【Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan】Action x Dark Fantasy Over 12 million copies in circulation!!

Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan is a Japanese action series created by Hiroshi Shiibashi.

It’s chapters are compiled and published into 25 separate volumes. It was serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Shounen Jump from March 2008 to June 2012, and later in Jump Next from August to December 2012. As of December 2021, 25 volumes have been released.

An anime adaptation of the manga was also released, with the entire series adapted by Studio Deen.

Long ago, people feared Youkai. People called the man standing at the head of those Youkai, the one who commands the Hyakki Yakou, The Supreme Commander of the Youkai.

The manga starts off with showing us the house of a dissolute family, in Ukiyoe Town. The protagonist, Nura Rikou, is shown as he captures the Youkai, Yuki Onna, in a trap.

We learn that Nura was just playing a prank on the Yokai. He tells this to his grandfather, Nurarihyon, who is the Supreme Commander. Nura is pumped up to grow and get strong like his grandfather so that he can also become a great Youkai boss like him.

We see Nura’s grandpa describe what a Youkai truly is. They can use the spells of spirits, can fly whenever they want, and their sword skills and martial arts far exceeds the imagination of normal men. He tells how he had a hundred Youkai servants that still work under him.

We see them joshing around as his grandpa uses the “Eat food for free Spell” and they both run away from the restaurant without paying. At home, we see the Youkai helping Rikou get ready for school.

In the next scene, we see that Kiyotsugu-Kun tells the other students a story about the Youkai, which portrays them as evil. Rikou argues that Youkai are the good guys and then Kiyotsugu brings up that the Nurarihyon is a real scoundrel among the Youkai and bad mouths him.

He dismisses the conversation by saying that the Youkai are made up and not real. At home, Rikou’s grandpa has invited powerful Youkai from all over the land to select the next successor. He nominates his grandson Rikou to be the next Commander.

In a surprising turn of events, Rikou runs away saying that everyone will hate him even more if he has to live with evil Youkai. Needless to say, the top Youkai aren’t happy to hear this and even doubt if Rikou is the Commander’s actual grandson or not.

Next we see Rikou being ridiculed by his classmates. Just as he’s about to leave, his friend smacks him on the head and assures Rikou that he’s not pathetic at all and that she believes he can become a great person.

We learn that a bunch of Youkai attack the bus that Rikou was supposed to be on.

Rikou learns of this as he gets home and gets ready to leave so that he can save his friend, Kana-Chan. But just as he’s about to leave with some Youkai, Lord Mokugyo Daruma, a strong Youkai, stops him saying that Youkai can’t help humans.

An argument breaks out among the Youkai. Rikou stops everyone as he transforms into a Youkai, proving that the blood of the Nurarihyon flows through his veins.

He leaves to save his friend while his loyal Youkai follow him.

At the site of the accident, we see the rescue team and the Youkai trying to get into the tunnel. While inside the tunnel, the malicious Youkai reveal themselves to the children with the intent of killing them.

Just as they’re about to attack, Rikou and his Youkai break in. This ends up with a confrontation between Rikou and Gagoze.

An all out battle breaks out between the two groups. Rikou’s Youkai overpower the other group as Gagoze stands in disbelief.

As a last resort, Gagoze rushes to harm Rikou’s friends just as he intercepts with his sword and cuts him up. Rikou says one who preys on the weak and becomes bloated with self satisfaction is the least fearsome creature of all. As he finishes off Gagoze, Rikou declares that he will be the Third Commander of the Youkai.

Rikou collapses after the fight as he can only be a Youkai for a quarter of a day. His friends catch him before he falls.

We see a time skip of a few years, as we learn that Rikou still hasn’t ascended to the position of the Third because he hasn’t transformed ever since that night. His grandfather grunts that when will Rikou take the position so that he can retire.

It closes off with Rikou running off to school.

When will he take the position of the third and continue his grandfather’s legacy?