustion happened. ISPs which still haven't give IPv6 address to their users are actually sharing IPv4 address to multiple users which could cause innocent users to get wrongfully banned.
>>287204692>Sororicideheh, i said the same back when this chapter dropped>>287204717>ENTER kagari with her own summon!>shikigami>impossible. kagari doesn't have enough power yetso these things are related then naruhodo...>>287204762is that a needle for elephants>I sense metal energyaren't hosho needles metal energy...?anyways, now all of the young ones in hakubi's care get a beast!>>287204887which hosho sister will prevail?! find out at your own leisure because this storytime is over!!but the anime finally begins today!!!>picrel
>>287205231>>287205561 (me)>i'll look over 27's timeline lateri've looked it over and... you finally did it, timeline-kunthere's nothing to correct>gifreldrop the volume 28 timeline in the next chapter thread (or the one after that) yeah? ;-)
>>287217387more stickers! :-) the latest issue of weekly shonen sunday also had rumic stickersmao looks shocked by the kissing going on above him!!
2 hours 25 minutes leftWaku waku
>>287197893Back cover?
Here's the back cover of Volume 27 of MAO of the original Japanese edition.>>287235984Sorry!
>>2872359821 hour 25 minutesWaku waku
>>28723675128 minutes to goWaku Waku
>>287235518>>287217387https://x.com/rumicworld1010/status/2039170515114635637
>>287217652>One more mini-trailer before the anime.>One morethere was one morehttps://x.com/MAOanimation/status/2040263097966076080
>>287237777Gotta have that elemental advantage chartalso, checked
join mehttps://hyperbeam.com/i/KXIlsl8S
>>287237578Like six hours until hulu.
>>287237997Thanks but I'm traveling. Will watch the rip later.
we got the whole openingkamon was modeling for the camerahaimaru, hakubi (mask on), and even shiraha are in the opening>>287238053i know, i'm going to take a nap between this and hulu's streami got up early for this
>>287237997He MAO'd all over them.
ending theme hit us out of nowhere with a brief flash of hyakka and kamon in casual modern clothingfeeling absolutely bewilderedalso some stained glass was in the ed!!
oh hey someone already made an anime thread >>287235829
when do they drop the opening/ending on youtube
so at the end of the op, or near the end, is a shot of hakubi with the iron mask and he actually begins to remove it, and we see his eye wonder if later on this might be changed to show his full face
checking youtube results for "mao anime" by recent and I find this short video from viz of rumiko>https://youtube.com/shorts/LFo8CJ3_t-wjudging by the sticker on her shirt, this was from when she visited the manga exhibit in san francisco earlier this year
>>287238522also the ending clearly showed masago
>>287239041You know, I don't think I've ever heard her voice before. It is as expected. Cute video.
>>287235915>I hope he has a cooler older brother that beats his ass every day lol great timing considering he did this in this volume >>287200581significantly better relationship overall but sometimes the gremlin urge to lightly bully the younger one wins anyway
>>287238696doko... I want to check if natsuno and daigo's silhouettes were snuck in...there was a scene with the master and some silhouettes behind him but I don't know if those were generic outlines or the actual participants
>>287237833heh, nice
>>287240210Looking pretty generic to meMaybe the rightmost guy could be Daigo, but I doubt it
>>287242289yeah just generic npcs hyakka is short and hatless, and masago has a totally different look, so it's definitely not a representation of the actual participants...
>>287204887i won't pretend that i was here the whole time; i only joined during maison ikkoku, and left after ranmabut i was in a bad place mentally a couple years ago, and being able to read maison ikkoku with all of you gave me something to get out of bed forthanks a lot for that, and for seeing this storytime through to the endtwo and a half years is a long time for this kind of thing
The first episode adapted chapters 1 and 2, which are about as long as four regular chapters. With 26 episodes, assuming a similar pace the first season could take us roughly as far as halfway through volume 11, far enough to introduce Kagari, Souma, Renji and Mei. I think more realistically they'll slow the pace down somewhat, though.
>>287243303THERE IT IS>I think more realistically they'll slow the pace down somewhat, though.yeah, I think they're just getting through the intro so they can get to the series actual premise
op/ed got posted on tumblr at least there really is no shadowy glimpse of natsuno or daigo...I'm going to assume this means we'll be getting a 2nd op/ed mid-season
realizing hyakka's finally been hatted :-)>picreladorable
next ep will be mr. mummy and the spiders rightwait shit i don't remember what the next ep title was lol
>>287245755"Spider Lady"Kind of giving the game away, if you ask me
>>287245839it's tradition i remember seeing a video point out there was an ep called "tetsusaiga breaks" and then go gee wonder what happens this ep lol
>>287246202 (me)oh shit i found the video >https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlLBHOuxqI0google you didn't fail me as much as i thought after all
>>287246202The thing is, it's the name of the chapter where they actually fight the spiderwoman, but they could just have gone with "The viscount with no face" from the previous chapter. It's not like it's that critical to the overarching story either way.
>>287246380even with the current pace it's going to be a bit til hyakka shows up
>>287237709and this is the magazine cover of the issue that had these stickers
>>287248321Pretty. Is this new art?
>>287248707this is the cover of the latest magazine issue that was sold on tuesday/wednesday
an anime-only is wondering if grandpa's doing uozumi and that has me wondering...do you think the humanoid shikigami are anatomically correct?
>>287249003Much as I'd like to assert otherwise, the aftermath of Nanoka's little mishap with the sword suggests that their clothes are just part of their body.
Here's the cover for volume 28, which came out this week.
i can finally focus now that my excitement about the anime has waned, i did have one last thing to speculate regarding this volume>>287198224>>287218966>I am honestly a little disappointed by myself not considering this until Yurako pointed out the possibility.>The absolute state of OP. Never trust the guy with the smile and distinctive glare.something to remember is that zombie daigo only spoke once, and it was "sana"he also tried to help that young eloping couple>picrelwe don't know how daigo and sana's relationship startedmaybe daigo seduced sana for that purpose? but if he did it seems that he might've ended up playing himself if the actions of his "empty husk" are anything to go by (heh, sucker)it's also possible sana made the first move herselfas the timeline notes "what was driving daigo's mindless body?" and how mindless/empty was zombie daigo at that? it seems that *something* stayed behind...
>>287249179>Much as I'd like to assert otherwiseis there a particular shikigami you had in mind, anon?
>>287249617I wouldn't mind getting to sniff Beniko's flower, if you catch my drift
here's *some* of the color pages that come after this volumehere's one of nanoka being cute>picrel
this is the magazine cover after the anime was announced>picrelthere's character designs in the background
>>287251277this is the color page that was in this issue
i like this one
group cover for sunday fes
>>287253804doctor mao full drawing>https://x.com/sundayfes_info/status/1955917314286870883
the anime twitter is going to post a month from "otoya's calendar">https://x.com/MAOanimation/status/2038858832542380461it's from april 2026 to march 2027here's the first one>picrel
>>287254741Cute! This is super cute.
>>287255512we'll see what awaits us for may!even after season 1 ends, we'll have months more of the calendar to look forward to :-)
>>287197893Bump
>>287258582well since you're still here>gifrelanyways, where the *fuck* is the official youtube upload of the op and ed?!
Just saw the episode. Thought it was a good adaptation. Will try to watch weekly with my sister
