MamaYuyu: Research Notes

Tucker

Title: 

•  魔々勇々, Ma-ma Yū-yū

  • Mah-mah, Yɯɯ-yɯɯ

  • The first two syllables do NOT sound like the English word “mama,” since the two syllables should be pronounced exactly the same (unlike in English, where we pronounce it more like “MAH-muh”)

  • The third and fourth syllables are spoken with about double the length as the “ma”s

  • Honestly, the English version of this should have been given another name. I would have called it something like “heroes and demons.” The “ma-ma” thing gives non-Japanese speakers a really weird and inaccurate first impression. 

  • The title in Japanese is something like a constructed word that is a 四字熟語 yojijukugo, a common class of both existing and newly-constructed words made of four kanji and using the Chinese (on’yomi) readings to suggest the word’s meaning. 

  • The first kanji, 魔, means something like magic/demon (it’s the same “ma” as used in “majin,” “mahou shoujo” [magic girl], and Ma-Shounen BT [Japanese title of Cool Shock BT]). The third kanji is 勇, which means “courage,” but is specifically referring to the word 勇者 “yuusha” (hero/person of valor). The kanji between them are 々, which is a special “repeater” kanji. This kanji doubles the kanji that comes before it, sometimes applying a rendaku sound change to the second instance, but that isn’t a concern here. 

  • The repeater kanji is a thing because doubling a word or a part of a word is relatively common in Japanese (and a lot of other non-European languages). In Japanese, this has the effect of suggesting plurality (such as in 人々 “people” or 色々 “various”), or intensifying the meaning. There are other effects this can be used for, but it’s not something I fully understand, to be honest. 

  • I’m pretty sure the use of repeaters in the title is suggesting plurality, which tracks well with the development of the plot, which involves new instances of heroes and demon lords suddenly appearing. So, think of this title suggesting something like “the age of multiple heroes and demon lords.” 

Author

• Hayashi, Yoshihiko 林快彦

  • Hah-yah-shee, Yo-shee-hee-ko

Characters

• Corleo コルレオ

  • Core-lay-oh

• Mamama マママ

  • Mah-mah-mah

  • Just written as three “ma” katakana, but it’s definitely supposed to be a play on the 魔 (magic/demon) kanji in the title, but it’s repeated an additional time. You typically don’t see that in Japanese (if ever?), so it gives her name a more exotic feel.

• Pannelo パンネロ

  • Pahn-neh-lo

• Escaba Dapp Mistorea エスカバ・ダップ・ミストレア

  • Es-kah-bah Dahp Mis-toe-ray-ah

• Grisha

  • The  “gri” can either be pronounced like John Grisham or like grease

• Kuptula

  • Koop-too-lah

Other

• Persimott パーシモット Pāshimotto

  • I think it’s suggesting it should be pronounced like “persimmon” + mott (as in the canned fruit brand)

MaxyBee

Manga Details

• Yoshihiko Hayashi

  • Notable people they were an assistant for

    • none known

  • Notable people they had as assistants

    • none known

  • Other works

    • This is their debut serialisation. However, Hayashi had four one-shots prior to Mamayuyu:

      • Lovely Runners High (2021, Jump GIGA)

      • Octokill (2021, Tezuka Award honourable mention)

      • Henohenomoheji & Stick Figure & Panty (2022, Shonen Jump+)

      • E ni Kaita Mochi wo Kaita Mochi (2022, Weekly Shonen Jump, Golden Future Cup entrant)

• Publishing

  • Run Dates: 

    • September 11th, 2023 to April 8th, 2024

  • Series it replaced

• Fabricant 100 by Daisuke Enoshima (5 vols, flop, Shonen Flop episode 87)

• Series that replaced it

  •  Astro Royale by Ken Wakui (ongoing)

• Series that started at the same time as it

  • Kagurabachi by Takeru Hokazono (2+ vols, meme, potential hit)

  • Two on Ice by Elck Itsumo (4 vols, flop)

• Chapters/Volumes: 

  • 29 chapters/4 volumes (volumes 3 & 4 are not out until July and August in Japan)

Manga Itself / Misc thoughts

• In an author comment in January 2024 Hayashi noted that Corleo’s hair, Elysia’s chest, and Minerva’s height are not consistent at all. 

• The series received a recommendation and gift art from Gege Akutami (Jujutsu Kaisen).

• Despite not winning the Golden Future Cup in 2022, Yoshihiko Hayashi beat winner Shirokuma Shirosaki to serialisation. Shirosaki has still yet to start a series.  

• End is inspired by Yubel from Yu☆Gi☆Oh GX

• Volume extras include:

  • Character profiles/design notes

  • Bonus comic strips (ranging from one panel to multiple pages)

  • Extra background on characters from others’ backstories, like Minerva’s manager, or Princess Urvida