The Japanese comic/manga sales for the week of January 11 was released today and it looks like everyone's reading about their favorite half demon, half human exorcist.

His flames just so happen to be blue.

Today, Anime News Network released a list of the highest selling manga in Japan from January 5 to January 11. The highest selling manga for this second week in January is "Blue Exorcist" volume 14, written by Kazue Kato. Rounding off the top three in Japan are the latest volumes of "Bleach" by Tite Kubo and "One Piece" by Eiichiro Oda.

Back in 2011, "Blue Exorcist" creator Kazue Kato talked to Anime News Network about fears he had in making religious references in the series.

"I made biblical references with the thinking that 'I should not run away from these references if I'm working in the Exorcist genre.' But, I understand that Western countries are more sensitive to stories with biblical references than Japan is," explained Kato.

"Right now, the 'Blue Exorcist' manga is currently being translated in France, UK, and the U.S.  I was surprised to see some of translations, and thought, 'Is it okay to translate that part?' or 'Could the fans in Christian countries enjoy reading this?' I got those feelings. I still get those feelings."

Given the fact that "Blue Exorcist" reportedly was one of the bestselling manga in the U.S. last year, perhaps international fans were less sensitive to the references in the series than Kato was worried about. Ultimately though, it looks like Japanese fans still feel positive about the series as the latest volume sold over 400,000 copies last week.

Viz Media describes the story of "Blue Exorcist" as follows:

"Raised by Father Fujimoto, a famous exorcist, Rin Okumura never knew his real father. One day a fateful argument with Father Fujimoto forces Rin to face a terrible truth-the blood of the demon lord Satan runs in Rin's veins!

Rin swears to defeat Satan, but doing that means entering the mysterious True Cross Academy and becoming an exorcist himself. Can Rin fight demons and keep his infernal bloodline a secret? It won't be easy, especially when drawing his father's sword releases the demonic power within him!"