Chuuzenji-sensei Mononoke Kougiroku: Sensei ga Nazo wo Hodoite Shimau kara. is a spin-off of Natsuhiko Kyogoku's popular “Hyakki Yako Series,” set in Tokyo in Showa 23 (1948), right after the end of the war. The protagonist is Kusakabe Kanna, a second-year student at a newly established high school. One day, a ghost uproar occurs at school, and she, too, witnesses a strange phenomenon. Driven by fear, she encounters the new Japanese language teacher, Chuuzenji Akihiko. Before opening “Kyougokudou,” he is a person who, despite being elusive, rationally uncovers the truth behind the supernatural and calmly solves matters. Kanna eventually comes to seek his help, and while interacting with his peculiar friends, she witnesses the truth about the “mononoke” lurking in everyday life.

The story is filled with urban-legend-like incidents such as ghosts and curses in the old school building, but as Chuuzenji-sensei unravels them step by step, it becomes clear that human psychology and social circumstances are hidden beneath the surface. However, this does not diminish the supernatural elements; instead, the theme of “why people create the supernatural” comes into sharper focus. The coexistence of fear and intrigue, and the depth that goes beyond mere horror or mystery, certainly makes one feel the lineage of the “Hyakki Yako Series.” The style of focusing on the weakness and fear of people who believe in the supernatural, rather than the phenomenon itself, is a major appeal of this work.

Another unique pleasure of this work is the appearance of Chuuzenji Akihiko, also known as the exorcist Kyougokudou familiar from the original novels, as a teacher. His younger appearance before becoming a used bookstore owner is very fresh for fans of the original work, allowing them to learn about the character from a different perspective. Although he wears a grumpy expression, his intellect and kindness permeate his every word, making the title of “sensei” (teacher) perfectly fitting. The sense that his interactions with Kanna and others around him naturally connect to the later world of “Kyougokudou” is also one of the highlights.

The artwork by Shimizu Aki is both intricate and gentle, beautifully capturing the atmosphere of the Showa era. Not only are the dimness of the ruined old school building and the creepiness lurking in the night's darkness depicted, but the characters' emotional fluctuations are also carefully expressed, allowing the reader to simply immerse themselves in the story's ambiance. In particular, the “scales falling from one's eyes” feeling the moment a strange phenomenon is unraveled is powerfully conveyed to the reader precisely because of the strength of the artwork. It is a work finished in a way that allows both those familiar with the novels and those new to them to visually experience the story's appeal.

The story's setting in the familiar place of a “school” also enhances its appeal. The night school building, the old library, the deserted corridors—the eeriness that everyone has felt at some point is chosen as the stage, and the urban-legend-like strange phenomena unfolding there feel genuinely close. The flow of experiencing the blurring boundary between reality and fantasy while Chuuzenji-sensei calmly confronts the truth is the very essence of a Kyogoku work. The unique aspect is that it maintains the gravitas typical of the series without devolving into a mere character manga, while also possessing the accessibility of a school-themed story.

Chuuzenji-sensei Mononoke Kougiroku: Sensei ga Nazo wo Hodoite Shimau kara. is a work that offers the pleasure of getting to know the character's younger days for those familiar with the “Hyakki Yako Series,” and allows newcomers to fully enjoy both supernatural tales and a school drama. The combination of a novel by a top-tier author and the proven skill of the artist has resulted in a splendid finished product that coexists with a sense of reliability and freshness. It is a volume we confidently recommend to anyone who enjoys stories depicting the struggle between the supernatural and rationality.