Category: Books

Anime, Books, Manga, Translations

Ghost Hunt Chronicle: A 20 Year Chronology

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The following table from the December 2010 issue of Da Vinci captures the chronology of the Ghost Hunt series and some real life events. I have translated this along with a short introduction which accompanied the chronological table.

Ghost Hunt Chronology

Ghost Hunt Chronicle: Closing in on the Charms of the Series!

Since the publication of the series’ first volume Are there really lots of Evil Spirits!?, Ono Fuyumi’s horror masterpiece the Ghost Hunt series continued to captivate readers over a span of 20 years. First of all, let’s look back once again at its history along with the related chronology. The reason why the Ghost Hunt series is eternally loved across generations, should come to the surface from there.

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Books, Translations

The Historical Context and Significance of The Evil Spirits Series

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Ten years have already passed since the Ghost Hunt anime aired on Japanese television. It marked the beginning of its popularity in the international anime scene. In celebration of this anniversary, Story Unlocker turns the spotlight on Ghost Hunt, also known as the Evil Spirits series.

Mai and Naru (Shibuya Kazuya)Mai and Naru (Shibuya Kazuya)
An illustration by mangaka Inada Shiho of Mai and Naru, the main characters of the Ghost Hunt/Evil Spirits series.

The Ghost Hunt anime partially adapted the manga illustrated by Inada Shiho. Inada Shiho went on to adapt the entire Evil Spirits series by Ono Fuyumi. In 2016 she completed the manga adaptation of the sequel to the Evil Spirits series: Akumu no Sumu Ie. In the meanwhile, Ono Fuyumi took it upon herself to rewrite her debut novel series. Media Factory published the rewrite of the Evil Spirits series in 2010 and 2011.

In light of the rewrite, magazines like Da Vinci and Yuu featured several interviews and articles on Ghost Hunt. The December 2010 issue of Da Vinci celebrated the first rewritten volume of the Evil Spirit series with a special feature. The feature begins with a preface by Higashi Masao, an expert in horror and ghost stories criticism. In this short contribution, he highlights the historical context of the Evil Spirit series.

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Books, Interviews, Translations

Miura Shion Interview Part 11: The Meaning of Reading and Teaching

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Miura Shion is the original author of Fune wo Amu (2011) otherwise also known as The Great Passage. The anime adaptation started airing from October 16 on Fuji Television’s noitaminA block. The interview consists of eleven parts; this is the last part on reading and teaching children who dislike Japanese language. Please go to part one “Encountering a Dictionary” to read the interview from the beginning.

Fune wo Amu film

The Meaning of Reading and Teaching

You might think that’s for the best, but to a child it might be a pain. Because the way of receiving completely differs depending on the child. For this reason education is difficult, and that’s why education is important.

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Books, Interviews, Translations

Miura Shion Interview Part 10: The Meaning Of “Reading with Everyone”

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Miura Shion is the original author of Fune wo Amu (2011) otherwise also known as The Great Passage. The anime adaptation started airing from October 16 on Fuji Television’s noitaminA block. The interview consists of eleven parts; this is the tenth part on reading together in Japanese language lessons. Please go to part one “Encountering a Dictionary” to read the interview from the beginning.

The Meaning Of "Reading with Everyone"

The Meaning Of “Reading with Everyone”

To become able to communicate well with words is unreasonably difficult, to the point it might last a lifetime.

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Books, Interviews, Translations

Miura Shion Interview Part 9: The Power of a Motif

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Miura Shion is the original author of Fune wo Amu (2011) otherwise also known as The Great Passage. The anime adaptation started airing from October 16 on Fuji Television’s noitaminA block. The interview consists of eleven parts; this is the ninth part on using a motif in storytelling. Please go to part one “Encountering a Dictionary” to read the interview from the beginning.

The Power of a Motif – the Activity Known as Creating a Story

Everyone gradually retold the details in a way that would make it more amusing. The activity of stories, which have expanded and continued on, is connected to the novels and movies of these days.

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