Nisio Isin

Nisio Isin (西尾 維新), 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 (the first in his Zaregoto series), 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, 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 (e.g. fashion) 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" (ja) 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" (ja) 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 (which translates roughly as "Black Cat of Hospital Hill") and Shikizaki Kiki.

He said he learned much from the novels of Kiyoshi Kasai (the author of Vampire Wars), 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.

Novels

 * Zaregoto series
 * Zaregoto, Book 1: DECAPITATION: Kubikiri Cycle - The Blue Savant and the Nonsense User (Del Rey. 2008. ISBN 978-0-345-50427-2, Vertical. 2017. ISBN 978-1-945054-21-1) – the winning work of the 23rd Mephisto Prize (2002)
 * Zaregoto, Book 2: STRANGULATION: Kubishime Romanticist - No Longer Human - Hitoshiki Zerozaki (Del Rey. 2010. ISBN 978-0-345-50578-1, Vertical. 2018. ISBN 978-1-945054-83-9)
 * Zaregoto, Book 3: SUSPENSION: Kubitsuri High School - the Nonsense User's Disciple (Vertical. 2019. ISBN 978-1-947194-89-2)


 * Monogatari series
 * KIZUMONOGATARI: Wound Tale (Vertical. 2015. ISBN 978-1-941220-97-9)
 * BAKEMONOGATARI, Part 1: Monster Tale (Vertical. 2016. ISBN 978-1-942993-88-9)
 * BAKEMONOGATARI, Part 2: Monster Tale (Vertical. 2017. ISBN 978-1-942993-89-6)
 * BAKEMONOGATARI, Part 3: Monster Tale (Vertical. 2017. ISBN 978-1-942993-90-2)
 * NISEMONOGATARI, Part 1: Fake Tale (Vertical. 2017. ISBN 978-1-942993-98-8)
 * NISEMONOGATARI, Part 2: Fake Tale (Vertical. 2017. ISBN 978-1-942993-99-5)
 * NEKOMONOGATARI (BLACK): Cat Tale (Vertical. 2017. ISBN 978-1-945054-48-8)
 * NEKOMONOGATARI (WHITE): Cat Tale (Vertical. 2018. ISBN 978-1-945054-49-5)
 * KABUKIMONOGATARI: Dandy Tale (Vertical. 2018. ISBN 978-1-945054-84-6)
 * HANAMONOGATARI: Flower Tale (Vertical. 2018. ISBN 978-1-947194-06-9)
 * OTORIMONOGATARI: Decoy Tale (Vertical. 2018. ISBN 978-1-947194-14-4)
 * ONIMONOGATARI: Demon Tale (Vertical. 2018. ISBN 978-1-947194-31-1)
 * KOIMONOGATARI: Love Tale (Vertical. 2019. ISBN 978-1-947194-33-5)
 * TSUKIMONOGATARI: Possession Tale (Vertical. 2019. ISBN 978-1-947194-47-2)
 * KOYOMIMONOGATARI, Part 1: Calendar Tale (Vertical. 2019. ISBN 978-1-947194-48-9)
 * KOYOMIMONOGATARI, Part 2: Calendar Tale (Vertical. 2019. ISBN 978-1-947194-69-4)
 * OWARIMONOGATARI, Part 1: End Tale (Vertical. 2019. ISBN 978-1-947194-90-8)
 * OWARIMONOGATARI, Part 2: End Tale (Vertical. 2020. ISBN 978-1-947194-92-2)
 * OWARIMONOGATARI, Part 3: End Tale (Vertical. 2020. ISBN 978-1-949980-22-6)
 * ZOKU OWARIMONOGATARI: End Tale (Cont.) (Vertical. 2020. ISBN 978-1-949980-44-8)

Omnibus 3-in-1 volumes.
 * Katanagatari series
 * KATANAGATARI, 1: Sword Tale (Vertical. 2018. ISBN 978-1-947194-32-8)
 * KATANAGATARI, 2: Sword Tale (Vertical. 2019. ISBN 978-1-947194-56-4)
 * KATANAGATARI, 3: Sword Tale (Vertical. 2019. ISBN 978-1-947194-91-5)
 * KATANAGATARI, 4: Sword Tale (Vertical. 2020. ISBN 978-1-949980-23-3)


 * Pretty Boy series
 * Bishōnen, Book 1: Pretty Boy Detective Club: The Dark Star that Shines for You Alone (Vertical. 2020. ISBN 978-1-949980-87-5)
 * Bishōnen, Book 2: The Swindler, the Vanishing Man, and the Pretty Boys (Vertical. 2020. ISBN 978-1-949980-87-5)
 * Bishōnen, Book 3: The Pretty Boy in the Attic (Vertical. 2021. ISBN 978-1-949980-88-2)


 * Other books
 * Death Note Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases (Viz Media. 2008. ISBN 978-1-4215-1883-1)
 * xxxHOLiC: AnotherHOLiC (Del Rey. 2008. ISBN 978-0-345-50518-7)
 * Juni Taisen: Zodiac War (Viz Media. 2017. ISBN 978-1-4215-9750-8)


 * Short stories
 * Magical Girl Risuka (Faust 2. Del Rey. 2009. ISBN 978-0-345-50357-2)
 * This is the English translation of "Yasashii Mahō wa Tsukaenai" (lit. "Easy magic cannot be used"), 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 (Faust 1. Del Rey. 2008. ISBN 978-0-345-50206-3)
 * This is the English translation of Hōkago, Nanajikan-me. one-shot story.

Adaptation of the Shōjo Fujūbun novel.
 * Imperfect Girl
 * Imperfect Girl, 1 (Vertical Comics. 2017. ISBN 978-1-945054-60-0)
 * Imperfect Girl, 2 (Vertical Comics. 2018. ISBN 978-1-945054-61-7)
 * Imperfect Girl, 3 (Vertical Comics. 2018. ISBN 978-1-945054-62-4)

Adaptation of the Jūni Taisen novel.
 * Juni Taisen: Zodiac War
 * Juni Taisen: Zodiac War (manga), Vol. 1 (VIZ Media LLC. 2018. ISBN 978-1-9747-0250-3)
 * Juni Taisen: Zodiac War (manga), Vol. 2 (VIZ Media LLC. 2018. ISBN 978-1-9747-0249-7)
 * Juni Taisen: Zodiac War (manga), Vol. 3 (VIZ Media LLC. 2019. ISBN 978-1-9747-0251-0)
 * Juni Taisen: Zodiac War (manga), Vol. 4 (VIZ Media LLC. 2019. ISBN 978-1-9747-0563-4)

Adaptation of the Monogatari series novels.
 * Bakemonogatari
 * BAKEMONOGATARI (manga), volume 1 (Vertical Comics. 2019. ISBN 978-1-947194-97-7)
 * BAKEMONOGATARI (manga), volume 2 (Vertical Comics. 2020. ISBN 978-1-949980-02-8)
 * BAKEMONOGATARI (manga), volume 3 (Vertical Comics. 2020. ISBN 978-1-949980-16-5)
 * BAKEMONOGATARI (manga), volume 4 (Vertical Comics. 2020. ISBN 978-1-949980-40-0)
 * BAKEMONOGATARI (manga), volume 5 (Vertical Comics. 2020. ISBN 978-1-949980-50-9)
 * BAKEMONOGATARI (manga), volume 6 (Vertical Comics. 2020. ISBN 978-1-949980-68-4)
 * BAKEMONOGATARI (manga), volume 7 (Vertical Comics. 2021. ISBN 978-1-949980-69-1)
 * BAKEMONOGATARI (manga), volume 8 (Vertical Comics. 2021. ISBN 978-1-949980-70-7)
 * BAKEMONOGATARI (manga), volume 9 (Vertical Comics. 2021. ISBN 978-1-949980-99-8)
 * BAKEMONOGATARI (manga), volume 10 (Vertical Comics. 2021. ISBN 978-1-64729-007-8)
 * BAKEMONOGATARI (manga), volume 11 (Vertical Comics. 2021. ISBN 978-1-64729-064-1)
 * BAKEMONOGATARI (manga), volume 12 (Vertical Comics. 2022. ISBN 978-1-64729-065-8)
 * BAKEMONOGATARI (manga), volume 13 (Vertical Comics. 2022. ISBN 978-1-64729-087-0)
 * BAKEMONOGATARI (manga), volume 14 (Vertical Comics. 2022. ISBN 978-1-64729-088-7)
 * BAKEMONOGATARI (manga), volume 15 (Vertical Comics. 2022. ISBN 978-1-64729-089-4)
 * BAKEMONOGATARI (manga), volume 16 (Vertical Comics. 2022. ISBN 978-1-64729-154-9)
 * BAKEMONOGATARI (manga), volume 17 (Vertical Comics. 2023. ISBN 978-1-64729-196-9)
 * BAKEMONOGATARI (manga), volume 18 (Vertical Comics. 2023. ISBN 978-1-64729-218-8)
 * BAKEMONOGATARI (manga), volume 19 (Vertical Comics. 2023. ISBN 978-1-64729-219-5)
 * BAKEMONOGATARI (manga), volume 20 (Vertical Comics. 2023. ISBN 978-1-64729-220-1)
 * BAKEMONOGATARI (manga), volume 21 (Vertical Comics. 2024. ISBN 978-1-64729-297-3)

Adaptation of the novels with the same name.
 * Pretty Boy Detective Club
 * Pretty Boy Detective Club (manga), volume 1 (Vertical Comics. 2021. ISBN 978-1-64729-047-4)
 * Pretty Boy Detective Club (manga), volume 2 (Vertical Comics. 2021. ISBN 978-1-64729-076-4)

Zaregoto series
The Zaregoto series (戯言シリーズ) 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.


 * Zaregoto Dictional - Dictionary for the Zaregoto series (ザレゴトディクショナル　戯言シリーズ用語辞典) (June 7, 2006. Kodansha. ISBN 978-4-06-182489-8)
 * A dictionary of the Zaregoto series telling the behind-the-scenes of the story. The 4-koma manga drawn by Take titled Zaregoto Ichiban (戯言一番) was re-released in the book.

Ningen series
Spin-off of the Zaregoto series, it is also known as the Zerozaki Ichizoku series. The illustrations are provided by Take. Published by Kodansha.

Saikyō series
Spin-off of the Zaregoto series telling the story of "Overkill Red" Jun Aikawa. It was first serialized in the Mephisto magazine. Published by Kodansha. Take handled the illustrations for the series again.

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.

Sekai series
Interlinked mystery series with a different narrator telling the story each time. Published by Kodansha. Illustrated by Tagro.


 * 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.

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 Mix Story (混物語) 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. ISBN 978-4-06-513292-0

Mijikanamonogatari
In 2024, Kodansha collected 32 previously published short stories and 6 new short stories in a book titled Short Story or Short Stories (短物語). ISBN 978-4-06-536177-1

Related book

 * Audio drama script
 * Hyakumonogatari: Original Drama CD Scenario Book (佰物語: オリジナルドラマCD シナリオブック) (Kodansha. 2009. ISBN 978-4-06-215369-0)
 * Character commentary script
 * Anime "Bakemonogatari" Supplementary Reading Book (1) (アニメ『化物語』副音声副読本(上)) (Kodansha. 2012. ISBN 978-4-06-283799-6)
 * Anime "Bakemonogatari" Supplementary Reading Book (2) (アニメ『化物語』副音声副読本(下)) (Kodansha. 2012. ISBN 978-4-06-283806-1)
 * Supplementary Story (1) Nisemonogatari & Nekomonogatari (Black) Supplementary Reading Book (副物語(上) アニメ偽物語&猫物語(黒)副音声副読本) (Kodansha. 2015. ISBN 978-4-06-219697-0)
 * Supplementary Story (2) Nisemonogatari & Nekomonogatari (Black) Supplementary Reading Book (副物語(下) アニメ偽物語&猫物語(黒)副音声副読本) (Kodansha. 2015. ISBN 978-4-06-219744-1)

Katanagatari series
This twelve volume samurai epic with illustrations by Take was released one volume a month throughout 2007.

Maniwagatari
Maniwagatari takes place 200 years before Katanagatari, when the first Kyotōryū head, Kazune Yasuri, met Kiki Shikizaki.

Related book

 * Audio drama script
 * Towazugatari: Original Drama CD Scenario Book (不問(トワズ)語: オリジナルドラマCD シナリオブック) (Kodansha. 2010. ISBN 978-4-06-283734-7)

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.

Medaka Box
Spin-off novels of the Medaka Box manga. Illustrated by Akira Akatsuki.

Related book

 * Kikaijima Report Animation Collection (喜界島れぽーと あにめーしょんこれくしょん) - 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 (めだかボックス コンプリートガイドブック) - (Shueisha. 2013. ISBN 978-4-08-870876-8)

Bōkyaku Tantei series
Ongoing series with 14 volumes published by Kodansha. Illustrated by Vofan.

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.

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.

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 (怪盗フラヌールの事件簿). The series was later retitled as Henkyaku Kaitou (返却怪盗). Illustrated by Takolegs.

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.

Nakoto Manuscript series
Nakoto or Pnakotic Manuscript, referencing the grimoires H. P. Lovecraft created, has been releasing since 2004.
 * Hypothetical Phenomenon (させられ現象). Written in the Japanese magazine Eureka published by Seidosha in September 2004 issue. Illustrated by Akira Yamaguchi. (ISBN 978-4-7917-0124-7).
 * A Fruit (ある果実). Illustrated by Yoko Nihombashi - Nisio Isin Chronicle (西尾維新クロニクル) (January 30, 2006. ISBN 978-4-7966-5092-2).
 * Specifications of Glory (栄光の仕様) - "Zaregoto Series Complete Box" (「戯言シリーズコンプリートBOX」) (September 1, 2006. ISBN 978-4-06-278852-6).
 * The Irony of Iodine (ヨウ素の皮肉). Released in the KOBO CAFE Limited Edition Special Booklet (KOBO CAFE限定特別小冊子) published by Kodansha in June 2008.
 * First to End (〆に最初) - Anime Bakemonogatari Official Guidebook (アニメ化物語オフィシャルガイドブック) (June 30, 2009. ISBN 978-4-06-215498-7).
 * Long Wait for a Little (とうとうの少々) - "New Authentic Magical Girl Risuka: The Perfect Book to Commemorate the Conclusion" (新本格魔法少女りすか　完結記念パーフェクトBOOK) - Distributed in December 2020.

Shuugatari
Stories written for the Pandora magazine published by Kodansha. Illustrated by Maruboro Akai.
 * SIDE-A - Pandora Vol. 2 Side-A (『パンドラ』Vol. 2 SIDE-A) (October 9, 2008. ISBN 978-4-06-214910-5)
 * SIDE-B - Pandora Vol. 2 Side-B (『パンドラ』Vol. 2 SIDE-B) (December 20, 2008. ISBN 978-4-06-215072-9)
 * NO-SIDE - Pandora Vol. 3. (『パンドラ』Vol. 3.) (April 21, 2009. ISBN 978-4-06-215370-6)
 * ONE-SIDE - Pandora Vol. 4. (『パンドラ』Vol. 4.) (August 21, 2009. ISBN 978-4-06-215547-2)
 * 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

 * Katanagatari Picture Book: Take's Art Book (刀語絵卷: 竹画集) (Kodansha. January 20, 2009. ISBN 978-4-06-214672-2)
 * Art book illustrated by Take. Nisio Isin wrote short stories for it.
 * A short story titled Katanagatari Yowa (刀語余話) was released as a leaflet accompanying the Twelve Pilgrimage Routes (大河饅頭 十二箇所巡) on December 13, 2010.

Sekai series
The fifth story titled My World (ぼくの世界) was serialized in the Mephisto magazine published by Kodansha.
 * Dai Ichi Toi "Higawari Sekigae Mondai" (第いち問「日替わり席替え問題」) - "Mephisto" 2009 Vol. 2. (『メフィスト』2009 Vol. 2.) (August 7, 2009. ISBN 978-4-06-215742-1)
 * Dai Ni Toi "Shi-chan o Saifu Tōnan Jiken" (第に問「しーちゃんお財布盗難事件」) - "Mephisto" 2009 Vol. 3. (『メフィスト』2009 Vol. 3.) (December 8, 2009. ISBN 978-4-06-215990-6)

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.

Detective Urban Legend
A series written in the Mephisto magazine published by Kodansha.
 * First time - "Detective Control Act" (第一回「探偵取締法」) - "Mephisto" 2011 Vol. 3. (『メフィスト』2011 Vol. 3.) (December 7, 2011. ISBN 978-4-06-217483-1)
 * Second time - "Detective Job Search" (第二回「探偵就職活動」) - "Mephisto" 2012 Vol. 1. (『メフィスト』2012 Vol. 1.) (April 5, 2012. ISBN 978-4-06-217703-0)
 * Third time - "No Guide to Detective Fiction" (第三回「探偵小説不指南」) - "Mephisto" 2012 Vol. 2. (『メフィスト』2012 Vol. 2.) (August 7, 2012. ISBN 978-4-06-217862-4)

Summer Vacation Sabotage
A story written in the Mephisto magazine published by Kodansha.
 * First time (第一回) - "Mephisto" 2016 Vol. 2 (『メフィスト』2016 Vol. 2), August 4, 2016.

Bōkyaku Tantei series
Stories written for the Mephisto magazine published by Kodansha that were not collected yet.
 * Okitegami Kyōko no Satsueikai (掟上今日子の撮影会) - "Mephisto" 2018 Vol. 2. (『メフィスト』2018 Vol. 2.), August 8, 2018.
 * Okitegami Kyōko no Sawakai (掟上今日子の茶話会) - "Mephisto" 2018 Vol. 3. (『メフィスト』2018 Vol. 3.), December 6, 2018.
 * Okitegami Kyōko no Undōkai (掟上今日子の運動会) - "Mephisto" 2019 Vol. 1. (『メフィスト』2019 Vol. 1.), April 10, 2019.
 * Okitegami Kyōko no O Tomarikai (掟上今日子のお泊り会) - "Mephisto" 2019 Vol. 2. (『メフィスト』2019 Vol. 2.), August 8, 2019.
 * Okitegami Kyōko no Zadankai (掟上今日子の座談会) - "Mephisto" 2019 Vol. 3. (『メフィスト』2019 Vol. 3.), December 4, 2019.
 * Okitegami Kyōko no STAY HOLMES (掟上今日子のSTAY HOLMES)
 * A short story published on May 2, 2020, in a project titled Day to Day on the website tree.
 * Okitegami Kyōko no Kikai Bunmei (掟上今日子の機械文明) - 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

 * Sokkuri (そっくり) - Yōkaihenge Kyōgoku Dō Toribyūto (『妖怪変化 京極堂トリビュート』) (December 14, 2007. ISBN 978-4-06-214475-9)
 * A tribute based on the Hyakkiyakō series by Natsuhiko Kyogoku.
 * Shinri to Shiren (真理と試練) - Shōjo Fight 7 Special Edition (少女ファイト(7)特装版) written by Yoko Nihombashi. Published by Kodansha (July 1, 2010. ISBN 978-4-06-364836-2)
 * A story written in the official B5 booklet dōjin magazine titled Shōnen Fight.
 * Ripogura no Shinobi (りぽぐらの忍び) - Nobunaga no Shinobi 8 (信長の忍び 8) (August 29, 2014. ISBN 978-4-592-14533-2)
 * A story written in commemoration of the 150th serialization of the Nobunaga no Shinobi series.

Misc.

 * "Dawnless Night & Wakeless Dream" (明けない夜とさめない夢) - Tandem Rotor no Hōhōron (タンデムローターの方法論) (November 3, 2002)
 * A story released in the dōjinshi magazine Tandem Rotor no Hōhōron in the first literary flea market on November 3, 2002.
 * Keitai Risunā (携帯リスナー). Illustrated by Ōtarō Maijō - "Faust" Vol. 4 (『ファウスト』Vol. 4.) (December 24, 2004. ISBN 978-4-06-179446-7)
 * Competition on the theme of "coming to Tokyo".
 * Dare ni mo tsudzukanai (誰にも続かない). Illustrated by Ōtarō Maijō - "Faust" Vol. 4 (『ファウスト』Vol. 4.) (December 24, 2004. ISBN 978-4-06-179446-7)
 * A relay novel with Otsuichi, Takekuni Kitayama, Yuya Sato and Tatsuhiko Takimoto.
 * Mangaka Fuka Nō (漫画家孵化脳) - "Manga Box AMASIA" (『漫画BOX AMASIA』) (July 13, 2010. ISBN 978-4-06-364826-3)
 * "Human Language #24014" (人間語 第24014回) - “Nishio Ishin Tsūshin” (『西尾維新通信』) (April 7, 2012, Kodansha)
 * "Inhuman Language #24014" (人外語 第24014回) - “Nishio Ishin Tsūshin Vol. 2” (『西尾維新通信vol.2』) (December 24, 2012, Kodansha)
 * Gestalt Zōchiku (ゲジュタルト増築) - "Mephisto" 2013 Vol. 3. (『メフィスト』2013 Vol. 3.) (December 5, 2013. ISBN 978-4-06-218767-1)
 * "Fragment Novels" (Nisio Isin Official Website)
 * 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" (不来方百舌鳥の殺人まんがゼミナール) - October issue of "Gendai Shousetsu" (September 22, 2022, Kodansha)
 * "I was bored even before I was born" (生まれる前から倦まれてた) - "It was the first time I lied" (嘘をついたのは、初めてだった) Magazine (November 15, 2023, Kodansha)

Commentary on the literature

 * Ryūsui Seiryōin - Carnival -Ichirin no Hana- (カーニバル 一輪の花) (Kodansha. January 1, 2003. ISBN 978-4-06-273642-8)
 * Tatsuhiko Takimoto - Negative Happy Chainsaw Edge (ネガティブハッピー・チェーンソーエッヂ) (Kadowaka. June 25, 2004. ISBN 978-4-04-374701-6)
 * Hiroshi Mori - You Broke the Diameter (Φは壊れたね) (Kodansha. November 15, 2007. ISBN 978-4-06-275898-7)
 * Natsuhiko Kyogoku - A Drop of Evil (邪魅の雫) (Kodansha. June 12, 2009. ISBN 978-4-06-276371-4)
 * Yamori Mochizuki - Muboden~Twin Children~ (無貌伝〜双児の子ら〜) (Kodansha. August 6, 2009. On Kodansha's website (in Japanese))
 * Mizuki Tsujimura - The God of Slow Heights. 2 (スロウハイツの神様. 下) (Kodansha. January 15, 2010. ISBN 978-4-06-276557-2)
 * Takeru Kaido - Blaze Mes 1990 (ブレイズメス1990) (Kodansha. May 15, 2012. ISBN 978-4-06-277247-1)

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.

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 (ISBN 978-4-08-880389-0).

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.

Kimi to Nadekko!
Kimi to Nadekko! is a Japanese 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.

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.

Seishun Kijinden! 240 Gakuen
''Legend of Eccentric Youth! Nishio Academy (青春奇人伝！240学園, "240" is a pun with "Nishio") 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.

Cipher Academy
Cipher Academy (暗号学園のいろは) 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.

Screenplay

 * Audiobook
 * R.I.P. werther town (ウェルテルタウンでやすらかに) (Kodansha, Audible. December 29, 2022)
 * 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 (オリジナルドラマCD 佰物語) (Kodansha. August 3, 2009)
 * Monogatari Fes ~10th Anniversary Story~ MEMORIAL ALBUM (<物語>フェス 〜10th Anniversary Story〜 MEMORIAL ALBUM) (Aniplex. December 18, 2019)
 * Katanagatari series
 * Towazugatari Original Drama CD (不問語(トワズガタリ): オリジナルドラマCD) (Kodansha. 2010)
 * 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 (めだかボックス ジュブナイル), in 12 parts (Media Factory. 2012–2013)
 * Pretty Boy Detective Club
 * Pretty Boy Aesthetics "Aestheticism of Authenticity" Act 1 (Problem) Act 2 (Solution) (美少年耽々編『真贋鑑定の耽美』Act1（問題編）Act2（解決編）) (Aniplex. 2021)
 * Pretty Boy Aesthetics "Aestheticism of Recoloring" Act 1 (Problem) Act 2 (Solution) (美少年耽々編『お色直しの耽美』Act1（問題編）Act2（解決編）) (Aniplex. 2021)
 * Pretty Boy Aesthetics "Aestheticism of Difference" Act 1 (Problem) Act 2 (Solution) (美少年耽々編『すれ違いの耽美』Act1（問題編）Act2（解決編）) (Aniplex. 2021)
 * Pretty Boy Aesthetics "Aestheticism of One Sheet of Genkō Yōshi" Act 1 (Problem) Act 2 (Solution) (美少年耽々編『原稿用紙一枚分の耽美』Act1（問題編） Act2（解決編）) (Aniplex. 2021)
 * Pretty Boy Aesthetics "Pretty Boy Detective Club: The Last Indulgence" Last 1 (Problem) Last 2 (Grand Finale) (美少年耽々編『美少年探偵団　最後の耽美』LAST1（問題編） LAST2（大団円）) (Aniplex. 2022)
 * Script
 * Medaka Box (TV)
 * Episode 12 - Even Without Medaka Kurokami (黒神めだかがいなくても) - Original air date: June 20, 2012.
 * Medaka Box Abnormal (TV)
 * Episode 12 - Medaka Box Extra Edition: Good Loser Kumagawa (めだかボックス番外編: グッドルーザー球磨川) - 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 -Rebellion- between October 26 and November 22, 2013.
 * 1st week (October 26 – November 1): Ōgi Oshino Version
 * 2nd week (November 2 – 8): Karen Araragi & Tsukihi Araragi Version
 * 3rd week (November 9 – 15): Mayoi Hachikuji Version
 * 4th week (November 16 – 22): Hitagi Senjōgahara Version
 * Okitegami Kyōko no Bibōroku x Monogatari PVs. (2014. Directed by Yukihiro Miyamoto)
 * Two advertisements for the first e-book of Nisio Isin, Okitegami Kyōko no Bibōroku, from the Bōkyaku Tantei series.
 * Madogatari (Madoka Magica x Monogatari crossover)
 * 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 feat. Nisio Isin (ユリイカ2004年9月臨時増刊号　総特集 西尾維新) (September 18, 2004. Seidosha. ISBN 978-4-7917-0124-7)
 * Burandjisshu? (ぶらんでぃっしゅ?) (November 1, 2005. Gentosha. ISBN 978-4-344-01070-3)
 * Written by Ryūsui Seiryōin. Nisio cooperated as a special guest.
 * Nisio Isin Chronicle (西尾維新クロニクル) (January 30, 2006. Takarajimasha Co. ISBN 978-4-7966-5092-2)
 * Fan book containing an interview with Nisio Isin.
 * Hiroshi Mori Book: From Work Guide to Garden (森博嗣本―作品ガイドからお庭まで) (February 1, 2006. Takarajimasha Co. ISBN 978-4-7966-5143-1)
 * Contains a dialogue with Nisio Isin.
 * Mori Log Academy 9 (モリログ・アカデミィ 9) (March 12, 2008. Media Factory. ISBN 978-4-8401-2197-2)
 * Nisio Isin lectured for five days as a special guest.
 * Nisio Isin Dialogue Collection Main Question (西尾維新対談集 本題) (September 3, 2014. Kodansha. ISBN 978-4-06-219107-4)
 * 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 (西尾維新デビュー２０周年記念フリーペーパー「２４０Ｑ」) (September 5, 2022). Kodansha.
 * Nisio answers 240 questions of fans.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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" (新本格魔法少女りすか　完結記念パーフェクトBOOK) 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.

TV Drama
Japanese drama. It adapted the first four volumes of the Bōkyaku Tantei series. Starring Yui Aragaki.

Stage Play

 * Juni Taisen (2018)
 * Labyrinth Revue: Bishounen Tanteidan (2021)