[Reading Log] December 7 - December 13, 2025
Hello everyone, good evening, and good morning.
I am Tarushiru Yomunosuki, an old guy who woke up to the joy of reading after entering the B-side of life.📖
Well then, here is the book I encountered this week!
[Books encountered from December 7 to December 13, 2025]
⚪️ The Mark of the Sun and Moon (7) New World Herb C
[Content Introduction]
24,905 men. 27,339 women. 1,029 adults. 52,244 surviving humans—further despair in the 7th volume.
Human society was on the verge of extinction due to the Hades-spot original strain scattered throughout the solar system by the "Practice."
Aineia Seaki, who escaped from the "Practice" via the Shepherd, reunites with Migera Margus on the starship Gini, which she eventually reaches.
However, in the midst of the chaotic situation, the Gini crashes onto the asteroid Ceres. Aineia and Migera, who barely survived, send a transmission to Ceres City in search of other survivors, but—
The 7th volume of the series depicting further despair.
[Impressions]
The 7th volume of the series is a story set after humanity has been almost completely wiped out by the "Hades-spot virus" scattered throughout the solar system by the Practice.
More than 50,000 children who escaped infection from the Hades-spot through various connections of feelings must continue to live in the limited space of an underground shelter, with almost no reliable adults around.
The members of the Scouts unite, sometimes clash, control the children who are on the verge of being crushed by anxiety, secure electricity, water, and food, and steadily increase plants and livestock to tenaciously connect their lives. And in this volume, the mystery of the stage of the first volume, the colony Many Many Sheep, is revealed. I see, so that's what it was.
⚪️ The Mark of the Sun and Moon (8) Giant Ark PART 1
[Content Introduction]
"Wake up, Isari. They have fired. Let's make them quiet." Isari regained consciousness in a closed space, not knowing when or where it was. Mihiru, whom she finally met, told her that the battle with the enemy was reaching its final stage, and only looked at Isari with contempt. One of the watchers whispers to Isari, who is crushed by despair—"There might still be human survivors." The first part of the 8th volume of the series, where grand causality revolves.
[Impressions]
Volume 8 is set about 300 years after volume 7. Yes, it links here with the first volume, "Many Many Sheep." Moreover, most of this volume is told from the perspective of Isari, the monster that caused the "Mask Fever" in the first volume. This finally clears up the dangling ending of the first volume. Other parts that had been mysteries until now were revealed one after another, and I couldn't stop my heart from racing.
Still, it's a story of grand scale. After all, the eight books from volume 2 to volume 7 are all prequels leading up to volume 1 and this volume 8.
Now, can humanity resist the Practice, or rather, an even more powerful enemy after this?
⚪️ The Mark of the Sun and Moon (8) Giant Ark PART 2
[Content Introduction]
In the year 2803, light was lost from Many Many Sheep, and peace was crushed by the invasion of the "Chewers." Kadom, wounded in despair, sets out on a journey to a distant land with Isari, Lagos, and others. Meanwhile, Elanka, who became the president of the new democratic government, takes a harsh path toward national reconstruction—the second part of the 8th volume of the series, where the story begins to move again.
[Impressions]
The second half of volume 8 unfolds into three main stories.
First, the seven members centered on Seaki Kadom go on a journey to find a spaceship to grasp the truth or reality of the colony Many Many Sheep, and to get out of this world.
Second is the story of the new government, led by Elanka Kiduru, who became the president of Many Many Sheep after the chaos, rebuilding the country while fighting the rampaging Practice.
And the third is the existence of the true enemy revealed along with the awakening of the captain of the "Sea Union," Akrira Aurelia. To think that that maid robot was...
I don't know if it's a good impression, but it was a series of "I see," "As I thought," and "No way."
⚪️ Why is School Boring and Why is it Important
[Introduction]
"Can morality be taught?" "Is school study useful for work?" "Can education resolve inequality?" "Will education change in an AI society?"—re-examining these questions from a broad perspective and diverse angles.
[Thoughts]
For my generation, going to school was a given. As teenagers, we would think things like, "Why do I have to learn this?" or "I'll never use this when I'm out in the real world," but we managed to graduate anyway.
Since then, I've started working and gotten married. Remembering how my own children asked me, "Why do I have to go to school?" during their teenage years and how I couldn't answer them well, I picked this up again to learn more.
First, I was able to resolve the questions I most wanted to know, such as "What is education?" and "What are the purpose and function of school?" After that, I was able to learn about a wide range of topics, including moral education and the issues between humans and AI.
⚪️ Voice Actor: The Voice Artisan
[Introduction]
That voice that captivated me was also Tomoyuki Morikawa. He is a rare individual who is both a popular voice actor with a unique presence who can play a variety of voices, and the president of his own voice acting agency. A professional often called the "Emperor," he is active in every genre from anime to dubbing foreign films, narration, and drama CDs. He reveals the secrets of the craft of voice acting.
[Thoughts]
This is a book in which the author—who possesses a "1/f fluctuation voice" said to have a healing effect, has appeared in numerous works including as "Kagaya Ubuyashiki" in the anime Demon Slayer and the second generation "Hiroshi Nohara" in Crayon Shin-chan, is known for dubbing "Tom Cruise" in foreign films, and also serves as the representative of a voice acting agency—talks about his half-life and the job of a voice actor.
First of all, I was surprised that it was published by the rather formal Iwanami Shinsho.
The content feels more like a "work philosophy" or "actor philosophy" than anecdotes about what roles he has played.
This is a book I would definitely like those who aim to become voice actors to pick up.
Even for those who don't know Mr. Morikawa, this is a video that will make you say, "Ah, I see, this voice!" in one go.
[Weekly Old Guy's ONE PIECE]
⚪️ ONE PIECE Vol. 50 "Arriving Again"
[Introduction]
Luffy, who has taken in 1,000 shadows and is wielding immense power, continues to fight back with "Gear" even in a state beyond his limits against Moria! The fierce battle set in Thriller Bark comes to an end!! A marine adventure romance revolving around the "One Piece"!!
[Thoughts]
The Straw Hat Pirates win the battle against Gecko Moria and manage to retrieve their stolen shadows at the very last minute. Then, Bartholomew Kuma, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, appears. He visited Thriller Bark as a messenger for the World Government, but upon hearing of Moria's defeat, the World Government issues an order to exterminate everyone on Thriller Bark, including the Straw Hat Pirates.
While Luffy is unconscious, it is Zoro who stands in Kuma's way. The way he takes everything on himself to protect Luffy is just so cool.
And Brook officially joins the crew. Brook's "I'm glad I'm alive" also makes me tear up when I think about his 50 years of loneliness until then.
And the crew heads for "Fish-Man Island," but...!?
[A Summary That Doesn't Quite Come Together]
How was it?
This week, it was the continuation of Issui Ogawa's "Tenmei no Hyō," two new books, and the 50th volume of ONE PIECE.
Oh, that's right, I recently realized (a bit late, I know), that I've been reading ONE PIECE one volume at a time since the beginning of the year, and I've been reading Issui Ogawa's "Tenmei no Hyō" since last month. Since these are so-called "continuing series," I've been writing my thoughts as I read them in order, so I (think I) have a grasp of the overall story, but I wonder if someone who read this article suddenly wouldn't have any idea what I'm talking about...
Moreover, I'm a little reflective that it might be a "spoiler" for those who haven't read them yet.
Based on these things, I'm currently considering changing my direction starting next year: instead of introducing every book I read, I might only introduce the first volume if it's a series, or carefully introduce books that I've encountered that I think are "the one," including books I've read in the past.
That said, my writing ability is, well...
Lastly
Reading is great, isn't it.