Mao is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Rumiko Takahashi, the acclaimed creator of Inuyasha and Ranma ½. It began serialization in Shogakukan's Weekly Shōnen Sunday magazine in May 2019, marking Takahashi's return to the supernatural adventure genre that defined much of her career.
The story follows Nanoka Kiba, a high school girl who, after a mysterious accident in her childhood, finds herself drawn into a world of curses and supernatural phenomena. She encounters Mao, a stoic and enigmatic exorcist from the Taisho era who is investigating a series of strange occurrences. Nanoka discovers she has a deep, inexplicable connection to Mao, and together they navigate a landscape filled with vengeful spirits, dark sorcery, and the lingering effects of a cataclysmic event from the past.
Set against a backdrop that blends modern-day Japan with the atmospheric Taisho period, the manga weaves a complex narrative of reincarnation, fate, and hidden identities. Takahashi's signature blend of horror, humor, and romance is on full display as Nanoka and Mao's partnership deepens, revealing layers of a shared history that neither fully understands.
As of 2026, the series has been collected into numerous tankōbon volumes and has been praised for its intricate plotting, compelling character dynamics, and the nostalgic yet fresh feel of its supernatural world-building. It stands as a significant late-career work from one of manga's most influential storytellers.
