Five years ago, an official twitter for Rumiko Takahashi was created that posts about her works. As of Chapter 95, almost every tweet about a new chapter of MAO includes a sketch of one of the pages from that chapter.
The anime team has decided to release a digital newspaper at the end of the month.
Below the cut is a breakdown of what it says. Please comment/message me if I've messed up/misunderstood something.
(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, MAOâs 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 heâs been struck by the curse of the Byoki, a cat ayakashi that can manipulate lifespans, and then realizes sheâs also very likely been struck by the Byokiâs curse. The two investigate a probable connection with the Byoki: the psychic Shoko said to âmanipulate lifespans at willâ, but there was no lead to the Byokiâs trail. Where is the Byoki reallyâŠ? Could the accident Nanoka was involved 8 years ago become the keyâŠ? And the scene of fires and the monster she saw that timeâŠ? Maoâs and Nanokaâs story fighting against the curse has only just begun!
Inquiry with Director Teruo Satou
*note: the newspaper wrote åãµ which is a historical way of writing åã
âDirector Satou, please tell us what you consider the charm of the original work MAO.
I think thereâs charm to the coming and going through two eras, the modern day and Taisho, and thereâs the complex story thatâs entangled with the Heian era incident. Thereâs 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, itâs fun to sort things in my own way as I read through.
âWhat details were you particularly conscious about in the anime adaptation of Rumiko Takahashi-senseiâs 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-senseiâs 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.'
âAt that time, what were you conscious about when depicting the character Mao in the anime?
For this work, I think the structureâs turned out to be something like âNanoka takes action and advances the story, that entangles Mao and they take action togetherâ rather than âMao takes action and keeps the tale moving.â Maoâs calm and composed, and heâs not agitated by minor things but, with Nanokaâs appearance, his circumstances that hadnât changed in 900 years suddenly began to move. I think heâs gaining feelings that havenât happened before because of that so, we planned on properly showing his change of heart from that situation and his relationship with Nanoka.
âDirector Satou, please tell us about a scene you obsessed over from an episode thatâs 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 theyâre going to the Taisho era with Nanoka.
âAnd finally, please tell us whatâs the charm of the TV anime MAO.
Thereâs 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 itâs âsomething that gets as close to the image that all the readers had pictured while reading the original work.â While keeping those points in mind, moreover, Iâd greatly appreciate if you would enjoy âMAO that moves and comes in colorâ that differs from the original.
Pot of MAO âTerminology Memoâ
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Gogyou* Shopping Street
*note: äºè¡ (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 gateâs 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 Byokiâs blood at that time and became a cursed sword.
Except for Mao, when someone wields the sword, the Byokiâs 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.
(on the left)
⊠⊠⊠«Product Information» ⊠⊠âŠ
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!
âš I've made a post about the menu here âš
(on the right)
TV Anime MAO
Every Saturday at 23:45~ (11:45pm)
Broadcast by NHK-G
*Broadcast schedule subject to change.
In collaboration with Karaoke Pasela, a limited time MAO menu has been announced! The collaboration will run from May 15âJune 22, 2026. Customers will also randomly receive one of these 6 coaster designs with their purchase:
The Menu
Milk Hall-style Toast â milky toast topped with whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, siberia cake, custard, and some chocolate candy
Mao Blueberry Soda â soda with blueberry and lychee syrup
Nanoka Kiba Mango Milk â milk with mango juice topped with whipped cream drizzled in mango sauce
Otoya Blue Milk Float â milk with cranberry juice and lychee syrup topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream
Hyakka Fruit Milk â milk with peach and strawberry syrup, and bits of fruit preserved in syrup
Kamon Fruity Matcha Soda â soda with grapefruit juice and matcha syrup
Shiranui Mocha Float â iced coffee topped with whipped cream and a scoop of chocolate ice cream drizzled in chocolate sauce
Five years ago, an official twitter for Rumiko Takahashi was created that posts about her works. As of Chapter 95, almost every tweet about a new chapter of MAO includes a sketch of one of the pages from that chapter.
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