Urushibara Yuki's Mushishi
A Seinen Manga Review
There are few works out there as compelling as Urushibara Yuki's award-winning Mushishi. Perhaps Del Rey's single greatest acquisition, Mushishi is a ten-volume adventure spanning dreamlike realities and scenic vistas. Mushishi seeks to award the natural world with a kind of rare stark beauty, the like of which is rarely appreciated or created in any artistic medium, much less manga alone. Ginko, the somewhat lackadaisical protagonist, wanders from village to village in search of happenings caused by Mushi, a type of primal creature that can perhaps best be likened to the way that ancient Japan viewed spirits or gods.
Enthralling Atmosphere
The most important piece to the magic that makes Mushishi such a grand experience is the consistent and unique atmosphere that lingers throughout the work. Mushishi consistently develops an air of mysticism and subtlety that serves to engulf the reader into each story's unique and insistent world. Despite the large variety of stories that are told, each story is as powerful as the last, allowing for a lingering impression that imprints itself into the mind of the reader long after the final pages of the book are closed.
Folklore Influences
One of the more surprising and compelling aspects of Mushishi is that the source material for many of its stories comes primarily from Asian folklore. The majority comes from traditional thinking in Japanese- for instance, the chapter “The Pillow Path” derives its ideology from the notion that a part of a person's soul is stored within their pillow, as one third of their life is spent there. A variety of other word plays and traditional storytelling serves to enhance the artistic merit of many of the stories, and all of it only attaches itself to the strangely attractive atmosphere that enraptures the work.
Artistic Brilliance
Urushibara is perhaps one of the most under-appreciated artists in the manga world. Even the critics who love her storytelling ability scarcely talk about her mastery of shading and juxtaposition, but nonetheless beautiful images permeate her work. The only true flaw with Urushibara's work, as rife with specific details as it is, is that she has a tendency to overuse white space, which can occasionally draw the lazy eye and distract the reader. Despite this, however, the artwork remains very beautiful overall.
Conclusion
Mushishi is ultimately a work of rare genius. It captures the beauty in sorrow and tragedy just as well as it captures the celebration of life during its lighter chapters. Each story is a handcrafted marvel that digs itself deep into the minds of the readers willing to receive it. Throughout the work, whatever the occurrence may be, Ginko maintains a level head and simply views it all as life- which is perhaps a lesson in passivity many of us would do well to take.
Cover of Mushishi, Volume 1
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