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| I don't agree with the theory of her having another child. Nothing indicates that! The yellow daruma is indeed the yellow Mononoke and her child, this is shown in the 1st episode when the Yellow Mononoke says that the daruma is his and tell her to give it back. Also when she says "Im sorry I can't be your mother". She isn't using the singular YOU(Anata), but the plural YOU(Anatatachi). So she is talking with the dead children and not her child. That is why they smiled at the end. The regret, came from the dead children and was not having caring mothers that wanted them, fought for them and were happy for having them. This is shown by their reactions when she thanked them for choosing her, even after what they did, and was when the sword activated. She was in fact having a miscarriage(shown by the bandages later), but she was saved in time by the Medicine Seller(shown by the doll only cracking and not breaking nor the umbilical cord rupturing), that killed/cut the Mononoke. In the end they died happy and loved! |
bigivelfhqMar 31, 2015 1:32 AM
| I thought shino miscarried too but then the scene after the ed implies that she didn't. Which is great. I also thought that wow, talking things out will help but then while shino was talking Kusuriuri was getting things done. (his hair in that scene was amazing) The emotions, the symbolism were great. All in all a perfect ending to the arc. (if somewhat creepy, i mean the babies are just so) |
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| This anime is a little over the top psychedelic. I can see why so many people like it, but it just isn't my taste. I'd rather know exactly what was happening than trying to interpret everything myself. It's too off-the-wall, and is putting me to sleep. I'll ultimately finish it, though. We'll see if my opinion changes. |
ZewerrMar 30, 2016 7:15 AM
| Still trying to understand if her baby survived or not. Nice episode. |
| So basically the prostitute wanted to give birth to the baby, which turned out to be inhabited by zashikiwarashi(s) but then medicine seller exterminate the zashikiwarashis so that she can give birth a normal baby? |
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| will someone explain . im not sure if i understood wtf happend |
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| I'm glad I have some notes to read over after each episode. Totally missed the birthing, abortion imagery with the red toned camera flying through the doors and the pale woman who we assume gave the abortions waiting at the end. This show overloads me with so much I just tune out a lot of it. Missed the fireplace entirely, didn't realize it was one, the phoenix and the flame artwork on top of it too. Really this whole concept is new to me, the idea that Brothels could be used for abortions like this and that they'd even have their own dedicated rooms? A pretty beautiful episode, both in story, directing, art and message. I'd like to think the woman is at peace with the souls of all the babies in the end and has gotten some solace in the health of her baby. Even though based on the bandages, the blood, the cracking of the yellow doll thing that she might have also lost her own baby. But it seems oddly optimistic and positive near the end, she doesn't seem distraught and disillusioned so I take it as the mononoke was successfully dealt with(given we save the odd ray of colors kinda purifying the group of mononoke babies) and her baby is safe(even her little baby token is back). This show is so rich in Japanese folklore, culture and subtle details it's both intimidating and impressive how much they can pack into an episode. Props to the creators. |
| Wow...that was pretty impressive... Totally didnt expect this show to be like this when I first decided to watch it! |
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| WTF!! this anime is so weird, things like demons and souls are not my thing but this one caught my attention even if i didn't like it a lot i think it will be worth watching. |
| Wow this was deeper than first seemed! |
| I'm Bruneian and I like anime. And Manchester United. And fat cats. |
| Well THAT was visceral. And creepy. And even a little unnecessary. But also really cool. I love when an anime can take me on a ride. Where I'm not even sure how I feel about it and the story it's trying to tell until it's safely stuck the landing. At first I genuinely thought this first story was anti-abortion. I know Japanese social norms often differ from ours. Abortion doesn't really come up that much in anime. And maybe it's unfair of me but I can see at least the traditionalists in their culture viewing it as a great crime. But while I think the implication is still there. Especially with the South Parkesque aborted fetus monster that swallows up the evil innkeeper. The story seemed to be criticizing forced abortions mandated by either a state or a calculating whorehouse owner than the practice in general. And few would argue forcing someone to have an abortion isn't really fucked up. I'm really excited to see the rest of this series. I wasn't even in love with this arc all the way. But there were a few really intense scenes in it and the end result definitely made me think about it. The main character's pretty cool too. Like a more chaotic neutral Ginko from Mushishi. In fact this series kind of reminds me of like the sensibilities of a series like Monogatari. Combined with the simple and classic concept of a series like Mushishi. Maybe that's a comparison I'm looking for. Either way can't wait to see more of it. |
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| this is something for pro-lifers,lol..... |
| Aside from the wtf feeling I got from the whole episode, this was pretty emotional. The red cloth seems to be the umbilical cords so it's goddamn brutal that they'd push some of the baby out by thumping them, pulling the umbilical cord to get the baby out, rip it in two and lay it on the baby as an abortion sheesh... I think that the baby died before the Mononokes got a chance to swarm inside the girl since he was weakened throughout the episode and turned into a mononoke himself but after seeing how much the girl loved the baby, they decided not to trouble her any further and thank her for trying before getting exorcised by the Medicine Seller letting go of their regrets.The girl looks a lot better with her hair undone but she's gone a bit kookoo after the mishap which is tragic. The dude saying he loves her then becoming silent when he hears about the child lol |
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| Really loving the visuals and the story but the editing is getting to be annoying. Surrealism is great but not when it's edited into oblivion :/ |
| Looking though the comments, I think a previous miscarriage is definitely what the regret was. It makes sense. Great ep. |
 Three things cannot be long hidden.. ...the s u n, the m oo n, and the tr u th. |
| There is something that bothers me in this episode. Forcing somebody to get an abortion is really not ok. But fetuses don't have feelings. At least not if they get aborted on the first two or three months of pregnancy. So what the owner of the brothel did was really, really bad BUT the fetuses wouldn't know it. |
| What a meaningful episode; i couldn't have ever guessed it was an abortion room, so sad, so tragic. As usual, colors, visuals in general my lord, this is just a feast to the eyes, i can't stop to be amazed really. |
 SEIZON SENRYAKU: Hungry 100% of the time.Vzla-IT |
Black_wind said: this is something for pro-lifers,lol..... submarina said: There is something that bothers me in this episode. Forcing somebody to get an abortion is really not ok. But fetuses don't have feelings. At least not if they get aborted on the first two or three months of pregnancy. So what the owner of the brothel did was really, really bad BUT the fetuses wouldn't know it. Knew this episode wouldn't go without at least one pro-choice shitting themselves a little. |
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| Damn this episode was pretty brutal and jesus kids crying/laughing in anything horror related fucks me up man |
| “I love heroes, but I don't want to be one. Do you even know what a hero is!? For example, you have some meat. Pirates will feast on the meat, but the hero will distribute it among the people! I want to eat the meat!” - Monkey D. Luffy |
| Abortion really is a terrible thing, and it's sad how accepted it has become in the west recently. Seeing media painting it in a bad light is refreshing in this day and age. How unfortunate is that. I know this anime is about a decade old, but it's still recent enough to get under the skin of those who view the killing of babies as an acceptable practice. |
| oh my gosh the screams, made it so unsettling and gave me major goosebumps |
| So according to the comments here she miscarried her baby ? But at the end after the Mononoke had been exorcised by the mysterious elf dude she rubs her belly like shes still pregnant? :thonk: |
| Thank you for this comment! Finally an explanation I'm satisfied with. You're the best clippert0n said: Here's my interpretation: At the end of the episode her baby is still alive and well. I think the key to understanding it comes mainly from a couple of key plot points within the episodes. First, the medicine seller states that "regret" is necessary for the sword to be drawn. This regret stems from the pregnant woman, who I'd guess had previously miscarried a child, which would explain not only the regret aspect, but also why she seemed overly desperate for the life of her child this time around. It also helps explain the yellow doll that she carried with her, probably in memory of the miscarried child. This ties into the key scene of the episode, where there is a pile of urns, with the yellow urn being attached to her via the red fabric where the rest are all in their own separate area. The yellow urn is the same color as the doll she carries around with her. Probably what sealed the deal for this for me was when she stated "I'm sorry I could not give birth to you" to the yellow newborn which came from the yellow urn. Doesn't entirely explain why the medicine man was able to quell the mononoke, I'm assuming he used the sword possibly to calm it. |
| 落下のように、いつも落ちる。いつか救われることができるのかな？ または落ち続けるでしょうか？永遠に |
| I think she had a miscarriage because her belly after the credits is smaller than before, it doesn't look like she's pregnant anymore. |
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| That was unexpectedly heart wrenching, I should have been more prepared. The ending of the episode to the ending sequence had a smooth transition, I like it. |
| I really don’t know if I can continue watching this, this episode was so confusing and painful to mind. I think I will be stopping watching this anime for some time and come back ready |
| That was a absolute trippy experience.. I love this ambiance.. This show is probably best watched when high.. |
 "Not everyone who works hard is rewarded. But, all those who succeed have worked hard" |
| A great surprise this anime. As some said, it is mixing Mushishi with Gankutsuo, but in my opinion, Mononoke is even more artistic, without lose the appeal to entertainment of an anime. Btw, about the story. Her child was saved, and the Medicine Seller killed the Mononoke (yes, he did his job after all) Best explanation is bellow: bigivelfhq said: I don't agree with the theory of her having another child. Nothing indicates that! The yellow daruma is indeed the yellow Mononoke and her child, this is shown in the 1st episode when the Yellow Mononoke says that the daruma is his and tell her to give it back. Also when she says "Im sorry I can't be your mother". She isn't using the singular YOU(Anata), but the plural YOU(Anatatachi). So she is talking with the dead children and not her child. That is why they smiled at the end. The regret, came from the dead children and was not having caring mothers that wanted them, fought for them and were happy for having them. This is shown by their reactions when she thanked them for choosing her, even after what they did, and was when the sword activated. She was in fact having a miscarriage(shown by the bandages later), but she was saved in time by the Medicine Seller(shown by the doll only cracking and not breaking nor the umbilical cord rupturing), that killed/cut the Mononoke. In the end they died happy and loved! It shows the importance of proper interpretation of japanese language (and how bad translations can ruin an anime), specially in works like this: ----------------------- Vinum_Sabbathi said: Black_wind said: this is something for pro-lifers,lol..... submarina said: There is something that bothers me in this episode. Forcing somebody to get an abortion is really not ok. But fetuses don't have feelings. At least not if they get aborted on the first two or three months of pregnancy. So what the owner of the brothel did was really, really bad BUT the fetuses wouldn't know it. Knew this episode wouldn't go without at least one pro-choice shitting themselves a little. Lol, exactly. The story is about Mononoke, entity, spirits, souls. Then these people want to find mistakes in it bringing pseudo-science mumbo jumbo, for the doGs sake... |
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| This hits different when you’re watching this on Mother’s Day... |
| Extremely slow and artsy fartsy. I've solved their mystery and predicted what will happen in first 5 minutes and then watched main character talk everything through for another 20 minutes while my eyes were suffering from overly saturated bright colours.Too much pseudo-symbolic elements for really little. Don't even compare it to mushishi. Looks like something Yuasa made tbh. |
| I hate everyone equally |
| Oh so the inn used to be a brothel and the room upstairs is the abortion room. I don't get why the babies would be burned inside the room though. But anyways their spirits haunt this room now and they became a Mononoke called Zashikiwarashi. The woman had lost her baby but now she is pregnant with a Mononoke. Someone else pointed out that the red ribbons represent the umbilical cord and that's a pretty neat detail. |
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| miscarriage......... |
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| what a chilling episode...the ending song is so beautiful too |
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| perfect....that's all |
| I can't get used to the art, but the story is interesting. That innkeeper was pretty when she was young. I wish I could trade places with those dead babies. I never wanted to be born ever, tbh. |
| hoooooly what a ride this episode was. Super interesting so far and i really love the art style |
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