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Hakumei to Mikochi #5
Hakumei & Mikochi: Tiny Little Life in the Woods, Vol. 5
For Hakumei and Mikochi, life in the woods is often busy, sometimes scary, regularly exciting, and never dull. But they're not the only ones around! The pair's lush surroundings teem with life, and the fauna-whether they're cats, monkeys, foxes, tanuki, wolves, or lovable neighborhood stag beetles-have jobs and social lives and worries of their own!
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 14, 2017
3 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
April 11, 2024
3.75⭐️
Another great installment. And this time we are getting more chapters dedicated to the side characters, though the duo make an appearance in them too. I am loving getting to know Makinata and its residents and their life.
Another great installment. And this time we are getting more chapters dedicated to the side characters, though the duo make an appearance in them too. I am loving getting to know Makinata and its residents and their life.
January 6, 2019
Le plus attendrissant des cinq premiers tomes ! Un régal de mignonitude avec des dessins superbement détaillés.
June 13, 2023
This volume included more lightweight adventures (^人^)~~
May 26, 2023
Read this fifth volume of Takuto Kashiki's Hakumei & Mikochi Series for Reddit Fantasy's 2023 Bingo Square Mundane Jobs, the protagonists are a tailor and a carpenter. This book qualifies for hard mode as it does not take place on Earth.
Chapter 27 - Rain and Fly Fishing [Anime Episode 11]
Hakumei teaches Mikochi how to fish in the rain.
During a break a hedgehog recommends fly fishing which they try, under a beautiful camellia tree, but it's a bit of a disaster. However, Camellia flowers are beautiful.
Just after Mikochi confesses she finds fishing boring, a Gigantic fish takes the bait, but escapes. When they later see the hedgehog has caught the fish that "got away" and when Mikochi sees how huge it is, her competitive spirit catches fire and she changes her opinion on fishing.
We hope to see more fishing episodes in this series, this episode captured the magic (and boredom) of fishing, but really, as every fishing aficionado knows, it's not really about catching the fish, it's about immersing one self in the beauty of nature, quiet time, and deep conversations with friends or relatives.
Chapter 28 - Neighbor's Breakfast [No Anime Adaptation]
Laika, Conju's neighbor, loves her music and wants to be friends but doesn't know how, so she starts by making breakfast which she throws to Conju, who was too rushed to make one. This chapter was just full of "aww" moments.
Chapter 29 - The Librarian's Day [No Anime Adaptation]
This tiny, energetic and extremely knowledgeable Librarian helped so many tiny people and large animals find what they are looking for, at the library. I love libraries, but I have to concede, not many have the LEVEL of knowledge this guy has. I would give him a hug, if he existed in real life.
Chapter 30 - Memories of Red Hair [Anime Episode 11]
Chapter 30.1 - The Tanuki on the Derelict Highway
Hakumei and Mikochi hire a Tanuki (Japanese Raccoon Dog) to take them to the turn around point of Green Tail's Caravan. While on the Tanuki, Hakumei regales Mikochi with tales of how Old Green Tails grew the caravan by absorbing bandits, and how they took Hakumei in when she was a struggling loner, all because old Green Tail said she liked looking at Hakumei's red hair. They arrive at a bridge, but cannot cross because its beams are rotting.
The Tanuki, having heard the stories now has a vested interest in getting them to their destination, so he tells them to HOLD ON TIGHT!
Chapter 30.2 - The Ropeway at Dawn
The tanuki dumps them in the last gondola (cable car) which is about to leave, wishing them luck! As it is going to take a while for the gondola monkey to hand crank the gondola over, our little ladies share a meal with conversation, in the moonlight.
There are loads of shenanigans before they do manage to see Green Tail's caravan, and get its attention.
The after credits of the anime show us what happened to Hakumei's long locks, that she gave to Green Tail so she'd remember her.
Chapter 31 - The Tree-Quelling Dusk [Anime Episode 12]
Hakumei, Mikochi and Conju dress up as Tree Demons to frighten children into not cutting trees!
The children are supposed to brandish axes, then the trees will give them sweets, but Mikochi's almond cake is so good the rumor has spread like wildfire so all the kids are basically hunting her!
The ending was a bit of a shocker since a local tells them the festival is based on a real tree hugger who went around scaring people into not cutting down trees! Then they silenced his voice, and for 7 years after crops just died so they had to create the festival to appease the Tree Spirit. Apparently the tree spirit lived in the Camphor tree of legend, the very same one Hakumei and Mikochi live in ... so they ask Conju if they can spend the night. Sounds like a good idea to me (I'd do the same)!
Chapter 32 - Ruin and Weeds [No Anime Adaptation]
Iwashidono and Hakumei are scouting out a ruined mansion that the rock piercing association is supposed to demolish, Mikochi follows along. The mansion is in ruins, surrounded by purslane weeds, and from the contents, it was a beloved home at some point in time as Mikochi finds a recipe book and makes a delicious purslane, chickpea and tomato stew.
After spending the night, Iwashidono seems to have gotten attached to the home. Hakumei tells Iwashidono during demolition that Mikochi will be making them lunch (with Purslane) that day, so they best work hard and be hungry and ready!
Chapter 33 - The Metropolitan Life [Anime Episode 11]
Koharu might be the sweetest beetle in the history of anime, she wears a little pink ribbon.
Over tea, she confesses she moved near the city so she could live the idyllic "Metropolitan Life."
However, she's tiny and so insecure.
Hakumei and Mikochi take her furniture shopping, where she ignores Hakumei's professional advice and buys furniture that seems "metropolitan and fancy" to bring to her home. After several days without meeting their neighbor, Hakumei and Mikochi get worried enough to make a home visit. They do not expect to see little Koharu has fainted.
After reviving Koharu, they get the sad story. The dresser's knob fell off so Koharu couldn't get any food, and the drink was on the tall chair which she couldn't reach.
This heartfelt tale is about being comfortable with who you are, and not trying so hard to be someone else you're not because it's a fad, or cool. Koharu eventually has Hakumei and Mikochi put things back how they were, signaling her giving up on the Metropolitan life. This episode might be the most philosophical one in the entire anime series.
Hakumei does manage to salvage the bar stool with an interesting history, and it is then that Koharu starts talking about a "Metropolitan Love."
Chapter 34 - Husband and Wife and Hand Towel [No Anime Adaptation]
Iwashidono and the rest of the crew come across President Narai and his second, Katen, sleeping at the Rock Piercing Association's room. Apparently Narai took some tools home to sharpen, and thoughtlessly used his wife's drying laundry for the final polish, so he's too scared to go home to face the music.
Seems like EVERYONE in the association showed up, and heard about this, so Narai asks for ideas and it's hilarious how little he actually knows his wife, Hakuyo, who actually doesn't really care about the towel, not that Narai knows. She's just doing her daily stuff, even cooking a meal for everyone.
In the meantime things are escalating at the association until when Hakuyo shows up, everyone is apologizing to her, for Narai, and it's hilarious.
"I'm sorry, the president didn't mean any harm! He's a president we can respect."
"True he doesn't understand a woman's heart, but ..."
"It was a careless mistake!"
"Please don't be angry!"
"He's just passionate about his work."
"Please Ma'am!! Please make up with him!"
This mangaka really knows what marriage is like, and there have probably been variations of this played out in many other marriages in real life, but I bet none ended as happy ever after as this.
5 out of 5 Awww ⭐s.
Chapter 27 - Rain and Fly Fishing [Anime Episode 11]
Hakumei teaches Mikochi how to fish in the rain.
During a break a hedgehog recommends fly fishing which they try, under a beautiful camellia tree, but it's a bit of a disaster. However, Camellia flowers are beautiful.
Just after Mikochi confesses she finds fishing boring, a Gigantic fish takes the bait, but escapes. When they later see the hedgehog has caught the fish that "got away" and when Mikochi sees how huge it is, her competitive spirit catches fire and she changes her opinion on fishing.
We hope to see more fishing episodes in this series, this episode captured the magic (and boredom) of fishing, but really, as every fishing aficionado knows, it's not really about catching the fish, it's about immersing one self in the beauty of nature, quiet time, and deep conversations with friends or relatives.
Chapter 28 - Neighbor's Breakfast [No Anime Adaptation]
Laika, Conju's neighbor, loves her music and wants to be friends but doesn't know how, so she starts by making breakfast which she throws to Conju, who was too rushed to make one. This chapter was just full of "aww" moments.
Chapter 29 - The Librarian's Day [No Anime Adaptation]
This tiny, energetic and extremely knowledgeable Librarian helped so many tiny people and large animals find what they are looking for, at the library. I love libraries, but I have to concede, not many have the LEVEL of knowledge this guy has. I would give him a hug, if he existed in real life.
Chapter 30 - Memories of Red Hair [Anime Episode 11]
Chapter 30.1 - The Tanuki on the Derelict Highway
Hakumei and Mikochi hire a Tanuki (Japanese Raccoon Dog) to take them to the turn around point of Green Tail's Caravan. While on the Tanuki, Hakumei regales Mikochi with tales of how Old Green Tails grew the caravan by absorbing bandits, and how they took Hakumei in when she was a struggling loner, all because old Green Tail said she liked looking at Hakumei's red hair. They arrive at a bridge, but cannot cross because its beams are rotting.
The Tanuki, having heard the stories now has a vested interest in getting them to their destination, so he tells them to HOLD ON TIGHT!
Chapter 30.2 - The Ropeway at Dawn
The tanuki dumps them in the last gondola (cable car) which is about to leave, wishing them luck! As it is going to take a while for the gondola monkey to hand crank the gondola over, our little ladies share a meal with conversation, in the moonlight.
There are loads of shenanigans before they do manage to see Green Tail's caravan, and get its attention.
The after credits of the anime show us what happened to Hakumei's long locks, that she gave to Green Tail so she'd remember her.
Chapter 31 - The Tree-Quelling Dusk [Anime Episode 12]
Hakumei, Mikochi and Conju dress up as Tree Demons to frighten children into not cutting trees!
The children are supposed to brandish axes, then the trees will give them sweets, but Mikochi's almond cake is so good the rumor has spread like wildfire so all the kids are basically hunting her!
The ending was a bit of a shocker since a local tells them the festival is based on a real tree hugger who went around scaring people into not cutting down trees! Then they silenced his voice, and for 7 years after crops just died so they had to create the festival to appease the Tree Spirit. Apparently the tree spirit lived in the Camphor tree of legend, the very same one Hakumei and Mikochi live in ... so they ask Conju if they can spend the night. Sounds like a good idea to me (I'd do the same)!
Chapter 32 - Ruin and Weeds [No Anime Adaptation]
Iwashidono and Hakumei are scouting out a ruined mansion that the rock piercing association is supposed to demolish, Mikochi follows along. The mansion is in ruins, surrounded by purslane weeds, and from the contents, it was a beloved home at some point in time as Mikochi finds a recipe book and makes a delicious purslane, chickpea and tomato stew.
After spending the night, Iwashidono seems to have gotten attached to the home. Hakumei tells Iwashidono during demolition that Mikochi will be making them lunch (with Purslane) that day, so they best work hard and be hungry and ready!
Chapter 33 - The Metropolitan Life [Anime Episode 11]
Koharu might be the sweetest beetle in the history of anime, she wears a little pink ribbon.
Over tea, she confesses she moved near the city so she could live the idyllic "Metropolitan Life."
However, she's tiny and so insecure.
Hakumei and Mikochi take her furniture shopping, where she ignores Hakumei's professional advice and buys furniture that seems "metropolitan and fancy" to bring to her home. After several days without meeting their neighbor, Hakumei and Mikochi get worried enough to make a home visit. They do not expect to see little Koharu has fainted.
After reviving Koharu, they get the sad story. The dresser's knob fell off so Koharu couldn't get any food, and the drink was on the tall chair which she couldn't reach.
This heartfelt tale is about being comfortable with who you are, and not trying so hard to be someone else you're not because it's a fad, or cool. Koharu eventually has Hakumei and Mikochi put things back how they were, signaling her giving up on the Metropolitan life. This episode might be the most philosophical one in the entire anime series.
Hakumei does manage to salvage the bar stool with an interesting history, and it is then that Koharu starts talking about a "Metropolitan Love."
Chapter 34 - Husband and Wife and Hand Towel [No Anime Adaptation]
Iwashidono and the rest of the crew come across President Narai and his second, Katen, sleeping at the Rock Piercing Association's room. Apparently Narai took some tools home to sharpen, and thoughtlessly used his wife's drying laundry for the final polish, so he's too scared to go home to face the music.
Seems like EVERYONE in the association showed up, and heard about this, so Narai asks for ideas and it's hilarious how little he actually knows his wife, Hakuyo, who actually doesn't really care about the towel, not that Narai knows. She's just doing her daily stuff, even cooking a meal for everyone.
In the meantime things are escalating at the association until when Hakuyo shows up, everyone is apologizing to her, for Narai, and it's hilarious.
"I'm sorry, the president didn't mean any harm! He's a president we can respect."
"True he doesn't understand a woman's heart, but ..."
"It was a careless mistake!"
"Please don't be angry!"
"He's just passionate about his work."
"Please Ma'am!! Please make up with him!"
This mangaka really knows what marriage is like, and there have probably been variations of this played out in many other marriages in real life, but I bet none ended as happy ever after as this.
5 out of 5 Awww ⭐s.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2020
I really enjoy Kashiki's laid-back storytelling style - there are dramas, but they're always relatively small, on the interpersonal or village level scale, which is a really refreshing change of pace from the endless stream of "THE WORLD IS GONNA END UNLESS FIVE HIGH SCHOOLERS CAN SAVE THE PLANET HALF NAKED IN ONE FINAL FLASHY EXPLOSIVE SHOWDOWN!!!!!" manga / games / anime / movies. Yep, this slow pacing and quiet appreciation of the things around us puts Hakumei and Mikochi up there with Yokohama Kaidashi Kikō, Mushishi, Kino's Journey and the like--my favorite kinds of stories. It was also relatively easy to jump right in at volumes 4 and 5, so I'm looking forward to starting afresh with volume 1.
March 30, 2022
Living a big life in a small world
Another fun collection of short stories about the many little people and their animal friends as they pass each day in their own ways. In this volume we are introduced to a new friend (and fan of) Conju's named Laika as well as get to find out more about Hakumei's time with Greentail's caravan and a whole assortment of stories to continue to build upon this big world full of little people. If you have read any of the other volumes and enjoyed them I am sure you can't go wrong in this one either. :)
Another fun collection of short stories about the many little people and their animal friends as they pass each day in their own ways. In this volume we are introduced to a new friend (and fan of) Conju's named Laika as well as get to find out more about Hakumei's time with Greentail's caravan and a whole assortment of stories to continue to build upon this big world full of little people. If you have read any of the other volumes and enjoyed them I am sure you can't go wrong in this one either. :)
May 4, 2019
Volume 5 of 'Hakumei and Mikochi' continues to be a delightful slice-of-minature-life about living together, trying to get along, and taking each day as it comes. I kind of appreciate that this volume has several stories where people are grumpy or upset, but everyone's still able to work things out by the end, and be closer for it. It's this kind of domestic fantasy that I come to the series for, and it continues to delight.
April 17, 2025
Haha, I didn't even notice that it has been SEVEN years since I read the last volume, where did the time go? Anyway, time to rectify this now that I got ComicsPlus and can read the volumes more easily.
In this adorable volume tons of perfect wonderful art, lovely stories of not just Mikochi and Hakumei but also their friends/families/acquaintances, fun parts in between with extra dialogue or story. I just loved every bit of it. This is such a gorgeous series.
In this adorable volume tons of perfect wonderful art, lovely stories of not just Mikochi and Hakumei but also their friends/families/acquaintances, fun parts in between with extra dialogue or story. I just loved every bit of it. This is such a gorgeous series.
August 22, 2020
Hakumei and Mikochi help the boss when he ruins his wives hand towel, travels to the big rock to wave at the caravan led by Green Tail. Builds their own hot tub and Mikochi's older sister the play writer, Ayune drops by unexpectedly, causing a bit of a fuss.
Super fun adventures and great attitudes of can-do.
Super fun adventures and great attitudes of can-do.
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May 27, 2023this is the first one that's continued where the previous one left off (#4 left off on the train ride to a fishing lake, #5 started with the fishing lake destination). it was also the first one that had a story that was entirely about someone else and completely excluded Hakumei and Mikochi (very cute story about singer Conju and her neighbor Laika)
April 29, 2025
I really enjoyed the stories in this one, specially the first one and Ch 33, A Metropolitan Life. The fishing one I understand because I like fishing. Well I did when I was younger. Ch 33 I am not sure maybe because of the small furnture and when I was younger I wanted a doll house.
But yeah really enjoyed the stories in this one.
But yeah really enjoyed the stories in this one.
April 2, 2019
Bien mignon, comme d'habitude, et avec des histoires sympathiques basées sur l'entraide.
May 23, 2019
<3 <3 <3
December 18, 2019
This a really cute series. Nice and fluffy and what I need right now.
November 1, 2020
Ce manga me fait un bien fou! ça m'apporte le dépaysement et l'évasion dont j'ai besoin. ça me rend aussi toute joyeuse de les suivre dans leurs pérégrinations :D
January 31, 2023
This was my favorite one in the series so far 😊
June 11, 2024
だいすきです❤️😍
July 29, 2024
I really liked the stories in this one, also their little outfits killed me, so cute! The bug’s metropolitan room makeover was the best.
October 22, 2024
La magie continue d'opérer. Une lecture doudou. Toutes les histoires ne se valent pas mais c'était un très bon tome 🥰
October 30, 2024
Never not astonished at the beauty of the illustrations here
December 21, 2025
So good. This one involves a library and a little beetle that wants to live a glamorous city lifestyle.
December 27, 2025
這一集又出現一大堆不認識的專有名詞
懶得查字典了就這樣看過去XD
懶得查字典了就這樣看過去XD
July 27, 2023
Encore un tome bien sympathique et divertissant. J'apprécie de plus en plus de passer du temps avec Hakumei et Mikochi. J'ai trouvé certains chapitres plus chouettes que d'autres, mais globalement, j'ai passé un agréable moment de lecture. Cet univers est tout doux, on se laisse vivre avec les personnages. Rien d'intriguant, pas d'action ou de suspense, juste de jolies petites scènes de vie !
February 13, 2023
En plus de l’univers, la société de Minuscule est super intéressante à découvrir. Il y règne une ambiance si agréable ! L’entraide prime, les métiers relèvent principalement de l’artisanat et de l’art. Il y a beaucoup de scènes en communauté, et on voit les personnages soutenir et être soutenu·es, parfois par des personnes qu’elles ne connaissent pas. Leur vie n’est pas évidente, mais elle semble emplie de beaucoup de sérénité et de confiance dans le fait que si elles ont un problème, elles pourront le surmonter. Notamment parce qu’elles ne seront pas seules.
La suite de mon avis : https://elainevker.com/blog/2023/02/0...
La suite de mon avis : https://elainevker.com/blog/2023/02/0...
October 25, 2021
This was another wonderful master piece. This collection was the best I have read so far of the series. It gives insight into other characters, and more insight as well about where they live. It was a perfect balance of knowledge, history and new character introduction. I especially liked the one piece in the collection about how Hakumei came to live in the same town/country as Mikochi.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews