春 花 ❖ 秋 月

(April Issue) ____ MAO Newpaper ____ 2026 (Reiwa 8) April 26th (Sunday)

April Issue MAO NEWSPAPER Published at the End of Every Month

The Onmyoji and Junior High School Girl who pursue Byoki the Ayakashi

At last, MAO’s TV anime broadcast has begun. A time travel mystery that begins with Nanoka Kiba, a third-year junior high school student living in the Reiwa era, time traveling to the Taisho era where she meets an onmyoji named Mao. While speaking with Mao, Nanoka learns he’s been struck by the curse of the Byoki, a cat ayakashi that can manipulate lifespans, and then realizes she’s also very likely been struck by the Byoki’s curse. The two investigate a probable connection with the Byoki: the psychic Shoko said to “manipulate lifespans at will”, but there was no lead to the Byoki’s trail. Where is the Byoki really…? Could the accident Nanoka was involved 8 years ago become the key…? And the scene of fires and the monster she saw that time…? Mao’s and Nanoka’s story fighting against the curse has only just begun!

Inquiry with Director Teruo Satou

*note: the newspaper wrote 問ふ which is a historical way of writing 問う

—Director Satou, please tell us what you consider the charm of the original work MAO. I think there’s charm to the coming and going through two eras, the modern day and Taisho, and there’s the complex story that’s entangled with the Heian era incident. There’s the mystery-solving factor related to the distinguished Goko clan of onmyoji that flourished in the Heian era as well; and no matter how many times I reread, it’s fun to sort things in my own way as I read through.

—What details were you particularly conscious about in the anime adaptation of Rumiko Takahashi-sensei’s work? What's depicted in the original work is also depicted in the anime without omissions, but there's some degree of cramming. Since Rumiko-sensei’s works also have quite a number of guest characters who are very popular but who only appear once, I thought 'I want to depict things without skipping any content.'

—At that time, what were you conscious about when depicting the character Mao in the anime? For this work, I think the structure’s turned out to be something like “Nanoka takes action and advances the story, that entangles Mao and they take action together” rather than “Mao takes action and keeps the tale moving.” Mao’s calm and composed, and he’s not agitated by minor things but, with Nanoka’s appearance, his circumstances that hadn’t changed in 900 years suddenly began to move. I think he’s gaining feelings that haven’t happened before because of that so, we planned on properly showing his change of heart from that situation and his relationship with Nanoka.

—Director Satou, please tell us about a scene you obsessed over from an episode that’s finished broadcasting. The scene where Nanoka goes to the Taisho era for the first time in episode 1. I recall wanting to show the process of time traveling carefully with the animation, I was full of various ideas and drew storyboards, and also repeatedly consulted with the staff to gradually compose the shot. I would be pleased if it results in everyone feeling that they’re going to the Taisho era with Nanoka.

—And finally, please tell us what’s the charm of the TV anime MAO. There’s the intrigue and mystery-solving elements of a dark fantasy as depicted by Rumiko-sensei, of course the charm of the characters, and in the anime we consciously produced it so that it’s “something that gets as close to the image that all the readers had pictured while reading the original work.” While keeping those points in mind, moreover, I’d greatly appreciate if you would enjoy “MAO that moves and comes in color” that differs from the original.

Pot of MAO —Terminology Memo— ---------------------------------- Gogyou* Shopping Street

*note: 五行 (gogyou), which apparently means "the five elements", has been translated in a number of ways in official and unofficial sources across different languages, one of them has been "fifth street"

A shutdown shopping street in Gogyou neighborhood in the present day Reiwa era. A gate’s erected at the entrance. As a young child, Nanoka was involved in an accident in front of the gate here and lost both parents. When Nanoka became a third-year junior high school student, she passes through that gate and somehow ends up time traveling to the Taisho era.

The Long-Sword Hagunsei

*note: Hagunsei is referred to as a tachi which is an older type of Japanese sword

The sword Mao carries. Mao fought the Byoki in the Heian era. The blade was bathed in the Byoki’s blood at that time and became a cursed sword. Except for Mao, when someone wields the sword, the Byoki’s poison blood flows into them and ends up taking their life. Mao is the only one who can use it… or should have been. Somehow Nanoka's able to use it too.

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♦ ♦ ♦ «Product Information» ♦ ♦ ♦ Karaoke Pasela's decided to host a collaboration with TV anime MAO! (select stores nationwide) A collab menu matched with the story will be arranged. Check the official website paselabo for details!

✨ I've made a post about the menu here ✨

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TV Anime MAO Every Saturday at 23:45~ (11:45pm) Broadcast by NHK-G *Broadcast schedule subject to change.