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蟲師 / Mushishi #8-10
Mushishi, Vol. 8/9/10
Ginko is a master of the ephemeral life form known as Mushi. Their influence can be as visible as a mountain never giving up its winter to allow for spring, or as subtle as a prank played in a child's game. To some they are a curse; to others they offer unimagined possibility. Read the final three volumes of Ginko's journeys in this one remarkable edition!
720 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
13 people are currently reading
189 people want to read
About the author
Yuki Urushibara
34 books212 followersYuki Urushibara (漆原友紀) is a Japanese manga artist from Yamaguchi Prefecture.
She is best known for the series Mushishi, for which she received an Excellence Prize for manga at the 2003 Japan Media Arts Festival and the 2006 Kodansha Manga Award for general manga.
She is also known by the pen name Soyogo Shima (志摩 冬青 Shima Soyogo).
She is best known for the series Mushishi, for which she received an Excellence Prize for manga at the 2003 Japan Media Arts Festival and the 2006 Kodansha Manga Award for general manga.
She is also known by the pen name Soyogo Shima (志摩 冬青 Shima Soyogo).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
February 8, 2019
Mushi-shi is my favourite manga and anime of all time. It's so calm and wholesome.
While I barely read manga's, this one was so magical and I read all of the installments in one go. So beautifully drawn and atmospherically written. My inner-biologist-self loves the mushi, even though they're fictional they are based on bacteria. It's a little slow paced so beware if you're bored quickly. :p
While I barely read manga's, this one was so magical and I read all of the installments in one go. So beautifully drawn and atmospherically written. My inner-biologist-self loves the mushi, even though they're fictional they are based on bacteria. It's a little slow paced so beware if you're bored quickly. :p
August 1, 2022
This will be a long review, so apologies in advance!
This omnibus volume contains volumes 8, 9, and 10. The storytelling is fantastic. It's been great re-experiencing these stories in their original manga form. Just like when I am done with another rewatch of the anime version, I am sad this journey has come to an end. But I also look forward to re-reading these in the future. This has also made me want to rewatch the anime again, so I will be doing that soon too.
It's hard to put into words my love for this series. At the most basic level, it is about people's relationship with nature. It's strange, calming, ethereal, delightful, peaceful, at times hopeful and at times sad--but never overwhelmingly so. The art is close to watercolor at times, and it fits with the dreamlike, almost floaty feeling the series gives off. Ginko is a wonderfully crafted, mysterious character, as well.
I've loved the translation notes at the end of each volume. It's so interesting to learn about what the different kanji mean, as well as little snippets about the art of translating the Japanese language into English. These types of translation notes are something I don't think I've ever seen included in a manga before. So fascinating and unique.
This series is a bit of an enigma for me. The first time I encountered it, it came out of nowhere and surprised me with how much I loved and connected with it. I don't often re-read or re-watch things--there's only a few instances I can think of--but I have watched the anime adaptation of this series more times than I can count. And the most amazing part is that it never gets old for me. I could watch it a thousand more times, and I'd still love it. And now I find I feel the same about the manga. Reading or watching this series is like a comfort, almost like coming home.
I hope you'll give this series a chance, too, and discover the magic it holds.
This omnibus volume contains volumes 8, 9, and 10. The storytelling is fantastic. It's been great re-experiencing these stories in their original manga form. Just like when I am done with another rewatch of the anime version, I am sad this journey has come to an end. But I also look forward to re-reading these in the future. This has also made me want to rewatch the anime again, so I will be doing that soon too.
It's hard to put into words my love for this series. At the most basic level, it is about people's relationship with nature. It's strange, calming, ethereal, delightful, peaceful, at times hopeful and at times sad--but never overwhelmingly so. The art is close to watercolor at times, and it fits with the dreamlike, almost floaty feeling the series gives off. Ginko is a wonderfully crafted, mysterious character, as well.
I've loved the translation notes at the end of each volume. It's so interesting to learn about what the different kanji mean, as well as little snippets about the art of translating the Japanese language into English. These types of translation notes are something I don't think I've ever seen included in a manga before. So fascinating and unique.
This series is a bit of an enigma for me. The first time I encountered it, it came out of nowhere and surprised me with how much I loved and connected with it. I don't often re-read or re-watch things--there's only a few instances I can think of--but I have watched the anime adaptation of this series more times than I can count. And the most amazing part is that it never gets old for me. I could watch it a thousand more times, and I'd still love it. And now I find I feel the same about the manga. Reading or watching this series is like a comfort, almost like coming home.
I hope you'll give this series a chance, too, and discover the magic it holds.
September 21, 2010
The end to the series wasn't quite as climatic as I was hoping. Nonetheless the stories were still very interesting, frightening and emotionally charged as is true for the entire series.
But...I still want more. Although I believe that Ginko discovers some things about himself through these pages, the reader still doesn't get his full story, or at least I would have liked to have more background on him.
As usual the artwork was beautiful and I actually enjoyed the fact that the three final volumes were put together in one thick manga. I guess now I'll have to watch the anime, though I doubt it is as good as the books.
But...I still want more. Although I believe that Ginko discovers some things about himself through these pages, the reader still doesn't get his full story, or at least I would have liked to have more background on him.
As usual the artwork was beautiful and I actually enjoyed the fact that the three final volumes were put together in one thick manga. I guess now I'll have to watch the anime, though I doubt it is as good as the books.
December 13, 2025
Mushishi is a wonderful strange little series. A supernatural slice of life full of tragedy and hope and the connection between humans and nature. I'm so glad to be along for the ride, and this final extra big volume is a fitting send-off. The art keeps getting better and the time loop story, The Scented Darkness, is my favourite chapter of Mushishi and maybe one of my favourite chapters of manga ever.
August 16, 2014
للمانجا مسلسل تلفزيوني
لا أجد عبارات تستطيع وصف هذا الجمال أبدا !
لكن هنا تعليق قديم لي عن المسلسل التلفزيوني الذي صور الكتاب تماماً كما يفترض به أن يصور !
الإبداع لا يقف عن آخر صفحة، بل تلبس بالعاملين على الإستيديو كذلك .. :
http://myanimelist.net/blog.php?eid=7...
لا أجد عبارات تستطيع وصف هذا الجمال أبدا !
لكن هنا تعليق قديم لي عن المسلسل التلفزيوني الذي صور الكتاب تماماً كما يفترض به أن يصور !
الإبداع لا يقف عن آخر صفحة، بل تلبس بالعاملين على الإستيديو كذلك .. :
http://myanimelist.net/blog.php?eid=7...
May 27, 2020
看蟲師第1集時，還覺得這系列設定挺新鮮的
然而邊際效用迅速地遞減
劇情重複性感覺頗高
雖然蟲不斷的在變，從第3集開始就感到無聊了
看英文版的話
由於蟲的名稱是英文拼寫，含意雖有寫在譯註
但閱讀的當下無法從名稱與現象產生連結
有點可惜
然而邊際效用迅速地遞減
劇情重複性感覺頗高
雖然蟲不斷的在變，從第3集開始就感到無聊了
看英文版的話
由於蟲的名稱是英文拼寫，含意雖有寫在譯註
但閱讀的當下無法從名稱與現象產生連結
有點可惜
August 8, 2023
It ends just as it started ephemerally.
April 17, 2011
Volume 8
THE MILK OF THE VALLEY
Ginko is rescued by a man under the influence of mushi. The man works day and night without rest. The parents of the man had found a pond of milk when they were poor and without nothing to drink.
The mushi who transforms the blood in milk is called Chisio: it “forces the host in sleepless work gathering nourishment for it. And Chisio builds its own strenght.” (page 43)
The man: “My body … is what it became by drinking my mother’s blood.” (page 42)
THE BOTTOM OF WINTER
“On the mountain in late winter …
when are heard …
low-pitched, tiny, murmuring sounds …
quickly and all at once …
the mushi of spring awaken.” (page 49)
This time the mushi is called Oroshibue: “the whistling sound of a cold mountain wind in winter.” (page 218) Oroshibue helps the mountains with the winter’s migration.
Ginko notices that “the mountain is … closed off.” (page 60), it seems that the mountain is going to die. “The winter mushi can’t migrate?” (page 61)
But Ginko found that the Koki are healing from their wounds inside the bog, so the mountain wasn’t going to die.
Koki is nutrition for Oroshibue, so it steals from Ginko his Koki
and eventually “Winter fails. The mountain laugh. The fields are dressed in rich green.
THE HIDDEN CHANNEL
The title refers to those water channels that are hidden by the trees and greenery.
A girl and her friend are bound each other: they know their thoughts without talking.
Ginko: “There is a deep channel between you and that person.” (page 94)
“They say there are paths that nobody can see … (paths) between the minds of people.” (page 95)
“What causes this … are mushi that are working at our command. Kairogi (waterways) … that’s what they’re called.” (page 96)
SUNSHOWERS
A girl forecast the coming of the rain.
The girl: “I only came to foretell the coming of the rain. Do you think any human has the power to make it rain?” (page 143)
A mushi called Amefurashi: “ Normally they float in the sky. … But … as sunny days continue and the air begins to lose its moisture … they come close to the earth … and take the form of runaway water.” (page 169)
Ginko tells to the girl that the mushi Amefurashi is inside her: “stealing the moisture away from your body. They rise into the sky and gather the rain above you.” (page 170)
The girl: “Then I’ll find a spot on Earth … and plant some roots. … I’ll walk with the rain … and like the clouds … I’ll drift along.” (page 175)
THE MUD WEEDS
A brother kills his own brother, but mushi …
“They’re mushi that take the corpses of animals and breaks them down until they’re the consistency of mud.
When a living thing steps into the mud, it spreads the spores around.” (page 182)
Volume 9
THE FINAL BIT OF CRIMSON
A child takes the body of another child, when she is old remembers of the other child and wants to go ‘home’.
“Just about dusk … especially when there’s a sunset like today’s … She says ‘going home’ … and she tries to leave the house.” (page 10)
“Something gets sucked out of the world at sunset … and something else appears. There’s a creature called Omagadoki.
The people who get sucked in by it … see the form of a shadow with non one to cast it.
And if that shadow is stepped on or somehow comes underfoot … they are bodily sucked in by the Omagadoki, and are exchanged for someone else.” (page 26)
THE WHIRLWIND
Ginko is traveling on a ship when he hears a boy whistling: the boy is calling Torikaze to make wind and move the ship.
Torikaze means bird wind.
Ginko already knows this mushi called Torikaze, so he tells to the boy not to whistle a night.
Inadvertently the boy whistle during the night, so doing he recalls another mushi called Yobiko.
Yobiko: “They build nests by making holes in the rocks on the sea-shore. The wind blows through the holes making a whistling sound, and they gather at the sound.” (page 72)
Yobiko first causes the sinking of the ship; and after, at home, the boy is followed by Yobiko that makes holes everywhere.
Ginko intervenes and acts as the Pied Piper of Hamelin.
STARS IN THE JAR OF THE SKY
A child could be kidnapped, so her parents ask for help to Ginko. Ginko thinks that the child, although invisible, is living in the house.
The child, attracted by the stars sparkling in the well, has fell into it. “... crystal clear water … where an infinite number … of stars live.” (page 134)
“the source of life called the light flow … hits the well … and sparks are created.” (page 136)
The child falling in the wall has gone to the other side of the sky and can not come back.
ACQUAMARINE
A mushi called Uko lives in the body of a child. He has webbing on his hands.
Uko “infect the corpses of people who have drowned in the water. … they can revive the person.” (page 148)
“... the sea, the river … the rain and the clouds … are all the same?” (page 185)
The story tells about the liaison between mother and his child. An ancestral element, the water, explains the origin of life and the connections between living being.
The mother: “You’re here. I can find you everywhere.” (page 186)
THE BED OF GRASS
This story tells about Ginko as a boy.
“The master is the personification of the ‘nature’ of things.” (page 204)
Ginko can not become the master of nature, he can just live inside the nature.
“The entire world as a whole … is your home.” (page 204): Ginko is immersed in a bed of grass.
Volume 10
THE THREAD OF LIGHT
Ginko had saved a baby wrapping him with a special clothes. Because of that, the baby grew up strong and incapable to control himself. The clothes is made of a special thread: only mothers can see this special thread. It shows the bond between mothers and sons.
“That thread is what we mushishi call Yoshitsu.” (page 36) Yoshitsu means fairy-stuff.
The mother inadvertently picks up Yoshitsu from the baby, but suddenly the baby looses vitality. The father of the baby prefers to separate the baby from his mother.
So Ginko has to save the boy draining Yoshitsu from him, but the medicine doesn’t work.
The last chance is the mother of the boy: only the mother can see the thread, and free the boy from Yoshitsu.
THE ETERNAL TREE
A man ate a seed that looked like a plum. But it was a mushi called Satorigi (means: understanding tree). When the man finds a Japanese cedar cut down, he walks on the tree’s roots and seems his feet turned into the wood.
Satorigi shelters inside trees, when it senses the tree is in danger, Satorigi gives off a flower and after a fruit. Inside that fruit is stored all of the tree’s memory.
“... a tree stood on this land. And spread its branches high and wide. And without change, it quietly watched over … the ever changing creatures that were born and died beneath it.” (page 97)
THE SCENTED DARKNESS
“Night. Suddenly you’re hit by the smell of flowers … and it brings back the thread of a memory.” (page 99)
A man is victim of a Kairo, it’s a mushi “that puts out a smell like flowers to lure in bugs … it takes the creatures, it traps and put them into a strange loop of time.” (page 131)
The man repeats infinitely his life’s story.
The story suggests the idea of life as circle, or just acceptance of the temporary (Wabi).
DROPS OF BELLS
Ginko meets a girl who he thinks is a master of nature.
After some time Ginko meets a man: he is the girl’s brother. The man explains to Ginko: she “... had grass growing from her head from the day she was born.” (page 166)
In the mountains there are ‘fertile places’ called ‘light flow’. (page 175)
“in such places, the mountains need a ‘master’ to take care of things. … Those who have been chosen to be masters … are born with … grasses growing out of their bodies.” (page 175)
Ginko: “Now … I’d better be on my way.” (last page - ‘Curtain closes’)
June 2, 2021
Note: This review is for the Mushishi series as a whole.
It is difficult for me to give an objective review of Mushishi, sometimes a series resonates with you in a way that goes beyond mere storytelling. These are, quite simply, some of the most perfectly crafted short stories I have ever encountered. Ones which I know I will return to time and time again.
We learn little of Ginko throughout the ten volumes of this series. Mostly he functions as an observer, opinionated but rarely judgemental, allowing the stories to focus on the people he encounters. This allows the rare insights into his backstory to land with greater force, in particular the tale of how he gained his one-eyed, white-haired appearance.
The mushi themselves are facinating, but in many ways they just the catalyst for the stories. They are the 'monster of the week', the riddle to solve, but they never overpower the story. Instead, they are woven into the background, engineering the situations which Yuki Urushibara uses to probe the interpersonal relationships that provide the real meat of the stories.
These tales are not easy reads, often melancholy and sometimes outright disturbing. In their simplest form, these are tales of nature and our relationship with it. As such, they are filled with the grey morality of the natural world and are all the better for it.
I was not sure which book or series I wanted to be the subject of my first review. In the end, it was an easy choice. I chose Mushishi, I hope you will too.
It is difficult for me to give an objective review of Mushishi, sometimes a series resonates with you in a way that goes beyond mere storytelling. These are, quite simply, some of the most perfectly crafted short stories I have ever encountered. Ones which I know I will return to time and time again.
We learn little of Ginko throughout the ten volumes of this series. Mostly he functions as an observer, opinionated but rarely judgemental, allowing the stories to focus on the people he encounters. This allows the rare insights into his backstory to land with greater force, in particular the tale of how he gained his one-eyed, white-haired appearance.
The mushi themselves are facinating, but in many ways they just the catalyst for the stories. They are the 'monster of the week', the riddle to solve, but they never overpower the story. Instead, they are woven into the background, engineering the situations which Yuki Urushibara uses to probe the interpersonal relationships that provide the real meat of the stories.
These tales are not easy reads, often melancholy and sometimes outright disturbing. In their simplest form, these are tales of nature and our relationship with it. As such, they are filled with the grey morality of the natural world and are all the better for it.
I was not sure which book or series I wanted to be the subject of my first review. In the end, it was an easy choice. I chose Mushishi, I hope you will too.
September 23, 2025
(THIS REVIEW IS ORIGINALLY FROM STORYGRAPH, FROM 29TH JULY 2025.)
The fact that the last three volumes are grouped together surprises me but it just means my review will be more concise. I definitely felt the last few chapters went above and beyond especially in their emotional resonance. Like usual I will give my favourites from each volume.
Volume 8: Sunshowers, I feel, was the story that best encapsulated the volume overall. It was something of a reliever I think.
Volume 9: Every single story in this volume was incredible. It is so difficult to choose a particular volume, so I must go with Aquamarine, which left me feeling absolutely devastated. Incredibly poignant story.
Volume 10: Like Mushishi began so it ended, fittingly. I think surprisingly the Drop Of Bells (pt. 1&2) was the weakest story of the volume despite being very good! The Thread Of Light was very good, the Scented Darkness made me very upset in a cathartic way, and the Eternal Tree gave me a warm sense of hope. Although I ragged a little on Drop Of Bells, it was absolutely a fitting end and right on the money for Mushishi.
Will miss this series...
The fact that the last three volumes are grouped together surprises me but it just means my review will be more concise. I definitely felt the last few chapters went above and beyond especially in their emotional resonance. Like usual I will give my favourites from each volume.
Volume 8: Sunshowers, I feel, was the story that best encapsulated the volume overall. It was something of a reliever I think.
Volume 9: Every single story in this volume was incredible. It is so difficult to choose a particular volume, so I must go with Aquamarine, which left me feeling absolutely devastated. Incredibly poignant story.
Volume 10: Like Mushishi began so it ended, fittingly. I think surprisingly the Drop Of Bells (pt. 1&2) was the weakest story of the volume despite being very good! The Thread Of Light was very good, the Scented Darkness made me very upset in a cathartic way, and the Eternal Tree gave me a warm sense of hope. Although I ragged a little on Drop Of Bells, it was absolutely a fitting end and right on the money for Mushishi.
Will miss this series...
September 24, 2024
I’m saddened to finally be parting ways with Ginko and his stories, which I fell in love with from the second I started watching the “Mushi-Shi” anime. I think the anime does a really great job of preserving the tone of “Mushi-Shi”; the beautiful, melancholy, and ultimately hopeful feeling that accompanies these tales. I love the way Urushibara lays out the pieces of each story like a puzzle, oftentimes starting at the end and looping everything around or giving us seemingly unrelated bits that come together into a whole picture later.
This is the first manga series I’ve read all the way through and it’s fitting that it’s one of my absolute favorites. I’ll definitely be returning to this world again and again.
This is the first manga series I’ve read all the way through and it’s fitting that it’s one of my absolute favorites. I’ll definitely be returning to this world again and again.
August 28, 2019
Mushishi #8-9-10
The final collection of stories of the Wandering Mushishi Master, Ginko. The stories are very nature derived. There is the Ancient Cedar Tree watching over the humans living near it for a Thousand years. There is the Human Girl serving as the Master of the Mountain for a time and maintaining the Balance of Life. Wonderful stories.
The final collection of stories of the Wandering Mushishi Master, Ginko. The stories are very nature derived. There is the Ancient Cedar Tree watching over the humans living near it for a Thousand years. There is the Human Girl serving as the Master of the Mountain for a time and maintaining the Balance of Life. Wonderful stories.
November 13, 2021
Sigh, it’s finally over… I stalled bc I didn’t want it to end :(. I wish we could have learned more about Ginko, but I guess part of what makes him so compelling is how enigmatic he is… it’s such a peaceful series (if a bit sad at times), and I don’t know if I’ve ever read (or seen) anything like it.
July 7, 2024
Out of all the volumes of this manga, this is my absolute favorite. Though the creativity and transient nature of the previous books were equally nostalgic, this one just feels like an amazing fairytale brought to life.
September 4, 2017
Awesome!
Love it! Love Ginko! 🌳🌳🌳🍃🌾🐞🐝🐜🐛🦋 This has basically all of next passage if you want to read the manga first.
Love it! Love Ginko! 🌳🌳🌳🍃🌾🐞🐝🐜🐛🦋 This has basically all of next passage if you want to read the manga first.
September 24, 2018
A nice sweet ending to this series.
March 29, 2019
It had a nice ending.
April 20, 2021
It has a nice ending.
May 19, 2022
A beautiful, quietly redemptive series manages to stick a beautiful, quietly redemptive ending.
May 23, 2023
8) 4.5⭐
9) 4.5⭐
10) 5⭐
9) 4.5⭐
10) 5⭐
April 26, 2025
It’s a classic for a reason! Such a fun yet depressing series that definitely leaves an impression on the soul.
June 26, 2025
great trailing conclusion to the gentle mysteries of mushi
December 2, 2014
Oh... My... Good... GOD! This has become one of my favourite manga series! I need a copy of all of these books and Yuki Urushibabra, I love you! I really do recommend this book and I'm planning to re-read it!<3
This manga is beautiful, in the story and the art. It reminded me of the fairy stories my Grandma used to tell me like 'Grandmother Spider' and 'The Rabbit in the Moon' and so on. It also reminded me of the studio Ghibli films because they always contain an underlying message of 'protect the environment or the world will die/ a god will eat your soul'. It really reminded me of one of their films called Princess Mononoke and anyone who has seen the film will understand why.
I love mythology and ancient Gods and Goddesses (I would've taken History GCSE if we were learning about that) and this book is full of this kind of stuff which made it so interesting, there should be more books like this and I like how Yuki made a Master of a Mountain a little turtle. Kawaii! ^ ^ Ginko wears 'normal' clothing in the series rather than the traditional dress worn by the other side characters in the story. It was probably used to show that Ginko is separate for the rest of the characters (that... Doesn't make sense... ^ ^') and he does act quite aloof when talking to them but the Doctor kinda brings him back to earth even though he doesn't appear that much.
Each chapter is a new story so you don't feel like you've missed out if you missed a volume. The anime is the same and is pretty much true to the manga but I though Ginko looked a little different in the anime so I prefer the manga. I loved the origin stories (<- That isn't really a spoiler it's just a species of Mushi...) My favourite stories are Mud Grass, The Pillow Lane and One-Eyed Fish (the first origin story).
P.S: If anyone is interested, the op theme for the anime is called The Sore Feet Song and I would link it but it isn't working, sorry! I also just realised that my favourite stories all have at least one person getting killed in it. I... Should probably be worried...
This manga is beautiful, in the story and the art. It reminded me of the fairy stories my Grandma used to tell me like 'Grandmother Spider' and 'The Rabbit in the Moon' and so on. It also reminded me of the studio Ghibli films because they always contain an underlying message of 'protect the environment or the world will die/ a god will eat your soul'. It really reminded me of one of their films called Princess Mononoke and anyone who has seen the film will understand why.
I love mythology and ancient Gods and Goddesses (I would've taken History GCSE if we were learning about that) and this book is full of this kind of stuff which made it so interesting, there should be more books like this and I like how Yuki made a Master of a Mountain a little turtle. Kawaii! ^ ^ Ginko wears 'normal' clothing in the series rather than the traditional dress worn by the other side characters in the story. It was probably used to show that Ginko is separate for the rest of the characters (that... Doesn't make sense... ^ ^') and he does act quite aloof when talking to them but the Doctor kinda brings him back to earth even though he doesn't appear that much.
Each chapter is a new story so you don't feel like you've missed out if you missed a volume. The anime is the same and is pretty much true to the manga but I though Ginko looked a little different in the anime so I prefer the manga. I loved the origin stories (<- That isn't really a spoiler it's just a species of Mushi...) My favourite stories are Mud Grass, The Pillow Lane and One-Eyed Fish (the first origin story).
P.S: If anyone is interested, the op theme for the anime is called The Sore Feet Song and I would link it but it isn't working, sorry! I also just realised that my favourite stories all have at least one person getting killed in it. I... Should probably be worried...
September 26, 2014
I'm going to review the whole series here.
This is one of my favorite manga (Japanese comics.) It's the story of a young, white-haired young loner who backpacks around the remote villages of medieval Japan, helping people out with medicine that gets rid of ghosts. But these aren't Western ghosts-- they're called mushi, which is more like "creeping things." They're somewhere equidistant from animals, plants, and ideas.
The people he helps feel real-- some are kind, some are bitter. Their problems with mushi are a little like magical mental illnesses. One young woman grabs hold of a thread dangling from the sky, and gets tugged upward. When she returns, she has trouble staying on the ground, and keeps getting wafted into the rafters. Her fiance is her only attachment to the world. Some people find joy, others find tragedy. The supernatural world here is as arbitrary and diverse as the natural world.
I have to admit, part of the appeal to me is that I identify so strongly with the protagonist. I also spent years wandering around Japan, talking to people about the spirit world. Like Ginko, I got called ojii-san (grandpa) by kids because of my white hair. I really wished to be able to do it alone, exploring through the most remote villages, talking to old people and young people, without any companions or rules.
The art is well done, though I would prefer it in color. The animated version is also very good-- some of the stories cover the same ground as the stories in books, some are different. The live-action film was disappointing.
Unlike most Japanese fantasy, there's no swords or gore, and the protagonist never forms any romantic attachments. But the uncanniness and unpredictable sadness would make it uncomfortable for most kids to read.
This is one of my favorite manga (Japanese comics.) It's the story of a young, white-haired young loner who backpacks around the remote villages of medieval Japan, helping people out with medicine that gets rid of ghosts. But these aren't Western ghosts-- they're called mushi, which is more like "creeping things." They're somewhere equidistant from animals, plants, and ideas.
The people he helps feel real-- some are kind, some are bitter. Their problems with mushi are a little like magical mental illnesses. One young woman grabs hold of a thread dangling from the sky, and gets tugged upward. When she returns, she has trouble staying on the ground, and keeps getting wafted into the rafters. Her fiance is her only attachment to the world. Some people find joy, others find tragedy. The supernatural world here is as arbitrary and diverse as the natural world.
I have to admit, part of the appeal to me is that I identify so strongly with the protagonist. I also spent years wandering around Japan, talking to people about the spirit world. Like Ginko, I got called ojii-san (grandpa) by kids because of my white hair. I really wished to be able to do it alone, exploring through the most remote villages, talking to old people and young people, without any companions or rules.
The art is well done, though I would prefer it in color. The animated version is also very good-- some of the stories cover the same ground as the stories in books, some are different. The live-action film was disappointing.
Unlike most Japanese fantasy, there's no swords or gore, and the protagonist never forms any romantic attachments. But the uncanniness and unpredictable sadness would make it uncomfortable for most kids to read.
November 6, 2016
I wish these volumes would have been published separately and not as one giant volume just because I've read three books but only one will count towards all my reading goals.
It took me a while to get through this and I don't remember much. I really enjoyed this series. It started out super awesome and then lost some steam, but even so, it was still enjoyable. Urushibara-san was very creative in her storytelling and ideas for the mushi and their powers. Some of the stories were really intriguing, while others were just okay. I really loved Ginko as a character. He truly was the heart and soul of this series, despite the fact that I feel like he was almost a secondary character. Whether Urushibara intended that outcome or not, I do not know, but it was really neat.
I am definitely going to check the anime out now! I really look forward to seeing if there are different mushi stories in it!!
It took me a while to get through this and I don't remember much. I really enjoyed this series. It started out super awesome and then lost some steam, but even so, it was still enjoyable. Urushibara-san was very creative in her storytelling and ideas for the mushi and their powers. Some of the stories were really intriguing, while others were just okay. I really loved Ginko as a character. He truly was the heart and soul of this series, despite the fact that I feel like he was almost a secondary character. Whether Urushibara intended that outcome or not, I do not know, but it was really neat.
I am definitely going to check the anime out now! I really look forward to seeing if there are different mushi stories in it!!
July 23, 2011
This is an extraordinary series that will find its way into my personal manga collection. I loved everything about it. My only complaint is the lack of color pages. The original color pages at the beginning of most of the chapters must be so beautiful. They look like they were painted with watercolor. Excellent translation and adaption by William Flanagan, including the notes section at the back of each volume.
There is plenty of material that isn't covered in the anime, so this is well worth the read for that aspect alone (although I loved reading the stories that I already knew from the anime just the same). I was so sad to part ways with Ginko at the end. I could read about his journeying and adventures with mushi forever. He's such a great character, and the stories are all so unique and captivating. I highly highly recommend this series.
There is plenty of material that isn't covered in the anime, so this is well worth the read for that aspect alone (although I loved reading the stories that I already knew from the anime just the same). I was so sad to part ways with Ginko at the end. I could read about his journeying and adventures with mushi forever. He's such a great character, and the stories are all so unique and captivating. I highly highly recommend this series.
March 21, 2011
I hadn't realized this was the final volume of the series (I have a habit of not reading the covers on books in series anymore, otherwise I probably would have noticed the bold "FINAL VOLUME" on the back) until I was finished. My favorite in here by far was "The Bed of Grass," which goes more into the history of Ginko. "Stars in the Jar of the Sky" is the runner-up for favorites.
There really isn't anything in here to mark this as an ending--nothing like I would have expected. I would have expected an ending revolving more around Ginko himself, but everything in here was still quite good. While I would have liked to know more about him, overall this series is quite good and the stories about the people he meets are all really interesting.
There really isn't anything in here to mark this as an ending--nothing like I would have expected. I would have expected an ending revolving more around Ginko himself, but everything in here was still quite good. While I would have liked to know more about him, overall this series is quite good and the stories about the people he meets are all really interesting.
November 26, 2025
There is little one can do to prepare for the comings and goings of the Mushi, but Ginko continues to dedicate his life to understanding them and aiding others - yet he can only help those who want to be helped, and his control over situations where arrogance and temper flares is scarce...Urushibara keeps a steady, alluring tone of mystery and danger across this omnibus, a venust final entry that will have fans thoroughly enticed and coming back over and over. Even with all he has seen, Ginko finds there is always something new for the Mushi to surprise him with.
August 16, 2011
Extraordinary series. I enjoyed every page of it. It's a little sad to see the series end, even though I did expect it to have no conclusion due to it's episodic nature; which is quite fitting since it's us following Ginko's travels.
It was quite refreshing overall.
The individual stories about human beings co-existing with nature, the essence of life, and other themes the author touched upon always invoked emotions.
Highly recommended.
It was quite refreshing overall.
The individual stories about human beings co-existing with nature, the essence of life, and other themes the author touched upon always invoked emotions.
Highly recommended.
November 16, 2014
A wonderful ending to a wonderful manga.
I wouldn't try to process this all in one sitting, though. I know it's an omnibus and so you can read all three volumes at the same time, but I wouldn't recommend doing so. It's pretty dense (if you've gotten this far in Mushishi, you know that). I'd say read one volume, set it aside for a few hours to process, then go back and repeat.
I wouldn't try to process this all in one sitting, though. I know it's an omnibus and so you can read all three volumes at the same time, but I wouldn't recommend doing so. It's pretty dense (if you've gotten this far in Mushishi, you know that). I'd say read one volume, set it aside for a few hours to process, then go back and repeat.
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