Title: Mononoke (モノノ怪)
Scrumptious Meter: 5 (Slice bread!)
Length: 12 episodes

Mononoke seeks to deliver something fresh amidst the moe schoolgirls and lolis that are prevalent in recent anime.

Set in Japan, probably during the Edo period, it follows the Medicine Seller as he fights Mononoke of Japanese lore. Mononoke results when an Ayakashi, a spirit that simply comes into being, unites with strong human emotions such as vengeance, sadness or fear. The Medicine Seller uses the Sword of Exorcism to defeat the Mononoke but in order to unsheathe the sword, Form, Truth and Regret must be present. Form is the product of the intertwined fates of men, Truth is the natural state of all things, and Regret is present in every men’s hearts.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Synopsis: The truth behind Setsuko’s death comes to light.

Ah… the final episode. I hate to see Mononoke end. It was a such a wonderful and unique episode.

Anyway, Moria goes inside the first car. His eyes are bloodshot. He regains his senses and asks where the other passengers went. The Medicine Seller tells him they got off. He says it’s his turn next. I wonder why Moria is still there. Supposedly, he disappeared in the previous episode. Maybe the Mononoke returned him because it isn’t done with him yet.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Synopsis: The passengers are hiding something about Setsuko’s death.

The Medicine Seller finds it interesting that the Mononoke wishes for its Truth to be known. The boy asks whether the person who committed suicide is the lady holding the stanchion. The others don’t see anything. The boy says that the lady is dressed like a fashion model, holding a cat. Moria says that Ichikawa Setsuko didn’t have a cat.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Synopsis: A new subway station has been opened. On a train’s first ride from that station, several passengers find themselves in the first car and the train moves on it’s own, seemingly disconnected from the other cars.

The final Mononoke arc is set at a time period considerably later than the previous one, perhaps in late Meiji period (1868-1912) when railways have been developed in Japan. The first subway, however, didn’t open until 1927, fifty nine years since the start of the Meiji period. If the arc is historically correct then the Medicine Seller must be old by then, that is, if he was born in the Edo period. The Bakeneko arc of Ayakashi is said to be set in the Edo period. The Medicine Seller, however, shows no signs of age at this point.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Synopsis: The truth behind the Toudaiji is revealed.

Ousawa, Muromachi and Nakarai explain the Toudaiji to the Medicine Seller. Ousawa says that the Medicine Seller might find it strange that they spend so much effort on incense almost to the point of obsession. He says that smells are extremely potent things and when hearing things, one often finds that long-forgotten vistas, beams of light, or even poems come to mind. The Medicine Seller tells him he thinks he understand it.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Synopsis: The Medicine Seller and three other men compete for the Lady Ruri’s hand in marriage.

Someone is murdered violently. The murder is depicted as splatters of blood reminiscent of Jackson Pollock’s paintings.

A man then explains that in their art, incense is heard rather than smelled. Their are many pleasures that man can derive from seeing, hearing, eating and drinking but to hear a scent is certainly the most refined of it all. There are many styles surrounding the art of incense but the Fue-no-Kouji School was thought to have perished long ago. The man says that he is surprised that a certain Lady Ruri was is the sole heir and practitioner of that ancient style. The man asked her hand for marriage since he wished to restore the Fue-no-Kouji school to its former greatness but there were three other candidates who were also vying for the Lady Ruri’s hand.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Synopsis: The truth about the murder is revealed. Who did Ochou really kill?

「思い。。。思い出。。。私だけの胸の内にあるなの。同じ時を過ごそうと、同じ景色を見ようと、私とあなたの胸の内にある物は決して同じではなく。あなたの姿。。。あなたの声。。。私だけの胸の内にあるあなた。。。あなたはだれ。」

“Feelings… memories… they exist only within my heart. Though we may pass the same time, or see the same sights, what we hold within our hearts can never be the same. Your face… your voice…you who exist only within my heart… who are you?”

Popularity: 1% [?]

Synopsis: The Medicine Seller meets a woman convicted for the murder of her household.

A certain Satsuki Kazuma and his family were murdered. The culprit is Kazuma’s wife, Chou. She was imprisoned immediately for her crime. The wife says that she accepts responsibility and thus the case was closed.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Synopsis: The truth behind the Ayakashi’s sea is revealed.

Mononoke has ended by now but I will continue to blog about this short series. Afterall, there aren’t many blogs out there which provide detailed summaries of this wonderful show.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Synnopsis: An Umizatou appears, revealing the characters deepest fears.

Kayo becomes suspicious of the Medicine Seller. She though of how he exorcised the Bakeneko from the Sakai mansion but the Sakai family were all killed. In the end, who did he save? The Medicine Seller notices Kayo and he tells him that with a face such as the one she is making, he wonders if she’ll ever marry. Kayo reacts then asks him if he changed the compass’ heading but the Medicine Seller doesn’t give a concrete reply. He then says that even if he changed it, the fact remains that is taken to the Ayakashi’s sea. Kayo tells him that she understands he’s a powerful man but she thinks his aloof attitude is over the too and that it doesn’t impress girls. The Medicine Seller somehow concedes.

Popularity: 2% [?]