Mao

📖 SYNOPSIS

At just seven years old, Nanoka Kiba walked away from a fatal accident — and she has no idea why. Eight years later, she stumbles through a portal into Taishō-era Japan and immediately gets attacked by a yokai. The guy who saves her — an exorcist named Mao — doesn't seem thrilled about it either. He's got his own problems, mainly a curse from a cat demon called Byoki that's bound to both him and his sword. When Nanoka makes it back to the present, she realizes something's changed — she's got abilities she definitely didn't have before. So naturally, she goes back through the portal looking for answers, and ends up tangled in Mao's investigation of a string of brutal supernatural murders. Turns out their pasts might be more connected than either of them expected.

This is Rumiko Takahashi's latest work — same creator behind Inuyasha and Ranma 1/2 — so if you liked the time-traveling supernatural dynamics of Inuyasha, this hits a similar nerve but with a darker, more mystery-driven tone. Think less romance-adventure, more detective work with demons. The Taishō setting gives it a moody atmosphere that fans of Natsume's Book of Friends will appreciate, though Mao leans harder into the horror and investigation side. Studio Sunrise is handling the TV series adaptation, set for 2026. The vibe is mysterious and deliberate — it's the kind of show that drops questions early and makes you stick around because you genuinely need the answers.