Shōnen Onmyōji (少年陰陽師) is a Japanese light novel series written by Mitsuru Yūki and illustrated by Sakura Asagi. The novel is serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's The Beans. The light novel has 56 volumes, including three short stories and a side story. A manga spin-off was serialized in Beans Ace. There is also a series of drama CDs, a PlayStation 2 game and a manga adaptation that was announced in 2005 and a musical as well. Moreover, it was announced in August 2006 in Newtype that the anime adaptation would be animated by Studio Deen and the character design was to be done by Shinobu Tagashira. It began its broadcast on October 3, 2006. The anime premiered on Animax Asia under the title Shōnen Onmyoji: The Young Spirit Master. It was aired across its respective networks worldwide, including Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Vietnam, with translations and dubbed versions for English language networks in Southeast Asia, South Asia, and other regions. The anime was licensed for North American distribution by Geneon Entertainment. However, only three volumes of the series have been released, and have yet to receive a full release due to Geneon's departure from the American market. On July 3, 2008, Funimation announced that it had struck a deal with Geneon to distribute and release several of their licenses, including Shōnen Onmyōji.

Story

The protagonist of the series, which is set in the Heian era, is Abe no Masahiro, the grandson of the great onmyōji, Abe no Seimei, who passed his teachings on to his grandson. Unfortunately, Masahiro has lost his sixth sense and with it the ability to see spirits. Masahiro constantly feels overshadowed by his grandfather's fame. One day, Masahiro meets a fox-like creature which he names Mokkun (もっくん) who shows him his true potential powers after fighting a demon. Mokkun is actually Tōda (騰蛇), who prefers to be called Guren. He is one of the twelve shikigami called the Shinshō (神将), who has pledged his loyalty to Seimei and is helping Masahiro to surpass his grandfather. Masahiro's dream to surpass his grandfather will not be realized as easily as he hopes. Not only does he have to convince the other Shinshō that he is Seimei's true successor, he must also increase his power in order to stop demons coming from China, the other parts of Japan and the Underworld. In addition to this he has to deal with the schemes of rival onmyōji who want to destroy Japan not to mention keeping his promise to protect Princess Akiko of the Fujiwara clan.

Story arcs

In the novels, there’re already 9 story arcs. However, the anime only covered two arcs, the Kyūki and Kazane arc.

Kyūki arc

The Kyūki arc (窮奇編) starts from episode 1 to 12 in the anime and volume 1 to 3 in the novel. Kyūki, a winged tiger from the West or to be precise, China has been forced to evacuate after being defeated by another demon. He arrives in Japan and plans to eat Fujiwara no Akiko to replenish his spirit powers and heal his wounds. With him are an army of foreign demons, all unknown to the inexperienced and apprentice onmyōji Masahiro who has started to use his skills.

Kazane arc

The Kazane arc (風音編) starts from episode 13 to 26 in the anime and volume 4 to 8 in the novel. A vengeful spirit has been summoned and has cursed Yukinari of the Fujiwara clan. A mysterious woman appears and tries to take Seimei's life. Someone is trying to open the gate to the underworld, events from fifty-five years ago reoccur, and Guren as well as Masahiro must undergo the ultimate test.

Media

Light novel

Second manga

Anime

The opening theme is Egao no Wake (笑顔の訳) by Kaori Hikita while the ending themes are Yakusoku (約束) by Saori Kiuji and Rokutōsei (六等星) by Abe no Masahiro.

Stage plays

A musical adaptation titled Shōnen Onmyōji: Uta Emaki ―Kono Shōnen, Seimei no Kōkei ni Tsuki― (少年陰陽師 ＜歌絵巻＞ ―この少年、晴明の後継につき―) ran in the Sunshine Theater in Ikebukuro from October 4 to October 8, 2007. It featured an original story with ten characters unique to the musical version. A second stage adaptation titled Shōnen Onmyōji Gendai-hen Tō no Nemuri Nomina Mezame (少年陰陽師 現代編・遠の眠りのみな目覚め) ran in the Tsukiji Hongan-ji Buddhist Hall in Tokyo from February 22 to March 1, 2020.