Ghost Hunt Chronicle: A 20 Year Chronology

The following table from the December 2010 issue of Da Vinci captures the chronology of the Ghost Hunt series and some real life events. I have translated this along with a short introduction which accompanied the chronological table.

Ghost Hunt Chronicle: Closing in on the Charms of the Series!

Since the publication of the series’ first volume Are there really lots of Evil Spirits!?, Ono Fuyumi’s horror masterpiece the Ghost Hunt series continued to captivate readers over a span of 20 years. First of all, let’s look back once again at its history along with the related chronology. The reason why the Ghost Hunt series is eternally loved across generations, should come to the surface from there.

The Ghost Hunt series was written approximately a little more than 20 years earlier from the present moment. It was written right after the era name changed from Showa[ref]Showa era: 1926.12.25 – 1989.1.7.[/ref] to Heisei[ref]Heisei era: 1989.1.8 – current.[/ref]. It’s probably plain to see in the chronological table published below, how many changes there were in fads and the social landscape within a space of 20 years. Various booms and incidents have enlivened the media, and became buried in the passage of time.

However, the existence of Ghost Hunt did not slip into obscurity. No, we should rather say that the fans would not allow it. In 1994, the sequel Akumu no sumu ie (The House in Which Nightmares Dwell) made its appearance after receiving heated, fervent appeals from the readers. Since then, it received a radio drama adaptation in 1997, the comic book edition started its serialization in 1998, and a television anime adaptation became produced in 2006. As time passed, the popularity of Ghost Hunt gradually grew stronger.

What’s the secret behind the enduring love of the readers for over 20 years?

The charm of the series probably differs from fan to fan. Fascinating characters, touching lines, stories that make you feel sadness within the horror, the occultic knowledge dispersed over all the books –.

In practically no time after her debut, Ono Fuyumi put in everything she held, and contended with her masterpiece Ghost Hunt, a fusion of a horror and girl’s novel. There, the talent of the author, who would bring forth Shiki and Twelve Kingdoms in her future years, was firing dazzling sparkles. We would like to see her true merit in the complete edition, which is being published at this time, with our own eyes .

Looking back at the historical background of the Ghost Hunt series with a chronology.

Addendum

Since the publication of this special feature in 2010, a few more developments occurred relating to the Ghost Hunt franchise.

First of all, Inada Shiho’s comic adaptation of the sequel Akumu no sumu Ie (The House in Which Nightmares Dwell), titled Akumu no sumu Ie – Ghost Hunt, started its serialization in Kodansha’s ARIA magazine in 2012. The comic adaptation finally reached its conclusion in 2016 with a total of three volumes published.

Secondly, a movie adaptation was announced in 2013, directed by Yamaguchi Yoshitaka. However, it seems like the film is canceled going by the lack of any further information.