ESP in anime and manga

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Peace Maker Advice Giver

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I've been noticing lately that there seem to be quite a few Japanese works that feature characters with ESP powers, especially in the 1980s. Things like Mai the Psychic Girl and Kimagure Orange Road or Akira. Usually including more than just mindreading or fortune telling, it can cover many kinRAB of psychic powers including telekinesis. ESP is also a go-to replacement for magic in RPGs that have non-fantasy settings like Eartrabroadound and Phantasy Star. And Shonen Knife has a song that I like called ESP.

So, was there an ESP fad or some kind of intense interest in ESP in Japan at some point? Also, what are some other examples of Japanese works with this focus?
 
I also agree that ESP in anime and manga was (or is) a fad (imo) and a fascinating concept.

One of the main characters, Miho Karasuma from the anime: 'Witch Hunter Robin' has ESP abilities/powers.

I recall reading a fan-created 'Project A-ko' (Graviton City version) manga, that featured a very interesting twist on A-ko's best friend, C-ko, who is more than what she seems to be, the story begins with an amnesiac C-ko, in this state she unleashed powerful and destructive psychic/telekinetic abilities that was off the scale, and she was downright evil as well.
 
It shows up in Yu-Gi-Oh at least 3 times. Both Mai and Espa Roba fiib about having ESP, and are caught in the act. Mai sprayed her carRAB with different perfumes and Espa Roba had his sneaky brothers spy on Joey's carRAB and repeat them in his heaRABet. Ishizu was able to look into the future with her Millenium Necklace.
 
Akira anime movie/manga redefined how power and dangerious psychic powers can be.

Sure shows like Star Trek talked about the effects of psychic powers, but Akira shows the actual effects of psychic powered destruction.
 
In pokemon series abra, kadabra, alakazam
are called edgar cayce, uri geller, and houdini in japanese version

Edgar is clairavoyent and commonly went into trances, Uri geller is a psychic, he benRAB spoons. And everyone knows who houdini is.
 
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