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ローゼンメイデン 
October 30, 2005 | 
17 Comments
I'm sorry that this comes a lot later than usual but I'm really tired at the moment. I am completely wasted this week after having to work on 2 jobs (one full time, the other part time) while studying for the upcoming JLPT and still maintaining this blog. I am trying to get my act together but sometimes it's hard to juggle everything all at once. Anyway, this episode convinces me that the first one wasn't a fluke. It's a shame about the opening and ending theme though. I am still hoping that the opening and ending will have some kind of traditional Japanese folk song along with some nice animation. Oh yeah, before I forget, I have to remind some people that this series is actually a horror series and not a slice-of-life one. So please be aware that there are some disturbing images ahead.
This episode begins with a boy called Biki entering a darkened warehouse to help a girl called Sui replacing a black cloth that covers her eyes. Biki wonders if Sui's eyes are still in pain but Sui instead chooses tell him that she now realises why she suffers from the sickness. She thinks that there are Mushi living in her eyes. Cut to a narration from Biki explaining how half a year ago, Sui's eyes began to hurt whenever they are exposed to bright sunlight. Ever since then, Sui has been living in the warehouse because this particular one blocks most of the lights coming from outside. Anyway, Sui informs Biki that the truth is, humans have two eyelids and that Mushi usually hides behind them because the two eyelids make it impossible for the sunlight to reach the Mushi.
Biki thinks the idea is dubious but Sui tries to convince the boy by having him to close his eyes. After Biki does this, Sui asks Biki if he sees something and Biki confirms that he can see faint light particles. Sui confirms this and tells Biki that in order to get a complete darkness, one has to close both eyelids. Biki doesn't seem to understand this but he remembers how when he first arrived in the warehouse, he can't see anything but eventually, he can recognises shapes in the darkness. Sui believes that this is because there is a river of light flowing underneath them. Normal humans can't see them but Sui believes that she can see them. In fact, when she looks closer, she can see various Mushi in it. She, however, was warned by someone not to get to close to the river because it's dangerous.
Having said that, Sui admits that often she can't help but looking at them closer. As Biki left the warehouse, he contemplates about Sui's words and wonders what kind of things she could possibly see when she closes both of her eyelids. When Biki returns to his house, his mother scolds him a bit for always spending too much time in the warehouse with Sui. She's basically afraid that Biki will get the 'disease' from Sui. Biki promises to be careful but the next day, he finds out that his eyes are suddenly in pain when exposed to sunlight. Because of this, his mother has no choice but to let Sui knows that Biki will probably won't be able to come now since he too has suffer from the disease. Biki's mother, however, has another surprise waiting for her when she returns to the main house.
It seems Ginko has arrived uninvited and has cured Biki from his problem with a simple 'medicine'. He said that Biki is in the early stage of the disease so he expects full recovery. True enough, Biki seems to be able to see sunlight as normal when he wakes up from his sleep. Ginko explains to Biki that the Mushi that caused Sui's illness is called Manako no Yamimushi (The Dark Mushi of the Eyes). He believes that the cause of this is because one spends too much time in the darkness. Ginko also tells Biki that when he close both of his eyelids, he often sees Sui on the opposite of the River of light. He thinks that the river can poison one's eyes if a person gets too close to it. Anyway, Ginko tells Biki that he plans on starting Sui's treatment after the sun sets so that night they went to the warehouse.
Unfortunately, it seems they're a bit too late to save Sui's eyes. By the time they arrived inside the warehouse, Sui's eyes look hollow. Because of this, Ginko tries to lure the Mushi by taking Sui into an open area lit by the moonlight then asking Sui to open her eyes while her second eyelid remains closed. Upon doing so, Sui's eyes begin to gush some liquid Mushi, which is attracted to light. However, as Ginko is enveloped by the liquid Mushi, he can see another type of Mushi hidden in it. He captures the insect-like Mushi and crushes it. Upon doing so, he takes out his left eye, which turns out to be fake and injects it with some of the liquid Mushi. He then places the fake eye into Sui's eyehole. Sui eventually is capable of seeing again. Nevertheless, Biki can't help but wonder if Ginko actually lost his left eye in a similar manner to Sui.
Impression:
There are so many inter-correlated symbolism in this episode. To begin with, note how Sui is living in a warehouse with two doors. When Biki opens one, he doesn't open the other until he closes the first one. This way, it is hard for lights to enter the warehouse. And when both doors are closed, the inside of the warehouse are enveloped in complete darkness. The function of these doors eerily mirrors the way human's two eyelids work. If you just close one eyelid, you can still see some sliver of lights. But if you close both of them, your eyesight will be surrounded by complete darkness. Another interesting point brought up by this episode is the contrast between brightness and darkness. The episode seems to suggest that extreme exposure to either is not good for one's eyes, which sounds very logical but also interesting because the episode wraps the story in some kind of eerie mythology.
I think this is one of the strength of Mushishi despite its episodic nature. The author knows how to make real life issue such as the danger of reading/doing anything in darkness for long period of time into something interesting. If I were younger, I think I'll be creeped out to see the Mushi coming out of Sui's eyes and will swear off to never again read in the darkness. This series also knows how to create a twist in every episode so that every episode will have a different feeling from the one that preceeds it. Notice how in the first episode, the Mushi was quite harmless while in this one, it brings a bit of tragedy to not only the side character but to Ginko himself. This also suggests that the author intends to reveal the background story of its main protagonist through the story of the people that he encounters along the way. As a result, the series becomes more than just a random story of people we encounter.
So it means that Mushi can be harmless and dangerous depending on the circumstances.The thing that caught my eye this episode was the fact that human eyes have two eyelids.I never knew that O.o Perhaps i should read more about it.Overall a very interesting and informative(IMO) episode.I agree with you that it was great that the author was able to use facts in real life and create into something we can enjoy.
i'm so glad that the 2nd episode sounds just as solid as the 1st! i actually kind of like the quirky opening song for some odd reason-its very calming i suppose. my only issue is with ginko's character design but ah well...can't do much abou that. I seem to remember that this particular story doesn't actually come directly after the first episode- but a little bit later. I think the 3rd episode (about the kid with the horns) is actually the 2nd chapter in the manga. but i don't think it really makes much difference. there is a nice flow even if things are episodic.
Thanks for the nice writeup and the summary. I'm still waiting for the raw to download... sigh.
The backgrounds look even nicer this time. I'm glad to see they did this episode well - I liked it when it was in the manga. The first time I saw the stuff coming out of Sui's eyes I was a bit disturbed.
Would you believe it if I, or for that matter http://animeanime.jp/news/archives/2005/10/1029.html that article, said that Katsuhiro Otomo will be directing a live-action movie version of Mushishi next year?
Oh, and what JLPT are you doing, if you don't mind me asking... 1?
Wao, thanks for that news of live action Mushishi. Wow, first Honey and Clover and now this? It's good to hear good series like this one getting multiple version treatment. As for raw, why don't you try Winny? It's actually not difficult at all. I've given up waiting for the raw providers lately. Plus, for some unknown reason my Winny connection is actually faster these days.
As for JLPT, I passed level 4 last year so I'm doing level 3 this year. No, I'm not that insane to do level 1 at this point in time....or ever. I've heard only few people actually managed to pass level 2. On top of this, my Kanji comprehension is very low. I wasn't actually sure I want to do another one this year. But I know I'm not going to study much Japanese unless I force myself to do this exam.
I was actually taken surprised (in a bad way) during my first JLPT. I like to read my question carefully and think about it thoroughly during an exam. But JLPT doesn't give you the chance to do that. I get the impression that it wants you to be proficient in the level that you chose. It kind of foces you to think instinctively like a native speaker. And since I couldn't do it, I almost ran out of time. 10 minutes before the first part was over, I realised I only managed to answer half of the questions. >_<
These days my luck with raws is so bad, I really should stop saying that "my luck is bad" and move my ass to Winny or Share. Usually it's not so bad but this season all the stuff I want is provided by raw providers whom I just can't connect to. eh.
And I'm thinking of doing JLPT next year, I'll do at least 3, though I'm thinking I can tackle 2, the jump from 3 to 2 is significant but since it's all multiple choice it's not terribly awful - now if they asked me to write something that'd be the end of me. Eek. Anyway, from 3 to 2 it seems to be a matter of grammar (which can be figured out with use) and kanji (which I don't have so much of a problem with, having learned Chinese).
I'm not sure it's really a horror series. Has it been officially mentioned somewhere?
I think it's rather a show a la Ghibli. Even the scenes like the Mushi coming out of Sui's eyes can be similar to scenes in Mononoke Hime (the infected boar at the beginning for exemple) or Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi (Kaonashi becoming huge and fat and throwing out people) and it's definitely not horror to me. I'm really not into horror things so I was kind of deceived, before seeing the episode, when I read you said it turned out horror-like.
In my opinion, I would definitely classify the series as supernatural/paranormal/traditions/myths which themes are just treated in a more mature way than usual.
It depends on how you define 'horror'. The series will definitely take a horrific turn soon. One of which involves some blood-splattered gore. I can't remember Mononoke Hime being as disturbing as some of the stories in Mushishi so I thought it's better if I warn people first before they got put off. If they're not scared, then that's good for them. I agree though that in general, it's more like a supernatural series like The X-Files. But even some people often describe The X-Files as horror.
Damned... this series started so well! Maybe the anime version will be softer than the manga ? Who knows...
Garten! This is why I never read your stuff before I've watched an episode and written about it!
Your last two sentences are too close to how I think.
Do you really think that the mushi from the first episode were harmless, though? I found them kind of sinister. I know it was worse for Renzu because the crow interrupted the ceremony, but I do not really think it was an action beneficial for humans.
Maybe I'm just anti-mushi.
Alex, you're right about it. When I said 'harmless', I was simply comparing being a mushi and losing eyes. And being a mushi seems less....painful. But when I really think about it, there doesn't seem to be a benefit to being a mushi. Well, apart from looking as young as your grandson.
I'm incredibly impressed by the series so far. Having not read the manga - something I plan to start reading - I first heard of the series here on Memento. The story telling is very well developed without resorting to anime cliches. It has a nice pace, taking care to develop the side or ancillary characters almost as much as they have developed Ginko. As I said, I'm impressed. Hopefully it sticks around.
Good luck on the JLPT. My little brother lives in Sendai and is currently cramming for Level 3 while I'm still working my way up to Level 4.
Ugh, horror series?
Hope it doesn't turn too gory ie limb lopping and decapitation and what not, but judging by the first two episodes I don't think it will.
I'm glad I picked up this series, quite refreshing after watching Bleach only for the past few weeks.
Also, sorry to sound stupid, but what is the JLPT?
There is not a lot of gore in this series. I can only think of a few stories that even have blood. If you can handle the junk coming out of Sui's eyes in this episode, it doesn't really get much worse than that. The "horror" aspect of the show tends to be more in general creepiness than blood and gore.
I wouldn't really categorize this as a horror series myself.
And as a final comment on the mushi, wait until episode 5 (chapter 3 of the manga) and see what you think about the "harmless" mushi. :-)
Bishamonten, good luck with your study as well. Cramming definitely sounds like a good idea right now. :)
mmt, JLPT is an abbreviation of Japanese Language Proficiency Test.
For more information, check this page out:
http://www.thejapanesepage2.com/kanji/jlpt.htm
Chris, I personally can handle the junk that comes out of Sui's eyes far more easily than that particular story in chapter 3. That particular chapter hits all of my fear buttons.
Having said that, I hope people will continue to watch the series instead of quitting right away just because some episodes are slightly gory/creepy.
It's wonderful.
it's kinda like Honey and Clover (I mean the feeling).
AND the song is great, too.
Just like the green color... It's everywhere.
its definitely different from the other animes i have watched. love the colours in this anime and oddly, it has sorta calming 'effect'.
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