xxxHOLiC: Rei Review: Watanuki Returns to the Wish Shop, and the Past Is Not What He Remembers
by CLAMP
Read the first volume. If it doesn't hook you, put it down. It'll hook you.
Buy xxxHOLiC: Rei on Amazon →*Affiliate link — I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Quick Take
- CLAMP's return to the xxxHOLiC universe — more contemplative than the original, focused on memory and what Watanuki's wish cost him
- Requires familiarity with the original xxxHOLiC; not accessible as a standalone
- 4 volumes complete; essential for xxxHOLiC fans
Who Is This Manga For?
- Readers who completed the original xxxHOLiC and want the continuation
- CLAMP fans following their interconnected universe
- Anyone who wants supernatural manga that focuses on the philosophical consequences of wishes
- Readers looking for complete short-run sequel manga
Content Warnings & Age Rating
Age Rating: T+ (Older Teen) Content Warnings: Supernatural themes; memory and loss; philosophical content about wishes and consequences; some adult situations
T+ rating — older teen readers; continuation of original xxxHOLiC themes.
Yu's Rating
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Story Depth | ★★★★☆ |
| Art Style | ★★★★★ |
| Character Development | ★★★★☆ |
| Accessibility for Non-Japanese Readers | ★★★☆☆ |
| Reread Value | ★★★★☆ |
Story Overview
Watanuki runs Yūko's wish shop. He has always run it. He doesn't leave.
But something is wrong with how he remembers things. Events that happened a certain way don't match his current experience. The clients who come with wishes seem familiar in ways he can't account for.
xxxHOLiC: Rei explores the cost of Watanuki's wish — what he chose, what it did to him, and what he remembers versus what happened. CLAMP returns to the universe they built in xxxHOLiC and Tsubasa to examine the aftermath of the choices their characters made.
Characters
Kimihiro Watanuki — Older, settled, deeply melancholy in ways the original's Watanuki was not; his management of the shop and his memory of why he is there is the series' emotional content.
Yūko Ichihara — Present in memory and in ways that the series gradually makes specific; her presence is the series' most affecting content.
Art Style
CLAMP's art has evolved — the style here is more refined than the original xxxHOLiC's elongated figures, and the dream-sequence panels carry more weight. The black-and-white design work is among their best.
Cultural Context
xxxHOLiC: Rei ran in Young Magazine the 3rd and engages directly with the resolution of Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle and the original xxxHOLiC, completing the thematic arc CLAMP built across both series.
What I Love About It
Watanuki's stillness. The original series had a protagonist who complained constantly and found everything overwhelming. Rei has a protagonist who has become someone — someone defined by loss and choice and the specific peace of someone who knows what they gave up and has decided it was correct. The contrast with the original Watanuki is the sequel's best argument.
What English-Speaking Fans Say
Western readers describe xxxHOLiC: Rei as a rewarding but demanding sequel — specifically noted for requiring deep familiarity with both xxxHOLiC and Tsubasa, for Watanuki's character development being complete and affecting, and for CLAMP's art being at its most refined. Consistently recommended for fans who want closure rather than newcomers.
Memorable Scene ⚠️ Spoiler Warning
The moment when Watanuki's memory and reality diverge in a way that makes clear what his wish actually cost — when the gap between what he remembers and what happened becomes specific — is the series' emotional culmination.
Similar Manga
- xxxHOLiC — The original series; essential prerequisite
- Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle — The parallel CLAMP series
- Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card — CLAMP sequel in similar reflective mode
- Clover — CLAMP's most contemplative work
Reading Order / Where to Start
Read xxxHOLiC complete first. Read Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle complete. Then Volume 1 of Rei.
Official English Translation Status
Kodansha Comics published all 4 volumes in English. Complete series available.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Watanuki's character development is complete and affecting
- CLAMP's art at its most refined
- Genuine closure for xxxHOLiC fans
- Thematically satisfying
Cons
- Inaccessible without original series context
- Requires Tsubasa context for full meaning
- 4 volumes may feel short for the questions raised
Format Comparison
| Format | Notes |
|---|---|
| Individual Volumes | Kodansha Comics; complete series |
| Digital | Available |
Where to Buy
Read the first volume. If it doesn't hook you, put it down. It'll hook you.
This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
*Affiliate link — I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
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Written by
Yu
Manga Enthusiast from Japan
I grew up in Japan and manga literally saved me during a tough time in elementary school. My English isn't perfect, but my love for manga is real — and I want to share it with you.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.