【Kekkaishi (Barrier Master)】A popular supernatural themed manga about kekkai (barrier magic) users!!

Kekkaishi (translated as Barrier Master) is a manga series written and illustrated by Yellow Tanabe. The manga was serialized in Weekly Shonen Sunday by Shogakukan from November 2003 to April 2011, with a total of 35 volumes.

As of June 2020, Kekkaishi reached over 17 million copies in circulation, proving its long-standing position amongst many fan’s favorites. In 2007, the series won the 52nd Shogakukan Manga Award in the shonen category. Not only that, its English release was named among the best graphic novels for teens in 2007 by the Young Adult Library Services Association.

Kekkaishi was adapted into a 52-episode anime series by Sunrise and was broadcasted from October 2006 to February 2008 on several stations like Nippon TV and Yomiuri TV. During its initial broadcast, many episodes were frequently named in the top ten rated anime television series.

The story of Kekkaishi started with an old legend of a minor lord who possessed great spiritual power without his own knowledge. The lord’s power involuntarily attracted demon called Ayakashi to his castle. The servants had to hire demon exterminator to fight off the ayakashi and protect their lord. This was the origin of Kekkaishi and their duty.

Many centuries later, the main protagonist Yoshimori Sumimura as one of the modern-day kekkaishi, came on to the scene.

He had to carry on the tradition of his forefathers and hunted down ayakashi every night with a demon-dog companion named Madarao. As a little boy, Yoshimori was not the strongest kekkai user and didn’t handle his power well. However, he was blessed with great potential that came from an incredible source of raw power.

Yoshimori was the heir to a long line of kekkaishi. He was trained by his grandfather Shigemori Sumimura, the 21st head of the Sumimura Clan. Even though Yoshimori didn’t have any motivation nor passion for this trade, his grandfather still wanted Yoshimori to succeed him one day and become the sole protector of the land.

He was forbidden to hang out with the girl from next door named Tokine Yukimura for two reasons. One, Yoshimori’s grandfather considered his relation with Tokine to be a distraction that would hinder Yoshimori’s growth. Second, Tokine was the heir to their greatest rival – the Yukimura Clan.

Yoshimori tried to oppose his grandfather’s plan for him to become the family’s heir, but to no avail. Yoshimori’s grandfather explained that Yoshimori was chosen by the apparent mark of power called Houin that appeared on his palm. That was the mark that all chosen Sumimura heirs would bear as proof of their bond with the land.

Yoshimori went outside to get away from his grandfather, and so no one would see his tears of frustration. However, Tokine saw Yoshimori from a tree overlooking their yards and teased him for crying. Tokine was different from Yoshimori, she took pride in her duty as a kekkaishi.

While they were talking, Tokine's grandmother and the 21st head of the Yukimura Clan - Tokiko, suddenly appeared. She immediately forbidden them from being close. After 400 years, the Yukimura and the Sumimura still carried on their intense feud over who would be the rightful heir of the first ever kekkaishi named Tokimori Hazama. He was the founder of Hazama-Ryu Kekkaijutsu, the basis of kekkai power that all kekkaishi would use.

Both had strong claim over the position to succeed Tokimori Hazama as both were chosen with the houin mark. If the Yukimura had the mark on their left breast, the Sumimura would bear the mark on the palm of their hand.

According to the old legend, Tokimori Hazama served under the Karasumori Clan and helped his lord by destroying ayakashi that would plague the castle.

After growing ill from overwork and had to take a 3-day rest, Tokimori Hazama came back to the castle and discovered the place in ruin. Without him, the ayakashi grew in power and killed the entire clan. What remained was the Karasumori’s spiritual power and it still attracted demon until the present day. If leaving them for too long, the demon could grow into dangerous form insanely fast.

The former castle site where Karasumori’s power was at the strongest has been replaced with Karasumori Academy that both Yoshimori and Tokine attended.

Yoshimori headed to school and found Tokine and her demon-dog companion Hakubi already there. He remembered the past where Tokine would be nice to him before they started kekkai training and their family feud got in the way.

An ayakashi suddenly appeared and Madarao tracked it to a big tree inside the school yard. The demon showed her face in the form of a little girl. She was crying pitifully, causing Yoshimori to hesitated for a second. The demon then transformed into a giant bug and attacked Yoshimori.

However, Tokine came just in time to deflect the attack and saved Yoshimori. Her arm was deeply cut but Tokine managed to kill the demon.

After that, she collapsed due to lost of blood and Yoshimori carried her home. Even though Tokine’s grandmother refused to let him in, Yoshimori stood outside her home through the night waiting. Later, Yoshimori finally heard that Tokine recovered from the wound and would get better soon. Yoshimori blamed himself for what happened.

Five years later, Yoshimori was now 14 years old and still performing his night duty as a kekkaishi. Tokine, now 16 years old, also carrying out her duty alongside Yoshimori. Looking at her back as Tokine was leaving the scene, Yoshimori saw the scar on her right arm. He remembered the vow he made that day to become strong and never allow anyone to get hurt again.