The story revolves around a minor god named Yato, who is down on his luck and struggling to gain followers. One day, a high school girl named Hiyori Iki saves Yato from an oncoming bus, but ends up getting hit herself. The incident causes her soul to become loose from her body, leading her to experience an out-of-body existence. Hiyori seeks Yato's help to return her to normal, and in the process, she becomes involved in the world of gods, spirits, and the afterlife.
A 12-episodeanime television series adaptation produced byBones was broadcast from January to March 2014. A 13-episode second season, titledNoragami Aragoto, was broadcast from October to December 2015. Both series are licensed in English byCrunchyroll.
By February 2024, the manga had over 8 million copies in circulation. The series has been well-received, with critics praising its plot, worldbuilding and characters.
Hiyori Iki was a normal middle school student until she was involved in a bus accident while trying to protect a stranger. This incident causes her soul to frequently slip out of her body, and she becomes aware of the existence of two parallel worlds: the Near Shore, where regular humans and creatures reside, and the Far Shore, where phantoms (demonic beasts) and human souls linger. Through her soul, she meets the strange, namelessgod without a shrine, Yato. Yato is determined to make a name for himself out there by accepting any wish for 5 yen, including Hiyori's to fix her body. Alongside Yato's Shinki (神器,Jingi) (or "Regalia")—a weapon forged from the spirit of a deceased human's soul—named Yukine, the trio go through many adventures struggling with their friendship, identity, and pasts.
Extra chapters were published in the spin-off magazineMonthly Shōnen Magazine+ since October 20, 2011.[8][9] Seven of these chapters were collected in a single volume, titledNoragami: Stray Stories (ノラガミ拾遺集,Noragami Shūishū), on November 15, 2013,[10] while other extra chapters were included as add-on content to the limited edition of the 20th volume, released on February 15, 2019,[11][12] and to the limited edition of the 24th volume, released on October 15, 2021.[13]
For the 50th anniversary ofMonthly Shōnen Magazine, a 14-volumeshinsōban edition ofNoragami was released from December 17, 2024, to July 16, 2025.[14][15][16]
In North America, the manga was licensed for English release byKodansha USA in 2014.[17] The 27 volumes were released from September 2, 2014,[18] to December 10, 2024.[19]Noragami: Stray Stories was released on December 1, 2015.[20] Kodansha USA started releasing the series in a three-in-one volumeomnibus edition, with the first volume released on September 13, 2022.[21] The eighth and latest volume (consisting of the original volumes 22–24) was released on November 7, 2023.[22]
Ananime television series adaptation was announced in June 2013.[23] It was directed by Kotaro Tamura and produced byBones, with character designs fromToshihiro Kawamoto.[24] Prior to its television premiere, the first episode was screened at 2013'sAnime Festival Asia on November 10, 2013.[25][26] The series was broadcast for 13 episodes onTokyo MX,MBS,BS11, andTVA from January 5 to March 23, 2014.[24] Two additionaloriginal animation DVDs (OADs) were bundled with the limited edition of the 10th and 11th manga volumes, respectively released on February 17 and July 17, 2014.[27][28]
A second season, titledNoragami Aragoto (ノラガミ ARAGOTO), was broadcast from October 3 to December 26, 2015.[29][30][a] Two OADs were bundled with the limited edition of the 15th and 16th manga volumes, respectively released on November 17, 2015, and March 17, 2016.[32][29]
In North America, both series were licensed byFunimation.[33][34] They releasedNoragami on DVD andBlu-ray on July 7, 2015,[35][36] whileNoragami Aragoto was released on February 21, 2017.[37] Following the announcement that Funimation would be unified under the Crunchyroll brand, the series was moved to theplatform in 2022.[38]Madman Entertainment licensed the anime for distribution in Australia and New Zealand.[39]
The music for the series was composed byTaku Iwasaki. Two original soundtrack albums were released byAvex on February 19, 2014,[40] and March 25, 2016;[41] the second album was originally released on November 25, 2015, but theNoragami Aragoto production committee halted shipments and recalled the discs from stores following a controversy surrounding an improper usage of sounds related toIslam.[42]
The opening theme forNoragami is "Goya no Machiawase" (午夜の待ち合わせ; "Overnight Appointment"), byHello Sleepwalkers,[43] while the ending theme is "Heart Realize [ja]" (ハートリアライズ,Hāto Riaraizu), with composition bySupercell and performed byTia.[44] The opening theme song forNoragami Aragoto is "Kyōran Hey Kids!! [ja]" (狂乱 Hey Kids!!) byThe Oral Cigarettes,[45] and the ending theme song is "Nirvana" (ニルバナ,Nirubana) by Tia.[46]
Noragami was the 14th top selling manga series in Japan during the first half of 2014, with over 1.8 million copies sold.[52] By August 2018, the manga had over 6.3 million copies in circulation.[53] By February 2024, it had over 8 million copies in circulation.[54]
Rebecca Silverman ofAnime News Network praised the first volume's setup, characters, and artwork, though she found the opening chapter "fairly weak" and noted someplot devices were underutilized. She highlighted its "other-worldly feel", humor, and engaging use ofShinto mythology, calling it "one of those books that reads faster than you expect".[56] Ross Locksley ofUK Anime Network compared the first chapter unfavorably toRumiko Takahashi'sRin-ne andClamp'sxxxHolic, though his opinion improved after the third chapter. He likened Adachitoka's art toTakeshi Obata's work inDeath Note, concluding that the volume was "an uneven start forNoragami, but overall a positive one."[57]
Matthew Warner ofThe Fandom Post commended the story and artwork, particularly praising the backgrounds as the standout visual element. He noted its "nice bit of Japanese folklore" and likable protagonists, calling the first volume "a solid start."[58] Similarly, Danica Davidson ofOtaku USA described it as "a cute start with a nice mixture of supernatural and fun."[59]
Theron Martin ofAnime News Network praised the series' story, visuals, and balance of comedy and drama, though he criticized the final three episodes as "anticlimactic". He drew comparisons toBeyond the Boundary and noted thematic parallels between the God/Regalia dynamic and the Meister/Weapon relationship inSoul Eater, while emphasizing their fundamental differences. Martin concluded that whileNoragami excels at its best, it "tapers off too much at the end and rushes its last arc."[60] Gabriella Ekens, writing for the same website, highlighted the series'worldbuilding and characters, calling Yato one of the main reasons why the series works. She described it as a blend ofshōnen andshōjo elements, positioning it between shrine-focused stories likeGingitsune andKamisama Kiss and supernatural action titles likeBleach, while also noting similarities toInuyasha andSoul Eater. Ekens praised it as "solid, all-around, well-constructed entertainment" with broad appeal.[61]
Chris Beveridge ofThe Fandom Post lauded studio Bones' adaptation, particularly its worldbuilding and action choreography, which he felt elevated the source material. He called the series "an appealing show that knows how to work its magic", praising its strong presentation.[62] Sheena McNeil ofSequential Tart commended its natural blend of drama, humor, and emotional depth, calling it "a powerful anime" with lasting impact.[63] Kyle Mills ofDVD Talk praised the characters and humor, noting its lighthearted tone despite occasional dramatic beats. While critical of the arc-based structure and underdeveloped antagonist, he deemed it "immensely entertaining" with rich worldbuilding and well-developed characters.[64]
IGN includedNoragami among the best anime series of the 2010s.[65]
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