I just caught up with Natsume Yuujinchou and would really like something new to read, with similar vibes? Any recs?
this post was submitted on 03 Feb 2025
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Just a heads up that you posted this question like an hour before the new weekly post went up, so it will probably be worth posting over there as well to get some fresh eyes on it.
I haven't read Natsume, but I have watched most of the anime (partway into season 7 right now). Some series I can compare it to based on that:
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Mushishi - Another series I watched the anime for instead of read the manga. It's similar in structure to Natsume in that it is a series of mostly self-contained stories and there are relatively loose threads that carry over between stories like recurring characters or questions about the MC's past. Instead of dealing with yokai, the MC deals with lifeforms called mushi, that other people can't see and cause problems for normal people unless they learn to coexist. Sound familiar? It can tend to be a bit darker in tone though and it doesn't always have a happy ending. If you go the anime route, I can vouch that it is excellent and one of my favorite anime ever.
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Star Tripper - This might seem like an odd one to recommend after Natsume due to the sci-fi setting, but it is pretty laid-back and chill like Natsume. Additionally, the MC is often getting involved with new people and learning about their lives in the process (like Natsume does). There is an undercurrent of uneasiness that belies the charming artstyle though, like not everything is alright... It's early still, but I have really liked it so far.
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Jeweler's Maid - Another one that might not seem similar at face value. However, this one is similar to the above recommendation in that it is an anthology series where the main character, the titular Maid Eliya, gets involved in people's lives and helps solve their troubles through the power of gemstones. It is a very chill series with some great art.
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Mieruko-chan - If you like Natsume for the yokai, then perhaps Mieruko is more up your alley. It is stuffed to the gills with spirits and creatures that only our MC, Miko, can see. It has a much more explicitly horror tone to it compared to Natsume, but the art is fantastically unsettling and the colorful cast is fun.
Thank you! I should've noticed how long the post had been up.
I'll have to check out these recs. I know mushishi, but the others are new to me.
I just finished Asoko de Hataraku Musubu-san and it was absolutely wonderful.
It spun off from this post and my reaction as detailed in the thread - I first noticed it because she's just breathtakingly beautiful, and then I sorted out who the mangaka is and connected to past works of his that I liked, and I was sold.
I ended up reading 83 chapters basically straight through, with only a few breaks to eat, take the dog out, etc. And I loved everything about it.
Ignore the erotica tag - it's sort of a fake-out. What it is, mostly, is that the two adorable, shy, awkward and endearing main characters work at a company that manufactures condoms. And she specifically works in product development and testing. So there are occasional scenes of her putting condoms on (fake) penises, intently studying (fake) penises, stroking (fake) penises, etc It's not gratuitous – it's all entirely innocent and perfectly appropriate in the context of her work. But of course it can't help but be erotic anyway, and really flusters the kindhearted and considerate MMC.
Aside from that gimmick, which is actually very well-employed, it's just straightforward rom-com between two awkward, shy and earnest people who deserve each other, and it's wonderful. You WILL cheer them on – I guarantee it.
This past week has been a busy one, but I have done quite a bit of catching up on older series. Here are a couple moments from the past week I wanted to bring up.
The final chapter for this series was posted to MD. Overall, I ended up enjoying this series way more than I thought I would. I do kind of hate that the manga ends just as it feels like the main story is about to start. That's how it goes sometimes when a manga is just an ad for the LN. Unfortunately, the LN is not being translated, so my time with this story has come to an end.
This one just got picked up again by a new SL group. It's early, but it has been fun. It kind of reminds me a bit of Yankee JK Kuzuhana, but with a more straightforward plot, less harem, and more satisfying lead pair. I'm keeping an eye on this one, but we are almost up to the raws again (10 chapters), so I might have to let this one build up and knock out a couple chapters at a time.
This is a new series I found this past week. It reads more like a workplace comedy or parody of Life Sciences in academia rather than what the title promises, gyaru romance. As somebody that spent years working in an academic lab doing life science-adjacent work, I can attest that it is nailing the parody aspect of that lifestyle. The author (probably TL as well) must have experience in the field because they talk about specific pieces of equipment, protocols, and demonstrate a level of understanding of how academic labs function that would be hard to replicate otherwise. I don't expect this series to be widely popular, but as a member of the target audience, I am a fan.
I had let this one pile up a handful of chapters and just caught back up. Overall, I like this series, but it isn't one of my favorites. The worldbuilding and power system of this story is probably my favorite part. Pacts are made with gods/goddesses and skills are granted. It reminds of Danmachi in that sense. The most recent chapters are in the middle of a tournament arc, so that's always fun.
This week I read Fire Punch. Can confirm, Fujimoto wasn't any saner before Chainsaw Man. It was good, but I don't think it was quite as good as Chainsaw Man. Still, I enjoyed it when it wasn't busy making me feel sorry for the characters.
I got the 1st volume of RuriDragon and the only volume of Telework Yotabanashi last week. Very happy to have those in my collection.
Telework Yotabanashi is absolutely great.
Nothing really out of the norm or that really stood out for me this week, but I have been enjoying Tensei Youjo. Kamikemono to Ouji to, Saikyou no Ojisan Youhei-dan no Naka de Ikiru..
Plot ripped straight from MangaDex:
Lise found herself alone in a strange meadow as a young girl. Also, there is a big dog in front of her. There wasn't a dog like that in the neighborhood, and that's when Lise was convinced.
"I see... This is what they call reincarnation in another world!"
Then, a group of muscular mercenaries appears in front of Lise. It seems that they have come to defeat this dog. But to her surprise, this dog is a divine beast! Ranagh, the divine beast, has grown fond of Lise, who is the only one who can understand him. So, the leader of the mercenary group, Arlagia, offers to protect Lise and Ranagh with his mercenary group...?
A young girl, a divine beast, and the strongest group of mercenaries - a wacky otherworldly fantasy with a cast of unorthodox characters!
It's very chill, cute, and laid back.
I spent the little time I had last week catching up on Fool Night after finding out it was updated outside Mangadex. I searched for other series as well but it seems like most of them are just very slow to update, no matter the site.
Oh well, that just means I've got more time to play The Sims!
What did you think?
I saw that other sites had more chapters, but I would need to refresh myself on what I've already read first, and it seemed that the most notable parts of the original story had been pretty well wrapped up, so I thought there was a possibility that the additional chapters would be less satisfying than the original main story. So I haven't been able to work up the initiative to actually do it yet.
Just to confirm, was this meant to be a reply to someone else? Because Fool Night's main story is still ongoing and expanding, with no signs of ending anytime soon.
No - it was meant for you, and you sort of answered my question then.
I initially read everything that was on Mangadex, which ended shortly after the showdown with the scientist villain on the train.
Granted that there were still a lot of unrevealed details, it still felt to me then that the story was originally meant to end there, but then since it was a success, they decided to keep milking it instead, so were in the process of introducing a mostly new arc. And that's the point at which the Mangadex chapters stopped.
So when I saw that there were more chapters, I was sort of ambivalent about reading them, since I'd first have to reread at least part of the ones I already read to refresh myself in the story, and I thought there was at least a chance that the newer chapters would turn out to not be worth it anyway.
Thus the question...
Got it, I wasn't completely sure hence my question.
The current arc is all about the broader, political "behind the scenes" aspects of the world. There's some thriller vibes with a mostly unknown political group working from the shadows, some brutal action and a lot of investigating into who, how and why. There's also more world building (including dive into more religious aspects) in the recent chapters.
I'm not sure I'm ready to make judgement about this part of the story just yet - there are some things I like, some I'm not too hot about and a lot of my thoughts will depend on whether author can stick the landing with all of this.
All I'm willing to say for now is: it's interesting enough I'm still reading and want to know where it goes. I'll definitely post more if something cool or egregious happens in the future.