Mushishi ep.7

December 4, 2005 | 7 Comments

I feel that animation-wise, this episode is not as attractive as the ones that came before it. Some static shots, for example, are notably used in this episode in longer exposure than is necessary. In general, however, the quality of the animation is still quite high in comparison to other series aired this season. This episode, just like the others before it, also demonstrates a proper use of CGI that actually blends seamlessly with the 2D drawings instead of standing out like a sore thumb. Theme-wise, this episode places a focus on rainbow. This means there area lot of rainbow-related references from that little treasure you can find at the end of its tip, down to the correct color sequences, which I can't seem to remember anymore, featured within this episode.

The episode begins with a shot of a guy walking in the middle of the rain. When the rain dissipates and a rainbow appears, however, the guy suddenly starts to run in a frantic manner, begging the rainbow to not disappear on him. A couple of days later, Ginko is seen approaching a big tree where other people can be seen seeking refuge from a heavy rain. Upon seeing one of the guys carrying a big claypot on his back, Ginko wonders if the guy is some kind of food merchant since he wants to buy some foods. Much to Ginko's dissappointment, however, the guy claims that he's not a merchant and the big claypot is actually empty. Ginko and another guy are puzzled to hear this and want to know what the guy intends to put inside the pot. The two are quite surprised when the guy tells them that he travels around with the pot so he can put rainbow in it and take it back home. Despite looking incredulous after hearing the answer, Ginko is curious why the guy wants to do this.

Because of this, the guy tells a story of how when he was a kid, his father always turned into a different person when it's raining. His father would run around the countryside for days just like a nutcase and come back several days later covered in mud. On top of this, when the rain doesn't come, his father took a bath more than is necessary and drank a lot of water. The problem is his father doesn't understand why committed those actions. He only knew that it started ever since he found a weird-looking rainbow at a riverside. Back then, in an attempt to see if there is a treasure underneath the rainbow, the father touched the rainbow. When that happened, the rainbow disappeared and formed some sort of a ring through his palm. The rainbow, however, appeared again after each succesive rain although the shape always change whenever it appeared. Apparently only the guy and his father could see it.

One day, however, the rainbow appeared far in the distance and then disappeared entirely. Not long after this, his father became thirsty even after drinking lots of water. The disappearance of the rainbow also caused his father to look for it everytime it's raining. Later on, however, the guy's father became sick and unable to go out anymore. Despite this, the desire to see the rainbow again remained consistent. Ever since then, the guy wants to find the rainbow so he can show it to his father. This is why he's been travelling around with the claypot on his back. Once the rain stops, Ginko tells the guy that if he's looking for that rainbow, he should head towards a particular way. The guy is surprised to hear this and even more so when Ginko tells him that what the guy's father saw was actually a Mushi called 「虹蛇」 - 'Kouda' (Rainbow Serpent).

Ginko then offers his assistance in finding the serpent if the guy buys him a meal. He thinks that if the guy sells his huge claypot, he should get a good deal out of it. The guy looks a bit dumbfounded when he hears the offer but eventually agrees to do it. So Ginko is now seen chomping on some delicious-looking food. I have to say that I admire the guy's attempt to get some free food and travel companion. Anyway, Ginko explains to the guy that ordinary rainbow usually can only be seen after rain. 'Kouda', on the other hand appears regardless of the rain's presence. On top of this,'Kouda' colour lines are also the reverse of a normal rainbow. Unless one recognises these features, a person will never be able to look for it. Upon hearing this, the guy wonders why Ginko will go out of his way to help him. So Ginko tells him that he just wants to see the Mushi himself. Besides, he has no special destination to go to and he's always been looking for a 'Kouda' himself.

Ginko mentions that 'Kouda' also often appears after the rain just like normal rainbow. Upon hearing this, the guy points out that this area looks like it's about to rain tomorrow. True enough, the next day the rain falls and a rainbow quickly appears after it. The guy thinks that the rainbow is the Mushi but Ginko thinks it's just a normal rainbow. Unfortunately despite the presence of the rain, both of them fail to find the Mushi. Because of this, they have no choice but to take refuge inside a cave when the rain starts to fall again. While they wait for the rain to subside, Ginko finds out that the guy has been travelling for almost 5 years now in search of this Mushi. Upon hearing this, Ginko asks the guy if he was lying back then when he said that he wants to find this Mushi to show it to his old man. The man tells Ginko that he didn't lie when he said that his old man wanted to see the Mushi. Having said that, but that wasn't the only reason.

He then asks Ginko if he already told Ginko his name. Ginko realises that he doesn't know this guy's name. The guy tells Ginko that his name is 「虹郎」 - 'Kourou', aka 'The Son of Rainbow'. Because of this name, he's constantly being made fun of by other villagers. Kourou's family lives near the river on the west side of a country and has been a bridge carpenter for generations. The problem is, no matter how many times the villagers built a bridge, it always get destroyed by the flood. Because of this, a lot of expectations are placed on everyone's father. Kourou's elder brother seems to have inherited their father's skills and was set to built a stable bridge. Kurou, unfortunately, unable to contribute because his left hand is permanently injured due to work-related accident. Since Kourou can't become carpenter anymore, the only thing he can do is to be by his father's bedside but he can't stand having to do this so he ended up running away.

Ever since then, he's been looking for the rainbow because he is inexplicably drawn to them and also because he wants to prove to the villagers who laughed at him and his father that his father was right. Despite the attempt, Kourou can't help but feeling that he's a loser because he doesn't have a real purpose in his life. Ginko, on the other hand, thinks that there is nothing wrong with living for the sake of living instead of having a specific purpose in life. Especially when a purpose is created simply to provide some kind of distraction from one person's feeling of guilt. In other words, Ginko believes that Kourou has been chasing after rainbow partly because he feels guilty for abandoning his own father. Anyway, the next day, or possibly a couple of days later, Ginko is seen pimping his finding to another customer while Kourou is on the look out for rain. All of a sudden, however, Kourou notices the real 'Kouda' appearing just like an upside down rainbow.

Once Ginko confirms that the rainbow really is a 'Kouda', the two try to catch up with it but by the time they get to the place, the Mushi has disappeared. Ginko suggests that they camp there because he thinks the Mushi has not gone far from the area. That night Kourou dreams of the time when his father told him that he's sorry for giving Kourou a name that causes his son to be laughed at by his friends. But he gave Kourou that name because the name represents the most beautiful thing he's ever seen in this world. He also said that if Kourou is not happy with the name, he already prepared an alternative. In the present time, Ginko and Kourou wake up only to find the Mushi appearing not far from them. The two eventually manages to find it and Kourou, in his amazement, puts his body into the Mushi. Ginko manages to pull him out in time and tells him about the danger of entering 'Kouda', which is similar to natural phenomenon.

Just like rainbow is created out of light and rain, 'Kouda' is composed of Mushi's bright light (see episode 2) and Kouki (see episode 1). This particular 'Kouda', however, is more similar to typhoon and flood instead of rainbow. It's like an occurance, it has no purpose but to flow. 'Kouda' also has the tendency to attach itself to something that touches it. Despite Ginko's words, Kourou thinks that the experience was refreshing for him. He also wonders what will Ginko do now before realising that Ginko is not the kind of person who has a specific destination. After the two go their seperate ways, Ginko said that he doesn't know where Kourou was going. However, later on he heard that there is bridge on the west side of the country that can withstand flood. The bridge will detach a couple of its planks and align itself with the flow of the water should the flood arrives. It is also said that it was a man's idea that the bridge is called 'The stream/The flow'.

Impression:

No matter how many times I see/read this story, I still find some parts of this episode to be rather hard to understand. For example, even now, I still have no idea why Kourou's father felt thirsty and took a lot of bath after the Mushi disappeared. Is this supposed to be the side effect of touching the 'Kouda'? Or is there some more rational explanation that I failed to gather? I also don't quite agree with some of the philosophical discussion in this episode. For example, I find it hard to reconcile the idea that living a life without a purpose is a good thing. I just think that without a purpose, a person's life will be meaningless and I don't think I want to feel that way about my life. I also don't think that some things like rainbow or flood are purposeless and just flow. To humans, they may not serve a purpose but in nature's grand scheme of things, they probably serve a function that humans simply can't comprehend.

I do like the idea that is suggested towards the end where sometimes one has to go with the flow instead of against it in order to make things work. The bridge eventually works quite well because whomever designed it, lets it flow along with the current instead of against it. I do wish they told us who actually built it because I want to know if Kourou eventually manages to achieve something in the end. I simply like his character and can understand his desire to have a purpose in life. It was a bit depressing to see him running away hoping to find some purpose but ended up feeling much worse about himself. I also found the part where Kourou found out why his father gave him such a funny name to be heart-tugging. Obviously a parent gave their children specific names because they have high hopes for the kids. Unfortunately sometimes society don't share that wish and dislike something that stands out of the norm.

© memento 2003