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Monogatari #17
結物語 [Musubimonogatari]
228 pages, Tankobon Softcover
First published January 12, 2017
2 people are currently reading
227 people want to read
About the author
NisiOisiN
289 books977 followersNisio Isin (西尾維新 Nishio Ishin), frequently written as NisiOisiN to emphasize that his pen name is a palindrome, is a Japanese novelist and manga writer. He attended and left Ritsumeikan University without graduating. In 2002, he debuted with the novel Kubikiri Cycle, which earned him the 23rd Mephisto Award at twenty years of age.
He currently works with Kodansha on Pandora, the Kodansha Box magazine, and Faust, a literary magazine containing the works of other young authors who similarly take influence from light novels and otaku culture. He was also publishing a twelve volume series over twelve months for the Kodansha Box line; Ryusui Seiryoin was matching this output, and the Kodansha Box website stated that this is the first time in the world two authors have done twelve volume monthly novel series simultaneously from the same publisher.
In February, 2008, his novel Death Note Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases was released in English by Viz Media. Del Rey Manga has already released the first volume in his Zaregoto series. His Bakemonogatari, Nisemonogatari and Katanagatari novels have been adapted into anime series. Nekomonogatari (Kuro) has been adapted into an anime TV movie, and Kizumonogatari will be release in theaters this year. Monogatari Series: Second Season, adapted from 6 books in Monogatari Series will air in July 2013. Another of his works, Medaka Box (manga), has been adapted into a two-season anime series.
He currently works with Kodansha on Pandora, the Kodansha Box magazine, and Faust, a literary magazine containing the works of other young authors who similarly take influence from light novels and otaku culture. He was also publishing a twelve volume series over twelve months for the Kodansha Box line; Ryusui Seiryoin was matching this output, and the Kodansha Box website stated that this is the first time in the world two authors have done twelve volume monthly novel series simultaneously from the same publisher.
In February, 2008, his novel Death Note Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases was released in English by Viz Media. Del Rey Manga has already released the first volume in his Zaregoto series. His Bakemonogatari, Nisemonogatari and Katanagatari novels have been adapted into anime series. Nekomonogatari (Kuro) has been adapted into an anime TV movie, and Kizumonogatari will be release in theaters this year. Monogatari Series: Second Season, adapted from 6 books in Monogatari Series will air in July 2013. Another of his works, Medaka Box (manga), has been adapted into a two-season anime series.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 29, 2023
“The reason I feel guilty towards my past self is not because I've succeeded or that I've become a part of the winners. It's because I'm not living my life out to the fullest. Even though I'm doing my best, I'm not actually doing my best. Even though I've grown, I'm not trying to grow further.”
Araragi back in narration, with a 5 year time skip to cap off the Off-Season was a bold move from NisiOisn, but it delivers. The story moved me deeply, as I loved the series due to relating to 18 year old Ragi, and now I can even relate to his 23 year old self. Every interaction he faced, with both past and new faces, were impactful. This story of finding his footing in his new life, while revisiting his past and past friends felt so human. To cap it off, the love story between him and Hitagi is always a treat, and that final confirmation of love, with the memories of Bakemonogatari got me emotional for them. If this was were the Monogatari series ended it would be very fitting, but we know that could never happen. Off-Season was stunning.
9/10
Araragi back in narration, with a 5 year time skip to cap off the Off-Season was a bold move from NisiOisn, but it delivers. The story moved me deeply, as I loved the series due to relating to 18 year old Ragi, and now I can even relate to his 23 year old self. Every interaction he faced, with both past and new faces, were impactful. This story of finding his footing in his new life, while revisiting his past and past friends felt so human. To cap it off, the love story between him and Hitagi is always a treat, and that final confirmation of love, with the memories of Bakemonogatari got me emotional for them. If this was were the Monogatari series ended it would be very fitting, but we know that could never happen. Off-Season was stunning.
9/10
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 14, 2025
How to summarize my thoughts on this one…
This one was a surprise for me, as I wasn’t expecting a 5-year timeskip but the concept of that was actually really exciting for me. What I REALLY wasn’t expecting was for this future to be so bleak in so many ways. This book really captures a sense of early-20s ennui, listlessness, and anxiety really well. The way we see Araragi compare himself to his peers whenever he learns how/what they are doing. The way he has this lingering melancholy and unhappiness always simmering in his subconscious. How unbearably lonely he is; his social life mostly consisting of his work/career.
Anyway, let’s go arc by arc like usual:
Zenka Mermaid:
This was a solid introduction to this new ‘era’ of Monogatari, doing a good job of contextualizing the reader in a new time period and establishing what Araragi’s life looks like now. We are introduced to his coworker Suou whom I enjoy a fair amount. We don’t get a ton about her but she’s a pretty charming character with an interesting enough story. I would be interested to get a story from her perspective in the future. The plot of this arc is pretty compelling and I like the thought processes it generates for Araragi. Solid arc. 8/10
Nozomi Golem:
Probably my least favorite of the four arcs of Musubimonogatari. I found the central mystery pretty predictable (figuring it out pretty early on which is rare for me) and in general I didn’t get a ton out of this one. Though I think it does enough in terms of characterization to justify its existence in here. His other coworker Nozomi is introduced in this arc and she’s pretty cool I guess. I’m not super attached to her in this short a time but she’s interesting enough.
7/10
Mitome Wolf:
With the final two arcs we reach the real meat of this book. What a bizarre way to continue Hanekawa’s character 5 years in the future. I’m still kind of reeling because I’m not totally sure whether I like how her character was handled in this book yet. But regardless, I think her conversation with Araragi at his house was one of the most arresting pieces of dialogue in the whole series. Really brilliantly written, with such a palpable sense of longing and regret and bitterness from both parties. And it’s just so SAD. My heart really breaks for Hanekawa. I do think it’s interesting that she became this internationally famous activist that advocates for peace, volunteers for war relief programs, and is a proponent of dissolving national borders. That’s a fascinating approach to her character but underneath all that ‘accomplishment’ is such a devastating sadness that bleeds from the page the whole time she is in the scene. And as a result she makes a really compelling foil to Araragi in this book in the way they view their pasts and their present obligations. I still need to think on this one more but for now it’s a 9/10
Tsuzura Human:
Finally we got the return of Senjougahara which I was anxiously awaiting since the beginning of the book! And I pretty much had to wait until the end but it was worth it because their scene at the very end of the novel is PRECIOUS. The callbacks all the way back to the first book of the series… my heart melts. Their scenes together have always been some of the highlights of the series. I am a big fan of the scene between Shinobu and Araragi as well as she confronts him about his feelings: whether he feels he messed up his life so bad he’d rather just die? Whether he feels disillusioned that his life is so boring and void of warmth? It’s a great conversation. I especially like his realization that the reason he feels this persistent disappointment in his life because he has stopped trying to grow. It’s thoughtful introspection like that that makes this series interesting to read.
9/10
This one was a surprise for me, as I wasn’t expecting a 5-year timeskip but the concept of that was actually really exciting for me. What I REALLY wasn’t expecting was for this future to be so bleak in so many ways. This book really captures a sense of early-20s ennui, listlessness, and anxiety really well. The way we see Araragi compare himself to his peers whenever he learns how/what they are doing. The way he has this lingering melancholy and unhappiness always simmering in his subconscious. How unbearably lonely he is; his social life mostly consisting of his work/career.
Anyway, let’s go arc by arc like usual:
Zenka Mermaid:
This was a solid introduction to this new ‘era’ of Monogatari, doing a good job of contextualizing the reader in a new time period and establishing what Araragi’s life looks like now. We are introduced to his coworker Suou whom I enjoy a fair amount. We don’t get a ton about her but she’s a pretty charming character with an interesting enough story. I would be interested to get a story from her perspective in the future. The plot of this arc is pretty compelling and I like the thought processes it generates for Araragi. Solid arc. 8/10
Nozomi Golem:
Probably my least favorite of the four arcs of Musubimonogatari. I found the central mystery pretty predictable (figuring it out pretty early on which is rare for me) and in general I didn’t get a ton out of this one. Though I think it does enough in terms of characterization to justify its existence in here. His other coworker Nozomi is introduced in this arc and she’s pretty cool I guess. I’m not super attached to her in this short a time but she’s interesting enough.
7/10
Mitome Wolf:
With the final two arcs we reach the real meat of this book. What a bizarre way to continue Hanekawa’s character 5 years in the future. I’m still kind of reeling because I’m not totally sure whether I like how her character was handled in this book yet. But regardless, I think her conversation with Araragi at his house was one of the most arresting pieces of dialogue in the whole series. Really brilliantly written, with such a palpable sense of longing and regret and bitterness from both parties. And it’s just so SAD. My heart really breaks for Hanekawa. I do think it’s interesting that she became this internationally famous activist that advocates for peace, volunteers for war relief programs, and is a proponent of dissolving national borders. That’s a fascinating approach to her character but underneath all that ‘accomplishment’ is such a devastating sadness that bleeds from the page the whole time she is in the scene. And as a result she makes a really compelling foil to Araragi in this book in the way they view their pasts and their present obligations. I still need to think on this one more but for now it’s a 9/10
Tsuzura Human:
Finally we got the return of Senjougahara which I was anxiously awaiting since the beginning of the book! And I pretty much had to wait until the end but it was worth it because their scene at the very end of the novel is PRECIOUS. The callbacks all the way back to the first book of the series… my heart melts. Their scenes together have always been some of the highlights of the series. I am a big fan of the scene between Shinobu and Araragi as well as she confronts him about his feelings: whether he feels he messed up his life so bad he’d rather just die? Whether he feels disillusioned that his life is so boring and void of warmth? It’s a great conversation. I especially like his realization that the reason he feels this persistent disappointment in his life because he has stopped trying to grow. It’s thoughtful introspection like that that makes this series interesting to read.
9/10
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2025
Surprisingly, or maybe unsurprisingly, reading loads of NISIOISIN's books have allowed me to get used to the style even though some of the words are ridiculously niche like キャリア (国家公務員) which wasn't even in my dictionary or 労働基準法 (the labour standards act). Despite all of that however, I feel like I'm getting better with every chapter I read even feeling a difference in confidence and understanding from the first to the second half of the book. :)
May 1, 2025
6.5/10
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews