Kannagi: Crazy Shrine Maidens (Japanese: かんなぎ, Hepburn: Kannagi, lit. “Shrine Maiden“), is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Eri Takenashi. The manga was serialized in Ichijinsha‘s Comic Rex magazine from the January 2006 issue to the September 2017 issue. A 13-episode anime adaptation produced by A-1 Pictures aired between October and December 2008 in Japan. An original video animation (OVA) episode was released in May 2009. Bandai Entertainment licensed the manga and anime series, including the OVA.

Manga

Kannagi began as a manga series written and illustrated by Eri Takenashi and began serialization in the inaugural January 2006 issue of Ichijinsha‘s shōnen manga magazine Comic Rex sold on December 9, 2005. The manga went on a hiatus in December 2008 after Takenashi developed a subarachnoid hemorrhage in November 2008. The manga resumed with the September 2011 issue of Comic Rex on July 27, 2011, but due to ongoing concerns for her health, Takenashi warned in June 2011 that the series’ publishing schedule would be irregular, though her goal was for a bi-monthly release. The series concluded in the September 2017 issue of Comic Rex released on July 27, 2017.

The first tankōbon volume was released on August 9, 2006, under Ichijinsha’s Rex Comics imprint; as of July 27, 2016, 11 volumes have been released in Japan. Bandai Entertainment licensed the manga for distribution in North America. However, after publishing the first three volumes in the series, further releases were halted in 2012 as a result of Bandai Entertainment’s restructuring.

A spin-off manga titled Kanpachi: Crazy Seriola Dumerili written and illustrated by Takenashi’s brother Shinichi Yuhki was serialized from March 9, 2010 to March 26, 2016 in Comic Rex. The first volume was released on October 27, 2010; as of June 27, 2013, five volumes have been released.

Anime

An anime adaptation was produced by the animation studio A-1 Pictures, directed by Yutaka Yamamoto, and with screenplay by Hideyuki Kurata. The anime aired in Japan between October 4 and December 27, 2008, and consisted of thirteen episodes. The anime was dropped by the satellite channel BS11 Digital before it started airing; no explanation was given. An original video animation episode was shipped with the final Japanese DVD volume on May 27, 2009. Bandai Entertainment licensed the anime and released the first of two seven-episode DVD compilation volumes on July 17, 2009. The second volume was released on September 24, 2009.

A light novel written by Tōka Takei, with illustrations by Eri Takenashi and Kasumu Kirino was published by Ichijinsha under their Ichijinsha Bunko imprint on December 20, 2008.

Kannagi: Crazy Shrine Maidens
Cover of volume 1 of Kannagi, published by Ichijinsha, showing Nagi.
かんなぎ
Genre	Romantic comedy, supernatural
Manga
Written by	Eri Takenashi
Published by	Ichijinsha
English publisher	NA Bandai Entertainment (expired)
Magazine	Comic Rex
Demographic	Shōnen
Original run	January 2006 – September 2017
Volumes	12 (List of volumes)
Anime television series
Directed by	Yutaka Yamamoto
Produced by	Atsuhiro Iwakami Tomonori Ochikoshi Yōsuke Sugino
Written by	Hideyuki Kurata
Music by	Satoru Kōsaki
Studio	A-1 Pictures Ordet (production cooperation)
Licensed by	NA Bandai Entertainment (expired)
Original network	Tokyo MX, MBS, TVQ, RNB, CTC, TBC, TV Saitama, tvk, Animax, CBC, HBC
Original run	October 4, 2008 – December 27, 2008
Episodes	13 + OVA (List of episodes)
Light novel
Written by	Tōka Takei
Illustrated by	Eri Takenashi Kasumu Kirino
Published by	Ichijinsha
Imprint	Ichijinsha Bunko
Demographic	Male
Published	December 20, 2008