The second chapter of the Mononokegari series (Season 2) is scheduled to air in the summer of 2023! Based on the manga serialized in Ultra Jump, the first season, which aired in January, covered around volume 5 of the original manga! This time, we'll review the setting and story of Mononokegari and introduce some highlights of Season 2!
Review 1: The story of "tsukumogami" (spirits that possess objects) and their mediator, the "Saigan"!
This work features "tsukumogami," spirits from another world that possess ancient objects and become incarnate. While Tsukumogami are capable of communicating, there are many different types, from friendly ones that try to adapt to human society, to hostile ones that treat humans like little more than insects, to Tsukumogami that suddenly appear in this world and are confused. The profession that mediates and guides these Tsukumogami, sometimes using force to appease them, is called a "Saenome" (Blocked Eye), and our protagonist, Ki Hyōma, is one of them.
Review 2: Our protagonist, Ki Hyōma, is a vengeful man whose family was taken by a Tsukumogami!
The protagonist, Kunato Hyoma, is a highly skilled, earnest, and honest young man, but he's also a bit of a troublemaker, sealing away both good and bad Tsukumogami with brute force and without question. Ever since his respected older brother and sister were murdered by a Tsukumogami, he has hated the very existence of Tsukumogami and lived his life with the goal of finding the Tsukumogami that killed his family and exacting revenge.
Review 3: The heroine, Nagatsuki Botan, is a special being saved by her family's Tsukumogami!
Our heroine, Nagatsuki Botan, lives under the protection of her family of Tsukumogami. Unlike the protagonist, she was saved by her Tsukumogami. However, she is a special being who possesses a Marebito (the soul of a Tsukumogami) within her body, a being that could potentially change the power balance between humans and Tsukumogami. Because of this, she has been viewed with skepticism since childhood, and has been targeted by both humans and Tsukumogami, so deep down she has been unable to trust anyone.
Review 4: The interaction between these two people from opposite ends of the spectrum begins!
In order to reform his rigid attitude toward his tsukumogami, Hyoma is challenged to live with Nagatsuki Botan, who also lives with her. The positions and perceptions of those who were taken by the tsukumogami and those who were saved by them are very different, and soon after moving in, Hyoma finds himself at odds with Botan and her family's tsukumogami, the "wedding furniture." However, by understanding Botan's circumstances and the devoted efforts of the "wedding furniture" to protect her despite her status as a tsukumogami, Hyoma begins to compromise, deepening his relationship with Botan and the tsukumogami!
Review 5: The Ambitions of the Wedding Furniture!?
The "Wedding Furnishings" Tsukumogami, part of Botan's family, are, as their name suggests, the Tsukumogami of Nagatsuki Botan's dowry, and their ultimate wish is for their master to marry. Therefore, the wedding furniture also serves the purpose of evaluating Hyoma as a potential marriage partner for Botan. Thanks to the ambitions of the wedding furniture, Hyoma and Botan gradually become closer.
Review 6: Various Encounters and the Changing Relationship
From living with the Nagatsuki family, meeting friendly Tsukumogami, including those bringing wedding furniture, to fighting hostile Tsukumogami targeting Botan, and interacting with the Kyoto Saigen Branch's gatekeepers, Hyoma's mindset, which was previously filled with a desire for revenge against the Tsukumogami, gradually changes. And Botan, the heroine, also begins to change her mind, from being unable to trust anyone deep down due to a major trauma.
Highlights of Season 2! Part 1: A new battle over Botan begins!
Nagatsuki Botan is a human who possesses a Marebito within her body. This makes her potentially the highest-ranking deity among Tsukumogami. As such, she is targeted by beings of various backgrounds, and in the first season, she was the subject of numerous battles and schemes. In the second season, an even more powerful entity appears, targeting Botan, and a new battle begins for Heima. Is this enemy a Tsukumogami, or a human?!
Highlights of Season 2! Part 2: The Karakasa Tsukumogami, Heima's nemesis, finally appears!
The Karakasa Tsukumogami, whose existence has been mentioned since the first season and which murdered the brother and sister of protagonist Ki Hyoma, finally makes its appearance. It's Hyoma's sworn enemy, and his ultimate enemy, having instantly killed two of the most powerful members of the clan! This Karakasa Tsukumogami makes its full appearance. However, this Karakasa Tsukumogami is not only powerful, but even more terrifying!
Highlights of Season 2! Part 3: New characters appear one after another!
Season 2 also features the Gagakuryo Tsukumogami, the last of the three major Kyoto Tsukumogami not featured in Season 1. It also features key characters from the Yachimune and Tsuji families, two of the three great families of the Saigan family, alongside the protagonist's family, the Ogi family. Like Hyoma, two characters who will become the next heads of the three families will meet face-to-face. Each character is fascinating, and these characters will significantly influence the story!
Highlights of Season 2! Part 4: A mysterious plot with many twists and turns!
The conspiracy surrounding Nagatsuki Botan is not simple. It deeply and profoundly involves the powerful Tsukumogami and the Saigan who seal them. That's why the conspiracy surrounding Botan unfolds in ways that Heima and his friends could never have predicted! The mystery unfolds in a mind-blowing way, revealing why, who, when, and how, building to a climax!
Highlights of Season 2! Part 5: Powerful battle scenes!
The intense battle scenes are also a highlight! In Season 1, the characters didn't fight particularly strong opponents. However, in Season 2, they'll face off against formidable foes that are sure to be tough! I won't say who exactly, but they'll be facing a far more powerful foe than the one they faced in Season 1! These new battle scenes are also a highlight!
[Mononokegari Act 2] Review of Season 1 and Summary of Highlights of Season 2
We've summarized the highlights of Season 2 and a review of Season 1 of Mononokegari! Season 1 explored the story's setting and the meeting between the protagonist and heroine, but Season 2 really gets the story moving! With unexpected twists and turns, it's sure to be an exciting read, so be sure to check it out!
