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Sayuri
Afin de se donner un nouveau départ, la famille Kamiki déménage dans une maison à la campagne. Mais, ce qui devait être un havre de paix se transforme lentement en un cauchemar !
La famille Kamiki avait désormais tout pour être heureuse. Après des années et des années d'économies et de sacrifices, elle peut enfin être propriétaire ! Certes, la maison est ancienne mais la vue depuis le haut de la colline est tellement belle ! Trois générations de Kamiki s'installent alors sous le même toit... Les accidents inexpliqués s'enchaînent les uns après les autres, avant que la grand-mère ne découvre la terrible vérité. Mais la vieille femme et son petit-fils n'ont clairement pas envie de se laisser abattre par les esprits malins qui hantent la demeure. La riposte se prépare et elle sera très violente...
La famille Kamiki avait désormais tout pour être heureuse. Après des années et des années d'économies et de sacrifices, elle peut enfin être propriétaire ! Certes, la maison est ancienne mais la vue depuis le haut de la colline est tellement belle ! Trois générations de Kamiki s'installent alors sous le même toit... Les accidents inexpliqués s'enchaînent les uns après les autres, avant que la grand-mère ne découvre la terrible vérité. Mais la vieille femme et son petit-fils n'ont clairement pas envie de se laisser abattre par les esprits malins qui hantent la demeure. La riposte se prépare et elle sera très violente...
384 pages, Paperback
Published January 27, 2026
2 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Final Review: Sayuri by Rensuke Oshikiri is the first ever horror manga I have read and it most definitely will not be my last. Many thanks to this author for getting me interested in the genre. This manga reminds me of various horror films from Vietnam and Thailand that I have seen in the best possible way. The atmosphere, the intrigue, combined with a passive but impactful dialogue about various Japanese cultural tropes. This story was tragic and but ends on note of hope… but the sadness remains.
Normally, I approach my manga reviews Chapter by chapter, but as this review will be posted before release date I will skip that here. I did take rather detailed notes, which made me smile as I looked back to write this review. Initially, I wasn’t so keen on the narrative but at a certain point I was just locked in and the twists took me. Without spoilers , I stan the grandma. With spoilers: Back to the story, this story opens as the multigenerational Kamika family moves into their new home. A big house that the father had saved for years to afford, but may have gotten a bargain on (geez, I wonder why…). In the family there are 3 children: Norio the eldest boy and middle child (), Keiko the eldest and the sister and Shun a sweet little baby brother, as well as their mother and father, grandfather and a perhaps Alzheimer’s having grandmother.
This story is overflowing with trauma… SOOO much loss. It comes punch after punch, but that is also why it was so hard to put down. It was a lot of emotional labor to finish, and might be trigger, but I found it worth it. Beyond the trauma, Norio’s school friend () Sumida had a bit of hoodoo going on; she can see ghosts. Overall, for someone who doesn’t read horror much this blend the emotions of loss and intrigue of spirits very well.
4 stars!
Initial Thoughts:RTC!! This is sad… ripped my heart out and made me cry. But there is a hope for a future . I should say there is a relative amount of hope!
Thank you to Rensuke Oshikiri, Kodasha Comics and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this manga before its release.
💞
Normally, I approach my manga reviews Chapter by chapter, but as this review will be posted before release date I will skip that here. I did take rather detailed notes, which made me smile as I looked back to write this review. Initially, I wasn’t so keen on the narrative but at a certain point I was just locked in and the twists took me. Without spoilers , I stan the grandma. With spoilers: Back to the story, this story opens as the multigenerational Kamika family moves into their new home. A big house that the father had saved for years to afford, but may have gotten a bargain on (geez, I wonder why…). In the family there are 3 children: Norio the eldest boy and middle child (), Keiko the eldest and the sister and Shun a sweet little baby brother, as well as their mother and father, grandfather and a perhaps Alzheimer’s having grandmother.
This story is overflowing with trauma… SOOO much loss. It comes punch after punch, but that is also why it was so hard to put down. It was a lot of emotional labor to finish, and might be trigger, but I found it worth it. Beyond the trauma, Norio’s school friend () Sumida had a bit of hoodoo going on; she can see ghosts. Overall, for someone who doesn’t read horror much this blend the emotions of loss and intrigue of spirits very well.
4 stars!
Initial Thoughts:RTC!! This is sad… ripped my heart out and made me cry. But there is a hope for a future . I should say there is a relative amount of hope!
Thank you to Rensuke Oshikiri, Kodasha Comics and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this manga before its release.
💞
December 28, 2020
Bad call
Akio managed to save enough so the Kamikis can move from their cramped flat in the suburbs to a spacious house towering above an affluent district over the hills. At long last, grandparents, children and their children's children can enjoy a peaceful environment. Deceptively peaceful, that is. Gruesome sights are seen and terrible events happen in short order. And not in short supply at that.
Author Rensuke Oshikiri knows how to mingle all the traditional elements of Japanese horror and while the bulk of this one-hour read goes a taddle... over-the-top, the core message still hits hard.
To be plain, I'd observe that the build-up felt a bit rushed to me, but you have to remember that this manga was initially published in two installments, which certainly affected the overall pace of the work as a one-shot.
Another feature that brought substantial power to the work was the gritty undertones, left intact and even enhanced by the frenzy, itself providing a consistent incentive and a mighty drive to the story throughout.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Hideout
L'île de Hôzuki 1
Reset
Duds Hunt
SOUNDTRACK:
Blood Starved Beast - Bloodborne OST
Akio managed to save enough so the Kamikis can move from their cramped flat in the suburbs to a spacious house towering above an affluent district over the hills. At long last, grandparents, children and their children's children can enjoy a peaceful environment. Deceptively peaceful, that is. Gruesome sights are seen and terrible events happen in short order. And not in short supply at that.
Author Rensuke Oshikiri knows how to mingle all the traditional elements of Japanese horror and while the bulk of this one-hour read goes a taddle... over-the-top, the core message still hits hard.
To be plain, I'd observe that the build-up felt a bit rushed to me, but you have to remember that this manga was initially published in two installments, which certainly affected the overall pace of the work as a one-shot.
Another feature that brought substantial power to the work was the gritty undertones, left intact and even enhanced by the frenzy, itself providing a consistent incentive and a mighty drive to the story throughout.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Hideout
L'île de Hôzuki 1
Reset
Duds Hunt
SOUNDTRACK:
Blood Starved Beast - Bloodborne OST
February 1, 2026
An excellent horror manga in two large volumes - first the horrific haunting and destruction of an extended family that moves into their dream home, only to find it haunted by a vengeful ghost, and second the brutal familial revenge tale of Granny and her surviving grandson. As brutal and devastating as this was, it was able to achieve a charming, sweet ending. Very well done, and recommended.
January 3, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for the opportunity to read Sayuri by Rensuke Oshikiri. This was a profoundly impactful read. I was initially unsure, even prepared to give it up midway due to the stark art style. However, persisting revealed a story that transformed into a deeply psychological and philosophical exploration, cloaked in the guise of a slice-of-life horror.
As an empath, I found this manga both triggering and painfully close to the heart. The narrative’s unflinching gloom weighed heavily on me, as I felt the profound suffering of its characters. Yet, I am incredibly glad I continued. Through the grandmother’s arc, the story delivers a powerful, poetic lesson. It illustrates how surrendering completely to grief, trauma, and sadness allows a metaphorical devil (here, the entity Sayuri) to feed on that pain and ultimately destroy you and everything you love.
The brilliance lies in the solution it portrays. Survival comes from the disciplined, steadfast acts of living. By choosing to feed herself and her grandson, by maintaining strict routines and performing simple chores, the grandmother finds the strength to confront the source of the horror and reclaim their lives. The core message resonated deeply. It is okay to grieve, but one must not allow it to haunt and consume everything. Healing is found in picking oneself up and doing one thing at a time, even if that thing is simply preparing a meal. This was a harsh, beautiful, and unforgettable read that taught me a great deal about the quiet strength required to endure.
As an empath, I found this manga both triggering and painfully close to the heart. The narrative’s unflinching gloom weighed heavily on me, as I felt the profound suffering of its characters. Yet, I am incredibly glad I continued. Through the grandmother’s arc, the story delivers a powerful, poetic lesson. It illustrates how surrendering completely to grief, trauma, and sadness allows a metaphorical devil (here, the entity Sayuri) to feed on that pain and ultimately destroy you and everything you love.
The brilliance lies in the solution it portrays. Survival comes from the disciplined, steadfast acts of living. By choosing to feed herself and her grandson, by maintaining strict routines and performing simple chores, the grandmother finds the strength to confront the source of the horror and reclaim their lives. The core message resonated deeply. It is okay to grieve, but one must not allow it to haunt and consume everything. Healing is found in picking oneself up and doing one thing at a time, even if that thing is simply preparing a meal. This was a harsh, beautiful, and unforgettable read that taught me a great deal about the quiet strength required to endure.
January 22, 2026
This was amazing and had no business being this heartwarming lol
That’s why Japanese lit is superior, they always make gory, dark stories also cute and heartwarming, so you actually care about the characters and there’s actual stakes!
That’s why Japanese lit is superior, they always make gory, dark stories also cute and heartwarming, so you actually care about the characters and there’s actual stakes!
February 10, 2021
Pas mal du tout, j'aime bien ce genre d'horreur et la postface du mangaka est intéressante 😊
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Rating: 4.25
Thank you to Rensuke Oshikiri, Netgalley, and Kodansha Comics for an e-arc of this manga in exchange for an honest review.
I've heard of the author of this manga before as I know they also released a very DIFFERENT series called Hi-Score Girl but when I saw they were also releasing a Horror I was vey interested! Sayuri follows a close family in Japan who move into their dream home only to discover it is haunted. Various tragedies befall them and in the end it is down to two of the family members to fight back against the ghost torturing them all.
The art in this manga is certainly unique and whilst it's a style I'm not hugely fond of normally, with it being much less expressive but I think this works really well for the horror aspects of the book and the body horror moments rival Junji Ito in terms of scare factor. There was surprisingly a lot of heart in this book too and you really got to know the family members and feel for their situation. The author's note about why they wrote this book and about how they didn't feel many horror stories had the people being haunted fight back was also very interesting.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this horror, and I'd be interested to see what other horror the author might write in the future,
Thank you to Rensuke Oshikiri, Netgalley, and Kodansha Comics for an e-arc of this manga in exchange for an honest review.
I've heard of the author of this manga before as I know they also released a very DIFFERENT series called Hi-Score Girl but when I saw they were also releasing a Horror I was vey interested! Sayuri follows a close family in Japan who move into their dream home only to discover it is haunted. Various tragedies befall them and in the end it is down to two of the family members to fight back against the ghost torturing them all.
The art in this manga is certainly unique and whilst it's a style I'm not hugely fond of normally, with it being much less expressive but I think this works really well for the horror aspects of the book and the body horror moments rival Junji Ito in terms of scare factor. There was surprisingly a lot of heart in this book too and you really got to know the family members and feel for their situation. The author's note about why they wrote this book and about how they didn't feel many horror stories had the people being haunted fight back was also very interesting.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this horror, and I'd be interested to see what other horror the author might write in the future,
February 8, 2026
Sayuri by Rensuke Oshikiri is a chilling and emotionally charged horror novel that blends supernatural terror with family tragedy. What begins as a seemingly typical haunted-house story quickly deepens into something far more disturbing and unsettling.
Oshikiri’s strength lies in his ability to create sustained dread. The horror does not rely solely on jump scares, but on a slow accumulation of fear—through atmosphere, psychological unease, and the gradual unraveling of a family pushed to its limits. The presence of Sayuri is haunting, and the sense of menace grows heavier with each chapter.
Beyond the horror, the novel explores themes of grief, helplessness, and generational trauma. The emotional weight of the story makes the frightening moments hit harder, grounding the supernatural elements in very human suffering. The pacing is tight, keeping the reader engaged while allowing tension to build effectively.
Some scenes are intensely dark and may not be suitable for all readers, but for fans of Japanese horror, this intensity is part of the appeal. Overall, Sayuri is a powerful and disturbing read that lingers in the mind, offering horror that is both shocking and deeply affecting.
Oshikiri’s strength lies in his ability to create sustained dread. The horror does not rely solely on jump scares, but on a slow accumulation of fear—through atmosphere, psychological unease, and the gradual unraveling of a family pushed to its limits. The presence of Sayuri is haunting, and the sense of menace grows heavier with each chapter.
Beyond the horror, the novel explores themes of grief, helplessness, and generational trauma. The emotional weight of the story makes the frightening moments hit harder, grounding the supernatural elements in very human suffering. The pacing is tight, keeping the reader engaged while allowing tension to build effectively.
Some scenes are intensely dark and may not be suitable for all readers, but for fans of Japanese horror, this intensity is part of the appeal. Overall, Sayuri is a powerful and disturbing read that lingers in the mind, offering horror that is both shocking and deeply affecting.
January 8, 2026
The art style of this Sayuri was exquisite. It was creepy, horrific and will definitely haunt my nightmares.
The story itself wasn’t anything ground breaking and was a little predictable. I wished there was a little bit more to it because it felt like I read two panels and then everyone was dead.
There was also a big pacing problem where things raced at 100 miles a minute and then randomly slowed down for a few pages.
As a quick, hour long read, it definitely isn’t a bad read but I just think it could have been developed into so much more.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc in return for an honest review.
The story itself wasn’t anything ground breaking and was a little predictable. I wished there was a little bit more to it because it felt like I read two panels and then everyone was dead.
There was also a big pacing problem where things raced at 100 miles a minute and then randomly slowed down for a few pages.
As a quick, hour long read, it definitely isn’t a bad read but I just think it could have been developed into so much more.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc in return for an honest review.
December 6, 2025
⭐ Manga | Horror
Thank you to Kodansha Comics for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Sayuri is a horror story that begins when a family moves into what the father believes is their dream home, a larger space with a beautiful view. But it doesn’t take long before unsettling and tragic events start piling up. Strange deaths, eerie occurrences, and disturbing visions plague the household, and the locals soon warn the surviving family members that the home is cursed.
The characters are not draw with typical faces & look odd. The atmosphere is undeniably creepy, but the pacing can feel uneven at times. I found it a bit difficult to stay fully engaged because of the pacing along with the story frequent blurring the line between reality and madness. Many scenes depict characters losing their grip on what’s real, which adds to the horror but also makes the narrative harder to follow.
Overall, Sayuri has eerie visuals and unsettling tension. Those into horror might enjoy the cursed-house, even if the pacing can feel disorienting.
Thank you to Kodansha Comics for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Sayuri is a horror story that begins when a family moves into what the father believes is their dream home, a larger space with a beautiful view. But it doesn’t take long before unsettling and tragic events start piling up. Strange deaths, eerie occurrences, and disturbing visions plague the household, and the locals soon warn the surviving family members that the home is cursed.
The characters are not draw with typical faces & look odd. The atmosphere is undeniably creepy, but the pacing can feel uneven at times. I found it a bit difficult to stay fully engaged because of the pacing along with the story frequent blurring the line between reality and madness. Many scenes depict characters losing their grip on what’s real, which adds to the horror but also makes the narrative harder to follow.
Overall, Sayuri has eerie visuals and unsettling tension. Those into horror might enjoy the cursed-house, even if the pacing can feel disorienting.
January 3, 2026
Norio and his family move into their dream home. But, soon after, many horrific tragedies begin happening. The story is chilling and unnerving with lots of body horror. I would definitely recommend this manga to anyone who loves horror and traditional Japanese ghost stories.
Thank you to Kodansha Comics, Rensuke Oshikiri, and Netgalley for the arc of this manga in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to Kodansha Comics, Rensuke Oshikiri, and Netgalley for the arc of this manga in exchange for my honest review.
Read
December 15, 2025*Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for early copy for review*
So I requested this because I love horror manga, but the art style in this was not good. I think that it made some of the scarier panels feel childish because of it. I felt the characters looked to similar and alien like. The actual story was not that bad, but art plays such an important part in manga.
So I requested this because I love horror manga, but the art style in this was not good. I think that it made some of the scarier panels feel childish because of it. I felt the characters looked to similar and alien like. The actual story was not that bad, but art plays such an important part in manga.
December 29, 2025
One of the more unsettling stories I’ve read! The images in this are haunting! Super creepy and unique art style. It’s a quick read with a well fleshed out story. Even when it’s all wrapped up there’s an eerie energy after! Really enjoyed this one.
January 10, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me a copy in exchange for my honest thoughts. When initially started this I was drawn in by the artwork but ultimately thought this would just be another haunted house manga. Instead, we find a haunted house that is deeply affecting its occupants and causing their untimely deaths. There was such a profound, growing sense of unease while reading this but, the most impactful bits were the latter half. I absolutely loved the ending and the fighting back against this malevolent spirit. Highly recommend
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2021
I’m not sure I fully grasped what happened except creepy things in a house a family recently moved into, but I liked it! The art was eerie!
December 7, 2025
Hello! Whoever is reading this. I thought the art style was creepy at times. Which is good since this story is a horror story. But I don’t think this story was for me even though I didn’t enjoy the creepy art style. I was also confused with the story at times.
Even though this read wasn’t for me I would recommend this story to others who need a quick read. Or want to enjoy some creepy art!
Even though this read wasn’t for me I would recommend this story to others who need a quick read. Or want to enjoy some creepy art!
December 4, 2025
Thank you Net Galley for the e-arc!
It was an interesting horror manga about a family that moves into a nice big house, but then encounters one dreadful event after another. The art was good in giving off a peaceful and then gruesome and creepy vibe as the horror events occurred.
A fun spooky read, but very short so not a lot of build up just from the length of it.
It was an interesting horror manga about a family that moves into a nice big house, but then encounters one dreadful event after another. The art was good in giving off a peaceful and then gruesome and creepy vibe as the horror events occurred.
A fun spooky read, but very short so not a lot of build up just from the length of it.
January 27, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics | Vertical Comics for making this available to Read Now.
A horror manga about a haunted house and the family that lives there. The plot was pretty simple, with few surprises in the characters' development. The story of the haunting was not that good, to be honest. My main drive to read horror manga is usually not the story, but the drawing style. And this is what I’m most disappointed about here - the drawings were lacking detail and I was very confused of who was who. The characters were not distinct enough and after another set of characters was introduced, I completely got lost. I feel like there were some elements that were underdeveloped, like the TV and the actual reason behind Sayuri’s fate. There was less horror and more violence, which I don’t prefer. This is a fast read, so if you’re interested, you can give it a try.
A horror manga about a haunted house and the family that lives there. The plot was pretty simple, with few surprises in the characters' development. The story of the haunting was not that good, to be honest. My main drive to read horror manga is usually not the story, but the drawing style. And this is what I’m most disappointed about here - the drawings were lacking detail and I was very confused of who was who. The characters were not distinct enough and after another set of characters was introduced, I completely got lost. I feel like there were some elements that were underdeveloped, like the TV and the actual reason behind Sayuri’s fate. There was less horror and more violence, which I don’t prefer. This is a fast read, so if you’re interested, you can give it a try.
May 3, 2024
I think I expected too much from this little manga that I got from the library just because it had a pretty cover. The art was nice but the plot... What?
The first half had a lot of potential, but it fell apart in the end and I jhst ended up frustrated. Several characters in this book deserved better (Sayuri especially), and others deserved much, much worse.
Recommended only if you're looking for something that's essentially the Grudge but like...not as compelling. 1.5 stars on SG rounded up to 2 on GR.
The first half had a lot of potential, but it fell apart in the end and I jhst ended up frustrated. Several characters in this book deserved better (Sayuri especially), and others deserved much, much worse.
Recommended only if you're looking for something that's essentially the Grudge but like...not as compelling. 1.5 stars on SG rounded up to 2 on GR.
February 2, 2021
Effectivement Stéphane Plaza n'achètera PAS cette maison !
March 5, 2021
I liked this take on classic haunted house stories. But sadly I found myself confused a lot of the times.
March 24, 2021
Je ne lis pas énormément de manga, mais j'ai adoré celui-ci ! Les dessins sont effrayants et l'histoire est diabolique. Un manga d'horreur à lire le soir seule dans son lit …
January 24, 2026
The English publication releases January 27th from Kodansha. I received a copy via NetGalley for review.
-----
To be honest, I didn't think I was going to like this at first because I thought the art was a bit uncanny (even before the scary stuff happened), but as I kept reading, it grew on me, and I realized how much it worked well with the horror and unsettling nature of this story and its characters. It's like if early Tim Burton sketches got filtered through the lens of Japanese manga-style art. Not a bad concept for a horror manga.
I've seen houses that look just like the Kamiki family's in real life when I lived in Japan. They're prominent in the inaka and are a bit on the large side, and they do all have a sense of oldness to them. I could definitely see how a house like the one in the manga could be creepy, because some of these genuinely are in real life.
Things start out rather quickly, with the Dad being haunted first (and the first to die), the oldest child Keiko retreating to her room and acting strange, little Shun (the younger brother in 5th grade) avoiding the darkness in the hallway and far rooms, and then the Mother and Grandpa are next with their own weird behaviors. Only Norio and Grandma make it to the latest stages of the hauntings, but not without being tortured by the horrific deaths of their loved ones, or disturbing visions of their family suffering in the afterlife. All in all, it takes about a month for the destruction of the family to occur.
There are scenes that discuss death and the afterlife--before Grandpa goes, he has an encouraging talk with Norio about how he is scared of the unknown, but says "I don't think god is so cruel as to make death a harrowing, lonely experience. The reason we humans are alive is to learn to live as joyfully as we can." Interspersed with tragedy and horror are little quiet moments like this...and then there are louder scenes where Grandma talks about similar topics, only concerning hell and punishment. But Grandma also talks about her and Norio's "life flames," which are too hot for the evil ghost Sayuri to touch. She talks about keeping life in order, nourishing the self, and keeping vitality in order to fight back against Sayuri's horrific hauntings.
It's harder for Norio to do this because he has a lot of emotions around the deaths of his family, and the terrible dreams and visions he has. However, his formerly senile Grandma is driven by revenge and essentially "trains" Norio to fight back. I really enjoyed when the manga turned in this direction.
There's a lot more to share but I don't want to spoil it. But suffice it to say, the more I read of this story, the more I liked it, and I'm glad I pushed through it and gave it a try.
This is an emotional work with extreme moments and quiet moments, and it isn't afraid to go into what I would describe as operatic craziness. But also, the direction the story took surprised me, and it was great to see characters fight back against the malevolent presence in the house. The ending is earned but not without great cost.
Based on the majority of ratings on NetGalley, it looks like this hasn't quite meshed with readers, and that's too bad. I found this to be a unique entry into the genre of horror manga, and I'm glad I read it. I would recommend it to die-hard fans who try to read everything out there horror has to offer.
-----
To be honest, I didn't think I was going to like this at first because I thought the art was a bit uncanny (even before the scary stuff happened), but as I kept reading, it grew on me, and I realized how much it worked well with the horror and unsettling nature of this story and its characters. It's like if early Tim Burton sketches got filtered through the lens of Japanese manga-style art. Not a bad concept for a horror manga.
I've seen houses that look just like the Kamiki family's in real life when I lived in Japan. They're prominent in the inaka and are a bit on the large side, and they do all have a sense of oldness to them. I could definitely see how a house like the one in the manga could be creepy, because some of these genuinely are in real life.
Things start out rather quickly, with the Dad being haunted first (and the first to die), the oldest child Keiko retreating to her room and acting strange, little Shun (the younger brother in 5th grade) avoiding the darkness in the hallway and far rooms, and then the Mother and Grandpa are next with their own weird behaviors. Only Norio and Grandma make it to the latest stages of the hauntings, but not without being tortured by the horrific deaths of their loved ones, or disturbing visions of their family suffering in the afterlife. All in all, it takes about a month for the destruction of the family to occur.
There are scenes that discuss death and the afterlife--before Grandpa goes, he has an encouraging talk with Norio about how he is scared of the unknown, but says "I don't think god is so cruel as to make death a harrowing, lonely experience. The reason we humans are alive is to learn to live as joyfully as we can." Interspersed with tragedy and horror are little quiet moments like this...and then there are louder scenes where Grandma talks about similar topics, only concerning hell and punishment. But Grandma also talks about her and Norio's "life flames," which are too hot for the evil ghost Sayuri to touch. She talks about keeping life in order, nourishing the self, and keeping vitality in order to fight back against Sayuri's horrific hauntings.
It's harder for Norio to do this because he has a lot of emotions around the deaths of his family, and the terrible dreams and visions he has. However, his formerly senile Grandma is driven by revenge and essentially "trains" Norio to fight back. I really enjoyed when the manga turned in this direction.
There's a lot more to share but I don't want to spoil it. But suffice it to say, the more I read of this story, the more I liked it, and I'm glad I pushed through it and gave it a try.
This is an emotional work with extreme moments and quiet moments, and it isn't afraid to go into what I would describe as operatic craziness. But also, the direction the story took surprised me, and it was great to see characters fight back against the malevolent presence in the house. The ending is earned but not without great cost.
Based on the majority of ratings on NetGalley, it looks like this hasn't quite meshed with readers, and that's too bad. I found this to be a unique entry into the genre of horror manga, and I'm glad I read it. I would recommend it to die-hard fans who try to read everything out there horror has to offer.
February 6, 2026
Sayuri is a 2 volume horror manga, brought together here in one omnibus book. The first part is a haunted house horror with a ghastly terror who turns a pleasant Japanese family's lives into a nightmare. The second part is a tale of human revenge against the evil spirit.
The feel of this story is reminiscent of Japanese horror movies like The Ring (Ringu). Jump scares, a darker and creepy atmosphere, horrific antagonist. The story follows Norio and his extended family as they finally move into their dream house. Unbeknownst to them, the house has a murderous history and not long after moving in a malevolent spirit turns everything dark. The pace keeps tension throughout the entire omnibus and doesn't pull punches with the horrific events happening. In the author's note he mentions that he wrote this story because he felt Japanese horror films never ended as he wanted them to. This story not only includes the revenge against the horror, it also gives a satisfactory ending - not "happily ever after" but at least "hopefully ever after."
The main characters we follow are Norio and Grandmother. Their relationship is well done and their emotions and motivations are clear. Grandmother is the driving character of the story, especially in the second half. She's the Grandma you want in your corner! I was confused about Sumida though. She comes in rather randomly and the only one with a "sixth sense." While she is a driving force for Norio at the end, I am not sure that she brings enough to the story to feel like she belongs.
The artwork is appropriately dark and spooky. Oshikiri has a more simplistic style, favoring less detail in the backgrounds and focusing more on the horror aspects. There is a little bit of gore, but the almost abstract nature and black and white artwork makes it feel less "icky" but still provides the gut-punch reaction. Some of the faces were maybe too similar - I got confused between Shun and Norio more than once. But there are some really expressive scenes that create an emotional impact. I will say that I'm used to reading physical manga, and reading it in eBook format lessens the impact of the dual-page spreads. A physical copy would probably do this one better justice.
I am not a connoisseur of horror manga in any sense of the term, but I thought this was really well done. If you like Japanese horror movies or horror manga set in the modern world, this would be a good choice.
Thank you to Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for the chance to read this omnibus version of Sayuri.
The feel of this story is reminiscent of Japanese horror movies like The Ring (Ringu). Jump scares, a darker and creepy atmosphere, horrific antagonist. The story follows Norio and his extended family as they finally move into their dream house. Unbeknownst to them, the house has a murderous history and not long after moving in a malevolent spirit turns everything dark. The pace keeps tension throughout the entire omnibus and doesn't pull punches with the horrific events happening. In the author's note he mentions that he wrote this story because he felt Japanese horror films never ended as he wanted them to. This story not only includes the revenge against the horror, it also gives a satisfactory ending - not "happily ever after" but at least "hopefully ever after."
The main characters we follow are Norio and Grandmother. Their relationship is well done and their emotions and motivations are clear. Grandmother is the driving character of the story, especially in the second half. She's the Grandma you want in your corner! I was confused about Sumida though. She comes in rather randomly and the only one with a "sixth sense." While she is a driving force for Norio at the end, I am not sure that she brings enough to the story to feel like she belongs.
The artwork is appropriately dark and spooky. Oshikiri has a more simplistic style, favoring less detail in the backgrounds and focusing more on the horror aspects. There is a little bit of gore, but the almost abstract nature and black and white artwork makes it feel less "icky" but still provides the gut-punch reaction. Some of the faces were maybe too similar - I got confused between Shun and Norio more than once. But there are some really expressive scenes that create an emotional impact. I will say that I'm used to reading physical manga, and reading it in eBook format lessens the impact of the dual-page spreads. A physical copy would probably do this one better justice.
I am not a connoisseur of horror manga in any sense of the term, but I thought this was really well done. If you like Japanese horror movies or horror manga set in the modern world, this would be a good choice.
Thank you to Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for the chance to read this omnibus version of Sayuri.
February 11, 2026
4.25 ★ Stars ★
Sayuri by Rensuke Ushikiri centers around a multi-generational family of seven as they move into a new house. What should be a new beginning and a fresh slate quickly takes a turn for the worst as odd occurances and tragedy strikes.
From the get go, you start with a scene that screams normal: children bickering, a family eating dinner together, etc. The foreshadowing present is light but altogether more chilling than if it were more prevalent. The dialogue is normal but the art in the panels is eerie which left me to wonder when the punchline would hit and when it did, it left me questioning (in a good way).
Rensuke Ushikiri's unique art style worked perfectly for this story and genre. It really tied everything together and worked well to convey what was going on. Every page is full of detail and feels complete in the sense that you can tell time and energy was spent in making sure every panel was just right. The use of light and shadow helps the story feel unsettling even before anything supernatural has happened.
The story itself was good and well executed considering the medium the story is being told in and considering the premise. The premise is a classic haunted house story, but what makes it stand out as a good horror story is that it has its own unique twists on the trope. I also found that rather than evoking a sense of fear, the story made me feel unsettled and uneasy, especially at the parts featuring body horror. The story was sad in many ways and was full of tragedy.
As far as horror story characters go, the grandma was a very unique and refreshing character who helped brighten things up in a way and served to bring hope to an otherwise sad and unsettling horror story.
The dialogue was good if not a bit heavy. It was bland at points but it served a purpose and helped build suspense and mystery within the story.
The biggest suprise for me was that I really liked how to story ended. It featured a resolution that I don't often like, but here it was perfectly executed and I found that it really complimented the story.
Overall, I really enjoyed Sayuri by Rensuke Ushikiri. I really enjoyed how much the art made the story come to life and the unique use of a haunted house premise. I really liked the dynamic between the characters and ultimately, I would reread this story.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for the ARC.
Sayuri by Rensuke Ushikiri centers around a multi-generational family of seven as they move into a new house. What should be a new beginning and a fresh slate quickly takes a turn for the worst as odd occurances and tragedy strikes.
From the get go, you start with a scene that screams normal: children bickering, a family eating dinner together, etc. The foreshadowing present is light but altogether more chilling than if it were more prevalent. The dialogue is normal but the art in the panels is eerie which left me to wonder when the punchline would hit and when it did, it left me questioning (in a good way).
Rensuke Ushikiri's unique art style worked perfectly for this story and genre. It really tied everything together and worked well to convey what was going on. Every page is full of detail and feels complete in the sense that you can tell time and energy was spent in making sure every panel was just right. The use of light and shadow helps the story feel unsettling even before anything supernatural has happened.
The story itself was good and well executed considering the medium the story is being told in and considering the premise. The premise is a classic haunted house story, but what makes it stand out as a good horror story is that it has its own unique twists on the trope. I also found that rather than evoking a sense of fear, the story made me feel unsettled and uneasy, especially at the parts featuring body horror. The story was sad in many ways and was full of tragedy.
As far as horror story characters go, the grandma was a very unique and refreshing character who helped brighten things up in a way and served to bring hope to an otherwise sad and unsettling horror story.
The dialogue was good if not a bit heavy. It was bland at points but it served a purpose and helped build suspense and mystery within the story.
The biggest suprise for me was that I really liked how to story ended. It featured a resolution that I don't often like, but here it was perfectly executed and I found that it really complimented the story.
Overall, I really enjoyed Sayuri by Rensuke Ushikiri. I really enjoyed how much the art made the story come to life and the unique use of a haunted house premise. I really liked the dynamic between the characters and ultimately, I would reread this story.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for the ARC.
January 31, 2026
Rounded from 4.5 stars on Storygraph
~*ARC Reader*~
Thanks to NetGalley, Kodansha Comics, Vertical Comics, and, of course, Rensuke Oshikiri for letting me access the ARC of this omnibus edition of Sayuri.
This is a tight horror story that leverages classical elements with a twist not always seen in horror stories: putting up a strong fight against the entity tormenting the main characters. While there are some elements of the art that aren't my favorite, the plot of this story was really engaging. We follow Norio as his family moves into a new home that turns out to be haunted by a spirit bent on tormenting each of them. The question is - does Norio have the strength of will to not succumb? This omnibus edition combines the 2 volumes previously published separately so that you can experience the story in one sitting. While I hadn't encountered this story before, I can't imagine having to wait for a follow-up volume in the middle of this tale, getting the whole story in one go is really a strong experience.
The way this manga sort of skirts around the idea of depression and coping with loss, viewing it from an outside perspective for several of Norio's family members as well as through Norio's own internal monologue, add a depth of emotional complexity to this horror story that really pulls at you. Not only is Norio being outright haunted, he is also having to deal with the pain of loss with each passing day - and grief is a specter in and of itself. The grandma character is curiously dynamic in the way she embraces a vigor for life that she seemed to have lost after undergoing so much trauma - being shocked back into herself almost. She really is a badass, as Rensuke puts it in the afterward. We get all the horror and jump scare of a haunting, layered in with the tragedy and torment of a deeply fraught psychological drama. Rensuke Oshikiri has really put together strong elements in Sayuri and I would recommend it for any horror fan!
~*ARC Reader*~
Thanks to NetGalley, Kodansha Comics, Vertical Comics, and, of course, Rensuke Oshikiri for letting me access the ARC of this omnibus edition of Sayuri.
This is a tight horror story that leverages classical elements with a twist not always seen in horror stories: putting up a strong fight against the entity tormenting the main characters. While there are some elements of the art that aren't my favorite, the plot of this story was really engaging. We follow Norio as his family moves into a new home that turns out to be haunted by a spirit bent on tormenting each of them. The question is - does Norio have the strength of will to not succumb? This omnibus edition combines the 2 volumes previously published separately so that you can experience the story in one sitting. While I hadn't encountered this story before, I can't imagine having to wait for a follow-up volume in the middle of this tale, getting the whole story in one go is really a strong experience.
The way this manga sort of skirts around the idea of depression and coping with loss, viewing it from an outside perspective for several of Norio's family members as well as through Norio's own internal monologue, add a depth of emotional complexity to this horror story that really pulls at you. Not only is Norio being outright haunted, he is also having to deal with the pain of loss with each passing day - and grief is a specter in and of itself. The grandma character is curiously dynamic in the way she embraces a vigor for life that she seemed to have lost after undergoing so much trauma - being shocked back into herself almost. She really is a badass, as Rensuke puts it in the afterward. We get all the horror and jump scare of a haunting, layered in with the tragedy and torment of a deeply fraught psychological drama. Rensuke Oshikiri has really put together strong elements in Sayuri and I would recommend it for any horror fan!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Sayuri trata sobre una familia que se muda a una nueva casa sin saber que esta es, en realidad, una casa embrujada. Pronto descubren que en ella habita un espíritu maligno que busca hacerles daño, desatando una historia llena de terror psicológico y horror gráfico.
Este manga no solo nos ofrece miedo, escenas de mutilación y deformidad, sino también momentos cargados de sentimientos, reflexión y esperanza hacia el futuro. Es una historia que da miedo, te intriga y te atrapa de tal forma que resulta difícil dejar de leer.
Al principio pensé que no me gustaría el dibujo, ya que no es el estilo que suelo preferir. Sin embargo, conforme avanzan las páginas, el arte se vuelve cada vez más perturbador y efectivo, logrando que el horror se sienta aún más intenso y desagradable, en el buen sentido.
Sayuri también invita a reflexionar, especialmente a través de los abuelos. El abuelo deja una frase muy significativa: “lo que me queda quiero pasarlo bien”, mientras que la abuela se convierte en un personaje clave y absolutamente necesario para el desenlace de la historia.
En este tipo de relatos es común que los niños perciban lo que los adultos ignoran, y aquí se refleja claramente cuando el niño pequeño insiste en que quiere irse de la casa, pero su madre no le presta atención. Esta decisión tiene consecuencias importantes dentro de la trama.
Muchos podrían pensar que el personaje principal es Norio, pero en realidad, el verdadero pilar de la historia es la abuela, quien termina siendo la fuerza central de Sayuri.
Este manga no solo nos ofrece miedo, escenas de mutilación y deformidad, sino también momentos cargados de sentimientos, reflexión y esperanza hacia el futuro. Es una historia que da miedo, te intriga y te atrapa de tal forma que resulta difícil dejar de leer.
Al principio pensé que no me gustaría el dibujo, ya que no es el estilo que suelo preferir. Sin embargo, conforme avanzan las páginas, el arte se vuelve cada vez más perturbador y efectivo, logrando que el horror se sienta aún más intenso y desagradable, en el buen sentido.
Sayuri también invita a reflexionar, especialmente a través de los abuelos. El abuelo deja una frase muy significativa: “lo que me queda quiero pasarlo bien”, mientras que la abuela se convierte en un personaje clave y absolutamente necesario para el desenlace de la historia.
En este tipo de relatos es común que los niños perciban lo que los adultos ignoran, y aquí se refleja claramente cuando el niño pequeño insiste en que quiere irse de la casa, pero su madre no le presta atención. Esta decisión tiene consecuencias importantes dentro de la trama.
Muchos podrían pensar que el personaje principal es Norio, pero en realidad, el verdadero pilar de la historia es la abuela, quien termina siendo la fuerza central de Sayuri.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
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Sayuri is a cursed house horror that starts the moment a multi-generational family moves into a new home. Nothing is as it seems and our MC Norio isn’t so much a hero as he is the vessel by which us as the audience experiences the horrors. There is a true hero that appears in the second half who is exceptionally fun to see as the hero, but I won’t spoil that. It’s much more fun to experience the reveal.
.
This is the story of where those who were wronged are hurt, but they were not a perfect victim either. Furious at a family being happy in her walls, an entity begins to psychologically and physically break down each member of the family one by one. It is refreshing to see the remaining family do what they can to fight back and help the entity confront the source of its fury.
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I will say a lot of the panels are disturbing and not in the usual horror terrifying way, but more just in the sense they were unpleasant to look at. It is stylized in a way that doesn’t work for me, but it does work for the story and what it wants to evoke in the reader. I did not find myself overly frightened by any of the images, but again, I didn’t enjoy the style to begin with so I was detached from that sense of the horror from the start.
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Sayuri is definitely enjoyed best in this single omnibus form. The story is satisfying and you can see what the mangaka is trying to achieve. While I didn’t have the best time with this story, I did have a decent time reading this horror manga.
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*I received an eARC from Kodansha Comics | Vertical Comics & NetGalley. All opinions are my own*
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Sayuri is a cursed house horror that starts the moment a multi-generational family moves into a new home. Nothing is as it seems and our MC Norio isn’t so much a hero as he is the vessel by which us as the audience experiences the horrors. There is a true hero that appears in the second half who is exceptionally fun to see as the hero, but I won’t spoil that. It’s much more fun to experience the reveal.
.
This is the story of where those who were wronged are hurt, but they were not a perfect victim either. Furious at a family being happy in her walls, an entity begins to psychologically and physically break down each member of the family one by one. It is refreshing to see the remaining family do what they can to fight back and help the entity confront the source of its fury.
.
I will say a lot of the panels are disturbing and not in the usual horror terrifying way, but more just in the sense they were unpleasant to look at. It is stylized in a way that doesn’t work for me, but it does work for the story and what it wants to evoke in the reader. I did not find myself overly frightened by any of the images, but again, I didn’t enjoy the style to begin with so I was detached from that sense of the horror from the start.
.
Sayuri is definitely enjoyed best in this single omnibus form. The story is satisfying and you can see what the mangaka is trying to achieve. While I didn’t have the best time with this story, I did have a decent time reading this horror manga.
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*I received an eARC from Kodansha Comics | Vertical Comics & NetGalley. All opinions are my own*
January 29, 2026
My Selling Pitch:
A generic haunted house graphic novel with a vengeful spirit.
Pre-reading:
Let’s read some more graphics!
(obviously potential spoilers from here on)
Thick of it:
This illustrator is so good at drawing creepy faces.
Children’s misdeeds don’t fall solely on their parents, though.
Post-reading:
A pretty typical house haunted by a vengeful spirit plotline. The art’s grotesque, but that kinda fits the horror genre. I don’t love a revenge plotline, and like with most paranormals, you have to suspend your disbelief when it comes to a practically nonexistent justice department. It was a little hard to keep track of which character was which since they’re drawn so similarly and then have their features warped during the hauntings. I don’t think you need to rush out and read this, but if you grab a copy from your library, it’ll probably entertain you for an hour.
Who should read this:
Paranormal haunting fans
Ideal reading time:
Anytime
Do I want to reread this:
No
Would I buy this:
No, I’d get this one from your library.
Similar books:
* Plague House by Michael W. Conrad-graphic novel, paranormal, revenge thriller
* The Boyfriend by Seth Sherwood-graphic novel, paranormal, revenge thriller, family drama
* The Red Mother by Danny Luckert-graphic novel, paranormal, revenge thriller, cults
* Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker-paranormal horror, revenge thriller, family drama
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A generic haunted house graphic novel with a vengeful spirit.
Pre-reading:
Let’s read some more graphics!
(obviously potential spoilers from here on)
Thick of it:
This illustrator is so good at drawing creepy faces.
Children’s misdeeds don’t fall solely on their parents, though.
Post-reading:
A pretty typical house haunted by a vengeful spirit plotline. The art’s grotesque, but that kinda fits the horror genre. I don’t love a revenge plotline, and like with most paranormals, you have to suspend your disbelief when it comes to a practically nonexistent justice department. It was a little hard to keep track of which character was which since they’re drawn so similarly and then have their features warped during the hauntings. I don’t think you need to rush out and read this, but if you grab a copy from your library, it’ll probably entertain you for an hour.
Who should read this:
Paranormal haunting fans
Ideal reading time:
Anytime
Do I want to reread this:
No
Would I buy this:
No, I’d get this one from your library.
Similar books:
* Plague House by Michael W. Conrad-graphic novel, paranormal, revenge thriller
* The Boyfriend by Seth Sherwood-graphic novel, paranormal, revenge thriller, family drama
* The Red Mother by Danny Luckert-graphic novel, paranormal, revenge thriller, cults
* Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker-paranormal horror, revenge thriller, family drama
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 8, 2025
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR MY READING PLEASURE **
Copy received through Netgalley
~
Sayuri, by Rensuke Oshikiri
★★★★★
394 Pages
This was such an interesting, original concept, with dashes of classic Japanese horror. The story itself was creepy, with great emotional impact. I wasn't sure if I liked the art style at first – it's not what I'm used to, since I mostly read yaoi – but I grew to love the effect it had. The character's faces were emotive and lend themselves well to the creepy, horror aspects.
As for characters, I really liked Norio, Grandma, and poor Shun. I liked Norio from start to finish, as he had such great character growth. I liked that he was the only one who really had a life outside of that house of horrors.
The pacing of the plot was brilliant, giving us a slow build from happy family says to shock, loss, grief, then horror. Then suddenly everything changes and no one is recognisable and life is forever altered. I loved how we saw 90% of the story from Norio's POV, but that the glimpses we got of the other characters gave us hints and added extra information to solve the puzzle of the haunting.
Like the author, I love a good revenge story, especially if the odds seem stacked in the supernatural villain's favour. I feel like this book/story perfectly pulled off everything the author spoke about in the author's note.
Sheer horror brilliance.
Copy received through Netgalley
~
Sayuri, by Rensuke Oshikiri
★★★★★
394 Pages
This was such an interesting, original concept, with dashes of classic Japanese horror. The story itself was creepy, with great emotional impact. I wasn't sure if I liked the art style at first – it's not what I'm used to, since I mostly read yaoi – but I grew to love the effect it had. The character's faces were emotive and lend themselves well to the creepy, horror aspects.
As for characters, I really liked Norio, Grandma, and poor Shun. I liked Norio from start to finish, as he had such great character growth. I liked that he was the only one who really had a life outside of that house of horrors.
The pacing of the plot was brilliant, giving us a slow build from happy family says to shock, loss, grief, then horror. Then suddenly everything changes and no one is recognisable and life is forever altered. I loved how we saw 90% of the story from Norio's POV, but that the glimpses we got of the other characters gave us hints and added extra information to solve the puzzle of the haunting.
Like the author, I love a good revenge story, especially if the odds seem stacked in the supernatural villain's favour. I feel like this book/story perfectly pulled off everything the author spoke about in the author's note.
Sheer horror brilliance.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews