Mirai Nikki

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Mirai Nikki

Cover of Mirai Nikki volume 1.
未来日記
Genre Horror, Supernatural, Suspense
Manga
Author Sakae Esuno
Publisher Flag of Japan Kadokawa Shoten
Demographic Shōnen
Magazine Shōnen Ace
Original run January 26, 2006 – ongoing
Volumes 5

Mirai Nikki (未来日記? lit. The Future Diary) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Japanese manga author Sakae Esuno. The manga was first serialized in the Japanese shōnen manga magazine Shōnen Ace on January 26, 2006, and is published by Kadokawa Shoten. As of December 2007, five bound volumes have been released in Japan. Esuno has also authored a (side story) manga entitled "Mirai Nikki: Mosaic" which reveals how the other characters acquired their diaries.

Contents

[edit] Plot

Yukiteru has always been rejecting any offers to go with friends, and he just keeps writing a diary on his cell phone. He has an imaginary friend, a god called Deus Ex Machina. However, Deus now wants to play a game with Yukiteru, a game of survival. There are 12 contestants, Yukiteru is one of them. The winner of the survival game will become the next Deus Ex Machina. In order to win the game, the contestants must use their diaries to eliminate one another. For Yukiteru to survive, he must team up with another diary holder, a girl by the name of Yuno.

Each player is assigned a number based on the order that Deus modified his or her diary. The diaries now record the future in the same manner their future selves would have written down events that have already happened. The only exception to this rule is when the holder reaches a DEAD END. Each diary varies in properties & functions depending on the holder's personality, occupation and/or lifestyle. All the diaries have their shortcomings, some moreso than others. And because the diaries are written from the perspective of the holder's future self, the future can still be misinterpreted and the diary entries can then turn out to be inaccurate. Each of the diaries have become the diary holder's future. So if it is destroyed, so too is the holder's future.

[edit] Characters

[edit] Diary holders

[edit] The First — Yukiteru Amano

Yukiteru Amano sees his own life as if he were a bystander. His "No Difference" diary reflects that attitude. In a detached, neutral tone, the diary records the future changes in his surroundings every couple of minutes. This gives Yukiteru timely, detailed entries of the future around him and is perhaps the one of the most accurate diaries revealed so far. It is extremely versatile and useful in just about any given situation. Its only flaw is that nothing short of a DEAD END will make the diary record anything about Yukiteru himself.
Despite his severe lack of social skills, Yukiteru, nicknamed Yukki, is a fairly normal middle schooler who has gotten in way over his head in Deus's survival game. He is favored by Deus to win the game because of his ability to overturn grim, inevitable outcomes to certain victory. For that same reason, he is also viewed by the other diary holders as being the most likely to win the game, and is therefore the most dangerous player who must be taken out. Yukiteru possesses remarkable accuracy in throwing darts, which he practices every morning with several dartboards in his room. He prefers to eliminate the other holders by destroying their diaries utilizing his darts instead of using the simpler method of outright killing them with sharp, pointy objects; possibly because he is one of the few people who is actually sane. Even though Yukiteru was withdrawn at the beginning, he has decided to at least change the way he used to be by making some friends.
Despite being at odds with the diary holders, Yukiteru has overcome several dire situations by himself using his own wits and hidden abilities. In the final confrontation with the Fourth, he was able to change an unavoidable future made by his diary seemingly through mere willpower. As of chapter 26, Yukiteru has escaped imprisonment by Gasai at the abandoned hotel and is in a car with Nishijima, Akise, Hino, and the wounded Kousaka. He has just been spotted by the Eighth's apprentice diary holders in a car going the opposite direction, though.

[edit] The Second — Yuno Gasai

Yuno Gasai is obsessively in love with Yukki, as one can safely guess from just the simple name of her future diary. His condition and actions are recorded every ten minutes in her "Yukiteru" diary while also providing small commentary made by Yuno in some of the entries. Its most obvious weakness is that it does not show Yuno's future at all — her condition, situation, or surroundings — unless it somehow involves Yukki. Working with the First's "No Difference" diary, however, covers both of their diaries' individual flaws; as it has been said the two make for a perfect combo.
Smart, beautiful, and diligent — those who don't truly know Yuno would simply see the model student role she plays while at school. In truth, she is secretly obsessed with Yukiteru and her continued interaction with him leads her mind to become increasingly unstable. She can be quite clingy and is highly fond of stalking him. When obstacles arise that either endanger Yukiteru's life or threatens their relationship, her thoughts turn murderous and she lets nothing get in the way of her path. Yuno is also able to quickly analyze and adapt to unexpected situations that may arise, and she puts thoughts into action without hesitation, performing what needs to be done without ever losing her nerves. These traits make her one of the strongest players in Deus's game, despite having the weakest diary for providing self survival aid. And while Yukiteru is credited for triggering the greatest shift in future occurrences, Yuno is the one who has created the largest influence in those events. Despite her strengths, however, she does process a rather unstable, antisocial and possessive personality; going so far as to kill anyone who trys getting close to Yukki. She would have gone as far as killing Yukiteru's mother, had she not approve of their relationship. Yuno tends to carry around a boxcutter with her at all times, though she will make use of other weaponry such as kitchen knives, hatchets, etc, when required.
Yuno lives in a poorly-kept house where there is no electricity. The first time Yukki visits, he discovers a room of rotting corpses. On a later visit with Akise Aru present, the room with the corpses and the foundation under it have been obliterated from the structure. However, Yuno saved the heads of two of the corpses, which were identified as her parents, and is currently carrying them around with her. She becomes distressed when questioned about the unidentified third corpse from the room. As of chapter 26, Yuno has been left behind in the abandoned hotel by Yukiteru. But she does not accept their relationship as over yet and is making plans. She later reappears at the end of chapter 27, cutting the power to Kousaka's house and ruining the plan Akise had made and say's "I've been watching you, Yukiteru" before the end of the chapter.

[edit] The Third — Takao Hiyama

Takao Hiyama is a teacher in Yukki's school and is the serial killer reported within its vicinity. His "Killer" diary records the location of his next intented victim. It is a handy diary if one knew the true identity of the other diary holders and wishes to take the offensive in the game, but it does little in the way of anything else.
Not much is known about Takao character-wise, since the man was only given four lines of dialogue in the series, all related with finding and being surprised by the First. Takao wears a heavy trenchcoat complete with a hat and mask that hides his identity when stalking prey, and carries a large machete as his weapon of choice. His diary was destroyed by a dart thrown by Yukiteru.

[edit] The Fourth — Keigo Kurusu

Keigo Kurusu is a police officer, so it follows with reason that his diary relates to his work. The "Investigation" diary gives Keigo information of future crimes and activities committed anywhere within the prefecture he is assigned to. Whether or not this means his diary can record events that will happen simultaneously in different locations is still up in the air. Its major flaw is a location issue; his diary is rendered useless at predicting anywhere outside his patrolling district.
Calm, cool and collected, Keigo does not show any outward interest in wanting to win the game. He gives his reason for participating as an effort to stop the murders that will occur if it continues. He makes an effort to recruit some of the other diary holders into his cause, but his main goal is to capture the ones too dangerous to be left roaming free. He was chosen by Deus to balance out the criminals and maniacs that are also taking part in the game. As a high ranking police officer, Keigo naturally carries a handgun with him. He can also mobilize the entire Investigation Division at his command. However, there may be more to his character than meets the eye, as there may be question to where his true alliance lies...
In Chapter 21, it is revealed he wants to be God to save his hospitalized son. During the standoff in the hospital with Yukki and Yuno, Keigo commits suicide by breaking his diary. Before he does, Keigo makes one last deal with Minene, most likely that in exchange for his life, she will save his son's life if she won Deus's game.

[edit] The Fifth — Reisuke Houjou

Reisuke Houjou is a seemingly harmless 4 year old child. Accompanied by some drawings, his "Super Vision" diary is a coloring book that gives a small summary of the activities he will perform for the day. However, not only is there a large time gap between the entries, the diary only shows three of them per day: morning, noon, and night. It does have a certain advantage of giving Reisuke all three entries at the same time, which allows him ample time to carefully plot his next move.
Reisuke comes from an unhappy background where his parents neglected him and his family was gradually falling apart. Because of that, he wants to win Deus's game in order to prove he is "super elite" and that he doesn't need to depend on adults to live on his own. He is highly intelligent for his age, yet still possesses both a child's innocence as well as a child's cruelty. Often, his actions make it difficult to tell which of the two traits is the more dominant. During his time at the Amano household, Reisuke grows fond of Yukiteru and especially Yuno in a uniquely sadist fashion; calling them brother and sister. Due to his size, Reisuke improvises with non-visual weaponry such as poison syringe and cyanide gas. He was killed by Yuno.

[edit] The Sixth — Tsubaki Kasugano

Tsubaki Kasugano is a maiden and figurehead of the Onukata religion. Her "Thousand League Eyes" diary is unlike the other diaries, as it is a scroll, rather than a cell phone. As its name would suggest, it is able to report the future of all her followers; allowing her to gain some form of mind control over them. Unlike Yukiteru's diary, it is not limited to just her surroundings, but sees far-off events; ones that lie a great distance away from where she resides. Her diary can also record near-future events; those that will occur after only a few seconds ahead from the present. This provides Tsubaki with massive amounts of information to work with. However, it can pose as a hindrance in times where a situation changes constantly or when she needs to react quickly to incoming threats.
Tsubaki's background is quite possibly the worst one revealed so far. From her birth, she was caged within the temple. Unable to see daylight, which resulted in her bad eyesight, she became a plaything for the Onukata. As a result of her experiences, she has become jaded with the world, and wishes for it to disappear. Tsubaki wants the First's abilities in order to avoid the prediction her diary made about herself. As she is able to control her worshipers, Tsubaki does not make use of any weaponry. She was killed by Yukiteru destroying her dairy.

[edit] The Seventh —Unknown

The seventh diary holder has yet to make an appearance, but based on the silhouette in chapter two, appears to be male.

[edit] The Eighth — Kamado Ueshita

Kamado Ueshita is a strangely shaped woman in charge of an orphanage named "Mothers Home." Kamado's diary seems to be in the form of a website where she can rent out blog space to others and can automatically promote its users' rank based on the number of posts the user makes. For instance, Ouji Kousaka, in chapter 25, submits enough entries to be promoted from "commoner" to "apprentice diary holder". The latter rank appears to give users the same abilities that the orginal diary holders possess without the drawback of the user dying if his or her diary is destroyed.

[edit] Apprentices to The Eighth
Oji Kosaka
Yet another classmate in Yukiteru's new homeroom, Ouji was in Yukki and Yuno's classroom during the previous semester and was one of the first people to betray him during the terrorist bombing incident. He writes down a list of all of his proudest accomplishments in a blog he dubs the "Kousaka King Diary." While he wasn't originally a diary holder, while writing his will in chapter 25, his rank rose to "Diary Holder Apprentice". It then reveals a situation in the immediate future during which he can accomplish an action to be proud of.
As of chapter 27, he has escaped imprisonment and freed his friends from the concrete trap, despite being wounded by Yuno's crossbow. He is currently assisting Yukki in capturing the Eighth (Kamado Ueshita). His diary has also been destroyed by Yukki.

[edit] The Ninth — Minene Uryuu

Minene Uryuu is a terrorist bomber. Like the Fourth, her "Escape" diary goes along with the type of profession she is involved in. Whenever Minene faces a dire situation, the diary will chart out the best course of actions she can take in order to get out of a tight spot. Based on the function of her diary, it might even help reduce the chances of her receiving a DEAD END, and it is probably one of the best diaries to have in Deus's game of survival. The diary's only shortcoming is that there are some circumstances where the odds are too heavily stacked against Minene to the point where the diary won't be able to secure an escape route for her.
During her childhood, Minene went through Hell when her town was dragged into a war and made into a battle zone. Her family died in the crossfire, and even since then, she has led a personal crusade against all those in association with God. Her objective in Deus's game remains the same as her life's goal. At first glance she may seem completely insane, but deep down she does hold it together better than one would expect. Fearless and brash, Minene spares no expenses in attempting to eliminate her target, as she can be a pretty psychotic extremist in her line of work. While she doesn't go out of her way to kill innocent civilians who aren't involved in the game, Minene remains apathetic towards unlucky bystanders who get caught up in her activities. Minene's skills as a spy are top-notch and hostage takeovers seem to be a breeze for her, but the infamous terrorist's main forte is the handling and use of explosives.
In Mirai Nikki - Mosaic, another manga of Mirai Nikki that shows how each holder get their future diaries, she killed Ooshima Natsuko, a rookie policewoman, and takes her place by disguising as her in order to kill Father Haiman. She originally planned to blow up the building, poison him and set the fire in his room but failed due to Masumi's recurring appearance, asking her to eat with her. But her secret was blown when Keigo and Masumi knows that the real Natsuko is dead and set a trap for her. But after revealing herself, she escaped by using the rope, but Keigo shoots her rope and makes her fall. However, Deus and Murumuru meet her and gives her the "Escape" future diary and she survived after landing onto the water fountain.
As of chapter 23, Minene's whereabouts are unknown. She escaped from the police while being held for questioning following the hostage incident and standoff with Keigo at the hospital.

[edit] The Tenth — Tsukishima Karyuudo

This man loves and values his dogs more than himself; as shown when he cooked them steak and give them 30-year-old wine for dinner, while he himself was content with eating cup ramen. He is the owner of the "Rearing" diary, which allows him to check on the status of his beloved dogs and control them in squads via voice commands. The dogs can be used to chase and kill people. The diary's weakness seems to be issuing the order of chasing multiple targets, which would require greater concentration in herding the dogs and would also leave the user vulnerable to attack as the holder would be alone.
As he was concerned about a stalker and potential diary user, the Tenth literally placed his future in the hands of his daughter, Hinata Hino, who recognized the stalker as a classmate of hers, Akise. Armed with the diary and her father's dogs, Hinata set an elaborate trap to capture Akise, using Yukiteru as bait. The Tenth was killed by Keigo.

[edit] The Eleventh — Unknown

The eleventh has yet to make an appearance.

[edit] The Twelfth — Yomotsu Hirasaka

Yomotsu Hirasaka is a blind man who makes use of a tape recorder that he dubs the "Justice" diary, where it records the wrong-doings of future events he thinks need correcting. It's a pretty misleading name since Yomotsu considers the evil deeds committed by a religion cult as much of an injustice as finding random trash on the floor. His diary's functions are actually similar to the Sixth's "Thousand League Eyes," but rather it's the Thousand League Hearing. He is able to create illusions using hypnosis granted by his diary.
Yomotsu is quite possibly insane and fancies calling himself a Hero of Justice. He seems to talk with a heavy accent since katakana is used whenever he speaks. He defines justice as always being on the side of the winner. He wears spandex along with a toy transformation belt as seen in many super sentai series, as well as a strange one-hole mask which bears similarities to a large eyeball. His mask also bears similarity with Friend's mask from 20th Century Boys.
When his death flag was raised, Yomotsu made use of Minene's confiscated bomb and tried a last ditch kamikaze attempt to take Tsubaki's life. However, Yuno manages to stop Yomotsu and he ends up killing only himself as the bomb explodes.

[edit] Other characters

Deus Ex Machina
The god of time and space, Yukiteru's supposed imaginary friend and the mastermind behind the game. He is looking for a successor, which is why he gave future diaries to twelve candidates and placed them in a game of life and death. He seems to favor Yukiteru the most out of all the other candidates as his next possible successor due to the miracles Yukiteru is able to pull off, not paying attention to the fact that Yuno is helping him.
It is revealed as of chapter 24 that the reason for these events is that Deus's lifespan is coming to an end, despite being a God, and a replacement must be found.
Murumuru
Deus' servant, she is often seen with the eliminated candidates in omake panels.
As of chapter 24 it is revealed her favorite is Yuno Gasai, and she is betting on her to win the game. Murumuru also admits to having a hand in the 4th's death to speed things up.
Rea Amano
Yukiteru's mother, Rea is rarely at home because of her work as a video game programmer. Despite this fact, she maintains a very casual and close relationship with Yukiteru and approves of Yuno as a potential bride for her son.
Aru Akise
A classmate in Yukiteru's school, Aru dreams of one day becoming the world's greatest detective. The student detective was able to correctly deduce the culprit behind the serial dog murders before even the police. With his quick wits and superior deduction abilities, it's easy for others to mistake him for being a future diary holder. And his physical prowess is nothing to scoff at either, where he was able to overcome a psychotic Yuno at one point.
As of chapter 26, he has escaped imprisonment by Yuno.
Hinata Hino
The Tenth's daughter, Hinata is aware that her father is instigating the carnivorous hound attacks. In order to shake off suspicion from her father's pursuer, she accepts the "Rearing" Diary and uses it in her father's place. Hinata is a classmate in Yukiteru's homeroom and is the first person to reach out to him and become his friend.
As of chapter 26, she has escaped Yuno.
Mao Nonosaka
Another of Yukiteru's classmate, Mao is good friends with Hinata and is a willing accomplice in Hinata's scheme to kill Akise Aru. After the carnivorous hound incident she became friends with the group.
As of chapter 26, she has escaped inprisonment by Yuno.
Masumi Nishijima
Chief Investigator and Keigo's subordinate, Masumi was part of the investigation team assigned to protect Father Haiman from the terrorist, Minene. Masumi had feelings for Natsuko and, much to Minene's confusion and dismay, would take every opportunity to ask "her" out for breakfast, lunch and dinner. As of chapter 26 he has picked up Yukiteru, Aru, Mao, Hinata, and Ouji and they are leaving the hotel behind.
Natsuko Ooshima
A rookie detective who was part of the Investigation division, Natsuko was killed by Minene so that she can assume the rookie's identity and infiltrate Sakurami Police Station undetected.

[edit] Volumes

  1. ISBN 978-4-04-713839-1 published on July 21, 2006
  2. ISBN 978-4-04-713872-8 published on October 24, 2006
  3. ISBN 978-4-04-713912-1 published on March 26, 2007
  4. ISBN 978-4-04-713954-1 published on October 26, 2007
  5. ISBN 978-4-04-715026-3 published in February 2008

[edit] External links