They exist in the most unexpected places—be it within your eyes and ears, under the floor and roof of your house, or in the trees and flowers in your garden. They are everywhere, and yet nowhere, at the same time. Are they alive or not? Perhaps it is more apt to say they are beings who transcend the concept of life and death itself. They are mushi. ... more>>

Some wreak havoc in the lives of humans; others bring them deliverance from suffering. Mushi are neither good nor evil: for just like any other creature, they are merely striving to survive in this harsh, competitive world.

Ginko, a lone wanderer with a reclusive personality, offers help and guidance to those plagued by mushi. This is the tale of his travels and exploits in a wondrous world populated by these mysterious entities. <<less

A tribute anthology for .... more>>

ASHINANO Hitoshi

IMAI Tetsuya

KUMAKURA Takatoshi

TOYODA Tetsuya

YOSHIDA Motoi <<less

The story, set in a world with a mysterious phenomenon known as "flow," centers around two people--and one cat--who make a living dealing with it.

In the midst of a blazing hot summer beset by water shortages, middle-school girl Chinami faints from heat exhaustion. Upon waking up, she finds herself... more>> in a mysterious town by a beautifully pristine river whose waters hide many secrets... <<less

Includes:... more>>

She Got Off the Bus at the Peninsula:

Mitsuko Kunizaki has inherited a small grocery store from her grandmother. Being a single mother to a little boy, she intends to close it down and move on with life. However, in the solitary store that sits next to the last bus stop at the tip of a peninsula lie some long-buried memories that slowly reemerge as Mitsuko arrives at what used to be her home—memories of a lonesome childhood and of people who came to the peninsula to end their lives.

The Labyrinth Cat:

Residents who have just moved in are always lost in this complex apartment. However, there is one little feline that will help them get back to their apartment house.

Bio Luminescence (created under the pen-name Soyogo Shima)

Also includes two Mushishi stories set in modern day Japan and with different characters than the long running series. <<less