Kuri Hime Ayakashi Yobanashi, a manga adaptation of a novel by Hyuganatsu, the author of The Apothecary Diaries, will officially come to an end on October 28, 2026. Illustrated by Anko Chōchin, the manga will conclude in the next issue of Monthly Comic Zero-Sum after nearly two years of serialization.
Kuri Hime Ayakashi Yobanashi is coming to an End
Kuri Hime Ayakashi Yobanashi will officially conclude in the next issue of Monthly Comic Zero-Sum on October 28, 2026. The announcement was made in the magazine’s November issue, confirming that the final chapter will be published nearly two years after the manga began its serialization.
The manga is illustrated by Anko Chōchin and based on the novel of the same name by Hyuganatsu. The author is also known for The Apothecary Diaries (Kusuriya no Hitorigoto), one of the most well-known Japanese novel and manga series in recent years.
The manga adaptation of Kuri Hime Ayakashi Yobanashi began serialization in Monthly Comic Zero-Sum in December 2024. Before reaching its final chapter, the series was collected into two volumes.
A Mysterious Story at Tamamayu Shrine
The main character of Kuri Hime Ayakashi Yobanashi is Kinuko, a part-time university lecturer who teaches subjects related to textiles and Japanese studies.
Kinuko lives in a weaver’s house located within the grounds of Tamamayu Shrine. Her life there is relatively peaceful, as the shrine is cared for by a wealthy family. Two children named Shiro and Kuro also regularly bring food to Kinuko.
However, this peaceful life gradually changes when Kinuko begins to notice strange things happening around her. Signs of a supernatural presence lead to a series of mysteries involving yokai and other unusual phenomena at the shrine.
Unlike The Apothecary Diaries, which focuses on mysteries and investigations in an imperial court setting, Kuri Hime Ayakashi Yobanashi puts more emphasis on everyday life, Japanese folklore, and the supernatural.
A Manga Adapted from Hyuganatsu’s Novel
Before becoming a manga, Kuri Hime Ayakashi Yobanashi had already gone through a fairly long publishing journey.
Hyuganatsu originally posted the story on the website Shōsetsuka ni Narō under the title Otsukaresan Desu, Gokurō Sama. The work was later published in print, and the author subsequently reposted it on the same platform in 2017 with the publisher’s permission.
Hyuganatsu is also the author of The Apothecary Diaries, which began serialization on Shōsetsuka ni Narō in 2011. The series was later adapted into a light novel, manga, and anime.
The success of The Apothecary Diaries has also brought more attention to Hyuganatsu’s other works, including Kuri Hime Ayakashi Yobanashi.
Hyuganatsu’s Other Works Continue
The end of Kuri Hime Ayakashi Yobanashi does not mean that Hyuganatsu’s other projects are coming to an end.
Another notable work by the author is The Failure at God School (Kami-sama Gakkō no Ochikobore), a manga written by Hyuganatsu and illustrated by Modomu Akagawara, which is currently being adapted into a television anime.
Meanwhile, The Apothecary Diaries is also continuing to expand, with its third anime season scheduled to begin airing on October 2, 2026.
After nearly two years of serialization, Kuri Hime Ayakashi Yobanashi will officially come to an end on October 28, 2026. The final chapter will be published in Monthly Comic Zero-Sum, bringing Kinuko’s story and the mysteries surrounding Tamamayu Shrine to a close.
With its mix of everyday life, Japanese culture, and supernatural elements, the series has developed its own distinct identity alongside Hyuganatsu’s other well-known works.
Source: Compiled from various sources.