Mushishi

Alternative Titles

Synonyms: Mushi-shi

Japanese: 蟲師

More titles

Information

Type: Manga

Volumes: 10

Chapters: 50

Status: Finished

Published: Nov 1999 to Aug 25, 2008

Genres: Award Winning, Fantasy, Mystery, Supernatural

Themes: Adult Cast, Historical, Iyashikei

Demographic: Seinen

Serialization: Afternoon

Authors: Urushibara, Yuki (Story & Art)

Statistics

Score: 8.72¹ (scored by 18,168 users)

¹ indicates a weighted score.

Ranked: #45²

² based on the top manga page. Please note that 'R18+' titles are excluded.

Popularity: #177

Members: 76,314

Favorites: 2,683

Resources

Wikipedia

8.72

Ranked #45Popularity #177Members 76,314

MangaAfternoonUrushibara, Yuki (Story & Art)

Add to List

Volumes: /10

Chapters: /50

* Your list is public by default.

Available on Manga Store
Mushishi
Volume 1
$0.00

Edit
Synopsis

"Mushi": the most basic forms of life in the world. They exist without any goals or purposes aside from simply "being." They are beyond the shackles of the words "good" and "evil." Mushi can exist in countless forms and are capable of mimicking things from the natural world such as plants, diseases, and even phenomena like rainbows.

This is, however, just a vague definition of these entities that inhabit the vibrant world of Mushishi, as to even call them a form of life would be an oversimplification. Detailed information on mushi is scarce because the majority of humans are unaware of their existence.

So what are mushi and why do they exist? This is the question that a "Mushishi," Ginko, ponders constantly. Mushishi are those who research mushi in hopes of understanding their place in the world's hierarchy of life.

Ginko relentlessly chases rumors of occurrences that could be tied to mushi, all for the sake of finding an answer.

It could, after all, lead to the meaning of life itself.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Edit
Background

Mushishi was awarded the Excellence Prize for manga at the 7th Japan Media Arts Festival in 2003 and the Kodansha Manga Award for general manga in 2006.

The series was published in English by Del Rey Manga from January 30, 2007 to July 27, 2010, with the final 3 volumes released in a 3-in-1 omnibus. It was also published in Spanish by Norma Editorial in 2007 as Mushi-shi. Both releases are now out of print. Kodansha published the title digitally on September 1, 2015.

Edit
Related Manga

Sequel:	Mushishi Tokubetsu-hen: Hihamukage
Other:	Mushishi Gaitanshuu, Bio Luminescence
Adaptation:	Mushishi Zoku Shou 2nd Season, Mushishi Zoku Shou, Mushishi, Mushishi Zoku Shou: Suzu no Shizuku, Mushishi Zoku Shou: Odoro no Michi

More characters
Characters

Ginko

Main

Karibusa, Tanyuu

Supporting

Nui

Supporting

Adashino

Supporting

Maho

Supporting

Sui

Supporting

Kaoru

Supporting

Shino

Supporting

Ioroi, Shinra

Supporting

Suzu

Supporting

More reviewsReviews

Apr 16, 2011

Aris18

Recommended

It's surprising to see the lack of reviews for this manga, considering the fact that the anime boasts 56. Now, I've never seen the anime, so I don't know how it compares to the manga. However, I have read a large scope of manga, of many different genres, and I say this honestly: Mushishi is a masterpiece, a one-of-a-kind work of art, and the mangaka, Urushibara Yuki, is one heck of a storyteller.

The plot in Mushishi develops in a rather episodic format, rather like Natsume Yuujinchou or the anime Cowboy Bebop. Each chapter follows Ginko, who is a wandering 'Mushishi', a specialist who deals ... with 'Mushi', curious lifeforms whose existence may define the meaning of life. Most of the stories deal with Ginko coming across a mushi-related problem during his travels and solving it, however the story avoids becoming sluggish by occasionally breaking the flow with tidbits of Ginko's past. This change in focus offers us something more from this tale and keeps it interesting.

Despite what I said there, the mushi-of-the-week stories aren't something to fool around with either. Each are extremely original and varied, some happy and hopeful, some tragic, some bittersweet, and each with something to add to Mushishi's already complex kaleidoscopic world. Indeed, one of Urushibara's strengths is her ability to present clear storylines and sympathetic characters within the limits of each chapter without overreaching herself; Instead, she cleverly uses wide blocks of scenery and close-ups of conversations and monologues to create a slow languid narrative which, by the end, haunts you and lingers in your memory.

In this case, the art works well. With her pen Urushibara brings to life her bizarre mushi and the wild, earthy feel of nature. Except Ginko, everyone wears a kimono, setting the manga in rural Japan, complete with hills, swamps and rice patties. The style is between sketchy and solid, with clear lines and clean backgrounds present for the most of the time, while sketchy styles animate the wilderness of nature.

Character development is effective in this manga. The protagonist , Ginko, is truly a wonderful character. His calm and reliable persona is one, which I've yet to see in any other manga and it automatically puts you to ease as you follow him on his journey to discover more about mushi. However, although he is the protagonist, he is presented as more of a side character in the stories and it is the 'mains' (the people with the mushi problems) who are given ample focus to develop their personalities. While you may not remember all their names, you learn enough about them so that you want to know what happens to them, or even care about what happens to them. It's a powerful achievement, considering that most of the characters only appear once in the whole manga.

Ginko, on the other hand, is an enigma with his western clothing and white hair and green eye, and his character is developed only by a couple of chapters revealing his past and through his numerous interactions with others within the manga. While this could be a weakness in other mangas, it is a strength in Mushishi. Ginko's lack of background story allows more focus on the other characters, the mushi, and their problems. He acts unbiasedly, and only does what he thinks will be best for the people who ask him for help. While the manga follows Ginko, the story is all about the mushi and how they affect the world.

In the end, the story is about that: Mushi, life and nature. We see the effects that Mushi have on people and their lives. We see the array of their powers. We see how they coexist with nature. We see how we can mistake them for the supernatural. And we see how they can bring out the best and worst in us. If you are a fan of fairytales, the supernatural, or even slice-of-lifes, give Mushishi a try. I think you'll find it's graceful way of storytelling a beginning to an addiction.

Open

Gift

Feb 9, 2013

Kynov

Recommended

"It’s not your fault. Nor was it the Mushi’s fault. You were both just trying to live. Nobody is guilty. Don’t die. You’ve done nothing wrong." - Ginko

"Its a beautiful painting with an amazing story on it" - Me, describing this manga

Mushi is a creature concept that Yuki Urushibahara made for describing strange event that happen in this manga, so we can said mushi are the causes of strange phenomenon that happen in this story. so, is that mushi bad? quotes from MAL,
"Mushi": the most basic forms of life in the world. They exist without any goals or purposes aside from simply "being." They are ... beyond the shackles of the words "good" and "evil"" And Mushishi itself, we can said its like a doctor or maybe researcher, because Mushishi is a people who declare theyself for researching about mushi.

This story involves about Ginko, a mushishi who always deals with the strange phenomenon, the focusses of this story itself was The character from each charapter and their odd event. since in this manga, is 1 chapter 1 story (episodic), and of course the character itself from each character is different except for Ginko. So whats so good about this manga?

1. Ginko is not your "all-can-do-hero", he is not god. he is usually help people with what he can do, and again, he is so much different with other Mushishi who thinking Mushi is bad creature that affects so many people. for himself, Mushi are beyond the shackles of the words "good" and "evil". Furthermore, he is always think rational and logically, the calmness that Ginko shows was the main reason why this manga is in top 30.

2. The story itself was really spectacular yet its so calming. The joyness from reading Mushishi is when you're tired after working or school then when you're reading this manga you will feel your tired is gone and your body feels light (based on my experience), from what i read, the story is focus on the character that have a strange phenomenon and Ginko was like the side character (since sometimes he appears so slightly) but that was make this manga is so appealing, we can really feels the strange phenomenon itself more deeper, and even sometimes i dont realize that my tears were fallen.

3. For some readers, maybe this manga is like a picture book, since so many beautiful scenery pictures that appears in this manga, but for me especially, this manga is like a painting with story. You can enjoy the magnificent story with a beautiful art. Cool, huh? and what make this manga appealing was the traditional ink that Yuki Urushibara used. I believe you will not get bored seeing the art in this manga.

4. And what makes me more surprise was the character development that this manga has. with just one chapter (50-60 pages) Yuki Urushibara can make us falling in love with each different character that appears in each chapters.

5. Its not always happy ending, yet it can be a sad ending. Yeah, this story was not for you who seeking a happy ending (although there was a happy ending), each chapters ending can make you feels happy, sometimes can make you feel sad or cry and even your tears can fallen unconsciously.

If you're looking for an amazing manga, this manga is surely what you're looking for.

Open

Gift

Nov 5, 2012

MustachedNinja

Recommended

Story: 6/10
Usually when we start a manga the first impression is usually the one we use when we decide if we want to continue reading or not. For me and mushishi that was not the case. I read the first two books and felt completely confused, so I continued reading. after about the 4th book I understood everything and the story started getting interesting (why wouldn't it be? it's about a guy who roams the country in search of scary insect thingys (mushi) and tries to cure people of them, now that's dang interesting). But once I finished the 4th book I noticed a ...

Open

Gift

More stacks

Interest Stacks

Slice of life with dark elements

by Nightmare_Eyes

46 Entries · 163 Restacks

All The Dark Shit - Manga Edition

by Risa92

50 Entries · 28 Restacks

Smoker Representation In Manga

by Kingerty

23 Entries · 6 Restacks

More recommendations
Recommendations

View All

More news
Recent News

Movie for 'Mushishi Zoku Shou' Announced

At the end of the final episode of Mushishi Zoku Shou 2nd Season, it was announced that a movie titled Mushishi Zoku Shou: Suzu no Shizuku will premiere in Summer 20...read more

Dec 20, 2014 8:22 AM by tsubasalover | Discuss (73 comments)

'Mushishi' to Get Sequel in Spring 2014 and Fall 2014

At the end of Mushishi Special: Hihamukage, it was announced that a second season of Mushishi, titled Mushishi Zoku Shou, will be airing separately in Spring 2014 an...read more

Jan 4, 2014 7:55 AM by tsubasalover | Discuss (313 comments)

More discussions
Recent Forum Discussion

Poll: Mushishi Chapter 50 Discussion VitaX - Aug 23, 2011	10 replies	by TitanInsane »» Feb 12, 7:23 AM
Poll: Mushishi Chapter 7 Discussion VitaX - Aug 21, 2011	9 replies	by M_TGO »» Nov 30, 2022 11:06 AM
Anime Vs Manga Zekonze - Aug 23, 2020	5 replies	by Dontbannedmemal7 »» Sep 16, 2022 6:05 PM
Poll: Mushishi Chapter 48 Discussion WeabooTV - Jul 18, 2013	6 replies	by Zeryphalix »» Mar 18, 2021 8:49 AM
Poll: Mushishi Chapter 39 Discussion -Karoshi- - Feb 23, 2014	4 replies	by Zeryphalix »» Mar 18, 2021 5:26 AM

Mushishi
Edit

What would you like to edit?

Alternative Titles

Information

Statistics

Resources

Edit
Synopsis

Edit
Background

Visit MALxJapan
MALxJapan -More than just anime-

Edit
Related Manga

More characters
Characters

More reviewsReviews

Interest Stacks

More recommendations
Recommendations

More news
Recent News

More discussions
Recent Forum Discussion

More featured articles
Recent Featured Articles

MoreTop Anime

MoreTop Airing Anime

MoreMost Popular Characters

Mushishi Edit What would you like to edit? SynopsisBackgroundAlternative TitlesPictureChapters/VolumesPublishing DatesRelationsTypeExternal Links

Alternative Titles

Information

Statistics

Resources

EditSynopsis

EditBackground

Visit MALxJapan MALxJapan -More than just anime-

EditRelated Manga

More charactersCharacters

More reviewsReviews

Interest Stacks

More recommendations Recommendations

More newsRecent News

More discussionsRecent Forum Discussion

More featured articlesRecent Featured Articles

MoreTop Anime

MoreTop Airing Anime

MoreMost Popular Characters

Mushishi
Edit

What would you like to edit?

Edit
Synopsis

Edit
Background

Visit MALxJapan
MALxJapan -More than just anime-

Edit
Related Manga

More characters
Characters

More recommendations
Recommendations

More news
Recent News

More discussions
Recent Forum Discussion

More featured articles
Recent Featured Articles