Koyomimonogatari

Koyomimonogatari

Koyomimonogatari anime cover art featuring Koyomi Araragi from the Monogatari series
Koyomimonogatari Cover Art

Overview

Koyomimonogatari is a bit different from all the other entries into the Monogatari series we’ve looked at so far. Instead of covering one or multiple entire arcs, Koyomimonogatari is made up of single episodes which take place during different points in the series.

For example, the first episode takes place before the events of Bakemonogatari, while the second episode takes place after. Because of this, I’ll be doing a short, roughly two-sentence summary/review of each episode rather than grouping them together into arcs like I normally would.

Episodes

Koyomi Stone is the first episode of the season and is about a stone in a small shrine that Koyomi and Hanekawa find on the school grounds. While I don’t remember exactly how this episode ended, I believe it had something to do with the shrine was Koyomi’s discarded woodshop project, and someone put a rock in it for no real reason.

I feel it’s important to note here that since these are single episodes rather than full arcs, and it’s been over a year since I watched them, my memory is a bit hazy on some of the details.

Koyomi Flower is the second episode and follows Koyomi and Senjougahara as they attempt to find out why people have been leaving flowers on the roadside and school rooftop. I believe they determine it’s because by making it look like someone died there, other people will act more cautiously and be safer.

Koyomi Sand involves a sandbox in the shape of a devil which Mayoi tells Koyomi about. Upon investigation, the shape just happens to be a coincidence caused by a sinkhole or some other issue with the bottom of the sandbox.

Koyomi Water is one I don’t really remember much about at all. I know there’s some mysterious story about the water used for the bath at Kanbaru’s home, but I don’t remember how it turned out.

Koyomi Wind involves a discussion between Koyomi and Nadeko about how Kaiki was able to spread his charms throughout the middle school. Basically, kids are just gullible.

In Koyomi Tree, Karen tells Koyomi about a full-grown tree that has mysteriously appeared behind her dojo. Koyomi determines that the tree has always been there, just nobody ever paid attention to it before.

Koyomi Tea is about the other fire sister, Tsukihi, who tells Koyomi the members of her tea club believe in a ghost despite her proving to them it doesn’t exist. I think Koyomi tells her that they want it to exist because things are more fun that way.

Ougi tells Koyomi a story about the snake shrine located on top of the mountain in Koyomi Mountain. Apparently, the shrine was once located on a different mountain but was moved. If I’m remembering correctly, they determine the shrine wasn’t actually moved, but an entire new shrine was built instead.

In Koyomi Torus, Shinobu and Koyomi play a game. Shinobu will hide four donuts around the room, and each one Koyomi is unable to find she gets to eat. Koyomi is only able to find three of the four and suspects Shinobu cheated by eating the last one.

However, Hanekawa comes up with some dumb explanation about hiding the fourth donut inside one of the other three which would mean Koyomi actually found all four without realizing it. This was the worst ending of all the Koyomimonogatari episodes and not just because Hanekawa was involved.

Shinobu Oshino eating a donut from the anime series Koyomimonogatari
Shinobu Oshino eating a donut

Koyomi Seed is about Koyomi helping Yotsugi find something she has lost. I think she mentions that she doesn’t know what she lost, but she’ll know it when she sees it. Something is also telling me it was her who was the lost thing the whole time.

Koyomi Nothing is about Koyomi training with Yozuru so he can learn to fight without relying on his vampiric powers. If he is able to land a single blow on her, then she will answer a question he has about Yotsugi. In the end, she never shows up to their fight.

The final episode of the season is Koyomi Dead. Unlike the rest of the episodes which take place at some point throughout the series so far (maybe with the exception of Koyomi Nothing) Koyomi Dead sets up the next arc of the series.

In this episode, Gaen kills Koyomi by using the apparition killer sword Kokoro Watari.

Conclusion

As usual, this entry of the Monogatari series is a 10/10 even though it was in a slightly different format than usual.

One thing you may have noticed about this season is that each episode had a fairly “boring” ending. That’s to say that in each case there wasn’t any kind of apparition at work, it was simply something like a misunderstanding or a lack of noticing something.

While some people may not like that about Koyomimonogatari, I actually do because it’s relatable. There are many times when I’ll notice a building or sign while driving that I’ve never noticed before, only to find out it’s been there for years or even decades.

Not every mystery has to have a mysterious solution, and that’s what I enjoy about Koyomimonogatari.

Finally, while the last episode, Koyomi Dead, sets up the Mayoi Hell arc of Owarimonogatari season 2, the next time I write about the Monogatari series will instead by about Kizumonogatari, because that’s the next part that was animated.

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