Kamikami Kaeshi
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"I want... to be free!"
—--Mashiro Kamitsuka
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Kamikami Kaeshi (かみかみかえし, "Kamikami Kaesi", "Kamikamikaeshi") is a 2010-2016 manga series by Ema Toyama, published in Japanese and English by Kodansha.
There is a religious ceremony called "kamigami kaeshi," where gods rest in a person's hair until their strength and power are rejuvenated. For the past thirteen years, Mashiro Kamitsuka has been living in a small room ever since she was three years old when she interuppted the ceremony by accident, and the gods chose to rest in her hair, as Mashiro is from the branch family. Until Mashiro returns all of the gods from her hair, she cannot see her mother.
The only contact Mashiro has with the outside world is what she can see through her window, the books she reads, and Hayate Kokumiya—her old friend and her hair-brusher. When Uno and Seno, two creatures Mashiro discovers, escape her room, Mashiro chases after them and overhears that her aunt, who's despised Mashiro for being in the branch family, has been instructing Hayate to seal the gods in Mashiro's hair the entire time, so that the gods can never return.
When Hayate attempts to get Mashiro back into her room, Mashiro rejects this, wanting to be free and no longer desiring to be confined in her room. Her wish is answered, and from her hair returns the god of fire--Hinokagu, who proclaims that he'll protect Mashiro.
Can Mashiro's wish come true?
- Betty and Veronica: Hayate and Hinokagu for Mashiro.
- The Caretaker: Hayate towards Mashiro.
- Curtains Match the Window: Hayate and Hinokagu.
- Hair of Gold: Hinokagu.
- Hikikomori: Mashiro is techically one, but being confined in her room wasn't voluntary.
- Hot-Blooded: Hinokagu. Naturally.
- Humans Are the Real Monsters: Hayate tries to convince Mashiro that the outside world has "dirty air, disagreeable people, and scary things" and that the room Mashiro stays is the best place for her to be.
- I Just Want to Be Free
- I Will Protect Her: Hayate and Hinokagu towards Mashiro.
- Jerkass: Mashiro's aunt, saying how troublesome Mashiro is and how much easier it would be if they killed her.
- Jerkass Facade: Hayate acted like one, but he was really Mashiro's ally the entire time.
- Kick the Dog: Hayate kicking Uno and Seno.
- Knife Nut: Mashiro's aunt, who hides a knife in her fan and threatens to cut Mashiro's throat in Chapter 2.
- Meaningful Name:
- "Kamikami Kaeshi" translates to "The Gods Return from Hair." By reading the kanji differently, there are several puns in as well, such as the Visual Pun that the gods do live in people's hair, and that "kami" in different kanji can mean "god" and "hair" (as well as "paper").
- Mashiro comes from the Japanese term "Masshiro," meaning "pure white."
- Hinokagu is a pun of "God of Fire."
- Moe: Mashiro.
- Parents in Distress: Mashiro's mother, who was taken by her aunt. As it turns out, her mother isn't in danger, but Mashiro isn't permitted to see her.
- Personality Powers: Hinokagu, who is Hot-Blooded.
- Playing with Fire: Hinokagu, the god of fire.
- Rapunzel Hair: Mashiro, who wasn't allowed to cut her hair because gods are resting inside them.
- Red Oni, Blue Oni: Hinokagu and Hayate.
- Ridiculously Cute Critter: Uno and Seno, the "sheep" Mashiro finds in her room.
- The Rival: Hinokagu for Hayate.
- Shojo
- The Stoic: Hayate.
- White-Haired Pretty Girl: Mashiro.
- Wish Fulfillment
- Woman in White: Mashiro.