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Yo-kai Watch #1
YO-KAI WATCH, Vol. 1
Nathan ist ein ganz normaler Junge. Doch als er den quirligen Yo-kai "Whisper" aus einem Spielzeugautomaten befreit, erhält er zum Dank von ihm eine Zauber-Uhr. Mit dieser Yo-kai Watch kann Nathan all die kunterbunten Wesen sehen, die man Yo-kai nennt. Sie treiben allerlei Schabernack mit den Menschen und Nathan hat ab jetzt alle Hände voll zu tun, um die Yo-kai für sich zu gewinnen. Da ist zum Beispiel dieser kratzbürstiger Katzen-Yo-kai, der ständig vorbeifahrende Autos angreift. Aber warum nur?
192 pages, Paperback
First published June 28, 2013
74 people are currently reading
396 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
June 9, 2016
My twenty-two-year old son, who has the heart of a ten-year-old girl, left this on the dining room table.
Why did I read it?
Because it was there.
I'm guessing this is manga for people who find Pokemon to be too cerebral.
Why did I read it?
Because it was there.
I'm guessing this is manga for people who find Pokemon to be too cerebral.
May 30, 2016
Great gate way book for your kids to cross over to Japanese culture and folklore. Could not get my little one interested in Nippon, until the TV series, and now we read the manga together. Sure it is silly fun, and most of their Yokai are made up-it is cool to get my little one reading manga and she bought the first volue herself at the school book fair!
November 18, 2015
I'd heard recently that Yo-Kai Watch was the "next big thing" among kids in Japan--a Pokemon killer, if you will. So, when I saw volume one at a local bookstore the other day, I decided to pick up a copy to donate to the school library, where my girlfriend works. Since I spent money on it, I figured it wouldn't hurt to give it a read.
Now, Yo-Kai Watch isn't my usual fare, so I'm trying to approach this from the mindset of its intended audience. That said, if I were an elementary school kid, I could see myself really digging this series. Sure, the writing and plot are often simplistic (main character finds a mysterious creature, who gives him a magic watch and becomes his "butler," just because), but there are occasional heavier elements, which surprised me (e.g. the ghost of a cat who's trying to win back the love of his old owner, and the first time we see Nate's parents, they're fighting). Such elements are invariably swept under the rug in short order, in favor of lighthearted comedy (the cat-ghost becomes a slapstick-y character, Nate's folks were fighting because of the influence of a depressive Yo-kai, etc.), but it's nice to see the occasional acknowledgement of more serious issues.
As for the comedy itself, a lot of it is genuinely funny. Sure, not all of the jokes and sight gags are winners, but since Yo-kai Watch is aimed at young children, I was expecting to groan and suffer my way through this volume. The fact that this didn't happen is commendable.
The art is lively and cute, though often lacking much in the way of backgrounds. Still, each yo-kai has a lot of personality, and is easily distinguishable from the rest of its ilk.
All told, I can definitely understand why this is popular among kids. Yo-kai Watch is cute, energetic, and filled with a steady stream of quirky characters.
Now, Yo-Kai Watch isn't my usual fare, so I'm trying to approach this from the mindset of its intended audience. That said, if I were an elementary school kid, I could see myself really digging this series. Sure, the writing and plot are often simplistic (main character finds a mysterious creature, who gives him a magic watch and becomes his "butler," just because), but there are occasional heavier elements, which surprised me (e.g. the ghost of a cat who's trying to win back the love of his old owner, and the first time we see Nate's parents, they're fighting). Such elements are invariably swept under the rug in short order, in favor of lighthearted comedy (the cat-ghost becomes a slapstick-y character, Nate's folks were fighting because of the influence of a depressive Yo-kai, etc.), but it's nice to see the occasional acknowledgement of more serious issues.
As for the comedy itself, a lot of it is genuinely funny. Sure, not all of the jokes and sight gags are winners, but since Yo-kai Watch is aimed at young children, I was expecting to groan and suffer my way through this volume. The fact that this didn't happen is commendable.
The art is lively and cute, though often lacking much in the way of backgrounds. Still, each yo-kai has a lot of personality, and is easily distinguishable from the rest of its ilk.
All told, I can definitely understand why this is popular among kids. Yo-kai Watch is cute, energetic, and filled with a steady stream of quirky characters.
April 17, 2024
Finally I got the first volume of this one! I played all the games that were available here, which after reading I want to play again, let's see if the old gameboy still works, haha. This was a fun one! Episodic stories with new youkai, new funny situations, new adventures. I really enjoyed it. jibanyan is still my favourite! Whisper talks a bit too much at times, sorry Whisp! I think my favourite story was with the dream Youkai (Baku, who is one of my favourites), that was such a fun story. Nathan is btw, really a fun MC, he really tries his best with the Youkai and sees them truly as friends/companions. I loved what he tried to do for the luck Youkai.
And now I got to get the whole series, haha. Wish me luck!
And now I got to get the whole series, haha. Wish me luck!
August 29, 2016
(*vol 1-2)
......wahai jiwa kanak-kanakku, ke mana engkau pergi?
Konsepnya mirip dengan Pokemon, tapi secara struktur dan 'warna' narasi lebih mengingatkan saya ke Doraemon (*gadget of the week -> youkai of the week). Tapi... kalau dibandingkan dengan Doraemon atau karya-karya lainnya yang saya suka dari genre ini, YW masih terasa sangat datar. Terlalu repetitif, terlalu episodik, dan terlalu mengandalkan humor slapstick atau ekspresi lebay dari tokoh-tokohnya. Saya juga agak kurang suka dengan penggunaan kata 'keparat' yang beberapa kali muncul... terutama untuk komik anak-anak seperti ini.
Yang paling fatal: tidak ada satu pun dari tiga tokoh utama yang terasa 'bagus' bagi saya. Kenta si tokoh anak manusia benar-benar terlalu biasa, Whisper si youkai pendampingnya terkesan kurang berguna, dan Jibanyan si kucing...kasar, menyebalkan, dan terlalu sering diekspos. Sebenarnya ada beberapa tokoh youkai lain yang lebih menarik, tapi sebagian besar kurang terekspos karena sejauh 2 volume awal ini pola ceritanya *tangkap youkai -> youkainya nggak nongol-nongol lagi karena sudah alih fokus ke youkai baru*.
Mungkin di volume-volume berikutnya akan muncul pola atau tokoh baru yang lebih menarik, tetapi dengan juga memperhitungkan bahwa komik ini sepertinya akan 'berumur panjang' hingga entah kapan (*mengingat popularitas anime dan gamenya), saya kibarkan bendera putih dan sumbangkan dua volume ini ke pihak yang mungkin lebih bisa menikmati~
......wahai jiwa kanak-kanakku, ke mana engkau pergi?
Konsepnya mirip dengan Pokemon, tapi secara struktur dan 'warna' narasi lebih mengingatkan saya ke Doraemon (*gadget of the week -> youkai of the week). Tapi... kalau dibandingkan dengan Doraemon atau karya-karya lainnya yang saya suka dari genre ini, YW masih terasa sangat datar. Terlalu repetitif, terlalu episodik, dan terlalu mengandalkan humor slapstick atau ekspresi lebay dari tokoh-tokohnya. Saya juga agak kurang suka dengan penggunaan kata 'keparat' yang beberapa kali muncul... terutama untuk komik anak-anak seperti ini.
Yang paling fatal: tidak ada satu pun dari tiga tokoh utama yang terasa 'bagus' bagi saya. Kenta si tokoh anak manusia benar-benar terlalu biasa, Whisper si youkai pendampingnya terkesan kurang berguna, dan Jibanyan si kucing...kasar, menyebalkan, dan terlalu sering diekspos. Sebenarnya ada beberapa tokoh youkai lain yang lebih menarik, tapi sebagian besar kurang terekspos karena sejauh 2 volume awal ini pola ceritanya *tangkap youkai -> youkainya nggak nongol-nongol lagi karena sudah alih fokus ke youkai baru*.
Mungkin di volume-volume berikutnya akan muncul pola atau tokoh baru yang lebih menarik, tetapi dengan juga memperhitungkan bahwa komik ini sepertinya akan 'berumur panjang' hingga entah kapan (*mengingat popularitas anime dan gamenya), saya kibarkan bendera putih dan sumbangkan dua volume ini ke pihak yang mungkin lebih bisa menikmati~
June 11, 2022
This isn't the type of manga I usually find interesting- I like things that have a bit more plot, I like stories where the author isn't afraid to lengthen the story to add details, and I love when they're also a bit more serious. This series, on the other hand, jumps around, introduces a whole lot of characters who we only see tiny glimpses of, the stories are very fast, there isn't that much of an overarching story, and it's quite goofy, even for a manga aimed towards younger people. However, I still liked the book and I think it's a really cute series. The characters are lovable, and because they each have a few defining character traits it made the whole thing a lot more comedic. In literally any other type of book I would find it annoying, but this is a funny manga that has a character who is literally a living block of rice cake, so take that as you will.
Now, I really don't feel like writing out a proper review for every single one of the installments, so instead I'm going to list 10 comments/thoughts. That way I can share the comments that made me laugh, the drawings I thought were funny, which means that I don't have to try and come up with something unique for every installment, which all seem relatively similar to each other, or at least that's what it seems from the books I've skimmed through.
1. Why did they change Nate's name in the translation? Most of the other characters have Japanese names, and the presence of Yo-kai is a big part of Japanese mythology so it's not like the book is trying to hide the fact that it takes place in Japan. If the creator's of the Yo-kai Watch world wanted Nate to have an English name that bad, why did they have to pick the most basic, boring name?
2. Why did Jibanyan become a Yo-kai when he died? He's pretty much a normal cat, and he isn't like the rest of the Yo-kais with a specific power/trait. Do all dead animals become Yo-kais, or just the ones with the most spite?
3. There's something familiar about Baku, and I feel like there's another fictional character that looks just like them, but I can't think of anything right now. The sharp teeth and the mouth that goes really far back sort of reminds me of Fizzgig from The Dark Crystal and Pennywise from It when he had opened his mouth up and sort of peeled his face away, but I know they weren't who I had been initially thinking of.
4. Whoever came up with the idea to make a rice cake Yo-kai: I love you. He would have been my favorite Yo-kai if not for Noko, who was hands down the CUTEST thing on the friggin planet. He's just a skrungly little snakey boy. And he has a four leaf clover on his head and a heart on the tip of his tail?! And his little teefies! So so so cute. Perfect Yo-kai 1000000000000000000/10
5. Why was Katie on the inside cover? She doesn't have any importance in this book, or even in the next book. (I know this because I'm behind on my reviews- I'm trying I promise)
6. I'm sorry but the little short comics were funnier than the rest of the book. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that they were so simple that I couldn't help but laugh (because I have such a basic sense of humor) or maybe seeing Jibanyan stuck in a vending machine actually is the funniest thing in the world.
7. Negatibuzz with those bulbous, cutesy eyes after he had expelled all of the negative energy made him look like Spongebob. Also, what purpose would Negatibuzz serve? I mean, theoretically I could think of something, but realistically she wouldn't do that much of anything. That is, unless he would make an attacking enemy feel so worthless that they'd admit defeat right then and there. But otherwise what purpose could he actually serve? He's certainly not the kind of person you'd want to hang out with.
8. Does Whisper ever leave Nate alone? Does he get off time, or does Nate have to deal with him 24/7? I mean, on one hand you have a butler who is super knowledgeable about Yo-kai, and he is useful sometimes, but on the other hand he doesn't stop talking or ever go away. I think I'd last 2 hours max with him around.
9.Speaking of Whisper, I keep wanting to call him Wisp, like the character from Animal Crossing. They are both similar in looks, they have similar names,and they're both kind of annoying, but I like both of them. Especially Wisp because he's so gosh darn cute, even if he does give out completely useless and terrible rewards. "Do you want something new or something expensive?" Honestly, a kiss on the lips would suffice.
10. The whole thing with Baku's chapter and the dreams where everyone is a model?! I don't know what it is about that, but that was HILARIOUS. As I've said before, I have a basic sense of humor, you show me a drawing of a goofy little creature with abs and I will laugh. And I am not ashamed of it.
I didn't mention this in the introduction of my review, but it took me quite a while to get through this. It's a fun book, but there just isn't enough substance in the story for me to really love it. I still want to read the whole series, mostly just because I want to be the first person to not just review but rate the newer books, and also because there's a joke my sister and I have that revolves around this show. Is this aimed towards younger audiences and not for someone like me, yes. But once I decide to start a series I finish it, because I used to be so bad about it when I was younger, so I'm sort of trying to make it up in that way. As of writing this review I have read the first three books, and they have already blended together because each of them do the same thing over and over. Overall the story was fine. It was fun and cheeky, but it wasn't astounding by any means. I'm hoping I end up really loving this series because these books need some love! They sit on the shelves and do almost nothing at my library, and they don't get any attention here on Goodreads either. The newest novel doesn't even have an English edition on the website, and it isn't brand new or anything. I'm just here to give my Yo-kai buddies the attention they deserve.
Now, I really don't feel like writing out a proper review for every single one of the installments, so instead I'm going to list 10 comments/thoughts. That way I can share the comments that made me laugh, the drawings I thought were funny, which means that I don't have to try and come up with something unique for every installment, which all seem relatively similar to each other, or at least that's what it seems from the books I've skimmed through.
1. Why did they change Nate's name in the translation? Most of the other characters have Japanese names, and the presence of Yo-kai is a big part of Japanese mythology so it's not like the book is trying to hide the fact that it takes place in Japan. If the creator's of the Yo-kai Watch world wanted Nate to have an English name that bad, why did they have to pick the most basic, boring name?
2. Why did Jibanyan become a Yo-kai when he died? He's pretty much a normal cat, and he isn't like the rest of the Yo-kais with a specific power/trait. Do all dead animals become Yo-kais, or just the ones with the most spite?
3. There's something familiar about Baku, and I feel like there's another fictional character that looks just like them, but I can't think of anything right now. The sharp teeth and the mouth that goes really far back sort of reminds me of Fizzgig from The Dark Crystal and Pennywise from It when he had opened his mouth up and sort of peeled his face away, but I know they weren't who I had been initially thinking of.
4. Whoever came up with the idea to make a rice cake Yo-kai: I love you. He would have been my favorite Yo-kai if not for Noko, who was hands down the CUTEST thing on the friggin planet. He's just a skrungly little snakey boy. And he has a four leaf clover on his head and a heart on the tip of his tail?! And his little teefies! So so so cute. Perfect Yo-kai 1000000000000000000/10
5. Why was Katie on the inside cover? She doesn't have any importance in this book, or even in the next book. (I know this because I'm behind on my reviews- I'm trying I promise)
6. I'm sorry but the little short comics were funnier than the rest of the book. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that they were so simple that I couldn't help but laugh (because I have such a basic sense of humor) or maybe seeing Jibanyan stuck in a vending machine actually is the funniest thing in the world.
7. Negatibuzz with those bulbous, cutesy eyes after he had expelled all of the negative energy made him look like Spongebob. Also, what purpose would Negatibuzz serve? I mean, theoretically I could think of something, but realistically she wouldn't do that much of anything. That is, unless he would make an attacking enemy feel so worthless that they'd admit defeat right then and there. But otherwise what purpose could he actually serve? He's certainly not the kind of person you'd want to hang out with.
8. Does Whisper ever leave Nate alone? Does he get off time, or does Nate have to deal with him 24/7? I mean, on one hand you have a butler who is super knowledgeable about Yo-kai, and he is useful sometimes, but on the other hand he doesn't stop talking or ever go away. I think I'd last 2 hours max with him around.
9.Speaking of Whisper, I keep wanting to call him Wisp, like the character from Animal Crossing. They are both similar in looks, they have similar names,
10. The whole thing with Baku's chapter and the dreams where everyone is a model?! I don't know what it is about that, but that was HILARIOUS. As I've said before, I have a basic sense of humor, you show me a drawing of a goofy little creature with abs and I will laugh. And I am not ashamed of it.
I didn't mention this in the introduction of my review, but it took me quite a while to get through this. It's a fun book, but there just isn't enough substance in the story for me to really love it. I still want to read the whole series, mostly just because I want to be the first person to not just review but rate the newer books, and also because there's a joke my sister and I have that revolves around this show. Is this aimed towards younger audiences and not for someone like me, yes. But once I decide to start a series I finish it, because I used to be so bad about it when I was younger, so I'm sort of trying to make it up in that way. As of writing this review I have read the first three books, and they have already blended together because each of them do the same thing over and over. Overall the story was fine. It was fun and cheeky, but it wasn't astounding by any means. I'm hoping I end up really loving this series because these books need some love! They sit on the shelves and do almost nothing at my library, and they don't get any attention here on Goodreads either. The newest novel doesn't even have an English edition on the website, and it isn't brand new or anything. I'm just here to give my Yo-kai buddies the attention they deserve.
September 26, 2024
Excelente manga, rápido de leer, tenía curiosidad de leerlo ya que yo jugué los dos primeros video juegos y la verdad se mantiene bastante fiel, el concepto y la esencia no cambia mucho y eso lo hace más agradable
November 10, 2024
This is so adorable. I started reading this because I played Yo Kai Watch 2: Fleshy Souls. The manga is exactly like the game! Oh, and by the way, Baku is still my favorite yo-kai. (Her and Manjimutt)
This manga is EXTREMELY silly, by the way. It's a lot of fun.
This manga is EXTREMELY silly, by the way. It's a lot of fun.
July 12, 2019
I got this book for my 6 year old. It’s pretty good for kids. The stories are interesting and it has great values.
May 10, 2016
A funny and cute children's manga series about an ordinary boy who saves a ghost-shaped yokai who in turn gives him a special "yo-kai" watch which he can use to collect yokai friends, and later call on them to help him collect more yokai. It's a fun series with an extremely predictable and repetitive plot that would probably remind most people of Pokemon. Except that the yokai aren't being used to deliberately "battle" other yokai while the owner stands back. It actually reminds me a bit more of "Cardcaptor Sakura"... but, maybe intended for an even younger audience. It is fun, and I probably laughed out loud once or twice, accompanied with the phrase "this is so dumb". I certainly could picture it as being a fun series for children, but probably not super interesting for adults, or even teens.
I will say, that I had one major issue with the series that will keep me from reading further. I don't know who makes these translations decisions! ...but, to rename "Keita" as "Nate Adams"!!! I don't understand why children couldn't handle or even relate to a Japanese character? Why are we censoring this? Do we seriously think that keeping the Japanese names intact is a barrier to children's understanding of a simple comic book? I do not understand. Actually, I would argue that part of the fun of reading manga is that it is "Japanese". Why are we trying to take the "Japanese" characters out of the series??
-- English translation is the source of most of my current pet peeves!
And, to make matters more confusing to my little mind... they didn't even bother to alter or replace the Japanese word "yokai". The entire series is based on the premise of a "Japanese" theme... and yet, the main character was given an English name.
Or, flip the comic to read left-to-right! Wouldn't you think they would flip the comic so that it could be read in the "English" direction if it was necessary to make the character "English".
ARGGHH! *Why is this happening??? Who is making this decision??? And, How do we make them stop???*
I will say, that I had one major issue with the series that will keep me from reading further. I don't know who makes these translations decisions! ...but, to rename "Keita" as "Nate Adams"!!! I don't understand why children couldn't handle or even relate to a Japanese character? Why are we censoring this? Do we seriously think that keeping the Japanese names intact is a barrier to children's understanding of a simple comic book? I do not understand. Actually, I would argue that part of the fun of reading manga is that it is "Japanese". Why are we trying to take the "Japanese" characters out of the series??
-- English translation is the source of most of my current pet peeves!
And, to make matters more confusing to my little mind... they didn't even bother to alter or replace the Japanese word "yokai". The entire series is based on the premise of a "Japanese" theme... and yet, the main character was given an English name.
Or, flip the comic to read left-to-right! Wouldn't you think they would flip the comic so that it could be read in the "English" direction if it was necessary to make the character "English".
ARGGHH! *Why is this happening??? Who is making this decision??? And, How do we make them stop???*
April 28, 2018
The Yo-kai Watch manga is based off the game of the same name, and follows the adventures of a young boy called Nate who can see spirits causing mischief in the world thanks to his magical watch. Fans of the games and anime will love this because it has the same mix of slice of life stories and slapstick humour. Most of the stories are original and not taken from other Yo-kai Watch media, which means it’s worth reading even if you’ve played and watched everything else.
It’s definitely geared towards younger readers, but its slapstick and absurdism means it’s still fun to read for children-at-heart. Not quite as funny as the anime though.
It’s definitely geared towards younger readers, but its slapstick and absurdism means it’s still fun to read for children-at-heart. Not quite as funny as the anime though.
December 21, 2015
Mungkin tepatnya 4.5 bintang? Atau mungkin aku terlalu tergesa-gesa, padahal baru baca volume 1-nya doang? (^ ^;)>
Tapi komik ini hadir tepat ketika aku lagi kangen-kangennya sama komik anak-anak~
Gambar : 4 bintang...oke! Aku suka bentuk orang-2nya dan yokai-2nya juga tergambar dengan lucu!
Cerita : 4.5 bintang...aku suka karakter si Keita, aku suka motif kejahilan para yokai, aku suka ketika Keita ngomong, "Medali yo-kai, set on!" --> ini catchphrase yang oke untuk anak-anak usia SDseperti guguk (^...^)
Berdebar-namun-sabar menantikan kelanjutannya~ \(^ヮ^)/
Tapi komik ini hadir tepat ketika aku lagi kangen-kangennya sama komik anak-anak~
Gambar : 4 bintang...oke! Aku suka bentuk orang-2nya dan yokai-2nya juga tergambar dengan lucu!
Cerita : 4.5 bintang...aku suka karakter si Keita, aku suka motif kejahilan para yokai, aku suka ketika Keita ngomong, "Medali yo-kai, set on!" --> ini catchphrase yang oke untuk anak-anak usia SD
Berdebar-namun-sabar menantikan kelanjutannya~ \(^ヮ^)/
July 4, 2016
Daniel: I really enjoyed this book. I want volumes 3-5(I have 1-2.)My favorite part was when Noko called Nate a scum.
December 5, 2022
Thank you to the Fort Vancouver Library bookmobile for accidentally giving me the copy of Yo-Kai Watch Vol. 1 by Noriyuki Konishi. I would not have taken it off the shelf myself, but it did give me a view of non-Pokémon manga.
In Yo-Kai Watch, Nate, who we are repeatedly told is a typical kid, finds a watch that allows him to see Yo-kai, or animal-like beings that are invisible to humans, but affect their moods and environments. Yo-kai do not trust humans, as many of them have been hurt by them. Nate also acquires Whisper, a Yo-kai who is like a personal assistant to him and helps him with daily struggles as well as acting like a cultural translator for Nate with the Yo-kai. The first Yo-kai Nate meets after Whisper is Jibanyan, who spends his time playing chicken with vehicles and losing. His obsession was developed after his previous owner, Amy, responded cruelly after he was hit by a car.
Yo-kai again and again show that they do not trust humans and are reluctant to become friends with Nate until he manages to help them. Then, they give him a medal that when placed in his watch allows them to be summoned by Nate. In addition to Whisper, Jibanyan often helps Nate when he has conflicts with Yo-kai.
Besides being a manga series, Yo-kai was also a series of video games and a cartoon. Vol. 1 of the manga seems more like product placement than story to me, but it is my only point of reference, so it is possible that later volumes have more of a plot and more variety in their story lines.
Would I teach this book? That might sound like a strange question for a volume of manga, but I can see teaching it in a graphic literature course including some manga. If I were teaching a graphic literature course, it would be remiss not to include manga. However, the lack of ongoing plot and the time spent simply introducing us to characters does not make me want to share this book with others.
To be fair, I have a lot to learn about manga, and it is possible that I am missing something amazing in this novel. However, I doubt it. If you have suggestions for the next manga for me to read, please put it in the comments!
In Yo-Kai Watch, Nate, who we are repeatedly told is a typical kid, finds a watch that allows him to see Yo-kai, or animal-like beings that are invisible to humans, but affect their moods and environments. Yo-kai do not trust humans, as many of them have been hurt by them. Nate also acquires Whisper, a Yo-kai who is like a personal assistant to him and helps him with daily struggles as well as acting like a cultural translator for Nate with the Yo-kai. The first Yo-kai Nate meets after Whisper is Jibanyan, who spends his time playing chicken with vehicles and losing. His obsession was developed after his previous owner, Amy, responded cruelly after he was hit by a car.
Yo-kai again and again show that they do not trust humans and are reluctant to become friends with Nate until he manages to help them. Then, they give him a medal that when placed in his watch allows them to be summoned by Nate. In addition to Whisper, Jibanyan often helps Nate when he has conflicts with Yo-kai.
Besides being a manga series, Yo-kai was also a series of video games and a cartoon. Vol. 1 of the manga seems more like product placement than story to me, but it is my only point of reference, so it is possible that later volumes have more of a plot and more variety in their story lines.
Would I teach this book? That might sound like a strange question for a volume of manga, but I can see teaching it in a graphic literature course including some manga. If I were teaching a graphic literature course, it would be remiss not to include manga. However, the lack of ongoing plot and the time spent simply introducing us to characters does not make me want to share this book with others.
To be fair, I have a lot to learn about manga, and it is possible that I am missing something amazing in this novel. However, I doubt it. If you have suggestions for the next manga for me to read, please put it in the comments!
January 17, 2026
This strikes me as absolutely one of the manga being made in Bakuman 9...
Well, no, Iwase's manga didn't quite wrap up the first chapter but still struck a chord with shounen fans despite their being no boss battle, and Ashirogi Muto's manga is the gag comic but not popular enough to keep going. Maybe a combination of the two?
Anyway, it's a very cute story, like a combination of Pokémon and Mushishi, but instead of having the yokai fight each other like Pokémon do, Nate (which I'm annoyed is "translated" from Keita even though the book is right-to-left) goes around finding and befriending the yokai! Very cute and heartwarming, especially when some of his "friends" make a very determined point of hurting others/getting revenge! I did somehow find it surprising it is actually a WATCH, as in a wristband timepiece (but not really), vs. I guess somehow I thought it had to do with *watching* for yokai?
Recommended for young fans of spooky stories (that are still happy endings)!
Well, no, Iwase's manga didn't quite wrap up the first chapter but still struck a chord with shounen fans despite their being no boss battle, and Ashirogi Muto's manga is the gag comic but not popular enough to keep going. Maybe a combination of the two?
Anyway, it's a very cute story, like a combination of Pokémon and Mushishi, but instead of having the yokai fight each other like Pokémon do, Nate (which I'm annoyed is "translated" from Keita even though the book is right-to-left) goes around finding and befriending the yokai! Very cute and heartwarming, especially when some of his "friends" make a very determined point of hurting others/getting revenge! I did somehow find it surprising it is actually a WATCH, as in a wristband timepiece (but not really), vs. I guess somehow I thought it had to do with *watching* for yokai?
Recommended for young fans of spooky stories (that are still happy endings)!
June 29, 2023
I didn't pick up on it with the title as a hyphenate but then I realized it's yokai and within the last two months I've learned a great deal about yokai in a new YA fiction title that's coming out and an encyclopedia about yokai. So I get it!
And readers are introduced to Nate "an ordinary elementary school kid" who is gifted a yokai watch by Whisper, a yokai that he stumbles upon. The medals he gets are becoming friends with the yokai and a Pokemon connection. And the rest of the book is about collecting yokai friends to help solve little hijinks and problems he encounters himself or friends (like the yokai that helps him eat the sticky rice balls that's getting stuck to people)-- he's the only one that can see the yokai and make friends with them, but they're generally helpful in the story, though the oddball ones are still there too. It'll be a cute action/adventure with a fun kid character.
And readers are introduced to Nate "an ordinary elementary school kid" who is gifted a yokai watch by Whisper, a yokai that he stumbles upon. The medals he gets are becoming friends with the yokai and a Pokemon connection. And the rest of the book is about collecting yokai friends to help solve little hijinks and problems he encounters himself or friends (like the yokai that helps him eat the sticky rice balls that's getting stuck to people)-- he's the only one that can see the yokai and make friends with them, but they're generally helpful in the story, though the oddball ones are still there too. It'll be a cute action/adventure with a fun kid character.
October 30, 2023
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A fun manga with plenty of humor. I enjoyed watching the show so thought I'd give the manga a try.
In the first volume, we're introduced to Nate, shown how he meets his yokai butler, Whisper, and how he befriends various yokai including the ever-popular Jibanyan. As with the show, I enjoyed meeting new yokai in each episodic chapter. Fun, dynamic artwork.
Some darker themes, as is the tendency with yokai. On the whole, works well for young readers, especially those who enjoy Pokemon-style adventures.
A fun manga with plenty of humor. I enjoyed watching the show so thought I'd give the manga a try.
In the first volume, we're introduced to Nate, shown how he meets his yokai butler, Whisper, and how he befriends various yokai including the ever-popular Jibanyan. As with the show, I enjoyed meeting new yokai in each episodic chapter. Fun, dynamic artwork.
Some darker themes, as is the tendency with yokai. On the whole, works well for young readers, especially those who enjoy Pokemon-style adventures.
October 28, 2025
👻 Manga Review — Yo-kai Watch Vol. 1
Rating: 3.75/5
Who ya gonna call? …Yo-kai! 👀
Yo-kai Watch Vol. 1 kicks off a lighthearted, supernatural adventure full of goofy spirits, everyday chaos, and a ton of charm. When Nate discovers the mysterious Yo-kai Watch, he suddenly starts seeing all kinds of weird creatures causing mischief around town — from lazy ghosts to snack-obsessed gremlins. 🍩
It’s funny, colorful, and perfect for younger manga fans (or anyone who grew up loving Pokémon and Digimon). The art pops with energy, and Whisper the ghost sidekick totally steals the show. 😆
While the story doesn’t dig too deep yet, it’s packed with fun world-building and silly humor that keeps you smiling.
A great start for a feel-good, spirit-filled series! 👻✨
#YoKaiWatch #MangaReview #Whisper #Jibanyan #NateAdams #Shonen #Yokai #MangaCommunity #Level5
Rating: 3.75/5
Who ya gonna call? …Yo-kai! 👀
Yo-kai Watch Vol. 1 kicks off a lighthearted, supernatural adventure full of goofy spirits, everyday chaos, and a ton of charm. When Nate discovers the mysterious Yo-kai Watch, he suddenly starts seeing all kinds of weird creatures causing mischief around town — from lazy ghosts to snack-obsessed gremlins. 🍩
It’s funny, colorful, and perfect for younger manga fans (or anyone who grew up loving Pokémon and Digimon). The art pops with energy, and Whisper the ghost sidekick totally steals the show. 😆
While the story doesn’t dig too deep yet, it’s packed with fun world-building and silly humor that keeps you smiling.
A great start for a feel-good, spirit-filled series! 👻✨
#YoKaiWatch #MangaReview #Whisper #Jibanyan #NateAdams #Shonen #Yokai #MangaCommunity #Level5
April 17, 2018
My lower elementary students have been devouring these, so I suppose it's time I gave at least the first volume a look. It's similar to the very familiar Pokemon, and I'm sure it's heavily merchandised in Japan, but it actually does have some Japanese lore mixed in to the silly "yo-kai of the week" formula it uses. For example, I've seen a baku (a dream-eating, pig-like yo-kai) in a different series, and seeing another take on it was interesting.
The ghost, Whisper, is really flipping annoying, though.
The ghost, Whisper, is really flipping annoying, though.
January 31, 2021
While walking to Elementary school Nate Adams finds a capsule machine and ends up with Whisper, his new butler. Whisper is a Yo-Kai who gives Nate a watch that can help him bridge the gap between humans and the Yo-Kai. Nate and Whisper set out to meet new Yo-Kai. As they make new friends with the Yo-Kai Nate receives a medal he can put in his watch to summon the Yo-Kai to help him. Each Yo-Kai has a specific purpose. Many of which are frustrating for Nate. This first volume introduces some of the Yo-Kai and watches Nate as he learns how to deal with them.
May 13, 2017
It's a decent manga volume. Introduces the idea of Yo-Kai very quickly, and runs through a series of vignettes concerning Yo-Kai causing hijinks.
For the most part, it's enjoyable, but you can definitely tell that this is a manga for kids. Lots of humor and jokes, but no sign of an overarching plotline yet. I would imagine there would have to be one considering it's a huge franchise, so perhaps the next few volumes will introduce some kind of story.
For the most part, it's enjoyable, but you can definitely tell that this is a manga for kids. Lots of humor and jokes, but no sign of an overarching plotline yet. I would imagine there would have to be one considering it's a huge franchise, so perhaps the next few volumes will introduce some kind of story.
August 9, 2017
This book is about a boy met a monster , which stuck in a toys vending machine, named whisper.
The boy and whisper become friends. After a few days. They met a orange cat, which is also a monster, they also become friends. The three friends always go to adventure and defeat the bad monsters. On the way, they become friends with a lot of monsters, so whenever the boy were in trouble, the monsters friends will come to help and rescue him.
The boy and whisper become friends. After a few days. They met a orange cat, which is also a monster, they also become friends. The three friends always go to adventure and defeat the bad monsters. On the way, they become friends with a lot of monsters, so whenever the boy were in trouble, the monsters friends will come to help and rescue him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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September 3, 2021I bought this as a gift for a younger cousin (8 or 9yo), and I figured I’d read it before giving it to him.
Had some good chuckles at the little cat Jibanyan, namely when he was summoned and he showed up in a trench coat + scarf, and when he showed up in a hospital gurney.
Simple, short, episodic chapters. Hopefully I targeted the reading level for my cousin correctly.
Had some good chuckles at the little cat Jibanyan, namely when he was summoned and he showed up in a trench coat + scarf, and when he showed up in a hospital gurney.
Simple, short, episodic chapters. Hopefully I targeted the reading level for my cousin correctly.
April 29, 2019
Si has visto el anime, este manga no aporta mucho más. Es entretenido y si amas Yo-Kai Watch quizá te guste, pero a mi me dio la sensación de estas viendo el anime en papel: me gusta, me divierte, pero ya lo había visto y no me sorprende.
May 27, 2025
I love Nate and all his yokai friends. This first volume sets the stage, explaining why Nate can see creatures that others can't, and introduces the first few yokai that he encounters and befriends. Perfect for fans of manga like Pokemon and Zo Zo Zombie.
July 16, 2018
I need this book in my classroom library! Students will flip for it!
February 20, 2019
Fun little gag comedy manga, but some of the art could be better for such a big franchise. I feel like this would be more fun to play than read about.
January 15, 2020
I like the show and game better but its cute.
February 8, 2022
Good book but I did notice how a few pages were cut off
April 29, 2022
It is repetitive/episodic, but it is also sweet with cool supernatural stuff.
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