The long-running Elegant Yokai Apartment Life (Yōkai Apāto no Yūga na Nichijō) manga by Waka Miyama has officially ended its full serialization, including its spinoff arcs, after a 14-year run. The final chapter of the spinoff series was published in the December issue of Kodansha’s Shonen Sirius magazine last Friday, bringing the entire manga adaptation to a close.
A Journey of Supernatural Coexistence
Elegant Yokai Apartment Life tells the story of high school freshman Yūshi Inaba, who, after losing his parents in an accident and having his school dormitory burn down, finds himself living in a mysteriously affordable apartment building called Kotobuki-sō. The catch? It’s home to both humans and a myriad of supernatural beings, including ghosts, yōkai, and mononoke. Yūshi’s “normal” high school life quickly transforms as he navigates this unique coexistence, learning to differentiate between humans and spirits and developing his own spiritual powers. The series explores themes of acceptance, independence, and finding a chosen family.
Origins as a Light Novel Series
Before its manga adaptation, Elegant Yokai Apartment Life began as a light novel series penned by Hinowa Kōzuki. Kōzuki launched the original novels in 2003, concluding the main story in 2009 with 10 volumes, followed by a side-story collection in 2013. Tragically, Kōzuki passed away in December 2014.
Waka Miyama’s Manga Adaptation
Waka Miyama began the manga adaptation in Kodansha’s Monthly Shōnen Sirius magazine in 2011. The main story of the manga concluded in August 2021, spanning 24 tankōbon volumes. Kodansha USA Publishing has been releasing the manga digitally in English.
The Spinoff Arcs and Global Adventures
Following the conclusion of the main narrative, Miyama launched spinoff story arcs in December 2021. These arcs continued Yūshi’s adventures, depicting him and a secondhand bookstore employee traveling around the world, exploring different cultures and seeing the vastness of the world. The spinoffs commenced with a setting in Machu Picchu, Peru. These supplementary stories have now also reached their conclusion, bringing the entire Elegant Yokai Apartment Life manga universe to a definitive end after 14 years. Kodansha published the manga’s 32nd compiled book volume on October 9.
Anime Adaptation
The beloved series also received an anime television adaptation by Shin-Ei Animation, which aired from July to December 2017. The anime ran for 26 episodes, with Crunchyroll streaming the series as it aired. The anime adaptation provided another avenue for fans to experience Yūshi’s journey and his encounters with the residents of Kotobuki-sō.
