Mushi-Shi (2005)

Name: Mushi-Shi
Rating: 8.0

Rating: 8.0

Synopsis

Ginko, a Mushi master, travels from place to place researching the Mushi and helping people who are suffering because of it.

First Air Date: 2005-10-23

Last Air Date: 2014-12-21

Number of Seasons: 2

Number of Episodes: 46

Networks: Fuji TV, Gunma TV, Tokyo MX, BS11, Tochigi TV

View Technical Specifications on IMDb

Top Cast

Mika Doi as Narrator / Nui (voice)
Yuto Nakano as Ginko (voice)
Ai Kobayashi as Tanyuu Karibusa (voice)
Yuji Ueda as Adashino (voice)
Miyu Tsuzurahara as Young Tanyuu Karibusa (voice)
Takashi Matsuyama as N/A
Miyuki Sawashiro as N/A
Haruhi Nanao as Woman (voice)
Masami Suzuki as N/A
Masahito Yabe as Man (voice)

Seasons

Season 1 (2005)

Mushi: the most basic forms of life in the world. They exist without any goals or purposes aside from simply "being." They are beyond the shackles of the words "good" and "evil." Mushi can exist in countless forms and are capable of mimicking things from the natural world such as plants, diseases, and even phenomena like rainbows. This is, however, just a vague definition of these entities that inhabit the vibrant world of Mushishi, as to even call them a form of life would be an oversimplification. Detailed information on Mushi is scarce because the majority of humans are unaware of their existence. So what are Mushi and why do they exist? This is the question that a Mushishi, Ginko, ponders constantly. Mushishi are those who research Mushi in hopes of understanding their place in the world's hierarchy of life. Ginko chases rumors of occurrences that could be tied to Mushi, all for the sake of finding an answer. It could, after all, lead to the meaning of life itself.

Episodes:

Ep. 1: The Green Seat (2005-10-23)

Shinra, a boy living in a forest with mysterious powers, calls for Ginko, The Mushishi, to help him with his problems. While Ginko is staying with Shinra, he tells him all about Mushi and his powers. Later on, while walking in Shinra's house at night, Ginko finds a Mushi... But this isn't an ordinary Mushi, it's Shinra's grandmother!
Ep. 2: The Light of the Eyelid (2005-10-30)

A girl named Sui has an unusual disease that causes pain in her eyes whenever she sees light. She has to be locked in a pitch black shed that has no light in it. A boy named Biki helps Sui by removing bandages, giving her food, and just talking to her. Biki's mother is worried about him getting the illness, so she tells him not to stay as long as he normally would with Sui. One day while Biki is talking to her, she tells him why she has that illness: There are Mushi in her eyes. Biki continues to take care of her until one night when he is reading by a candle, a strange pain comes to his eyes.
Ep. 3: Tender Horns (2005-11-06)

On silent snowy nights, when no sounds can be heard, many people go deaf in one or both ears. The doctors can't do anything, so they think it might be paranormal. Ginko looks into some of the villager's ears and he tells them that the cause is a Mushi called "Un". After dealing with their small problems there is one more person who has lost sound in both of his ears and his condition is very different than the other people's, as he has also grown four horns on his head.
Ep. 4: The Pillow Pathway (2005-11-13)

Ginko hears a rumor around town that a man is has prophetic dreams every once in a while. He suspects that Mushi are living in his dreams. He gives the man medicine to keep them under control and says he will come back when he has used about all of them. When Ginko returns, the village is deserted and torn up. Ginko finds the man alone in is house. The man then tells him about what happened while he was away.
Ep. 5: The Traveling Swamp (2005-11-20)

Adashino-sensei is looking to buy some of the items that Ginko has obtained on his journey. He especially wants the wine cup that was drawn by Shinra, But Ginko says it's too rare to be sold to collectors. He tells Adoshenei-sensei about the strange being he met while in the forest and he also explains how the swamp is moving towards the sea. This looks like the work of a Mushi...
Ep. 6: Those Who Inhale the Dew (2005-11-27)

Ginko is on another adventure as he is brought to a very peculiar island, by a young boy Nagi. Ginko is taken to see a girl, who the island inhabitants refer to as "Ikigami" and is said to be able to perform miracles however Ginko discovers that there is more to this.
Ep. 7: Raindrops and Rainbows (2005-12-04)

On a rainy day Ginko takes a rest from his travels and comes across a man named Kourou who seems to be obsessed with a rainbow. To pass the time Kourou reminisces in his past, with the events which led to him pursuing rainbows whenever they appear. Ginko explains to him that the rainbow which he is searching for is actually a Mushi known as "Koda" but there seems to be more to it.
Ep. 8: Where Sea Meets Man (2005-12-11)

Ginko is waiting along the sea shore, for a transport to get him across the bay when he meets a man called Shirou, who lost his wife under strange circumstances. Ginko seems interested and decides to listen to his story about how he lost his wife in a swarm of sea snakes, during fog. Ginko later comes back with information on the Mushi that caused the bizarre events.
Ep. 9: The Heavy Seed (2005-12-18)

While on his journey, Ginko stumbles upon a town which has yielded a great crop this year, thanks to their ancestors. However, it is said that someone must be sacrificed in exchange. Ginko finds this peculiar and decides to investigate further, by going to see the village "Saishu-sama" (chief mourner) who may have something to do with it.
Ep. 10: The White Which Lives Within the Ink Stone (2006-01-08)

Some kids enter Adashino-sensei's shed and find a lot of strange things, but there's one thing in particular that interests them. It's night and Adashino-sensei is called upon to look at one of the kids, a girl who has become bitterly cold, and the cause is a mysterious ink stone she touched. Luckily for Adashino-sensei, Ginko is passing through the village, and he shows him the ink stone, which he identifies it as a "Kumohami."
Ep. 11: The Sleeping Mountain (2006-01-08)

Ginko arrives at a village where the men are in a heated discussion about the mountain. After learning of Ginko's identity they ask for his help to find another Mushi-shi called Mujika, who happens to be the master of the mountain. While on his trek through the mountain Ginko stumbles across a boy who's also looking for Mujika. Later they manage to find Mujika but this isn't the end of it.
Ep. 12: One-Eyed Fish (2006-01-15)

"Don't let yourself be blinded by fear and anger. Everything is only as it is..." A boy named Yoki, who's able to see Mushi, was found in the woods by some mysterious lady named Nui with only one eye. It turns out that Yoki was travelling with his mother when a mudslide crushed his mother and he was left all on his own. Yoki's leg later heals itself however he doesn't seem to have anywhere to go so he stays with the Nui and begins to learn some things about the Mushi known as "Tokoyami".
Ep. 13: One-Night Bridge (2006-01-22)

Just managing to cross the treacherous Kazura Bridge, Ginko meets up with a man on the other side who takes him to meet a lady called Hana, who fell from the same bridge 3 years ago. Even though Hana survived, all she does is sit under the sun and nothing else and nobody seems to know what's wrong with her. Hana is feared to be a "Tanimodori", which are people whose minds and memories are wiped clean and they die on the night that the "One Night Bridge" shows up. From the info gathered Ginko knows that Hana is possessed by a Mushi called a "Nisekazura".
Ep. 14: Inside the Cage (2006-01-29)

While resting in a bamboo forest, Ginko is approached by an odd man named Kisuke, who tells Ginko that he has been lost in the forest for 3 years. Ginko seems to have also become lost, and decides to go off and figure something out about the forest. After managing to get out of the forest, Ginko figures out that it's the work of a "Magaridake".
Ep. 15: Pretense of Spring (2006-02-05)

"When all are sheltering within, there comes an imitation of spring. Linger in bliss for too long and your flesh will soon be frozen..." Caught in a blizzard, Ginko is decides to look for shelter and finds a home where the owner, Suzu allows him to stay the night. The next day Ginko sees a boy, Miharu who seems to be fascinated by Mushi. Ginko learns that Miharu once disappeared into the mountains in the winter and then suddenly came back in spring, able to see Mushi. Miharu has been repeating this since and it may be caused by a "Harumagari" so in the end, Ginko decides to teach him more about Mushi.
Ep. 16: Sunrise Serpent (2006-02-12)

It is spring, and Ginko is taking a boat through a river, when the boat's boy, Kaji, asks Ginko whether he could help his mother, who's forgetting things and can't sleep. At first glance it may appear to be progressive amnesia, however something isn't right.
Ep. 17: Pickers of Empty Cocoons (2006-02-19)

"There are countless fissures in the physical world. Those who vanish like smoke are lost in such hollows. Without their memories, without their souls..." Ginko receives a letter in a cocoon, but it isn't adressed to him. Rather, it's addressed to an old accquaintance, Aya Tozawa, so he decides to visit her. Ginko is concerned about Aya, as she is still searching for her sister, who has been trapped in an Uroana for 5 years.
Ep. 18: Clothes That Embrace the Mountain (2006-02-26)

This story is about a mysterious genius artist named Kai who left his family to become better known for his talents and as a parting gift his sister made him a Haori (Man's Kimono). One day he got bored and made a Haura (painting inside the jacket) on his Haori. His master saw this and recognized his talents, so he gave Kai jobs with clients and he quickly started to become well known for his work but his fame came at a price.
Ep. 19: String from the Sky (2006-03-05)

Seijirou is fascinated by the stars and enjoys stargazing. One day he was by the riverbed with the village nanny Fuki when she notices a string coming down the sky and as she tries to pull all of a sudden she disappears, right before Seijirou's eye. Ginko is travelling through the mountains and is being followed by a peculiar girl. It turns out that it's Fuki, who has been exposed to a strong Mushi presence and can't be seen by anyone.
Ep. 20: A Sea of Writings (2006-03-12)

Ginko arrives at a secluded place, to meet an old acquaintance, who seems to be in charge of a large volume of archival, confidential text. Ginko is allowed to read it, and discovers it is the work of Tan'yu, a writer. Tan'yu is the descendant of the Karibusa family, being born with a black mark on a part of their body.
Ep. 21: Cotton Changeling (2006-05-14)

A lady named Aki discovered a green stain on her wedding gown, one year later she gave birth to a boy who, now grown up, has the same marks on his body. It turns out that the boy was originally born not as a human but as some shapeless green blob, which then turned into a human. Her husband asks for Ginko's help yet he is unable to save her son because it's the work of a "Watahaki".
Ep. 22: Shrine in the Sea (2006-05-21)

"Give birth to me once more. I want to meet you once more. I want to see this beautiful ocean once more..." Ginko arrives on an island asking about the so called "Rebirths" but to no luck. At night he later meets a peculiar lady who happens to be able to see a strange light in the sea and she ends up inviting him to her home. She later explains to him what "Rebirths" are; when a person is about to die they can be taken deep inside the Ryuugu, where they are reborn.
Ep. 23: The Sound of Rust (2006-05-28)

In a cold mountainous region, Ginko is wandering around the snow cover plain when he hears a sound ringing through the cold air and he also notices some rust on a tree. Ginko enters a nearby town to find the rust covering everywhere, including the people. The village chief tells Ginko that this is a sickness that has been affecting the town for 14 years that the people have been slowly losing the movements of the limbs and it's said that a girl called Shige is the cause of it.
Ep. 24: The Journey to the Field of Fire (2006-06-04)

"Build a fire - night comes... Light a fire - darkness comes... Hide the fire - flames arisen from corpses creep in..." Ginko meets another Mushi-shi, which happens to be a young lady called Yahagi and surrounding the village she lives in is a new variety of Mushi growing on the mountain's fields. It's becoming so bad that the village people are at risk and as a last resort they plan to burn the entire mountain but Ginko doesn't think that this is the right option.
Ep. 25: Eye of Fortune, Eye of Misfortune (2006-06-11)

"All that is in my world... is seem sound taste and touch. That is all. That is enough..." Finally able to reach a city, Ginko comes across a "biwa hoshi" named Amane, singing songs about Mushi and she is immediately able tell that he is a Mushi-shi. So she forces him to stay a night at an inn when she later reveals that she once saw a "Ganpuku" a very rare Mushi that will make the host see better and better until they die.
Ep. 26: The Sound of Footsteps on the Grass (2006-06-18)

Taku is a peculiar young boy who has always wondered who the people were that always passed by the mountains during the rainy seasons. One day he meets a boy named Isaza, while catching fish. It seems that not only Taku can see the Komiyaku in the mountains however Isaza seems to know a lot more about the mountain than him. "The world is filled with life unknown to man..."