Ayakashi Triangle Review: An Exorcist Ninja Is Turned into a Girl by a Spirit and Must Continue Fighting
by Kentaro Yabuki
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Quick Take
- The gender transformation is handled as a comedic complication to Matsuri's exorcist work rather than as the sole premise — the supernatural action is genuinely the series' focus
- Yabuki's art (Black Clover character design) brings distinctive visual energy to both the action and the comedy
- 12 volumes complete; action-comedy with unusual premise from a major shonen magazine
Who Is This Manga For?
- Readers who want exorcist action with comedic gender transformation element
- Anyone interested in supernatural ninja-adjacent protagonists
- Fans of Black Clover's energy in a different genre context
- Readers looking for complete shorter-form action comedy
Content Warnings & Age Rating
Age Rating: T+ (Older Teen) Content Warnings: Gender transformation as ongoing premise; moderate fan service; action violence; supernatural content
T+ rating — older teen content; the fan service is present but not dominant.
Yu's Rating
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Story Depth | ★★★☆☆ |
| Art Style | ★★★★☆ |
| Character Development | ★★★☆☆ |
| Accessibility for Non-Japanese Readers | ★★★★☆ |
| Reread Value | ★★★☆☆ |
Story Overview
Matsuri Kazamaki has been protecting Suzu Kanade since childhood. Suzu attracts ayakashi — spirits that feed on her unusual spiritual energy. Matsuri, trained in ninja exorcism techniques, has appointed himself her defender.
When Matsuri clashes with a king-class ayakashi named Shirogane, Shirogane's response is to curse Matsuri into a female body. The reasoning: Suzu's ayakashi magnetism is strongest with male bodies nearby, so removing one of Matsuri's qualities should reduce the problem. This does not make the problem go away. Matsuri, now physically female, continues exorcism work while Suzu responds to the changed situation in ways that complicate everything further.
The series develops the exorcist worldbuilding — ayakashi hierarchy, mediator spirits, the history of exorcist clans — alongside the comedic complications of Matsuri's transformation.
Characters
Matsuri Kazamaki — A protagonist whose exorcist competence is undiminished by the transformation; the comedy comes from everything else, not from his ability to do his job.
Suzu Kanade — The childhood friend whose feelings for Matsuri, already complicated before, become more complicated after.
Shirogane — The spirit responsible for the transformation who becomes an ongoing presence with a more complex relationship to Matsuri than initial antagonism.
Art Style
Yabuki's art is the series' visual appeal — detailed supernatural creature designs, dynamic action choreography, and character work that handles both the exorcist action and the comedy situations. His experience with Black Clover shows in the battle staging.
Cultural Context
Ayakashi Triangle ran in Weekly Shonen Jump from 2020 to 2023. Yabuki is best known for To Love-Ru and Black Clover character designs. The series draws from traditional Japanese concept of ayakashi (spirits that cause harm) and ninja exorcist traditions, combined with the gender transformation comedy subgenre that has precedent in shonen manga (Ranma ½ most famously).
What I Love About It
Matsuri's competence. The transformation is a problem, but it is not a competence problem — Matsuri is as capable an exorcist after as before. The comedy comes from everything surrounding the work, not from the work being impaired. That gives the action sequences genuine stakes.
What English-Speaking Fans Say
Western readers describe Ayakashi Triangle as a solid shonen action series whose transformation premise is handled better than expected — specifically noted for the exorcist worldbuilding being developed with genuine care, for Yabuki's action art being a consistent draw, and for Matsuri being a more grounded protagonist than typical gender-transformation leads. Recommended for fans of exorcist action.
Memorable Scene ⚠️ Spoiler Warning
Any fight where Matsuri's exorcist technique is the decisive factor — and the gender transformation is irrelevant to the outcome — demonstrates what the series does best.
Similar Manga
- Blue Exorcist — Exorcist protagonist with complicated relationship to the supernatural
- Twin Star Exorcists — Exorcist action with romance element
- Ranma ½ — Classic gender transformation action comedy
- Noragami — Human-supernatural partnership in action context
Reading Order / Where to Start
Volume 1 — Matsuri and Suzu's relationship, Shirogane's introduction, and the transformation establish all major elements.
Official English Translation Status
Viz Media published the complete English series. All 12 volumes available.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Exorcist worldbuilding is more developed than the premise suggests
- Yabuki's art is strong throughout
- Matsuri's competence is maintained through the transformation
- Complete in 12 volumes
Cons
- Transformation premise has diminishing comedy return
- Romance development limited by series length
- Some readers may find the premise uncomfortable
Format Comparison
| Format | Notes |
|---|---|
| Individual Volumes | Viz Media; complete series |
| Digital | Available |
Where to Buy
Get Ayakashi Triangle Vol. 1 on Amazon →
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Written by
Yu
Manga Enthusiast from Japan
I grew up in Japan and manga literally saved me during a tough time in elementary school. My English isn't perfect, but my love for manga is real — and I want to share it with you.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.