蟲師

MUSHISHI

MANGA

STATUS
COMPLETE
VOLUMES
10
RELEASE
August 25, 2008
CHAPTERS
50

DESCRIPTION

Some live in the deep darkness behind your eyelids. Some eat silence. Some thoughtlessly kill. Some simply drive men mad. They are known as mushi—creatures that came into being shortly after life emerged from the primordial ooze. They still exist parallel to our own lives and can only be seen by a select few. As a mushishi, Ginko is one of the few who are aware of their existense, and this young man with a sardonic smile roams from place to place with the knowledge and skill to aid those unwittingly affected by mushi.

(Source: Kodansha USA)

Note: Won the Excellence Prize for Manga at the 7th Japan Media Arts Festival in 2003 and the Kodansha Manga Award for General Manga in 2006.

CAST

Ginko
Tanyuu Karibusa
Nui
Adashino
Amane
Sui
Tagane
Shige
Kourou
Michihi
Shinra Ioroi
Biki
Maho
Nami
Isaza
Shirou
Taku

CHAPTERS

RELATED TO MUSHISHI

ANIME AdventureMushishi

Cover Art for Mushishi Tokubetsu-hen: Hihamukage

MANGA MysteryMushishi Tokubetsu-hen: Hihamukage

ANIME AdventureMushishi Zoku Shou

Cover Art for Mushishi Tokubetsu-hen: Suzu no Shizuku

MOVIE AdventureMushishi Tokubetsu-hen: Suzu no Shizuku

MANGA MysteryMushishi Gaitanshuu

Cover Art for Mushishi Zoku Shou: Odoro no Michi

SPECIAL AdventureMushishi Zoku Shou: Odoro no Michi

ANIME AdventureMushishi Zoku Shou 2

Cover Art for Mushishi Bangai-hen: Jikakeru Kage

ONE SHOT DramaMushishi Bangai-hen: Jikakeru Kage

MANGA DramaBio Luminescence

REVIEWS

Apricus
100/100
Yuki Urushibara flexing her brilliant storytelling skills in one of my favourite manga; let's talk about it.
"Some live in the deep darkness behind your eyelids. Some eat silence. Some thoughtlessly kill. Some simply drive men mad. They are known as mushi—creatures that came into being shortly after life emerged from the primordial ooze. They still exist parallel to our own lives and can only be seen by a select few."

The artwork really speaks for itself, and it's a style that's genuinely pleasing to the eye.

Mushishi exudes an atmosphere that makes you want to keep coming back to read more. Each story is like a separate meditation, expressing the importance behind the connection between humans and the nature around them in everyday life; how they can easily affect one another and the environment surrounding them. The dynamic between humans, nature, and life in Mushishi's world is shown beautifully through potent dialogue in every chapter.

"It’s not your fault. Nor was it the Mushi’s fault. You were both just trying to live. Nobody is guilty. Don’t die. You’ve done nothing wrong." - Ginko.

We follow Ginko, one of the few aware of their (mushi) existence, as he roams from place to place as a mediator between the mushi and those affected by them, learning more about them and their purpose in the world. Ginko's occupation as a mushishi is entirely out of self interest, and it's easy to see his excitement or frustration when dealing with a new type of mushi. Reading alongside the OST for the anime definitely enhanced my immersive experience with Mushishi.

#**Philosophical themes in Mushishi:** - The colours white and green - So far, the colours white and green have played a major part in the series. Green is the colour of the mushi themselves, of life and of nature. White is Ginko's signature colour, the colour of death and the spirit world to the Japanese. But Ginko's eyes are green, making him the link between life and reality and the world of the mushi. - Dreams and Reality - In "The Pillow Pathway", the idea of a path between dreams and reality, between death and life is explored. By what mechanism do we wander the highways and byways of the universe when we sleep, and what happens when we have a stowaway on our journey? - The relationship between human beings and mushi - The fundamental basis for the series, and the point at which Ginko steps into the picture to have an adventure, is the point at which humans and mushi interact. This relationship is strange and complex, with humans and mushi both representing life in different forms, and each being destructive in different forms. Sometimes mushi and humans co-exist, sometimes they compete for the same resources, or engage in a symbiotic or parasitic relationship with one another. - Isolation and solitude - Isolation and solitude are the natural result of an interaction with mushi, but those things can also invite mushi into one's life. Learning how to deal with loneliness and isolation, or conversely, the love and pursuit of solitude, are threads that run throughout the series.

Conclusion.

All in all, Mushishi is Yuki Urushibara's masterpiece that is deserving of all the praise it receives. It seamlessly pulls off high levels of character development and narrative in every short story without having much of an overarching plot. Being in an episodic style, you don't need to worry about pacing, with each conclusive story taking 10-20 minutes to read. I'd be quick to recommend it to anyone who enjoys a slice of life and drama with deep themes.
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SgtBateMan
95/100
A splendid historical manga.
Mushishi is a historical manga, and I believe it fulfilled every requirement the genre demands. It conceived the idea of Mushi, a living form that was very close to what was the essence of life. They were hardly perceptible, yet it didn't mean they weren’t around. Following their traces was a man expertising in those species, a Mushishi. He collected the remainings of a world that would soon be forgotten, while occasionally encountered the incidents between human and those unbeknownst kinds. He would stop by, talk, lend a helping hand and once again set off, and those actions were rinsed and repeated over the course of the journey.

From normal point of view, isn’t that unexciting and unremarkable? I agree. The characters seemed lacking of outstanding traits, the incidents hardly attracted attentions and there were even fewer emotional explosions. The supernatural occurrences happened and were resolved, just to be left within the memories of those involved until the end of their time. However, it feels alright, as it is history, anyway. There is no reason to be bothered with them, unless you are interested, and it speaks the very truth of historical spirit. On the other hand, I think the way the series lacking of arc, over-arc and the character’s inner development did live up with the objective point of view of history. Every incident was a fresh experience, and all necessity were to observe and record.

Then comes the end. Having encountered an incident involved with Mushi, the protagonist once again continued his journey, leaving no trace in the vast and pristine scenery of nature. The manga just ended there, without any final ceremony. Nevertheless, it did make a conclusion for the work the author had created. Mushi was a resemblance of what was called the foundation of life, and those being able to see them were also the rare witnesses of that world. With the storyteller blending into the surrounding, that world would certainly continue to exist, but without one being aware of it, it would then fall into oblivion, covered with dust due to the flow of time, but surely stay there, waiting until one day, someone with the ability comes to uncover it. That is the charm of history, and Mushishi gave me the urge to set off alone, seeking for the world Ginko left behind. Behold, there would be a sequel in the near future, but like you’ve already noticed, it is definitely a joke.

About the incidents, there were something interesting, some tragic, some sorrowful, as the types of Mushi were either harmful, or able to make one’s life colourful. Nothing was absolute, and at the turning point between coexisting and discarding them, people made decisions accordingly to their own will, just like how one would study and valuate the meaning of a historical event. In the rare occasion talking about it, in your face Attack on Titans. This is what I call peak fiction. You guys could just go back crying for your ‘124 chapters of peak fiction and inspiration…’ Hoohoohoo, heeheehee, haahaahaa.

The art is perfect. I firmly believe the ink colour brought more than any other could, as well as the design of characters didn’t leave anything too attractive. All those elements constructed a mysterious fictional world, yet it was so close with how people had actually lived and died. At this point, even though the adaptations managed to do spectacular things, I guess sticking with the manga is still better.

In conclusion, Mushishi is not only a manga, it is also a historical report of how people had lived with Mushi. In the spirit of Slice of Life, the series would quickly excite or lull one, but anyway you would have experience, even though it could be unenjoyable.
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