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MAO [マオ] #23

Mao, Vol. 23

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九百年間止まっていた時が、遂に動き出す!

夏野が生きている限り
抜け殻の大五は甦らない。
両者が対峙した今、
猫鬼の“真の目的”が明らかにーー

因縁の地・五色堂に役者が揃い、
九百年間止まっていた時が動き出す!!

192 pages, Paperback

First published February 18, 2025

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About the author

Rumiko Takahashi

1,591 books2,193 followers
Rumiko Takahashi (高橋留美子) was born in Niigata, Japan. She is not only one of the richest women in Japan but also one of the top paid manga artists. She is also the most successful female comic artist in history. She has been writing manga non-stop for 31 years.

Rumiko Takahashi is one of the wealthiest women in Japan. The manga she creates (and its anime adaptations) are very popular in the United States and Europe where they have been released as both manga and anime in English translation. Her works are relatively famous worldwide, and many of her series were some of the forerunners of early English language manga to be released in the nineties. Takahashi is also the best selling female comics artist in history; well over 100 million copies of her various works have been sold.

Though she was said to occasionally doodle in the margins of her papers while attending Niigata Chūō High School, Takahashi's interest in manga did not come until later. During her college years, she enrolled in Gekiga Sonjuku, a manga school founded by Kazuo Koike, mangaka of Crying Freeman and Lone Wolf and Cub. Under his guidance Rumiko Takahashi began to publish her first doujinshi creations in 1975, such as Bye-Bye Road and Star of Futile Dust. Kozue Koike often urged his students to create well-thought out, interesting characters, and this influence would greatly impact Rumiko Takahashi's works throughout her career.

Career and major works:

Takahashi's professional career began in 1978. Her first published story was Those Selfish Aliens, a comedic science fiction story. During the same year, she published Time Warp Trouble, Shake Your Buddha, and the Golden Gods of Poverty in Shōnen Sunday, which would remain the home to most of her major works for the next twenty years. Later that year, Rumiko attempted her first full-length series, Urusei Yatsura. Though it had a rocky start due to publishing difficulties, Urusei Yatsura would become one of the most beloved anime and manga comedies in Japan.

In 1980, Rumiko Takahashi found her niche and began to publish with regularity. At this time she started her second major series, Maison Ikkoku, in Big Comic Spirits. Written for an older audience, Maison Ikkoku is often considered to be one of the all-time best romance manga. Takahashi managed to work on Maison Ikkoku on and off simultaneously with Urusei Yatsura. She concluded both series in 1987, with Urusei Yatsura ending at 34 volumes, and Maison Ikkoku being 15.

During the 1980s, Takahashi became a prolific writer of short story manga, which is surprising considering the massive lengths of most of her works. Her stories The Laughing Target, Maris the Chojo, and Fire Tripper all were adapted into original video animations (OVAs). In 1984, after the end of Urusei Yatsura and Maison Ikkoku, Takahashi took a different approach to storytelling and began the dark, macabre Mermaid Saga. This series of short segments was published sporadically until 1994, with the final story being Mermaid's Mask. Many fans contend that this work remains unfinished by Takahashi, since the final story does not end on a conclusive note.

Another short work left untouched is One-Pound Gospel, which, like Mermaid Saga, was published erratically. The last story to be drawn was published in 2001, however just recently she wrote one final chapter concluding the series

Later in 1987, Takahashi began her third major series, Ranma ½. Following the late 80s and early 90s trend of shōnen martial arts manga, Ranma ½ features a gender-bending twist. The series continued for nearly a decade until 1996, when it ended at 38 volumes. Ranma ½ is one of Rumiko Takahashi's most popular series with the Western world.

During the later half of the 1990s, Rumiko Takahashi continued with short stories and her installments of Mermaid Saga and One-Pound Gospel until beginning her fourth major work, InuYasha. While Ran

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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
Profile Image for Siona Adams.
2,641 reviews59 followers
February 19, 2026
Lots of answers in this volume, really glad we finally got some concrete plot instead of random monster of the week stuff again. I am enjoying this series it just feels a lot slower than Inuyasha was and that can be slightly annoying at times, but the characters are well developed.
Profile Image for Rachel.
177 reviews
Read
July 30, 2026
3.75⭐️?

The mystery aspect of the story is great, but it can feel like answers are too freely given or explained rather than having the characters fully investigate and put the pieces together themselves.
Profile Image for Ilaria Massariol.
510 reviews17 followers
March 7, 2026
finalmente abbiamo chiara la situazione della maledizione scagliata sul clan Goko e i suoi membri. è più un volume di passaggio però è fondamentale penso per dare un segno importante alla storia e un passaggio nuovo ai personaggi
Profile Image for Dialaco.
5 reviews
February 24, 2026
todavía lloro cuando pienso en ella
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Aaron Meyer.
Author 10 books57 followers
March 2, 2026
Now the plot comes together and we get some bombshell news. Some unfortunate events take place as well. I think we can actually see an ending materializing, not to soon but it is there before us.
Profile Image for Tamara.
528 reviews4 followers
February 20, 2026
This series just does not disappoint. Big reveals and answers in this volume, a game changer to what's to come, and I am looking forward to it!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews