Mushishi ep.8

December 11, 2005 | 17 Comments

I think this episode is far more exciting than the one that goes before it purely because it feels more science-fiction like. I also prefer the mist animation in this episode instead of the rainbow from last week's episode. I just think that in general, the appearance of a mist creates that forebodding effect that I like in horror series. Anyway, I'm not sure if this is correct or not but I just found out from this site that Mushishi will only run for 13 episodes. I am quite disappointed to know about this because I was hoping that the series will run for at least 24 episodes. Now I know why the anime has been skipping some of the manga chapters because the animators probably attempt to include different stories from the manga. I do hope that they will at least include Ginko's background story which is included in the last chapter of the third volume.

The episode begins with a guy called Shirou finding a hair pin at a beach then looking forlornly into the sea. Ginko happens to pass by because he's looking for a ferry to go to the other side of the island. Upon finding out that the ferry won't be coming until afternoon, Ginko decides to ask what Shirou is doing in a place like this. Because of this Shirou tells Ginko that he is also waiting for his wife, who got seperated away from him in the sea after a strange circumstance. The story began 2 and a half years ago when he and his wife, Michihi, first headed towards his countryside hometown. Michihi didn't like the small village so she wants to go back to her father's house. Shirou, however, refused to do this because he knew that Michihi's father doesn't like him. He then started saying cruel things to her such as he wouldn't be in this small countryside if it were not for her and that she can go if she doesn't want to come with him.

His wife became angry upon hearing this and decided to take a seperate ship when the two decided to cross the sea. Unfortunately on the way to the other island, their boats are confronted by strange, glimmering white creatures underneath the water. Shirou thought that the creatures were sea snakes but all of a sudden their boats were enveloped by a thick mist. Michihi's boat seems to be steer into a thicker mist and away from Shirou's boat. Shirou asked Michihi to jump in the water but Michihi was too scared to do it so her boat eventually disappeared into the mist. Shirou tried to chase the boat but his own boat suddenly got thrown into the air when a mass quantity of unreconisable creatures moves out of the sea. The sea wave eventually took Shirou into the beach where he and Ginko are now sitting. But there was no trace of the ship that his wife took. Shirou realises that the likelihood of his wife being alive is small.

Having said that, because he hasn't found any proof that says otherwise, he can't move on and keeps waiting for her. Ginko tries to persuade Shirou that he'd be better off taking care of himself than worrying about something that may not come about. Ginko, however, realises that maybe he's been meddling in the guy's life so he decides to leave him alone. Despite this, Ginko can't shake off his instinct that he's heard about mist and snake before this. Shirou eventually decides to follow Ginko's advice and becomes a fish wholeseller that actually pays good amount of money to the fishermen. The fishermen eventually start to appreciate his presence and invites him to move to the village instead of staying in his dilapidated hut. Fast forward to what is possibly a couple of months later, Shirou is in the middle of overseeing the fishermen doing their job when all of a sudden he sees a large shadow underneath the water.

He immediately warns the fishermen that there is a big shark nearby but much to everyone's surprise, they don't see anything. Not long after this, however, the sea water rises exponentially. Ginko is then seen visiting the village again looking for Shirou. However, since he can't find Shirou, he decides to ask a villager named Nami if she knows the whereabouts of the man who always wait for his wife. Nami strangely become a bit volatile upon hearing Ginko's question and tells him that Shirou has now lived in the village so he asks Ginko not to put influence Shirou in any way. Nami then goes home to Shirou crying. Shirou wonders if something has happened. Nami denies it at first but eventually admit that she's afraid of the way Shirou has changed ever since the incident with 'the shark'. She thinks that ever since then, the sea water has increased and moreover, Shirou has been looking blankly into the sea as if he wants to drown himself.

Shirou quickly assures Nami that he has no intention of going anywhere. Nevertheless, it is obvious that the villagers are quite unsettled by the increase in sea water. They believe that this is a similar situation to the incident that happened 3 years ago. The fishermen also mention how back then a strange mist appeared as well. Because of this, they believe that they'd be better off staying away from fishing since back then the ship that entered the mist never returned. The conversation is overheard by Shirou who decides to check the water and realises that it has no wave whatsoever. His inspection, however, is interrupted by Ginko's sudden appearance. Ginko tells Shirou that ever since he told the story, he has been doing investigation about it and now believes that the 'group of snakes' that Shirou saw back then is actually a Mushi. He also asks Shirou if he's heard the word: 「海千山千」 - Umisenyamasen.

He explains that Umisenyamasen is a legend about a serpent which supposedly dwells in sea for 1000 years and in mountain for another 1000 years before it becomes a dragon. Having said that, the real lifespan of the creature is actually unknown. Ginko, however, believes that the creature is known to produce a mist. In the mountain, the creature lives quietly and on a glance does look a bit like serpent. Once the time come, it'll leave the mountain and goes into a nearby sea to join its kind to form a complete Mushi. Upon hearing this, Shirou eagerly attempts to go into the mist and tells Ginko that when one is inside the mist, one can actually see the outside of the mist perfectly well. However, if one is outside the mist, then one can't see what's inside the mist. Ginko, however, stops him and wonders if Shirou knows why his wife was the only one who was taken by the mist at that time.

Ginko then tells Shirou that once one is inside the mist, only those who have the wish to return to the shore will be able to make it to the shore. Otherwise, the shore won't be visible and that person can't return. Ginko asks if back then Shirou found an artefact belonging to his wife. If that is the case, then the likelihood of her being alive is slim. Nevertheless, Ginko agrees to come with Shirou to look for her so the two head out into the sea and the mist. True enough, they can actually see the shore quite well from within the mist. As the two go further into the myst, they start to notice the appearance of the Mushi. As the Mushi swarms around the boat, Ginko decides to capture one of the Mushi in a jar for further study.
They eventually manage to find the boat that contained Michihi in it. The two then prepare themselves to see a dead body but are surprised when they find Michihi still alive and well after all of these years.

They are even more surprised when Michihi tells Shirou that she's been waiting for 3 days instead of 3 years. Shirou, however, doesn't care and tells Michihi that he's sorry for all of the cruel things that he said back then. Michihi forgives him and in fact, is keen to see his countryside hometown. Because of this, Shirou invites her to come to their boat. Ginko, however, stops him and asks Shirou if he can still see the land now. Shirou says it's okay and points out at a direction. Upon hearing this, Gino tells Shirou that their original destination is the other way. He now realises that human can't stay in this place and points out that the Mushi has start to metamorphose. All of a sudden, Michihi starts to turn into mush just like the Mushi and the two are suddenly surrounded by the Mushi. Meanwhile the villagers are in search of Shirou and Ginko when suddenly a large Dragon/centipede-like shadow makes its way towards the sky.

Ginko mentions that by the time they are drifted to the beach, the villagers have given up the search long ago. Although the two meant to go only for 2 to 3 hours, they've been missing for more than 1 month from the shore. Cut to a shot of Shirou being accepted with open arms by Nami. Later on at night, Ginko explains to Shirou that from the inside of the mist, the time that flows is that of the Mushi. But because of this unusual time, Michihi was only alone for 3 days. Shirou seems to be a bit relieved upon hearing this. A few days later, Michihi's ship can be found on the shore and inside the ship, the villagers found her expensive kimono. Ginko wonders if it's okay with Shirou but Shirou claims that he doesn't mind because the owner is not alive anymore. Despite this, Ginko can clearly see that Shirou is still mourning the lost of his wife. Thankfully for Shirou, he now has a new person in his life in the form of Nami.

Impression:

Okay, first of all, is Nami a guy or a girl? Judging from the voice, I'd say that Nami is a girl but I can't help but thinking that he also looks like a typical boy character. Moving on to other matter, I find this to be a very sad episode that deals with regret and desire. Shirou clearly regrets the cruel words that he said to his wife 3 years ago to the point that he waits to see her body everyday for almost 2.5 years. I wonder what would have happened had Ginko didn't pass by and gave him the advice to move on. I also find the way the story link the Mushi with a legend of Umisenyamasen to be rather interesting. I especially like how time moves on differently inside the mist in comparison to the real world. I can't imagine how sad Michihi would have been if she thinks that she's been deserted in the middle of the mist for months without anyone finding her. That, however, come at the price of her becoming a Mushi herself.

The part about being able to return to the shore if one wishes to do so is also interesting. I think essentially, it underlines the conflict between Shirou and Michihi. I assumed because Michihi did not wish to come with her husband, she ended up stranded inside the mist. Having said that, I wonder why Shirou was unable to see the correct shore for a while. Is it because of his guilt and desire to be with Michihi? Or is it because the Mushi influenced his thought so they can metamorphose him to be one of their own? I also want to know why in the end Shirou returns back to the shore intact instead of turning into a Mushi as well if he really wants to see his wife that badly. Does this mean that his desire to live on is bigger than his desire to be with his wife? Although I think if Ginko was not there to show him the fact, Shirou would have willingly come with Michihi. For some reason, I find the idea to be rather terrifying because the victim is not actually aware that they are being turned into Mushi.

© memento 2003