Nisio Isin


Nisio Isin, often stylized as NISIOISIN to emphasize the palindrome, is a pseudonymous Japanese novelist, manga author, and screenplay writer.
Nisio debuted in 2002 with the novel The Beheading Cycle, which earned him the 23rd Mephisto Prize at twenty years of age. In 2005, he began his long-running Monogatari novel series, which was published in 29 volumes as of 2023, and was later adapted as a highly-successful animated series of the same name, produced by Shaft. His Katanagatari novels, Medaka Box manga series, Jūni Taisen novel, and The Beheading Cycle have also been adapted as anime. He has also collaborated with Death Note writer Tsugumi Ohba and illustrator Takeshi Obata to write the light novel Death Note Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases. Between 2009 and 2016, he ranked among the top 10 best-selling authors in Japan, ranking as the best-selling in 2012 and 2014. As of November 2022, his novels and manga had over 36 million copies in circulation.
Nisio's works frequently feature lengthy and witty dialogues. He is viewed as an author that blends regular novels and light novels, going through the genres of mystery, sekaikei, and shindenki, with frequent references to other manga and anime.

Career

Nisio Isin was a manga enthusiast since childhood and wanted to become a mangaka. However, seeing a lack of improvement in his drawing ability, he decided to become a novelist, mentioning that it didn't matter if his handwriting was subpar. He attended the Ritsumeikan University College of Policy Science and left the university without graduating.
During his early career when he submitted work for magazines, Nisio's writing speed was a selling point, and he once submitted two or three works to a single Mephisto Prize. In 2002, Nisio debuted with the first novel of the Zaregoto series, Kubikiri Cycle: The Blue Savant and the Nonsense User, earning him the 23rd Mephisto Prize. He was twenty years of age at the time, and his slogan was "Nisio Isin, the 20-year-old from Kyoto". Afterward, he proceeded to write the second title in the series, Strangulation Romanticist, in three days.
He still works with the Mephisto magazine, and worked with Kodansha on the literary magazines Faust, and Pandora. He also published his Katanagatari series as twelve volumes over twelve months for the Kodansha Box line in 2007; Ryūsui Seiryōin was matching this output, and the Kodansha Box website stated that it was the first time in the world two authors had done twelve-volume monthly novel series simultaneously.
Nisio Isin is best known for the Monogatari series, which began as a trilogy of short stories on the Mephisto magazine in 2005, and developed into a series with 28 volumes. It has been adapted as anime up to Zoku Owarimonogatari, still has ongoing anime adaptations for the series, and it has also been adapted as manga. The series has consistently achieved a high number of sales, with the anime's first two seasons alone, Bakemonogatari and Nisemonogatari, selling over one million DVDs and Blu-rays combined as of September 2012.
The first volume of Zaregoto, his Katanagatari and Medaka Box series, his Jūni Taisen novel, and the Pretty Boy Detective Club series have all been adapted into anime as well. Juni Taisen was also adapted as a Stage Play in Japan in 2018. His Bōkyaku Tantei series was adapted as a Japanese Drama in 2015. Several of his series have been adapted as manga.
In February 2008, his novel Death Note Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases, based on the Death Note manga, was released in English by Viz Media. Del Rey Manga released the first and second volume in his Zaregoto series, which were revised for a rerelease by Vertical and followed by a translation of the third volume. Vertical is translating other titles and series by Nisio Isin, including Monogatari, Katanagatari, Pretty Boy Detective Club, and Imperfect Girl.
From 2009 to 2016, Nisio Isin was one of the top 10 best-selling authors in Japan, achieving a place in the top 3 for three years and, in 2012 and 2014, ranking first place as the best-selling author in the country. In those years, he sold 1,408,319 copies and 997,211 copies, respectively. As of November 2022, his novels and manga had over 36 million copies in circulation. The Publishers Weekly's Translation Database reported that from 2008 to 2018, 19 of Nisio's novels were translated into English, putting him as the second author with the most English translations of that period in the U.S.

Style

Since Nisio's debut, wordplay and tongue-in-cheek dialogue have been characteristic of his works. When asked if his use of manzai comedy was related to the fact he is from the Kansai region, he replied "I think it's certainly because I'm a Kansai person." He feels that "dialogue is the character" and focuses more on dialogue than appearance. Nisio features many women in his works because "it is easier for them to express their individuality" explaining that "women are much more adorned as characters than men".
His greatest influence comes from such things as Shōnen Jump manga and shōjo manga en masse. About manga, he is a passionate fan of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure; in a dialogue with Hirohiko Araki, the author of the manga, he commented this is "a manga he would like all humanity to read." Among his references, references to JoJo are particularly common and in a novelization project of the series called "VS JOJO", together with Kouhei Kadono and Ōtarō Maijō, he wrote one of the novels that were published, called JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Over Heaven.
His works are characterized by a sense of literature that is amid the so-called "Shindenki" mystery-light novel genre, in which insane characters attempt to solve a mystery in a situation that would be impossible or unlikely in reality; and inexhaustible quotations of anime and manga from the past. He is well regarded as an author who has blended the conventions of mystery novels and character-driven light novels. Tsunehiro Uno describes Nisio Isin as the only writer who has made a smooth transition from "Sekaikei" to "Shindenki".
He has made no secret of his policy of not doing crossover or linking in his Zaregoto series. This is because crossover and linking was a technique Kouhei Kadono, whom he admires, excelled at, and so he decided to stick with the opposite style, but he replied he made an exception for the Ningen series because he began writing it as an homage to the relationship between the Kouhei Kadono's Boogiepop series and Beat's Discipline. He still maintains a steady writing pace and develops several series at the same time, but until Mazemonogatari, he did not link his works to each other. After fifteen years of non-crossover writing, he decided it was time to try a new pattern.
He has a unique way of naming his characters. He seeks to define his characters by their names, and he does not simply give them unusual names, but instead establishes some rules for them, although he will occasionally deviate from these rules. When it comes to naming, he has been described as "bizarre" and "extremely strange". Examples are Namanie Nienami, Kiki Kikitsu, Shibuki Shibushi, Mukae Emukae, Momo Momozono, Kajiki Kurokami, Kariteru Kanaino, Sukinasaki Saki, Shikigishi Kishiki, Kiss-shot Acerola-orion Heart-under-blade, Backyard Bottomslash, Quarter Queen, Sagano Usagi, Byōinzaka Kuroneko and Shikizaki Kiki.
He said he learned much from the novels of Kiyoshi Kasai, Hiroshi Mori, Natsuhiko Kyogoku, Ryūsui Seiryōin and Kouhei Kadono. He has also stated the five writers were, metaphorically speaking, God-like beings, who had shaped and molded his writing style.

Nisio and light novels

Most of Nisio's works are published by Kodansha Novels, a general literature imprint, but are sometimes classified as light novels. In a conversation with Tow Ubukata, Otsuichi said of Nisio, "I think he falls into the light novel category in a broad sense." The January 2005 issue of Nikkei Characters! introduces Nisio as "a new generation of writers who are breaking down the barriers between general literature and light novels." The Nisio Isin Chronicle describes his Zaregoto series as "often regarded as a light novel". Kiyoshi Kasai talking about light novels in the 2004 special edition of Eureka, commented that, although having the Zaregoto series ranked in a guide for light novels could be out of place, the influences Nisio had in his writing are easy to see, such as Kimi to Boku no Kowareta Sekai's academy romance, fighting pretty girls, moe characters, and Sekaikei-like settings, so it is not strange to see his works through the lenses of light novels.
In the 2004 edition of the light novel guide book This Light Novel is Amazing! 2005, the Zaregoto series ranked as the second most popular light novel series, but the authors wrote: "There are different opinions on whether the Zaregoto series is a light novel or not." Taking into account various opinions on "bunko is the light novel", "packaging", "age of the characters", and other factors, the book's Genre Guide refers to the Zaregoto series and Kimi to Boku no Kowareta Sekai as "borders" outside of the bunko. In the following year's This Light Novel Is Amazing! 2006, the Zaregoto series ranked first, and in an interview held to commemorate this, Nisio said, "I'm unsure if it's a light novel" commenting that "it's not a light novel in the sense that it's 'not a light novel label,' but it's part of a light novel in the sense that 'it's a collaboration between an illustration and a novel,'" and he also said that he has no qualms about his work being identified as a light novel.

Works in English translation

Novels

;Zaregoto series
  • Zaregoto, Book 1: DECAPITATION: Kubikiri Cycle - The Blue Savant and the Nonsense User – the winning work of the 23rd Mephisto Prize
  • Zaregoto, Book 2: STRANGULATION: Kubishime Romanticist - No Longer Human - Hitoshiki Zerozaki
  • Zaregoto, Book 3: SUSPENSION: Kubitsuri High School - the Nonsense User's Disciple
;[Monogatari |Monogatari] series
  • KIZUMONOGATARI: Wound Tale
  • BAKEMONOGATARI, Part 1: Monster Tale
  • BAKEMONOGATARI, Part 2: Monster Tale
  • BAKEMONOGATARI, Part 3: Monster Tale
  • NISEMONOGATARI, Part 1: Fake Tale
  • NISEMONOGATARI, Part 2: Fake Tale
  • NEKOMONOGATARI : Cat Tale
  • NEKOMONOGATARI : Cat Tale
  • KABUKIMONOGATARI: Dandy Tale
  • HANAMONOGATARI: Flower Tale
  • OTORIMONOGATARI: Decoy Tale
  • ONIMONOGATARI: Demon Tale
  • KOIMONOGATARI: Love Tale
  • TSUKIMONOGATARI: Possession Tale
  • KOYOMIMONOGATARI, Part 1: Calendar Tale
  • KOYOMIMONOGATARI, Part 2: Calendar Tale
  • OWARIMONOGATARI, Part 1: End Tale
  • OWARIMONOGATARI, Part 2: End Tale
  • OWARIMONOGATARI, Part 3: End Tale
  • ZOKU OWARIMONOGATARI: End Tale
;Katanagatari series
Omnibus 3-in-1 volumes.
  • KATANAGATARI, 1: Sword Tale
  • KATANAGATARI, 2: Sword Tale
  • KATANAGATARI, 3: Sword Tale
  • KATANAGATARI, 4: Sword Tale
;Pretty Boy series
  • Bishōnen, Book 1: Pretty Boy Detective Club: The Dark Star that Shines for You Alone
  • Bishōnen, Book 2: The Swindler, the Vanishing Man, and the Pretty Boys
  • Bishōnen, Book 3: The Pretty Boy in the Attic
;Other books
;Short stories
  • Magical Girl Risuka
  • * This is the English translation of "Yasashii Mahō wa Tsukaenai", the first story of Risuka series.
  • Kyōko Okitegami in STAY HOLMES - Bōkyaku Tantei series.
  • * A short story published on May 2, 2020, in a project titled Day to Day on the website tree.
  • Street For You
  • * A short story published on August 28, 2020, in a project titled Story for you on the website tree.

    Manga

;One-shot
  • After School: 7th Class
;Imperfect Girl
Adaptation of the Shōjo Fujūbun novel.
  • Imperfect Girl, 1
  • Imperfect Girl, 2
  • Imperfect Girl, 3
;Juni Taisen: Zodiac War
Adaptation of the Jūni Taisen novel.
  • Juni Taisen: Zodiac War, Vol. 1
  • Juni Taisen: Zodiac War, Vol. 2
  • Juni Taisen: Zodiac War, Vol. 3
  • Juni Taisen: Zodiac War, Vol. 4
;Bakemonogatari
Adaptation of the Monogatari series novels.
  • BAKEMONOGATARI, volume 1
  • BAKEMONOGATARI, volume 2
  • BAKEMONOGATARI, volume 3
  • BAKEMONOGATARI, volume 4
  • BAKEMONOGATARI, volume 5
  • BAKEMONOGATARI, volume 6
  • BAKEMONOGATARI, volume 7
  • BAKEMONOGATARI, volume 8
  • BAKEMONOGATARI, volume 9
  • BAKEMONOGATARI, volume 10
  • BAKEMONOGATARI, volume 11
  • BAKEMONOGATARI, volume 12
  • BAKEMONOGATARI, volume 13
  • BAKEMONOGATARI, volume 14
  • BAKEMONOGATARI, volume 15
  • BAKEMONOGATARI, volume 16
  • BAKEMONOGATARI, volume 17
  • BAKEMONOGATARI, volume 18
  • BAKEMONOGATARI, volume 19
  • BAKEMONOGATARI, volume 20
  • BAKEMONOGATARI, volume 21
  • BAKEMONOGATARI, volume 22
;Pretty Boy Detective Club
Adaptation of the novels with the same name.
;Cipher Academy
  • Cipher Academy, Vol. 1
  • Cipher Academy, Vol. 2
  • Cipher Academy, Vol. 3
  • Cipher Academy, Vol. 4
  • Cipher Academy, Vol. 5
  • Cipher Academy, Vol. 6
  • ''Cipher Academy, Vol. 7''

    Novels

''Zaregoto'' series

The Zaregoto series is written by Nisio Isin and illustrated by Take. Nine volumes were published between February 2002 and November 2005. The tenth volume was published on February 8, 2023. It was followed by a spin-off series titled Ningen series starring the Zerozaki clan. A second spin-off series titled Saikyō series focusing on the character Jun Aikawa was also released. All books were released in Japan by Kodansha Novels.
First publishedTitleISBN
February 7, 2002The Beheading Cycle: The Blue Savant and the Nonsense Bearer
May 8, 2002Strangulation Romanticist: Hitoshiki Zerozaki, Human Failure
August 6, 2002Hanging High School: The Nonsense Bearer's Pupil
November 7, 2002Psycho Logical Gaisuke Utsurigi's Nonsense Killer
November 7, 2002Psycho Logical : Sour Little Song
July 5, 2003Cannibal Magical: Niounomiya Siblings, Masters of Carnage
February 8, 2005Uprooted Radical : The Thirteen Stairs
June 7, 2005Uprooted Radical : Overkill Red vs. The Orange Seed
November 8, 2005Uprooted Radical : The Blue Savant and the Nonsense Bearer
February 8, 2023Kidnap Kidding: The Blue Savant and the Daughter of the Nonsense Bearer

  • Zaregoto Dictional - Dictionary for the Zaregoto series
  • * A dictionary of the Zaregoto series telling the behind-the-scenes of the story. The 4-koma manga drawn by Take titled Zaregoto Ichiban was re-released in the book.

    ''Ningen'' series

of the Zaregoto series, it is also known as the Zerozaki Ichizoku series. The illustrations are provided by Take. Published by Kodansha.
First publishedTitleISBN
February 6, 2004Sōshiki Zerozaki's Human Experiment
November 8, 2006Kishishiki Zerozaki's Human Knock
March 7, 2008Magashiki Zerozaki's Human Character
March 25, 2010Hitoshiki Zerozaki's Human Relations: Relations with Izumu Niōnomiya
March 25, 2010Hitoshiki Zerozaki's Human Relations: Relations with Iori Mutō
March 25, 2010Hitoshiki Zerozaki's Human Relations: Relations with Sōshiki Zerozaki
March 25, 2010Hitoshiki Zerozaki's Human Relations: Relations with the Nonsense Bearer

''Saikyō'' series

of the Zaregoto series telling the story of "Overkill Red" Jun Aikawa. It was first serialized in the [Mephisto Prize#Mephisto |Mephisto] magazine. Published by Kodansha. Take handled the illustrations for the series again.
First publishedTitleISBN
April 23, 2015
May 7, 2016
April 20, 2017
May 11, 2020
November 11, 2020

''JDC Tribute'' series

The Japan Detectives Club was created by Ryūsui Seiryōin, and Nisio Isin is one of several authors to write novels using that setting. The third book is a compilation of the first two.
First publishedTitleISBN
March 6, 2003
August 7, 2007
January 15, 2010

''Sekai'' series

Interlinked mystery series with a different narrator telling the story each time. Published by Kodansha. Illustrated by Tagro.
First publishedTitleISBN
November 8, 2003
October 10, 2007
July 8, 2008
December 5, 2008

  • With the publication of the second novel, both books were also published in hard cover through Kodansha Box.

    ''Risuka'' series

First serialized in Faust magazine with illustrations by Capcom's Kinu Nishimura. It was later published by Kodansha.
First publishedTitleISBN
July 17, 2004
March 16, 2005
March 23, 2007
December 9, 2020

''Monogatari'' series

The series was first created by Nisio Isin as a series of short stories for the Mephisto magazine. While his previous series, Zaregoto, featured large casts of characters, each Bakemonogatari story tends to introduce only one new character. The previously published stories, and some new ones, were eventually collected in two volumes as part of the Kodansha Box launch titles on November 2, 2006, and December 5, 2006, and it continued its 28-volumes publication until August 19, 2021. On January 25, 2023, Nisio Isin announced a new novel that was published on May 17, 2023, continuing the series. Vofan handled the illustrations for the series. The series is divided into six parts: First Season, Second Season, Final Season, Off Season, Monster Season and Family Season.

''Mazemonogatari''

In Koyomi Araragi meets various heroines from other series written by Nisio Isin. These crossover stories were first distributed in sessions for the Kizumonogatari movies between 2016 and 2017. Kodansha collected those stories, with 3 new ones, and published in 2019.

''Mijikanamonogatari''

In 2024, Kodansha collected 33 previously published short stories and 6 new short stories in a book titled.

Related book

  • Audio drama script
  • *Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai
  • Character commentary script
  • *Anime "Bakemonogatari" Supplementary Reading Book
  • * Anime "Bakemonogatari" Supplementary Reading Book
  • * Supplementary Story Nisemonogatari & Nekomonogatari Supplementary Reading Book
  • * Supplementary Story Nisemonogatari & Nekomonogatari Supplementary Reading Book

    ''Katanagatari'' series

This twelve volume samurai epic with illustrations by Take was released one volume a month throughout 2007.
First publishedTitleISBN
January 10, 2007Katanagatari Chapter 1: Plane, the Absolute
February 2, 2007Katanagatari Chapter 2: Blunt, the Decapitator
March 2, 2007Katanagatari Chapter 3: Blade, the Thousand
April 3, 2007Katanagatari Chapter 4: Needle, the Fine
May 8, 2007Katanagatari Chapter 5: Aegis, the Resentment
June 5, 2007Katanagatari Chapter 6: Hammer, the Dual-Edge
July 3, 2007Katanagatari Chapter 7: Destitute, the Vile
August 2, 2007Katanagatari Chapter 8: Sai, the Minute
September 4, 2007Katanagatari Chapter 9: Saw, the Imperator
October 2, 2007Katanagatari Chapter 10: Scales, the Sincere
November 2, 2007Katanagatari Chapter 11: Gilt, the Venomous
December 4, 2007Katanagatari Chapter 12: Gun, the Firearm

''Maniwagatari''

Maniwagatari takes place 200 years before Katanagatari, when the first Kyotōryū head, Kazune Yasuri, met Kiki Shikizaki.
First publishedTitleISBN
December 2, 2008

Related book

  • Audio drama script
  • *Towazugatari: Original Drama CD Scenario Book

    ''Densetsu'' series

A complete series with 10 volumes published by Kodansha. The first volume was published as the "Nisio's longest book" at the time of its publication. The cover of the final volume was illustrated by Fuu Midori.
First publishedTitleISBN
April 26, 2012
February 27, 2013
June 27, 2013
November 26, 2013
July 3, 2014
February 26, 2015
November 25, 2015
December 28, 2016
February 28, 2018
March 28, 2018

''Medaka Box''

novels of the Medaka Box manga. Illustrated by Akira Akatsuki.
First publishedTitleISBN
May 2, 2012
June 4, 2012
October 10, 2012
November 19, 2012
October 4, 2013

Related book

  • Kikaijima Report Animation Collection - Illustrated by Akira Akatsuki. It was distributed as a booklet at Medaka Box DVD Premium Event on March 3, 2013.
  • Medaka Box Complete Guide Book -

    ''Bōkyaku Tantei'' series

Ongoing series with 15 volumes published by Kodansha. Illustrated by Vofan.
First publishedTitleISBN
October 15, 2014
April 23, 2015
August 19, 2015
October 6, 2015
December 17, 2015
May 17, 2016
August 23, 2016
November 17, 2016
May 24, 2017
January 19, 2018
October 5, 2018
March 18, 2020
April 22, 2021
June 8, 2022
April 16, 2025

''Jūni Taisen''

After the one-shot publication in the one-shot series manga Ōgiri, the story told one day before those events was published in one volume by Shueisha on May 19, 2015, with the illustrations provided by Hikaru Nakamura. A sequel was released in 2017.
First publishedTitleISBN
May 19, 2015
December 12, 2017

''Bishōnen'' series

The "Pretty Boy Detective Club" was originally intended to be a group that would appear in the Bōkyaku Tantei series, but during the story's development, Nisio Isin decided it could be published as an independent title. Illustrated by Kinako. Twelve volumes were published by the Kodansha Taiga label.
First publishedTitleISBN
October 20, 2015
December 18, 2015
March 18, 2016
September 20, 2016
October 18, 2016
March 22, 2017
October 20, 2017
May 23, 2018
October 24, 2018
November 22, 2019
December 20, 2019
May 14, 2021

''Henkyaku Kaitou'' series

For the 20th anniversary of Nisio's debut in 2022, a new series was announced. The next two books were announced in the afterword of Phantom Thief Flâneur's Patrol, with the series titled as The Casebook of the Phantom Thief Flâneur. The series was later retitled as The Return of the Phantom Thief. Illustrated by Takolegs.
First publishedTitleISBN
September 7, 2022Phantom Thief Flâneur's Patrol
March 29, 2023Retreat of Phantom Death March
October 17, 2024Wonder Lady Flâneur

Novelizations

Other works

Nisio Isin has also published several single-volume works, with some of them receiving manga adaptations. All of them deal with different themes from the usual. Ningyō ga Ningyō is a novel that invokes the style of old Japanese nonsense horror novels; Nanmin Tantei is a detective novel, a style always present in Nisio Isin's writing, but much more prominent in this title; Shōjo Fujūbun is a suspense novel, and Ripogura! is a novel that highlights Nisio Isin's love for constrained writing, based on three short stories rewritten three times each following restrained writing rules. The Veiled Man Hypothesis was Nisio's 100th book.
First publishedTitleISBN
September 7, 2005
December 11, 2009
September 7, 2011
Book cover illustrated by Fuu Midori
January 7, 2014Lipogram
July 31, 2019The Veiled Man Hypothesis
Book cover illustrated by Mai Yoneyama
September 30, 2020Delivery Room
Book cover illustrated by Samehoshi
July 26, 2023R.I.P. werther town
Book cover illustrated by Uichi Ukumo
April 17, 2024A Novel Titled: Tsukinu Kinu-Tateiwa Ōtsuribashi's Endless Essays

Book cover illustrated by Yuko Higuchi

Uncollected works

''Nakoto Manuscript'' series

Nakoto or Pnakotic Manuscript, referencing the grimoires H. P. Lovecraft created, has been releasing since 2004.
  • Hypothetical Phenomenon. Written in the Japanese magazine Eureka published by Seidosha in September 2004 issue. Illustrated by Akira Yamaguchi..
  • A Fruit. Illustrated by Yoko Nihombashi - Nisio Isin Chronicle.
  • Specifications of Glory - "Zaregoto Series Complete Box".
  • The Irony of Iodine. Released in the KOBO CAFE Limited Edition Special Booklet published by Kodansha in June 2008.
  • First to End - Anime Bakemonogatari Official Guidebook.
  • Long Wait for a Little - "New Authentic Magical Girl Risuka: The Perfect Book to Commemorate the Conclusion" - Distributed in December 2020.

    ''Shuugatari''

Stories written for the Pandora magazine published by Kodansha. Illustrated by Maruboro Akai.
  • SIDE-A -
  • SIDE-B -
  • NO-SIDE -
  • ONE-SIDE -
  • A fifth chapter titled GENOCIDE was planned for publication in Pandora Vol. 5 but never released, presumably due to Pandora itself being suspended.

    ''[Katanagatari]'' series

  • A short story titled was released as a leaflet accompanying the Twelve Pilgrimage Routes on December 13, 2010.

    ''Sekai'' series

The fifth story titled My World was serialized in the Mephisto magazine published by Kodansha.
  • -
  • -

    ''Monogatari'' series

Since the release of the Bakemonogatari Anime Complete Guidebook on October 28, 2010, Nisio Isin has written more than 60 short stories related to the anime or manga adaptation. The stories happen throughout all the timeline of the story featuring different narrators. They usually are brief stories talking about a specific topic, commentaries on literature, etc. Only the short stories in Mazemonogatari were collected in a book. Kodansha revealed in May 2024 that 32 previously published short stories and 6 new short stories were being collected in a book titled Mijikanamonogatari to be released July 3, 2024. However, on June 12, 2024, Kodansha announced that the book would be delayed after it was discovered that a story that should have been included was inadvertently left out. Kodansha later confirmed the publication date would be September 11, 2024, with 33 previously published and 6 new short stories.

''Detective Urban Legend''

A series written in the Mephisto magazine published by Kodansha.
  • First time - "Detective Control Act" -
  • Second time - "Detective Job Search" -
  • Third time - "No Guide to Detective Fiction" -

    ''Summer Vacation Sabotage''

A story written in the Mephisto magazine published by Kodansha.
Stories written for the Mephisto magazine published by Kodansha that were not collected yet.
  • -, August 8, 2018.
  • -, December 6, 2018.
  • -, April 10, 2019.
  • -, August 8, 2019.
  • -, December 4, 2019.
  • * A short story published on May 2, 2020, in a project titled Day to Day on the website tree.
  • - included in the Okitegami Kyōko no Kansatsu-hyō Special Free Paper distributed in the Japanese bookstores on April 27, 2021.

    Derived from works by other authors

  • -
  • * A tribute based on the Hyakkiyakō series by Natsuhiko Kyogoku.
  • - Shōjo Fight 7 Special Edition written by Yoko Nihombashi. Published by Kodansha
  • * A story written in the official B5 booklet dōjin magazine titled Shōnen Fight.
  • -
  • * A story written in commemoration of the 150th serialization of the Nobunaga no Shinobi series.

    Misc.

  • "Dawnless Night & Wakeless Dream" -
  • * A story released in the dōjinshi magazine Tandem Rotor no Hōhōron in the first literary flea market on November 3, 2002.
  • . Illustrated by Ōtarō Maijō -
  • * Competition on the theme of "coming to Tokyo".
  • . Illustrated by Ōtarō Maijō -
  • * A relay novel with Otsuichi, Takekuni Kitayama, Yuya Sato and Tatsuhiko Takimoto.
  • - "Manga Box AMASIA"
  • "Human Language #24014" -
  • "Inhuman Language #24014" -
  • -
  • "Fragment Novels"
  • * Self-Remix excerpts of his novels.
  • "Street For You"
  • * A short story published on August 28, 2020, in a project titled Story for you on the website tree.
  • "Kozukata Mozu's Murder Manga Seminar" - October issue of "Gendai Shousetsu"
  • "I was bored even before I was born" - "It was the first time I lied" Magazine

    Commentary on the literature

  • Ryūsui Seiryōin - Carnival -Ichirin no Hana-
  • Tatsuhiko Takimoto - Negative Happy Chainsaw Edge
  • Hiroshi Mori - You Broke the Diameter
  • Natsuhiko Kyogoku - A Drop of Evil
  • Yamori Mochizuki - Muboden~Twin Children~
  • Mizuki Tsujimura - The God of Slow Heights. 2
  • Takeru Kaido - Blaze Mes 1990

    Manga

One-shots

Since the publication of the Hōkago, Nanajikan-me. one-shot in Comic Faust, Nisio Isin has been writing several original scripts for manga.
First publishedTitleArtistPublisher and Magazine
June 24, 2006Yun KōgaKōdansha
Comic Faust
January 4, 2008Takeshi ObataShueisha
Weekly Shōnen Jump
August 11, 2014Yūya KawadaShueisha
Weekly Shōnen Jump Issue 37/38
August 11, 2014Miyokawa MasaruShueisha
Weekly Shōnen Jump Issue 37/38
June 16, 2016Kei TakizawaShueisha
Weekly Young Jump Issue 27
December 11, 2017Kawashita MizukiShueisha
Weekly Shōnen Jump Issue 2/3
December 29, 2017Iwasaki YūjiShueisha
Jump GIGA 2018 Winter Vol. 2
March 3, 2018Iwasaki YūjiShueisha
Shōnen Jump+
January 25, 2019Iwasaki YūjiShueisha
Jump GIGA 2019 Winter Vol. 2
September 14, 2019Saeki Shun
and
Tsukuda Yūto		Shueisha
Weekly Shōnen Jump
Issue 42 Jump Romcom Festival!
November 2, 2019Akira AkatsukiShueisha
Jump Square
December 28, 2020Iwasaki YūjiShueisha
Jump GIGA 2021 Winter
October 19, 2021Posuka DemizuShueisha
Ultra Jump Issue November
December 19, 2023Posuka DemizuShueisha
JOJO magazine 2023 WINTER
December 18, 2024Posuka DemizuShueisha
JOJO magazine 2024 WINTER
May 2, 2025Iwasaki YūjiShueisha
Jump GIGA 2025 Spring

Ōgiri

Based on 9 themes suggested by his editor, Nisio Isin wrote 9 one-shots with various artists that were released on Shueisha's magazines between 2014 and 2015 in a period of four months. The collection of stories were published by Shueisha on April 3, 2015.
#TitleArtistThemeMagazineYear and Issue
1Akira AkatsukiCardboard box
Weekly Shōnen Jump2014-49
2RKD-EK9Takeshi ObataParadiseJump SQ2014-12
3Akihisa IkedaAnimalJump SQ2014-12
4Teppei FukushimaHungerWeekly Young Jump2015-01
5Aiji Yamakawa RingBessatsu Margaret2015-01
6Atsushi NakayamaSoccerWeekly Shōnen Jump2015-03
7Hikaru NakamuraWishWeekly Young Jump2015-06/07
8Mizuki KawashitaSweatWeekly Shōnen Jump2015-08
9Renjūru KindaichiConversation DramaJump SQ2015-03

''Medaka Box''

Medaka Box is a Japanese shōnen manga series written by Nisio Isin and drawn by Akira Akatsuki. It was serialized in the Japanese magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump from May 11, 2009, to April 27, 2013. It was published by Shueisha in 22 volumes.
Vol.First publishedTitleISBN
1October 2, 2009
2December 4, 2009
3February 4, 2010
4April 2, 2010
5August 12, 2010
6September 3, 2010
7November 4, 2010
8December 29, 2010
9March 4, 2011
10May 2, 2011
11August 4, 2011
12October 4, 2011
13December 2, 2011
14March 2, 2012
15April 4, 2012
16July 4, 2012
17September 4, 2012
18December 4, 2012
19February 4, 2013
20April 4, 2013
21June 4, 2013
22September 4, 2013

''Kimi to Nadekko!''

Kimi to Nadekko! is a Japanese [shōjo manga|shōjo manga] series written by Nisio Isin and drawn by Ema Tōyama. It is an in-universe manga written and drawn by Nadeko Sengoku, a female character from the Monogatari series. The 3 chapters were released in various ways in 2014. All three chapters were collected as an extra in the Koimonogatari Volume 2 BD set.
First publishedTitlePublicationISBN / Issue / ASIN
January 30, 2014Heroine Book #4: Sengoku Nadeko
June 28, 2014Kōdansha, [Aria |Aria] magazine.August 2014 Issue
July 23, 2014Koimonogatari BD/DVD vol. 2

''Shōnen Shōjo''

Shōnen Shōjo is a Japanese shōnen manga series written by Nisio Isin and drawn by Akira Akatsuki. Shōnen Shōjo began serialization on January 4, 2016, and was published in Jump Square magazine until April 4, 2017, with a total of 16 chapters. Compiled by Shueisha into 3 volumes.
Vol.First publishedTitleISBN
1June 3, 2016
2November 4, 2016
3May 2, 2017

''Seishun Kijinden! 240 Gakuen''

Legend of Eccentric Youth! Nishio Academy is a Japanese shōnen manga series drafted by Nisio Isin and drawn by Shiba Mochi. It was done in commemoration of the 15th year of Nisio Isin writing career and it features various characters from his other series. It began serialization on February 9, 2017, in Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine until November 9, 2018. Compiled by Kodansha into 3 volumes.
Vol.First publishedTitleISBN
1August 9, 2017
2April 9, 2018
3December 7, 2018

''Cipher Academy''

Cipher Academy is a Japanese shōnen manga written by Nisio Isin and drawn by Iwasaki Yūji. It started serializing in the Japanese magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump on November 21, 2022, and finished on February 5, 2024.
Vol.First publishedTitleISBN
1March 3, 2023Cipher Academy 1
2May 2, 2023Cipher Academy 2
3August 4, 2023Cipher Academy 3
4October 4, 2023Cipher Academy 4
5January 4, 2024Cipher Academy 5
6March 4, 2024Cipher Academy 6
7May 2, 2024Cipher Academy 7

Screenplay

  • Audiobook
  • * R.I.P. werther town
  • ** A novel written first for the audio service Audible. Kenichi Suzumura narrated the story. Kodansha released the print version on July 26, 2023.
  • Character commentary
  • * Audio commentaries are content available on the DVD/BD release of the Monogatari series and Kubikiri Cycle. Each episode features two characters having a conversation about the specific episode they are in. Nisio Isin has written each one of them.
  • * Nisio Isin Daijiten
  • ** A series of commentaries in the form of an audio guide with characters from Monogatari, Zaregoto, and Bōkyaku Tantei series written for the Nisio Isin Daijiten exhibition, held in Tokyo during 2017. A transcription of said audio guide has been published in the accompany pamphlet. Nisio Isin in this occasion also wrote the script for six FANDA Cards handed as a gift at the exhibition's visitors, each one with a different character giving a call on the phone of the visitors.
  • Drama CD
  • * Monogatari series
  • ** Hyakumonogatari Original Drama CD
  • ** Monogatari Fes ~10th Anniversary Story~ MEMORIAL ALBUM
  • * Katanagatari series
  • ** Towazugatari Original Drama CD
  • ** Episode 0 Kyotō Yasuri - An audiobook released in the DVD/BD of the twelve episodes of the Katanagatari anime. It contains 12 chapters telling the story in the rebellion twenty years before the main story.
  • * Medaka Box
  • ** Medaka Box Juvenile, in 12 parts
  • * Pretty Boy Detective Club
  • ** Pretty Boy Aesthetics "Aestheticism of Authenticity" Act 1 Act 2
  • ** Pretty Boy Aesthetics "Aestheticism of Recoloring" Act 1 Act 2
  • ** Pretty Boy Aesthetics "Aestheticism of Difference" Act 1 Act 2
  • ** Pretty Boy Aesthetics "Aestheticism of One Sheet of Genkō yōshi
  • ** Pretty Boy Aesthetics "Pretty Boy Detective Club: The Last Indulgence" Last 1 Last 2
  • Script
  • *Medaka Box
  • ** Episode 12 - Even Without Medaka Kurokami - Original air date: June 20, 2012.
  • * Medaka Box Abnormal
  • ** Episode 12 - Medaka Box Extra Edition: Good Loser Kumagawa - Original air date: December 27, 2012.
  • * Madoka Magica x Monogatari manner movies
  • ** Four skits written by Nisio Isin about theater manners that were presented in the Japanese sessions for [Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The Movie|Puella Magi Madoka Magica The Movie -Rebellion-] between October 26 and November 22, 2013.
  • *** 1st week : Ōgi Oshino Version
  • *** 2nd week : Karen Araragi & Tsukihi Araragi Version
  • *** 3rd week : Mayoi Hachikuji Version
  • *** 4th week : Hitagi Senjōgahara Version
  • *Okitegami Kyōko no Bibōroku x Monogatari PVs.
  • ** Two advertisements for the first e-book of Nisio Isin, Okitegami Kyōko no Bibōroku, from the Bōkyaku Tantei series.
  • * Madogatari
  • ** A crossover manner video shown in the Madogatari exhibition on September 22, 2016.
  • * Monogatari series in 120 seconds
  • ** PV for the release of the final volumes of the Monogatari series, Shinomonogatari. Script written by Nisio Isin with Kana Hanazawa and Maaya Sakamoto voicing in-character, Nadeko Sengoku and Shinobu Oshino, respectively.
  • * Nisio Isin 20th anniversary movie
  • ** A short video published on August, 7th and narrated by Zaregoto series' protagonist Ii in which Nisio Isin's career is summarized and volume 10 of said series is announced.
  • * Urgent Conversation! Nonsense User x Koyomi Araragi
  • ** A 17-minute video released at the conclusion of the Nisio Isin 20th anniversary celebrations. In this video story written by Nisio Isin, the protagonists of Zaregoto and Monogatari, Ii and Koyomi, are portrayed by their respective anime VAs.
  • * Ikusamonogatari Message Movie
  • ** An animated video produced by whitepuzzle and written by Nisio Isin within the context of the Ikusamonogatari novel.

    Related book

  • Eureka September 2004 Extra Issue Special Edition
  • * Written by Ryūsui Seiryōin. Nisio cooperated as a special guest.
  • Nisio Isin Chronicle
  • * Fan book containing an interview with Nisio Isin.
  • Hiroshi Mori Book: From Work Guide to Garden
  • * Contains a dialogue with Nisio Isin.
  • Mori Log Academy 9
  • * Nisio Isin lectured for five days as a special guest.
  • Nisio Isin Dialogue Collection Main Question
  • * Interview book where Nisio talks with Kentarō Kobayashi, Hiromu Arakawa, Chica Umino, Mizuki Tsujimura, and Toshiyuki Horie.
  • 240Q, a free paper commemorating the 20th anniversary of Nisio Isin's debut. Kodansha.
  • * Nisio answers 240 questions of fans.

    Adaptations

Anime

Manga

Nisio Isin has several adaptations of his novels for manga and since most of his novels are published by Kodansha, most of them comes out in magazines of the publisher.

''Zerozaki Sōshiki no Ningen Shiken''

First serialized in Pandora Vol. 2 Side-A, it was later transferred to the Japanese magazine Monthly Afternoon. It's an adaptation of the first volume of the Ningen series and it was drawn by Iruka Shiomiya. It was serialized from December 20, 2008, to August 2013. Compiled by Kodansha in 5 volumes.
Vol.First publishedTitleISBN
1December 22, 2011
2May 23, 2012
3December 19, 2012
4April 23, 2013
5October 23, 2013

''Zerozaki Kishishiki no Ningen Knock''

It was serialized in the Japanese magazine Monthly Afternoon from August 25, 2014, to September 24, 2016. It's an adaptation of the second volume of the Ningen series and it was drawn by Chomoran. Compiled by Kodansha in 4 volumes.
Vol.First publishedTitleISBN
1January 23, 2015
2August 21, 2015
3March 23, 2016
4November 22, 2016

''Okitegami Kyōko no Bibōroku''

It was serialized in the Japanese magazine Monthly Shonen Magazine from August 6, 2015, to March 6, 2017. It partially adapts volumes 1 to 8 of the Bōkyaku Tantei series and it was drawn by Yō Asami. Compiled by Kodansha in 5 volumes.
Vol.First publishedTitleISBN
1October 16, 2015
2April 15, 2016
3August 17, 2016
4January 17, 2017
5April 17, 2017

''Shōjo Fujūbun''

Shōjo Fujūbun is an adaptation of the novel with the same name and was drawn by Mitsuru Hattori. Mitsuri wanted to adapt the novel after reading it. It was serialized between November 30, 2015 and August 29, 2016, in the Japanese magazine Weekly Young Magazine. It was compiled by Kodansha in 3 volumes.
Vol.First publishedTitleISBN
1May 6, 2016
2August 5, 2016
3October 6, 2016

''Himeiden''

It was serialized in the Japanese magazine Young Magazine Third from December 4, 2015 to December 6, 2017. It's an adaptation of the first volume of the Densetsu series and it was drawn by Mitsutani Osamu. Compiled by Kodansha in 4 volumes.
Vol.First publishedTitleISBN
1May 6, 2016
2December 20, 2016
3June 20, 2017
4January 19, 2018

''Bishōnen Tanteidan''

It was serialized in the Japanese magazine Aria from June 2016 until June 2018 because of Aria's termination. It was transferred to Shonen Magazine Edge on October 17, 2018 and the rest of the chapters were released until July 17, 2019. It's an adaptation of the first four volumes of the Bishōnen series, and it was drawn by Oda Suzuka. Compiled by Kodansha in 5 volumes.
Vol.First publishedTitleISBN
1September 7, 2016
2February 7, 2017
3August 7, 2017
4June 7, 2018
5September 6, 2019

''Jūni Taisen''

It was serialized in the Japanese magazine Shonen Jump+ from September 23, 2017, to May 12, 2018. It is an adaptation of the Jūni Taisen novel and it was drawn by Akira Akatsuki. Compiled by Shueisha in 4 volumes.
Vol.First publishedTitleISBN
1November 2, 2017
2January 4, 2018
3April 4, 2018
4July 4, 2018

''Bakemonogatari''

Bakemonogatari is an adaptation of the Monogatari series novels and is drawn by Oh! great. It began its serialization in Weekly Shōnen Magazine on March 14, 2018, with the last chapter published on March 15, 2023. It has been compiled by Kodansha with a special edition for the Kodansha Box label also published.
Vol.First publishedTitleISBN
1June 15, 2018
2August 17, 2018
3November 16, 2018
4January 17, 2019
5April 17, 2019
6July 17, 2019
7October 17, 2019
8February 17, 2020
9May 15, 2020
10August 17, 2020
11November 17, 2020
12February 17, 2021
13May 17, 2021
14August 17, 2021
15November 17, 2021
16February 17, 2022
17May 17, 2022
18August 17, 2022
19November 17, 2022
20January 17, 2023
21March 16, 2023
22May 17, 2023

''Risuka''

  • As part of the release of the fourth volume of the series, Hiro Mashima drew a scene from the chapter Easy magic cannot be used. of the first volume and Kodansha released it via Twitter on November 27, 2020. It was later published in the book "New Authentic Magical Girl Risuka: The Perfect Book to Commemorate the Conclusion" distributed in the Japanese bookstores.
  • A manga adaptation serialized on Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine from April 9, 2021 to February 9, 2024. Nao Emoto handled the illustration. Compiled by Kodansha in 7 volumes.
Vol.First publishedTitleISBN
1August 17, 2021
2November 17, 2021
3March 9, 2022
4July 8, 2022
5April 7, 2023
6November 11, 2023
7April 9, 2024

TV Drama

. It adapted the first four volumes of the Bōkyaku Tantei series. Starring Yui Aragaki.
TitleEpisodesBroadcast dateDirectorNetwork
Okitegami Kyōko no Bibōroku10October 10 – December 12, 2015Tōya Satō
Yoshinori Shigeyama
Naoko Komuro		NTV

Stage Play