Ep 15. The Pretense of Spring

In Mushishi season 1 episode 15, titled "The Pretense of Spring", we follow Ginko, the wandering Mushishi, as he travels to a small village to investigate a peculiar phenomenon. The villagers are experiencing a perpetual spring, where the cherry blossoms are blooming year-round, the leaves are always green, and the air is fragrant with the scent of flowers. However, this idyllic setting is not as it seems and Ginko must uncover the truth before it's too late.

Ginko is immediately suspicious of the village's unchanging spring and begins to investigate. His first lead is a young girl named Hinata, who says that her father brought back a strange and beautiful plant from the mountains. She takes Ginko to the plant, which is hidden in a forest clearing. Ginko immediately recognizes the plant as a type of Mushishi, a spirit that mimics nature and can cause havoc if left unchecked.

Ginko soon discovers that the Mushishi has merged with the plants in the village, creating a symbiotic relationship between the two. The Mushishi is feeding off the villagers' happiness and emotions, which is keeping the spring perpetual. However, the Mushishi is also draining the villagers' life force, causing them to age rapidly. Ginko explains that the plant is not truly a part of nature, but rather a living entity that must be removed before it destroys the village completely.

As Ginko tries to find a way to remove the Mushishi from the plant, he learns that some of the villagers have willingly sacrificed their lives to keep the perpetual spring. They believe that the happiness it brings is worth any cost, including their own lives. Hinata's father is one of these people, and she begs Ginko to save him.

Ginko manages to extract the Mushishi from the plant, but not before it attempts to merge with him as well. Ginko barely escapes with his life and the Mushishi dies in the process. The village is left with a terrible cost, as many of the villagers have aged rapidly and will soon die. Ginko leaves the village knowing that he has done what he can, but also understanding the difficult choices that the villagers made.

As with many episodes of Mushishi, "The Pretense of Spring" combines a sense of natural beauty with an eerie sense of danger. The perpetual spring is depicted as stunningly beautiful, but the price that the villagers pay for it is devastating. The episode explores the complex relationship between humans and nature, while also delving into the lengths that individuals will go to in order to maintain their happiness.

Overall, "The Pretense of Spring" is a poignant and thought-provoking episode of Mushishi that continues to showcase the series' unique blend of fantasy, horror and philosophy. It's a must-see for anyone who loves the show's exploration of the natural world and the human condition.