Midori no Mamorigami みどりの守り神

Midori no Mamorigami Review (Rating: 4.5 / 5)

Overview

Midori no Mamorigami (“The Guardian of Green”) is an SF short story by Fujiko F. Fujio, first published in Manga Shonen in 1976. Though technically a short story, its 48 pages give it the density and depth of a compact “medium-length” work. It is widely regarded as one of the standout pieces among the author’s many SF shorts.
(English reference example: https://middle-edge.jp/articles/PVwMd)
It is also included in the recent Fujiko F. Fujio SF Short Story Complete Works (Volume 7).
(https://www.shogakukan.co.jp/pr/f_sf/)

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Story Summary

The story opens with Midori Fukami, a young girl traveling with her family, surviving a sudden plane crash. When she regains consciousness, she finds herself not in the snowy mountain where the plane went down, but in a massive, unfamiliar forest—thick, silent, and eerily devoid of ordinary life. Her parents are nowhere to be found.

Instead, she encounters Gorō Sakaguchi, a young man who was also on the plane. He tells her that the two of them appear to be the only survivors. As they walk through the forest seeking help, they notice puzzling abnormalities: despite the crash occurring in early spring, the environment feels like midsummer.

Their journey exposes them to strange fruits, unnatural landscapes, and, eventually, a vast city swallowed by nature—silent, empty, abandoned long ago. As they continue, the truth of what happened to this world—its people, its environment, and its past—slowly emerges.

(※The summary avoids revealing the final twist or ending.)

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Main Characters

• Midori Fukami – The protagonist. A girl who wakes after the crash and must navigate the strange world despite her injuries.

• Gorō Sakaguchi – A young man and fellow survivor. He guides Midori through the forest, though his demeanor occasionally reveals hints of coldness or ambiguity.

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Story Development

The first part of the story is marked by realism: the shock of the crash, the fear of isolation, and the urgent struggle for survival. Yet as the characters travel deeper into the forest, reality begins to dissolve. The contradictions—impossible climate conditions, unfamiliar plants, a ruined city overtaken by nature—make it clear that the world they are in is not simply the aftermath of an accident.

What begins as a survival tale steadily transforms into a broader exploration of civilization, nature, extinction, and the long thread of humanity’s past. The story uses a small cast and limited space, yet builds toward a sweeping, contemplative finale. The balance between fast pacing and thematic depth is one of the work’s greatest achievements.

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Characteristics of This Manga

1. Deep Themes Within a Compact Form

Even within a short narrative, the manga addresses the collapse of civilization, the power of nature, and questions of rebirth. Every page contributes to a larger idea, creating an emotional and philosophical weight unusual for such a brief story.

2. A “Reversal of Perspective”

Fujiko F. Fujio often explored scenarios where everyday assumptions are inverted. By stripping away the familiar world, the story forces the reader to reconsider humanity’s relationship with its surroundings. This conceptual inversion is one of the author’s trademarks.

3. The Strength of Short-Form Storytelling

There is no unnecessary dialogue or filler. The narrative moves with precision—each scene pushing the mystery and tension forward. It is an excellent example of how powerful a short manga can be when tightly constructed.

4. The Author’s Versatility

Known worldwide for Doraemon, Fujiko F. Fujio also created darker, more philosophical works. This duality—child-friendly imagination on one hand, and mature speculative fiction on the other—gives this story a unique atmosphere.

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My Thoughts

Reading Midori no Mamorigami reminded me just how broad Fujiko F. Fujio’s creative range truly was. Although he is most famous for bright, imaginative children’s stories, his SF shorts show a different brilliance: bold ideas, challenging themes, and sharp narrative design.

One of his greatest strengths is the ability to question the “ordinary.” He often uses aliens, unfamiliar worlds, or shifted perspectives to reveal how fragile our assumptions can be. This story is a perfect example—civilization, nature, survival, and human identity are viewed from angles that unsettle the reader, yet feel strangely plausible.

Modern media often uses similar “perspective reversal” techniques, but few creators manage to blend seriousness, imagination, and structural clarity the way Fujiko F. Fujio does. His short stories demonstrate an almost “genius-level” capacity for generating ideas and shaping them into tight, impactful narratives.

Because he produced so many short works, choosing a starting point can be overwhelming. But Midori no Mamorigami stands out as one of the clearest gateways into his SF world—rich, unsettling, and thought-provoking. For readers seeking something more than simple entertainment, this is a story I strongly recommend.

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Conclusion

Midori no Mamorigami is a short manga that reaches beyond its length. With minimal characters and a compact structure, it presents sweeping questions about humanity, nature, and the fate of civilizations. It is direct yet profound, concise yet expansive in meaning.

If you are looking for a manga that leaves you with lingering thoughts—something mysterious, emotional, and philosophical—this work will stay with you long after you finish it.

A powerful example of Fujiko F. Fujio’s SF storytelling.
Highly recommended.