Chiikawa’s Yamanba Arc: the old woman in the woods and how to read it
Based on our Japanese story page and our article on Yamanba; anime episodes checked on the official anime site (2026-10-01).
Chiikawa, Hachiware and Usagi go to the woods to gather marrons glacés, get caught in a trap, and are rescued by Yamanba, a white-haired old woman who invites them home for a feast. Nagano posted this 10-post story on X in September and October 2022, and it was adapted in the anime in January 2026. This page shows where to read it, without spoilers.
- Original posts
- 10 posts on Nagano’s X, Sep 18, 2022 – Oct 2, 2022
- Anime
- Episodes 306–311 (“Yamanba 1–6”; only the first half of ep. 311), aired Jan 6, 2026 – Jan 23, 2026
- Main characters
- Chiikawa, Hachiware, Usagi and Yamanba
- Length
- One page on Chiifan, a quick read
Read the Yamanba Arc in one go
Our Japanese page shows all 10 of Nagano’s posts for this arc as X embeds on a single page, in posting order. The reading page is in Japanese, but you only need to scroll: Nagano’s X posts are lined up from top to bottom in order, all on one page. Google Lens can translate the Japanese in the images.
- Page 1: The trap in the woods and Yamanba’s house(Japanese)
- Posts 1–10
- 10 is the number of Nagano’s posts we collected, not an official episode count.
What is the Yamanba Arc about? (no spoilers)
The three friends are happily gathering marrons glacés in the woods when they all get caught in a trap. Yamanba appears, rescues them, and invites them to her house, where she serves them meals and sweets.
- Just as they settle down to sleep, they hear a noise in the middle of the night. The reason for it becomes clear in the story.
- It’s a warm story of hospitality with an unsettled feeling underneath, which is why fans often name it among the scarier arcs.
- We stop there. What happens next and how it ends is best found in the comic or the anime.
Who is Yamanba?
A white-haired old woman who lives in a house in the woods. She wears a green, kimono-like outfit and is drawn much bigger than Chiikawa and friends.
- “Yamanba” (山姥) is the name of an old woman said to live deep in the mountains in Japanese folk tales. Nagano has not said anything about a link to those tales.
- Who she really is, where she came from, and how long she has lived in the woods have not been revealed, as of October 2026.
- Some fans compare the story to “Hansel and Gretel” or to folk tales about yamanba, and some read it together with the “Anoko” story posted afterwards. Nothing in the comic connects them.
Which anime episodes?
Episodes 306 to 311, titled “Yamanba 1” to “Yamanba 6”. The 10 posts were split into 6 episodes.
- Only the first half of episode 311 belongs to this story; the second half, “Yūjō kana”, is a separate story about Momonga and Furuhonya.
- The episodes aired in Japan from Jan 6, 2026 to Jan 23, 2026, on Tuesdays and Fridays on Fuji TV’s “Mezamashi TV”.
- We have only checked the broadcast in Japan.
Characters and more to read
Chiikawa, Hachiware and Usagi spend the whole story together at Yamanba’s house.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Yamanba in Chiikawa?
A white-haired old woman who rescues Chiikawa, Hachiware and Usagi from a trap in the woods and treats them at her house. Who she really is has not been revealed.
Which anime episodes are the Yamanba Arc?
Episodes 306 to 311 (only the first half of ep. 311), aired in Japan in January 2026.
Is the Yamanba Arc scary?
It stays cute-looking, but the friendly hospitality has an uneasy feel and there is a scene in the night, so fans often count it among the scarier arcs.
Where can I read it?
The original posts are on Nagano’s X account. Chiifan’s Yamanba Arc page shows all 10 posts in order on one page.
Sources
Pages marked (Japanese) are only available in Japanese.