Shiori Experience

Shiori is a high school girl who feels invisible, trapped in a gray routine. Then a scruffy, sunglasses-wearing ghost claiming to be Jimi Hendrix appears in her bedroom and hands her a guitar. This absurd premise launches a heartfelt story about learning to play, forming a band, and finding a voice. The ghost is pushy, funny, and surprisingly wise, pushing Shiori into open mics and battles of the bands she never would have dared attempt.

Written and illustrated by the duo Yuko Osada and Kazuya Machida, the manga has run in Square Enix's Monthly Big Gangan since October 2013. Over 20 volumes have been collected, each packed with detailed character art and kinetic performance scenes. The series treats the music seriously, Shiori struggles with chord changes, calluses, and stage fright, while the supernatural mentor adds a layer of warmth and absurdity. It's a slow-burn coming-of-age story that earns its emotional payoffs.[edit]