Yokaiden 1 [Paperback]

Nina Matsumoto (Author)

Book Description

Release date: November 18, 2008 | Series: Yokaiden (Book 1)

Yokai…Japanese spirits.

Most people fear them, and a few people even hunt them, thinking they are horrible monsters to be destroyed at all costs. But young Hamachi wants to be friends with them! He sees them as mischievous creatures that could coexist peacefully with humans if only given a chance.

When his grandmother dies under mysterious circumstances, Hamachi journeys into the Yokai realm. Along the way, he encounters an ogre who punishes truant children, an angry water spirit, and a talking lantern. Will Hamachi be able to find his grandmother's killer, or will he be lost forever in another world?

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Hamachi loves yokai—monsters of Japanese folklore—and defends them to his skeptical village. But when the soul of his foul-tempered grandmother is stolen by a yokai, Hamachi must journey into their realm to bring her back. Matsumoto’s manga is silly fun, anchored by a clueless but plucky hero and a dry sense of humor. Taking place in a fantasy setting close to historical Japan, Hamachi’s adventures read like lighthearted folktales centered on the wide variety of yokai and the various means of dealing with them. There’s amusing wordplay to entertain even jaded older readers, while the art is cartoonish enough—in a skilled, purposeful way—to keep the monsters in the arena of light fantasy without slipping into horror. Moderate violence reserves this book for middle-schoolers and older, but libraries looking for a fun and interesting fantasy adventure that is less chaotic than most manga would do well to check this one out. Matsumoto’s fine first book bodes well for her future creations. Grades 6-12. --Snow Wildsmith

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Del Rey (November 18, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345503279
• ISBN-13: 978-0345503275
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 0.6 x 7.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #407,952 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Yokaiden sets the bar for OEL manga! November 18, 2008

By Lindsay L. Lunsford

Format:Paperback

Audiences may be familiar with other OEL (Original English Language) manga titles from the likes of TokyoPop and other labels, but with a rising manga artist like Nina Matsumoto to their company's credit, Del Ray is paving the way for bigger and better things with Yokaiden!

Set in ancient Japan, Yokaiden follows the story of a young boy who loves yokai (Japanese "spirits"). When his grandmother is found dead, Hamachi journeys to the Yokai realm to find her killer. Along the way, he meets various yokai and befriends them in hopes that they will help guide him to his destination.

As a newcomer to the world of published manga, Nina Matsumoto clearly displays that she's got what it takes to produce a successful series with the premiere volume of Yokaiden. From the writing to the drawing board, Yokaiden is 100% authentic Matsumoto--guaranteed! Those familiar with her work won't be disappointed!

Yokaiden delivers a refreshing cast of characters that breaks the mold of the modern day manga scene. Lacking in bishounen ("pretty boys") and running rampant with demons and talking objects, Yokaiden introduces the reader to a new world full of fun and adventure with young Hamachi Uramaki as their guide.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun, fresh, and even educational! November 23, 2008

By M. Schoen

Format:Paperback

For anyone that has an interest in Japanese beasties but is looking for a little more than your run-of-the-mill foxes and ogres, Nina Matsumoto's Yokaiden may be the perfect fit.

Set in ancient-ish Japan, Yokaiden tells the story of nine year old Hamachi, who has a passion for ghosts and monsters; so much so that he has little trouble marching into their realm. His enthusiasm for the creatures provides plenty of chances for us readers to learn a thing or two (nearly if not all of the yokai depicted are straight out of actual myth) as he has a habit of blurting out their characteristics whenever he comes across one. Whether you're new to these kinds of legends, or are hoping to see your favorites depicted in Nina Matsumoto's energetic art style, you won't be disappointed. Throw in some 4th Wall breaking humor and you've got yourself a great read.

Besides, how can you resist a Nue with the voice of Kelsey Grammer? You can't, can you? You're curious already!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Best American Manga ever. Two kappa feet up! January 7, 2009

By C. R. De Charleroy Jr.

Format:Paperback

I hardly know where to begin with praise for the first volume in what I hope will become a long-lasting and deservedly popular series. First off, the artwork is beautiful and captures the best of the manga style along with the creator's own incredible talent and originality. The yoki (monsters) are drawn with details that enhance their own individual personalities.

The characters are delightfully humerous and as they begin to develop, you can't help but enjoy each one, even the bitter, yokai-hating ronin and his apparent ravenous appetite for boar meat on rice.

And then there's the story itself. It's quite engaging, transporting the reader to a world that has never been explored much in either Japanese manga or its American counterparts. The infusion of the endless variety of spirits and demons from Japanese legends with the twist that much of what they do is misunderstood (and in fact some appear to feel that they serve a helpful purpose, such as skinning the feet of truants to teach them to behave!) will allow for a quite an extensive narrative as more and more of these creatures are encountered.

And so I would certainly recommend "Yokaiden" to any anime/manga/fantasy fan as a series to be enjoyed for a long time to come.