Nightmare Inspector: Gothic, Fairy Tale Tokyo

Author/Artist: Shin Mashiba

Published by:Viz Media

This article manifest is copyright 2010 by Nicholas Malizia. It may not be copied or used without the consent of the author. All rights reserved.

Discriminating manga customers rejoice! Has it been a while since you've seen a manga (japanese comic book) that was- let's not mince words- original? Many artists and writers bank on already existing ideas, creating exceptional pieces of visual art, but boring overused topics. "Yumekui Kenbun- Nightmare Inspector" differs and thus transcends the average fare of manga.

In the opening page we are greeted with a gaslit, nostalgic version of Taisho era, Tokyo. I remember these pleasing images from such films as the anime "Doomed Megalopolis" and the famous Edogawa Rampo stories and films (Japanese enthusiasts would do well to research this author, born Taro Hirai.) This was an existing age in Japanese history that in itself was very surreal. There was a competitive balance between the beautiful exotic indigenous Japanese culture and the assimilation of the industrial west. Tokyo at this time was very much like a fairy-tale city, if it didn't seem so before in Lafcadio Hearn's time. Because of this setting, "NI" is hardly a nightmare at all, but a sweet gothic dream that surpasses the ambiance of other manga.

The title character is named Hiruko, a name with a rich dark tradition (see notes.) Unlike the common "goblin" or "leech child" of yore- the handsome lad is given the androgynous makeover- a common marketing tool to draw in aesthetic minded readers. His shoulders are exposed and his face is catlike and exquisite. Hiruko is a Baku, or "monster who eats dreams." In fashion similar to Neil Gaiman characters, Hiruko has the sense to make his folk-tale power a practical asset- that is to say, he has a service of devouring tasty dreams for his clients.

The first story, to compliment the originality of the series, makes quite a gamble. It would be an understatement to say that the client is "not what he seems". Without saying too much, understand that Japanese folk tales (Shinto-origin) say that even non-living items, like stones, have spiritual power.

The second tale illustrates once more the dangers of mere thoughts. While western traditions tell their faithful to abstain not only from bad deeds but bad thoughts, Asia is famous for "thought-form" legends, also called "Tulpa's." A common incarnation of this is "Kotodama" the power of words to become reality, the cult-classic video game Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 2 is a great contemporary example.

The third story features truly beautiful, mind-bending imagery similar to E.A. Poe's " A Descent into the Maelstrom" and the more accessible image of the abyssal road to Castle Dracula. The distinct difference is the lovely Tori pathway circling the cliff side, one must truly see it to appreciate it's beauty.

All in all, the occult manga fan may now rejoice for a volume truly worth their dollar/yen. Nightmare Inspector will appeal to Shoujo readers as well as boys interested in the vampire or supernatural genre. Elegant designs, exceptionally passionate art, and a dramatic spooky storyline make this a manga not to be missed.

1."Doomed Megalopolis" was a visually arresting, and graphic animated film taking place in Taisho era Japan. It created a paradox of idyllic civilized Tokyo being menaced by atrocious acts of supernatural beings. It also exists as a live-action Japanese film.

2. "Edogawa Rampo" was Japan's greatest mystery writer. His influence is seen throughout Japanese horror and occult films like Shinya Tsukamoto's "Gemini". Born Taro Hirai, his pseudonym derives phonetically from his favorite western author, Edgar Allan Poe. He was a great fan of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. This can be seen in the work "Case Closed", a manga with the hero named "Conan Edogawa." Credits to the man would be quite lengthy, suffice to say he is a must-research for all horror/mystery story fans particularly of the Japanese interest.

3. " Lafcadio Hearn" was an American scholar who studied in Japan. He presented the west with some of the first views into the country's "fairy tales" and spiritual nature. His famous work was "Kaidan" or "Strange Stories (about Ghosts)" . It has many incarnations in film and books, see also "Kwaidan."

4. " Hiruko" was a figure in the Japanese creation myth. He was the first son born on earth, but as a wretched creature called "the leech child." His conception occurred when Izanami (the Japanese "Eve") courted Izanagi (Jp. "Adam") first. The impropriety produced a monster that they abandoned, before going on to sire the Sun Goddess, a divine jerk who was removed from Heaven, and the God of Fire who killed Izanami in childbirth. Fascinating stuff.

"Hiruko the Goblin" was a J. film by visionary director Shinya Tsukamoto, whose most famous work was "Tetsuo: The Iron Man" and it's sequels. As fate would have it, Tsukamoto also directed a film called "Nightmare Detective". A strange coincidence concerning this subject manga, neh?

5. Baku a Japanese folk-tale creature. Mothers with suffering children (from nightmares) would invoke the Baku (a dog-like creature, I believe) to eat their child's bad dream by writing a talisman.

6.Neil Gaiman is a talented surrealist writer. Famous for The Sandman graphic novel series. A must-see for western and eastern fans of surrealism, folk tale, and mythology.

7. Shinto and Kami. " even a stone has kami..." Kami is the spiritual essence of Japanese indigenous mythology, Shinto (Shen Tao, "Way of the Gods")

8. The Thought-form Myth (also Tulpa) Differing from Kotodama, the thought-form is a supernatural entity/occurence that manifests through group meditation and devotion. Often times, resulting in negative results (i.e. a demonic parasite). In western theology, it is said one must not only do good deeds but think good thoughts. The Thought Form is the polar atrocity of generated "bad karma" or "vibes."

8b. Kotodama (as in Persona 2- v game) means "the magic of words". The idea is that an idea that spreads as a rumor, existing in the public consciousness, gains power and eventually comes into being even if it's arrival/creation was not physically induced. In the game "Persona 2" there is a rumor-system where the heroine can pay an agency to circulate a rumor for a fee and it inevitably manifests as reality.

9. Tori  Traditional Japanese gate seen in locations where Shintoists believed the world of man collided with the world of spirits. They are curved and painted red, the most singular example is the famed "Inari Shrine" that people think of when they muse on Japan.