Yuri Kitayama (北山結莉) is a Japanese light‑novel writer of isekai fantasy. He is best known as the author of the Seirei Gensōki (Spirit Chronicles) series. He has sold over three million volumes in the series. The first season of its TV anime aired in 2021, followed by a second in late 2024.
Born and publishing in Japan, Yuri Kitayama writes primarily in Japanese but reaches global readers through licensed translations, including releases by J‑Novel Club in North America.
Kitayama began publishing Seirei Gensōki online on Shōsetsuka ni Narō in February 2014. He continued until October 2020, when he ceased posting content there.
Hobby Japan acquired and published the light novels under its HJ Bunko imprint starting in October 2015. As of October 2024, twenty‑six volumes have been released. Manga adaptations followed: one by tenkla (2016–17) and another by Futago Minaduki from mid‑2017 onward. An anime adaptation by TMS Entertainment aired in July–September 2021 with twelve episodes, and a second season ran October–December 2024.
Kitayama’s work is firmly rooted in classic isekai motifs. In Seirei Gensōki, the orphan Rio merges with memories of Haruto Amakawa, a Japanese student who died in a crash. With this shared identity, Rio gains magic and enters a royal academy despite his low birth.
His writing reached a broad audience and achieved strong sales. The Seirei Gensōki series has surpassed three million copies in circulation. The anime series received streaming success and continued popularity into its second season.
Yuri Kitayama is associated with the official Seirei Gensōki anime account (@seireigensouki), which communicates updates about the series.
Photo credit: X @yuri_kitayama
