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Elegant Yokai Apartment Life #1
Elegant Yokai Apartment Life, Vol. 1
Yokai, ghosts, and humans living together in harmony? Yushi Inaba was taken in by his uncle's family after losing his parents in an accident three years ago. Now sixteen and eager to make it on his own, he hopes to move into dorm upon entering high school. But by a cruel twist of fate, the dorm burns to the ground! After searching high and low, Yushi finally manages to find an apartment at the too-good-to-be-true price of 25,000 yen per month! Sure enough, there's one condition: the apartment is haunted! Surrounded by a gaggle of colorful tenants, Yushi's "normal" high school life begins! Waka Miyama delivers an elegant comic based off of the popular novel series by Hinowa Kozuki.
216 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 9, 2011
54 people are currently reading
174 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
September 14, 2024
This was a pleasant start to a series. It's mostly set-up (lots of characters and lore are introduced) but a couple stories are begun which I assume will be returned to later. The one centering on Shira and Kuri was pretty sad, TW for child and animal abuse. This story was also useful in showing the deeper emotions of the MC, who otherwise had been a tad flat (I think deliberately; I suspect this is also a story about slowly recovering from grief as well, you know, fun yokai antics).
September 21, 2017
An adaptation of a successful light novel series for teens, which means Elegant Yokai Apartment Life (why yes, I DID buy it purely on the strength of the title) has a little more breathing space and can take its time introducing its - sizeable - cast. An orphaned young man is forced to move into an apartment when his high school dorm burns down: the only one he can afford is in a building most of whose tenants are ghosts. Hijinx look set to ensue, but the first 'proper' story is a sad one, which suggests the tone of this intriguing manga will be a little more complex than its knockabout opening chapters indicate.
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March 16, 2024When your dorm life turns into something out of this world, this is it! 👻
February 9, 2022
I watched the first episode of the anime a super long time ago and it didn't really hook me at the time. But sometimes when the anime doesn't pull me in I decide to try out the manga instead. And I'm very glad I did. Really enjoyed this first volume. I absolutely love Yokai related stories. The ones I pick up are always wholesome, cute, funny with a little dash off pain and angts every now and then lol. Of course this had all of that and I can't wait to pick up the next volume!
April 5, 2023
A fun book about a boy who has to find a replacement place so he can go to his new school and finds himself in a youkai/human apartmentcomplex. Filled with humans and youkai. From ghosts to spookier youkai. I loved seeing him discover new things, learn about youkai and being with them, we get some sad stories, some humour, and more. It was a fun read. Definitely would like to read more.
On that note, the MC did act at times like 15-ish, but he looked way older. I had even expected him to be graduating high school and going to college/university/work.. but instead he is going to high school. XD So confusing.
On that note, the MC did act at times like 15-ish, but he looked way older. I had even expected him to be graduating high school and going to college/university/work.. but instead he is going to high school. XD So confusing.
December 29, 2015
I have to re-read it, then I'll post a review.
Short and sweet: Pretty good manga, great art style, and lovable characters. I'm interested in yokai anyway so this is quite fun.
Short and sweet: Pretty good manga, great art style, and lovable characters. I'm interested in yokai anyway so this is quite fun.
October 6, 2020
2020 Read #628
This gave me a Natsume’s Book of Friends vibe, and I’m curious how the rest of the series will go.
This gave me a Natsume’s Book of Friends vibe, and I’m curious how the rest of the series will go.
November 13, 2021
Inaba chooses a high school with a dorm so he can move out of his relatives' home (he's an orphan), but just before school starts, that dorm burns down. Rather than commute, he tries to find temporary housing and is led to an apartment that seems too good to be true. It's affordable, meals are included, and one of the other tenants is his favorite author. But things are a little strange and getting strangers. Inaba soon realizes that he's living with an odd mix of youkai, ghosts, and exorcists. He can stick it out until the school dorm is rebuilt ... right?
Loved the anime, and so I'm here for the manga series.
Loved the anime, and so I'm here for the manga series.
July 14, 2019
This, I enjoyed. I also remember seeing the first episode of this when it was an anime ages ago. Not sure why I didn't finish..because it's good.
Anyway, I liked it
Anyway, I liked it
May 19, 2023
A weak first volume, but I can see it getting better (hopefully!)
August 13, 2025
Overall I really enjoyed this one. I was somewhat taken aback by a sudden tonal shift towards the end, though that’s not necessarily bad—just surprising.
The protagonist needs more time to develop. This volume focuses heavily on the apartment building and its denizens, which is understandable, but it leaves him a bit of a blank slate. What we know so far is positive, though.
This volume ends with his intention to leave the building, but I don’t think it requires any great powers of prediction to guess that is unlikely to come to pass!
The protagonist needs more time to develop. This volume focuses heavily on the apartment building and its denizens, which is understandable, but it leaves him a bit of a blank slate. What we know so far is positive, though.
This volume ends with his intention to leave the building, but I don’t think it requires any great powers of prediction to guess that is unlikely to come to pass!
August 20, 2021
When looking for new manga to read I came across this title. I just wanted to peek at the first chapter to see if it was as promising as the blurb and genres made it out to be. I mean, come on, a house full of psychic humans, yokai and other creatures? How could I not want to read it?! However, I totally forgot myself and just kept reading till it ended after chapter 24, that was all the chapters uploaded at that time. It really got my attention and kept me reading, I totally forgot that it wasn't finished and that I just wanted to have a short look at it :P It left me really frustrated because I wanted to continue reading!
Now it's five years later and 104 chapters got uploaded so far, the manga is still ongoing but will be completed this year. Nevertheless, I really wanted to read it again and decided to do just that, because who knows when it will be completely uploaded (I can't find paper copies of the manga).
Sadly, it didn't live up to my expectations from reading the first 24 chapters years ago, I really should have read this without expectations. Most of the plot is the main character learning life lessons by experiencing certain events and talking them over with his yokai family. It is still very good, don't get me wrong! My expectations were just too different. I had hoped for less preaching and more interesting yokai lore and plot. It was quite disappointing for me, at least for the first ~50 chapters. After that I shook my disappointment off and enjoyed the story more. My negative feelings were mostly based on my faulty expectation, so please don't be discouraged to read it!
Though the life lessons aren't subtle at all, they are entertaining, heartfelt and well written. They most often deal with the struggles of growing up and facing the cruelties of life, mixed with some supernatural stuff. In between and after each event Yuushi talks everything over with his yokai family and they have lots and lots of food :D I really enjoyed it and will read it again once it's actually completed (which it will be this year, but I haven't yet found out how many chapters it will have all in all).
Now it's five years later and 104 chapters got uploaded so far, the manga is still ongoing but will be completed this year. Nevertheless, I really wanted to read it again and decided to do just that, because who knows when it will be completely uploaded (I can't find paper copies of the manga).
Sadly, it didn't live up to my expectations from reading the first 24 chapters years ago, I really should have read this without expectations. Most of the plot is the main character learning life lessons by experiencing certain events and talking them over with his yokai family. It is still very good, don't get me wrong! My expectations were just too different. I had hoped for less preaching and more interesting yokai lore and plot. It was quite disappointing for me, at least for the first ~50 chapters. After that I shook my disappointment off and enjoyed the story more. My negative feelings were mostly based on my faulty expectation, so please don't be discouraged to read it!
Though the life lessons aren't subtle at all, they are entertaining, heartfelt and well written. They most often deal with the struggles of growing up and facing the cruelties of life, mixed with some supernatural stuff. In between and after each event Yuushi talks everything over with his yokai family and they have lots and lots of food :D I really enjoyed it and will read it again once it's actually completed (which it will be this year, but I haven't yet found out how many chapters it will have all in all).
January 29, 2016
Baru baca vol.1-nya sih.., bakal di-edit kalo nambah volume atau kalo inget ""( ^-^)
Gambar : 4 bintang...bagus dan enak dilihat! Terutama gambar Shiro si hantu anjing, trio-burung-gembul-bulat-bulat yang bisa berfungsi sebagai weker, juga gambar makanannya!! (O ﹃ O)
Untunglah mangaka-nya hobi ngegambar makanan juga (^▽^)/ yeay!
Cerita : 4 bintang...menyenangkan & menghangatkan hati~ (ღ˘⌣˘ღ) untuk karakter-2 yang muncul di volume ini, semuanya unik, baik yang manusia maupun bukan manusia ^ ^ dan aku suka interaksi antar mereka yang penuh keakraban (＠＾－＾)
Gambar : 4 bintang...bagus dan enak dilihat! Terutama gambar Shiro si hantu anjing, trio-burung-gembul-bulat-bulat yang bisa berfungsi sebagai weker, juga gambar makanannya!! (O ﹃ O)
Untunglah mangaka-nya hobi ngegambar makanan juga (^▽^)/ yeay!
Cerita : 4 bintang...menyenangkan & menghangatkan hati~ (ღ˘⌣˘ღ) untuk karakter-2 yang muncul di volume ini, semuanya unik, baik yang manusia maupun bukan manusia ^ ^ dan aku suka interaksi antar mereka yang penuh keakraban (＠＾－＾)
October 30, 2024
Read chapters 1-5 on KManga.
The mix of spirits and humans in the manor lends a nice balance to the mix of characters. Having the character learn about the spirit world and his own sensitivity to it along with the reader works nicely.
There are a few male gaze-y panels out of the blue and there are some traumatic backgrounds, including the death of a dog and the murder of a toddler.
I will likely keep reading this.
The mix of spirits and humans in the manor lends a nice balance to the mix of characters. Having the character learn about the spirit world and his own sensitivity to it along with the reader works nicely.
There are a few male gaze-y panels out of the blue and there are some traumatic backgrounds, including the death of a dog and the murder of a toddler.
I will likely keep reading this.
May 17, 2022
Yokai Roommates!
First of all, I'm moving into this apartment immediately! Packing as I type.
Inaba has just graduated from middle school and is going to the high school he was wanting. Separating from his best friend Hase is a little sad. But he wants to prove himself and better his life. Don't we all?
Inaba lost both of his parents three years ago and his uncle's family took him in. He wishes desperately to leave the house, since his cousin didn't really approve of him moving in. Everything is lined up right down to staying in a dorm Jota Vocational H.S. provides.
Only the dorm catches on fire and all of Inaba's plans go up in smoke. Literally. Hitting constant dead ends with finding a place to live. He finds himself giving up when someone tells him to check out a reality place.
The man behind the desk gives a recommendation to Inaba that just sounds too good to be true. The manager even admits to the place having "visitors" popping up. Inaba isn't sure about it so the manager tells him of an apartment. One that has a room vacancy because he uses it as storage.
A place to stay until the dorm is rebuilt and he is out of his uncle's house? Sold!
Inaba is soon thrown into an environment where you cannot tell who is a human and who's a ghost. Meeting a variety of individuals. An author he's been a huge fan of, a second year high school girl, a painter, and a cast of yokai.
The first part of the managa is all about introducing you to Inaba and the characters. Giving you a feel for the setting. Which I loved so much! The second part is establishing some things that have you hooked and wanting to see how they grow. While also mixing in characters backgrounds and giving depths to them.
This is a light read thus far. About to jump into the second book because manga cliffhangers!
There is some gore but nothing over the top and disgusting. You see an injury but it is covered and there is a yokai that doesn't have a head. But both only take up a few panels. There is a dark and tragic back story with one of the yokai. May be a trigger for some, but the artist doesn't place a gruesome amount of detail in the panels. As well as some fan service, specifically around a particular yokai. She's very flirty and not shy with wearing skimpy outfits.
Light read with yokai and a male lead who is trying to get his barrings. While also beginning to adjust to this normalcy. I want to find out if he stays or decides to leave because the dorm is built. I think these cast of characters are going to change his mind.
Enjoy the read and give the author some stars!
First of all, I'm moving into this apartment immediately! Packing as I type.
Inaba has just graduated from middle school and is going to the high school he was wanting. Separating from his best friend Hase is a little sad. But he wants to prove himself and better his life. Don't we all?
Inaba lost both of his parents three years ago and his uncle's family took him in. He wishes desperately to leave the house, since his cousin didn't really approve of him moving in. Everything is lined up right down to staying in a dorm Jota Vocational H.S. provides.
Only the dorm catches on fire and all of Inaba's plans go up in smoke. Literally. Hitting constant dead ends with finding a place to live. He finds himself giving up when someone tells him to check out a reality place.
The man behind the desk gives a recommendation to Inaba that just sounds too good to be true. The manager even admits to the place having "visitors" popping up. Inaba isn't sure about it so the manager tells him of an apartment. One that has a room vacancy because he uses it as storage.
A place to stay until the dorm is rebuilt and he is out of his uncle's house? Sold!
Inaba is soon thrown into an environment where you cannot tell who is a human and who's a ghost. Meeting a variety of individuals. An author he's been a huge fan of, a second year high school girl, a painter, and a cast of yokai.
The first part of the managa is all about introducing you to Inaba and the characters. Giving you a feel for the setting. Which I loved so much! The second part is establishing some things that have you hooked and wanting to see how they grow. While also mixing in characters backgrounds and giving depths to them.
This is a light read thus far. About to jump into the second book because manga cliffhangers!
There is some gore but nothing over the top and disgusting. You see an injury but it is covered and there is a yokai that doesn't have a head. But both only take up a few panels. There is a dark and tragic back story with one of the yokai. May be a trigger for some, but the artist doesn't place a gruesome amount of detail in the panels. As well as some fan service, specifically around a particular yokai. She's very flirty and not shy with wearing skimpy outfits.
Light read with yokai and a male lead who is trying to get his barrings. While also beginning to adjust to this normalcy. I want to find out if he stays or decides to leave because the dorm is built. I think these cast of characters are going to change his mind.
Enjoy the read and give the author some stars!
June 26, 2024
Review of volumes 1-10
3.5 stars
When his dorm burns to the ground, high schooler Yushi is delighted to discover a good apartment within his small budget. The catch--all manner of otherworldly people and creatures live there too!
In large part, this series is about Yushi, our everyman protagonist, learning about all the different kinds of yokai and magic-users, while also forming bonds with his neighbors in ways he couldn't--or at least, ways he FELT he couldn't--as an orphan raised by relatives (it's heavily implied that the relatives were fine, but no one ever seems to get therapy in manga and so there no was for Yushi to work through his grief and complicated emotions).
This is a solidly fun series! The different yokai are interesting, there's a good amount of humor. While there's an overall story, it lends itself to episodic stories, which makes this very easy to pick up and put down (unless you're me and binge nine volumes in a single afternoon).
It also doesn't rush into its first story; it draws you in without feeling like it's speeding, which is a problem a lot of manga have (because, I'm assuming, originally published serially means you need something big and exciting to draw readers in immediately when a new series starts). The pacing is good.
I knocked off a star, however, because Yushi and most characters feel very shallow. There's no depth; they're there to fill a role, and they fill it well, but I didn't get a real sense of character from anyone. Yushi himself is a nice but incredibly generic Nice Young Man. Not offensive! Not bad or boring to read about! Also not particularly notable.
There's also a decent amount of annoyingly faux-philosophical musing about the meaning of life and whatnot, which increase as the series goes on. Humans used to [do X/think about X/be considerate/whatever], but now in This Modern Era they are [so disconnected/not thinking/not respectful/whatever], isn't that a shame. Gag. It has a somewhat stereotypical "kids these days" vibe, except replace "kids" with "normal people. It's the kind of "I'm so deep and thoughtful" musings that I expect from awkward freshman nerds, except here it's being espoused by Yushi and adults.
The more that preachiness comes out, the less the pure fun of these inherently-silly stories can shine.
3.5 stars
When his dorm burns to the ground, high schooler Yushi is delighted to discover a good apartment within his small budget. The catch--all manner of otherworldly people and creatures live there too!
In large part, this series is about Yushi, our everyman protagonist, learning about all the different kinds of yokai and magic-users, while also forming bonds with his neighbors in ways he couldn't--or at least, ways he FELT he couldn't--as an orphan raised by relatives (it's heavily implied that the relatives were fine, but no one ever seems to get therapy in manga and so there no was for Yushi to work through his grief and complicated emotions).
This is a solidly fun series! The different yokai are interesting, there's a good amount of humor. While there's an overall story, it lends itself to episodic stories, which makes this very easy to pick up and put down (unless you're me and binge nine volumes in a single afternoon).
It also doesn't rush into its first story; it draws you in without feeling like it's speeding, which is a problem a lot of manga have (because, I'm assuming, originally published serially means you need something big and exciting to draw readers in immediately when a new series starts). The pacing is good.
I knocked off a star, however, because Yushi and most characters feel very shallow. There's no depth; they're there to fill a role, and they fill it well, but I didn't get a real sense of character from anyone. Yushi himself is a nice but incredibly generic Nice Young Man. Not offensive! Not bad or boring to read about! Also not particularly notable.
There's also a decent amount of annoyingly faux-philosophical musing about the meaning of life and whatnot, which increase as the series goes on. Humans used to [do X/think about X/be considerate/whatever], but now in This Modern Era they are [so disconnected/not thinking/not respectful/whatever], isn't that a shame. Gag. It has a somewhat stereotypical "kids these days" vibe, except replace "kids" with "normal people. It's the kind of "I'm so deep and thoughtful" musings that I expect from awkward freshman nerds, except here it's being espoused by Yushi and adults.
The more that preachiness comes out, the less the pure fun of these inherently-silly stories can shine.
December 12, 2021
A nice lice of life book.
This volume has a little of everything, friendships, family drama, death, tugs at your heart strings, a bit of romance, a bath scene, beats your heart strings till you cry, traffic accident, drool inducing food, and a graduation. Whoo! Look at me doing non-spoiler spoilers.
But it really does cover slot of ground, if you wanted the anime it coves several of the shows if I'm not mistaken. I can't find it dubbed so only 1 of us got to watch it, as subtitles aren't great if you're eyes aren't strong enough. They also talk fast alot, but I do think you should give it a try if you can find it.
Having it on Kindle unlimited makes it easier to share with my whole family.
This volume has a little of everything, friendships, family drama, death, tugs at your heart strings, a bit of romance, a bath scene, beats your heart strings till you cry, traffic accident, drool inducing food, and a graduation. Whoo! Look at me doing non-spoiler spoilers.
But it really does cover slot of ground, if you wanted the anime it coves several of the shows if I'm not mistaken. I can't find it dubbed so only 1 of us got to watch it, as subtitles aren't great if you're eyes aren't strong enough. They also talk fast alot, but I do think you should give it a try if you can find it.
Having it on Kindle unlimited makes it easier to share with my whole family.
August 17, 2025
Enjoyable. My biggest beef is he doesn’t look like a 15 year old kid and the neglect he had gone through as a ward of his uncle and aunt. I know it happens all over the world , it’s just annoying and honestly awful.
The story itself seems pretty surface level, it felt like it was trying to do something deep with the last story but it didn’t fully land. It is very easy to tell all the characters apart and I’m interested in reading more for now. It’s 24 volumes long so I may quit before that but for now I’m intrigued.
The story itself seems pretty surface level, it felt like it was trying to do something deep with the last story but it didn’t fully land. It is very easy to tell all the characters apart and I’m interested in reading more for now. It’s 24 volumes long so I may quit before that but for now I’m intrigued.
April 29, 2022
Une agréable surprise pour cette lecture, je ne m’attendais à prendre autant de plaisir avec ce manga.
C’est un coup de cœur pour ce premier tome et je suis tristounette de ne pas avoir la suite.
https://psylook.kimengumi.fr/2022/04/...
C’est un coup de cœur pour ce premier tome et je suis tristounette de ne pas avoir la suite.
https://psylook.kimengumi.fr/2022/04/...
April 18, 2022
L'idée de départ avait du potentiel : Yûshi Inaba, 16 ans, entre au lycée et loue une chambre dans une résidence... où cohabitent humaine.s et yôkai. J'avais pas mal d'attente et...bon.
1. La réaction du protagoniste face à la situation n'est absolument pas crédible.
2. Ce même protagoniste est chiant.
3. Le dessin est plus que banal et sans profondeur. Visuellement, on s'endort.
4. Le rhythme est BEAUCOUP trop rapide si bien que le tout paraît assez superficiel.
5. Saupoudrez le tout d'une légère dose de fanservice. (C'est vraiment très léger en vrai, j'abuse).
Bref, ce titre est apparemment très apprécié au Japon, sûrement pour de bonnes raisons, mais je ne pense pas lire la suite.
1. La réaction du protagoniste face à la situation n'est absolument pas crédible.
2. Ce même protagoniste est chiant.
3. Le dessin est plus que banal et sans profondeur. Visuellement, on s'endort.
4. Le rhythme est BEAUCOUP trop rapide si bien que le tout paraît assez superficiel.
5. Saupoudrez le tout d'une légère dose de fanservice. (C'est vraiment très léger en vrai, j'abuse).
Bref, ce titre est apparemment très apprécié au Japon, sûrement pour de bonnes raisons, mais je ne pense pas lire la suite.
April 30, 2022
Oh wow, I really enjoyed the manga! It was so cool to see the protagonist life in a Yokai apartment and all the different people and spirits and animals and more that live there. I wish my library had more volumes to enjoy. I will keep an eye out, I would love to see where the story goes.
August 15, 2022
Really good
I definitely enjoyed this. Great characters in a supernatural setting with interesting creatures. Cute but with some intense emotions. Really want to see where this goes.
I definitely enjoyed this. Great characters in a supernatural setting with interesting creatures. Cute but with some intense emotions. Really want to see where this goes.
August 24, 2022
Adorable manga about a student who ends up living in an apartment filled with yokai and other characters. It's earnest and sweet.
I think my main reason for reading this manga is examining some of the cuter characters which I plan to craft somehow. XD
I think my main reason for reading this manga is examining some of the cuter characters which I plan to craft somehow. XD
June 22, 2024
this is an interesting concept and i love paranormal things so i enjoyed it a lot! i like the different human and ghost characters. the art is nice and especially the food panels look so good! i might eventually come back to the series to read more.
Read
August 19, 2024I was quite startled that they were only graduating middle school - inaba and have look so mature 😂
Decent story, though moving quite fast. It’s already been near,y 6 months. I guess his classmate is coming to rob the place with some hoodlums…he’s in for a nasty surprise.
Decent story, though moving quite fast. It’s already been near,y 6 months. I guess his classmate is coming to rob the place with some hoodlums…he’s in for a nasty surprise.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 25, 2017
Yushi seeing himself in Kuri and Shiro's situation shows how effective this series can be when it wants to.
November 13, 2019
A wonderful, Yokai filled supernatural slice-of-life series that I'm eager to continue reading digitally!
January 1, 2021
On the fence about this one. Might be in a mood.
July 22, 2021
Good
This was good. I like the story so far. The main character seems okay. I’m interested to see what happens next. 4 stars.
This was good. I like the story so far. The main character seems okay. I’m interested to see what happens next. 4 stars.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews