Mushishi 1

by Yuki Urushibara

Book Overview

THEY HAVE EXISTED SINCE THE DAWN OF TIME. Some live in the deep darkness behind your eyelids. Some eat silence. Some thoughtlessly kill. Some simply drive men mad. Shortly after life emerged from the primordial ooze, these deadly creatures, mushi, came into terrifying being. And they still exist and wreak havoc in the world today. Ginko, a young man with a sardonic smile, has the knowledge and skill to save those plagued by mushi . . . perhaps.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345496213
• ISBN13: 9780345496218
• Release Date: January 2007
• Publisher: Del Rey
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.5" x 0.8" x 5.0"
• Age Range: 16 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 11 and higher

Customer Reviews

Very disappointing!

I got this book for my brother for his birthday because this is the only anime he likes, and he's been wanting the book. I spent $68.00 on this, and the cover was fully bent in half, and there was a tear on the front of the cover. I know I bought the acceptable one, but it cost way too much for what it was!

"I see a lot of weird phenomena in my job"

The moment I grabbed this manga from the shelf, I got a very good first impression, since the quality of the cover and the paper is well above the usual standard. Once I started reading the story, this first impression was confirmed. The first reason for this is the plot, which is the result of a prodigious imagination and mesmerizes the reader from the first page. The main character, Ginko, is a mushishi, a mushi master. In turn, the mushi are "bugs" that live on a separate plane of existence than animals and plants. I really liked the manner in which this is explained in this first volume; I found that using the hand and arm as a metaphor for the interaction of the species was extremely creative and enlightening. Many issues arise in relation to the mushi, in some cases Ginko has to help these creatures to find peace, in others he has to deal with evil mushi that are affecting humans in a harmful way. What is true of all cases though is that Ginko approaches the problem with serious consideration for all forms of life and with the goal of resolving the issue in a beneficial way for everyone. An aspect of this series I loved is how it introduces many fascinating elements of Japanese culture, and the notes at the end help a lot in understanding how these relate to the story and the way in which their meaning is relevant. At the beginning of the volume there is also a clear explanation of the honorifics, which are kept in the translated version. Including this explanation is an invaluable help for newcomers to the genre. The only aspect that was a little disappointing was the quality of the drawings, which are not nearly as detailed as those in other series. Nevertheless, those people looking for a great story cannot go wrong with this one.

Mushi are not monsters, and they are beautiful.

The Editorial Review for this volume could not be more misleading. "They still exist and wreak havoc in the world today"--to describe Mushi as if they were monsters completely misses the point of Yuki Urushibara's manga. Mushi (which also means "Bug" in Japanese) are a third category of life, separate from plants and animals. Invisible to the eye, they are responsible for what many people perceive as supernatural phenomena. Ginko, the "Mushi-shi" or Mushi-expert/master of the title, is one of the few people able to see mushi. While mushi are usually benign, the editorial review is correct in that some mushi cause blindness or other problems when they interact with humans. Mushishi travel the world, studying mushi and helping people when such problems occur. The manga consists of a series of individual stories, each of which describe a situation in which mushi come into conflict with humans, and how Ginko attempts to respond to each situation. Far from being an adventure tale, as the editorial review might lead one to believe, this is one of the most beautiful and well-paced stories I have read recently in any format. The writing is excellent (although I preferred some of the subtlety of the original Japanese, no translation will capture everything), and the art is rich and detailed. Although the episodic nature of the series prevents extended supporting character development, the reader does get to know Ginko and a limited cast of repeating characters quite well. Mushishi is a beautiful manga, and a wonderful read... I also HIGHLY recommend the anime (Mushishi, Vol. 1), which will be released starting in late July. It is one of the most entrancing shows I have ever seen.