Yurara v.5 by Chika Shiomi – 192 pages

Yurara v.5 by Chika Shiomi – 192 pages

The romantic entanglements that began in volume three rush towards a conclusion.  Rather than have Yurara torn in the middle and become hurt, Mei gives her up so Yako can date her.  In a like way, Yurara’s guardian spirit would rather step aside to give up being with Yako in order to spare Yurara.  A distraught Mei is attacked by spirits who attempt to drag him onto train tracks to be killed, but he is rescued by Yurara and Yako.  Yurara’s powers are finally strong enough so her guardian spirit can leave her, freeing Yurara to be with Mei, and her guardian to be with Yako.  With a great story, this volume features some of the most dramatic artwork thus far as well.

Yurara v.4 by Chika Shiomi – 192 pages

Yurara v.4 by Chika Shiomi – 192 pages

Volume 4 of the manga introduces some new characters – Yurara’s childhood friend Tatatoki, who has strong spiritual abilities and is a ghost hunter as well, and Yako’s bad-tempered female cousin, Manami.  Mei is territorial with Yurara when Tatatoki is friendly, and Yako is suffering depression from not being able to be with Yurara.  Yurara helps Manami come to terms with the guilt over the mother she lost by having her ghost visit her one last time.  A date with Mei prompts Yurara’s guardian spirit to realize it’s Yako she has feelings for.  How can Mei be with Yurara, and Yurara’s guardian with Yako?  

Yurara v.3 by Chika Shiomi – 200 pages

Yurara v.3 by Chika Shiomi – 200 pages

Mei tells Yurara of his feelings for her, and they become a couple.  At the same time, Yako discovers he has feelings for Yurara as well, especially when her guardian spirit emerges.  Yurara is conflicted over her feelings for both, and wants to be sure she is not loved just for her appearance.  In this volume the ghostbusting takes back seat to romantic entanglements, though there are still plenty of spirits wandering around, and the ghost of Yurara’s grandfather shows up to add comic relief.  Ultimately Yurara discovers more of her spiritual power, so she can better stand on her own without the help of her guardian spirit.

Yurara v.2 by Chika Shiomi – 200 pages

Yurara v.2 by Chika Shiomi – 200 pages

In this second volume, Yurara continues to help lost souls leave Earth with the assistance of classmates Mei and Yako.  Yurara and Mei confront a jealous spirit that takes over a girl intent on having Mei for herself, Yurara is stalked by a dead man with a crush on her, and Mei meets the ghost of a lost love who, possessed herself, wants to kill Mei.  We learn more about Mei, and his ghostly mother.  The romantic angles between the three main characters intensifies, and Mei and Yako’s back-and-forth arguing and Mei’s craziness keep the laughs coming.

Yurara v.1 by Chika Shiomi – 200 pages

Yurara v.1 by Chika Shiomi – 200 pages

Yurara sees the spirits of the dead, and her grandfather tells her she is protected by something very powerful.  She thinks she’s alone in her ability until she meets two boys at school, zany Mei and somber Yako, who share her powers.  When confronting spirits at school, Yurara is taken over by a powerful spirit inside her, that helps guide lost souls to closure.  The dynamics between the three characters are amusing, and there’s a rich payoff in seeing Yurara help lonely ghosts.  The artwork is usually nothing out of the ordinary for a manga, but the ghosts are well-drawn, and the surreal visual elements that creep in to the jokes are fun.  Yurara is an entertaining ghost story.