Zaregoto (戯言) is a Japanese light novel series written by Nisio Isin and illustrated by Take. The series was published in Japan between February 2002 and November 2005 by Kodansha Books in nine volumes. Celebrating the twentieth anniversary of Nisio's debut in 2022, the tenth volume of the series was released on February 8, 2023. The series was followed by a seven-volume spin-off series also published by Kodansha Books, the Ningen (人間) series, focusing on the Zerozaki clan. A second spin-off series focused on Jun Aikawa titled Saikyō (最強) series was serialized in the Mephisto magazine, and was collected by Kodansha in five volumes. First two volumes of Zaregoto were initially released in North America by Del Rey Manga, but have since been republished by Vertical, who also released the third volume. An eight-episode original video animation series adaptation of the first volume by Shaft was released between October 2016 and September 2017.

Plot

The story revolves around a narrator, whose name is never mentioned, and the mysteries he encounters. After the second book, the series starts including more and more fighting and action. The narrator tends to try, in vain, to stay out of the story, but instead of being the bystander he wants to be, he always gets dragged into the center of everything. Even though it seems the narrator does a lot in the story, he always finds out at the end that whatever he accomplished was meaningless.

Setting

According to Tomo's explanation, the world is divided into four separate kinds of territories:

Characters

The "Outer" World

"I"'s relationships

The Residents of the Antique Apartment

The apartment which "I" lives in. The real name of this place is unknown, "I" is the only one calling it The Antique Apartment. Existed before the Meiji period. Made mainly of wood, three stories, four-mat room with horrible sound insulation, bare light bulb, shared toilet, no bath; the rent is 10,000 yen per month, though.

"I"'s Classmates

In the second book, "I" attends Rokumeikan Private University. It is located in Kinugasa, in Kita Ward of Kyoto.

The Police

The "Violence" World

Niounomiya

Known as the "Niounomiya Circus". Ranked first in the Killing Names. A family that kills under contract. Due to their special techniques when killing, people refer to them as "The Killing Magic Organization, Niounomiya Circus". There are a total of fifty-three branch families, including the Sawarabi family and the Miotsukushi family under the Niounomiya family. The opposing family in The Cursing Names is the Tokinomiya family.

Zerozaki

Known as the "Zerozaki Bandits". Rank third in The Killing Names. A group of unreasonable serial killers gathered not by blood relations, but by the thirst for blood. Contains twenty to twenty-five members. The only family without an opposing family in The Cursing Names.

The "Politics" World

The "Politics" world is controlled by the Kunagisa Organization, one of the few Zaibatsu that still exists in Japan. Seven organizations that hold control of the world is under Kunagisa, it consists of "Ichigai(壱外)", "Nishiori(壱弐栞)", "Sanzaka(参榊)", "Shikabane(肆屍)", "Gotoride(伍砦)", "Rokukase(陸枷)", and lastly "Hachikiri(捌限)". All of their name starts with a number, with seven(柒) not included in the list.

The "Economical" World

The "Economical" world consists of five big Zaibatsu, "Akagami(赤神)", "Iigami(謂神)", "Ujigami(氏神)", "Ekagami(絵鏡 )", and "Origami(檻神)". Together, they are called the "Four Gods and One Mirror(四神一鏡)".

Four Gods and One Mirror's relationships

Guests on Wet Crow's island

Wet Crow's Island is the property of the Akagami Plutocrats. Its purpose is to keep the exiled heiress away from the rest of the world. In Russian, it means "The End of Despair". Now, it is a place for geniuses to gather under the invitation of Iria.

Media

Novels

Zaregoto Series

Ningen Series

Saikyō Series

Anime

An anime adaptation by Shaft was announced in May 2016, which was later confirmed to be an original video animation series adaptation of the novel series' first volume in August 2016. The anime series spans 8 episodes across 8 home video release volumes, which were released between October 26, 2016 and September 27, 2017. The series is directed by Yuki Yase and Akiyuki Shinbo, and written by Yukito Kizawa and Munemasa Nakamoto, featuring character designs by Akio Watanabe and music by Yuki Kajiura. The opening theme song is "Cobalt World" by Sangatsu no Phantasia, and the ending theme song is "Märchen" by Kalafina. The final episode, episode 8, was produced with assistance from studio Peace & Kindness. The series has several chief animation directors: Akio Watanabe himself, Hirofumi Suzuki of Naruto fame (who worked with Shinbo on Le Portrait de Petit Cossette), and Rina Iwamoto (from CUES). Akihisa Takano (from Shaft) joined as chief animation director starting on episode 2, and Shaft's Hiroki Yamamura joined for the eighth and final episode as well. Long before the anime's announcement, Shaft had interest in producing an adaptation of the series, which character designer Akio Watanabe said was the initial work that he was contacted by studio president Mitsutoshi Kubota for. However, plans for the series were quickly scrapped, and instead Watanabe was asked to create the designs for Bakemonogatari.

Episode list

Character commentary

Character commentaries are available on the DVD/BD releases of Kubikiri Cycle. Jun Aikawa receives some characters from the whole series for a conversation about the specific episode they are in. Nisio Isin wrote each commentary of the eight episodes.

Development

The Kubikiri Cycle went through a number of drafts; Tomo Kunagisa was originally intended to be the series' protagonist, but during the rewriting process, Nisio Isin realized that Ii-chan had become more important. After finally completing the novel, Nisio proceeded to write Strangulation Romanticist in three days. With Suspension High School, Nisio began consciously moving the series away from traditional mystery novel structure.

Reception

The Kubikiri Cycle, the first volume of Zaregoto series, won the 23rd Mephisto Prize in 2002. The series has been selected by Takarajimasha's Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! three times as one of the ten best light novels of the year: in 2005 when it ranked second, in 2006 when it topped the list, and in 2007 when it placed third. The series was a bestseller, and grew in popularity as it went on. While the first volume debuted at number eight on the novel charts, the final volume debuted at number one and remained at the top for three weeks.