Mushishi ep.10

January 8, 2006 | 14 Comments

This is another interesting storyline from the series. The episode also marks the second appearance of Adashino-sensei, Ginko's colleague who previously appeared in episode 5. This time around, however, he seems to be portrayed in a less flattering light. Although in general, he is still a good guy who works together with Ginko to solve the problem. This, however, makes me wish that we'll get to see an evil Mushishi who uses his knowledge to hurt others. I just think it'll provide a variety from the usual Ginko saving another person story. Although I supposed that kind of story would not suit the slow-paced nature of this series. Anyway, for those who have been following the series from the start and was hoping for more, it seems the wiki entry for the series has now been updated to include 26 episodes.

The episode begins with a group of kids sneaking into Adashino-sensei's warehouse through the metalic bars he place through the window. One of the kids thinks that it's going to be okay since Adashino is taking a look at his grandma at the moment. As the kids walk around inside the warehouse, they see various creepy items stored within it. A kid notices a cloth covering something and upon taking it away, she finds a beautiful Inkstone. After the opening, Adashino-sensei is seen being awakened by a villager who requires his assistance. Apparently his kid, who happens to be the same kid who saw the Inkstone earlier in the day has now become sick. It seems that the kid's body has become cold and moreover, other kids next door who played together with the kid have also suffered from the same disease. The disease seems to puzzle Adashino since the kid's body is unusually low. On top of this, the kid produces hales when he coughs.

After the kid's mother gone to fetch more futon for the kid, however, the kid admit to Adashino that he and his friends have played with the Inkstone inside his warehouse. Fast forward to what is possibly a few days later, Ginko is seen visiting Adashino's house. Adashino takes him into his warehouse and tells Ginko that he was careless and should not have shown the contents of his warehouse to the villagers. Adashino then shows Ginko the Inkstone that the kids have used. Adashino apparently bought it from an acquaintance collector and thinks that the Inkstone was made from the fossil of some Mushi. Ginko quickly scolds Adashino for buying something that he knows nothing about and moreover, Ginko thinks that the Inkstone does not contain the fossil of a Mushi. What it contains, on the other hand, is a group of Mushi that are still alive. Adashino seems very ashamed and regretful that he's been this careless.

Adashino then tells Ginko that the kids have been scrubbing the Inkstone with water just like one will do when there is ink inside the Inkstone. Upon doing so, the kids suddenly feel chilly and the rest is history. Ginko theorises that the Mushi was released by rubbing the Inkstone. He then finds out from Adashino that the previous owner of the Inkstone have passed away and that the only person that is still alive right now is the maker of the Inkstone. Because of this Ginko goes to find this creator but he finds out from a villager that apparently the creator doesn't make an Inkstone any longer. Nevertheless, Ginko decides to find the creator who turns out to be a young woman called Tagane. Ginko tells Tagane that because of this Inkstone, some people are now in pain so he wants her to tell him more info about the Inkstone. Upon hearing this Tagane tells Ginko that she's been looking all over for this Inkstone.

She's heard that so far three people who have used the Inkstone have died. The story apparently begin a while ago when Tagane still had a fiancée. This fiancée had come to her father's house to commission the making of an Inkstone. Having said that, he was opposed to the idea of her plan to continue her father's line of work. Tagane, however, argued that she and her father were the only two people who can carve stone in the village. In return, her fiancée argued that the need for Inkstone has decreased. Ever since then, Tagane made an attempt to make her fiancée and his parents appreciate her line of work. However, despite her increasing obsession in her work, she can't create something that she deemed satisfactory. One day, however, she found a stone in a cave and created a wonderful Inkstone that impressed even her skilled father. However, during a trial attempt to use the Inkstone, a red-coloured smoke appeared from the Inkstone.

Tagane seemed to be the only one who can see the smoke back then. A few days then passed ever since she inhaled the smoke but nothing wrong happened to her so she thought the Inkstone was fine. Because of this, she went to show the Inkstone to her fiancée. In return, he promised to show it to his parents to get their approval. He promised to write a letter to inform her of the situation. However, the letter that came a month later only informed his death. It was said that he got sick from the cold that passed over from the Inkstone. Ever since then the Inkstone was considered as a cursed item and sold to an antique shop. When Tagane contacted the antique shop, the Inkstone was already sold to another person and she couldn't find its whereabouts. After a while she heard a rumour that her Inkstone has caused the death of another person. Not long after this, her father also passed away. Ever since then, she stopped making an Inkstone.

Tagane tells Ginko that this is all that she knows about the Inkstone and apologises if it doesn't help him. Ginko, however, thinks that he already get what he needs and excuses himself because he is in a hurry. Tagane, however, stops him and tells him that she wants the Inkstone back. Ginko, however, tells her that he's not the owner of the Inkstone but he invites her to come with him if she wants. Meanwhile, Adashino is in the middle of remembering Ginko's word and regretting his action. He, however, perks up upon seeing Ginko and Tagane. Ginko tells Adashino that he needs a few items including charcoal, saucepan, and portable cooking stove. He then explains to Adashino and the woman that the Mushi residing inside the Inkstone is called 'Kumohami' and its shape is similar to gigantic clouds. It has the tendency to act like a cloud in the sense that it consumes water and ice in the air and then produces snow and hails out of them.

However, this Mushi can't move on its own and requires wind to move it. When the cloudy period is over, it becomes small and if it touches a surface, it'll freeze itself into a suspended animation. In that state, they become rock-like. But if these Mushi are given water, it'll reproduce again. Upon hearing this Adashino wonders what they are going to do now. Ginko explains that Tagane crossed the mountain when she delivered the Inkstone because of this, he wants all of the patients to be taken to the highest mountain around the village. The next day Ginko and the others are seen trekking the highest mountain while giving the children some hot water along the way. After a certain point in the mountain, however, Ginko notices the Mushi coming out of the kids’ ear so he orders everyone to stop right away. Upon dong so, the children immediately produces red smokes from their mouth and ears. After this, the children's body temperature returns to normal.

Ginko explains that this is the result of air pressure. This is the kind of atmosphere in which cloud normally surface. Tagane lived in the higher area right from the start so when she inhaled the smoke, it leaked out little by little. When she crossed the mountain, she was completely healed. After the incident, Adashino argues with Tagane regarding who gets to keep the Inkstone. Tagane argues that it's her responsibility to keep it while Adashino thinks he has the means to cope with the dangerous item. Tagane doesn't believe this and points out that Adashino has other dangerous items scattered around his house. LOL. So Ginko tells them that it'll be okay for Tagane to keep the Inkstone if they released the Mushi from it. Upon doing so, hail begins to come out from the cloud-like Mushi, destroying some of Adashino's roof. Tagane, however, tells him that he can charge her if he wants to. It seems, however, it'll be a while before she returns to her profession as an Inkstone maker.

Impression:

This seems to be another tragedy tale from the series albeit one with a rather happy ending towards the end. It was sad to see the woman trying so hard to prove herself to her fiancée and his parents but her effort only ended up killing him. There is an interesting issue of a woman's struggle to prove herself in her profession here. But I think the message ended up being bit watered down since the ending suggest that her persistence doesn't end well. Another equally interesting part of the story is Adashino-sensei's recklessness. The incident would not have happened if he had been more careful in storing the item. In the end, however, he is suitably 'punished' by having the Inkstone taken from him and the roof of his house somewhat destroyed by the hails that fall on top of it. :D And once again, Ginko shows his quick-thinking ability and his expertise in the subject matter here. Although I wonder how he managed to arrive so quickly in the village considering that he often travels all around the country.

The Mushi of the week, however, is not as interesting as the others encountered in other episodes. For some reason this one feels rather similar to the one that Ginko encountered in Episode 6 but in a slightly different permutation. In both cases, the Mushi brings grief to the people whose loved one are infected by it. However, in this case, there does not seem to be any benefit from the Mushi. It seems whatever form this Mushi takes, it only brings nothing but problem for the humans. Even towards the end when it seems everything returns to normal, the Mushi still causes hales in the village. On a glance this may seem okay but judging from the amount of cloud Mushi still hanging around the area, I can't help but wonder how long will this Mushi causes havoc with those hales. At the very least the villagers will have some roof reconstruction done. At worst, their home could suffer some damage.

© memento 2003