Crystal Tokyo Anime Blog

     This episode begins with the Turtle Elder telling Marin that maybe it’s better that Urin returned to the sea because both her and Kanon are still lacking something. When they all return to the house we see that the woman that Urin defeated and returned to her original form is the Turtle Elder’s daughter, Ichikawa. Later, they hold a great feast in celebration for the Elder and his daughter being reunited, and when Urin’s name gets mentioned Marin says she going after Urin. Kanon catches Marin and tells her that she thinks that she saw a black butterfly mark on Urin’s hand. The Turtle Elder says that this is very bad, Urin could have been attacked and taken over by Sedna, and if that happened Urin could have tremendous powers because of her shrine priestess blood.

      Later, we see Urin at the location where Warin and Sam felt the evil energy, and we watch Urin activate her power and send pulses of energy to attack the location.

      When the Turtle Elder tells them that the reason that Sedna might have attacked Urin is because she need her power to unseal her body Marin rushes to the sea saying she has to find Urin. Kanon tries to follow but the Elder stops her saying that she needs to stay behind and find something called the Porterius ring; Since her mother has to have shrine priestess blood the ring might be in the house. The elder leaves his daughter behind to help Kanon while he returns to the sea to aid Marin.

       As Kanon and Ichikawa try out any item in the house that might have some power, Marin and the Elder travel to the place where Sedna’s other half is located. As Marin and the Elder look over Sedna’s shrine Sam and Warin hook up with them. While Kanon and Ichikawa continue to try out items we see that Urin is inside Sedna’s shrine. Urin uses her power and unseals Sedna’s crypt releasing her dark energy into the sea, and the black power begins to leave the sea in the form of black butterflies.

      Everyone standing outside Sedna’s shrine can feel the power spiking, and Warin asks where Kanon is? The Elder tells her that until she finds the Porterius ring she can only fight on land. Marin begins to head towards the shrine, and the Elder tells her it’ll be dangerous going alone, but Marin tells him she’ll be OK alone. As Marin heads towards the shrine, Warin and the others decide to also join her. As Kanon is about to give up on the ring she remembers to check inside the pickle urn where she finds the Porterius ring.

      Then we see Ooshima and Kojima out on a sight seeing boat having a date where Ooshima tries to use all her female charms to get him to forget about Kanon. Just as Kojima’s dumping Ooshima he sees Kanon and Ichikawa diving into the ocean depths, he declares that it’s very beautiful, and Ooshima curses Kanon for daring to use a swimsuit in this kind of fight.

     As Marin and her group approach the shrine entrance a giant octopus attacks them, and the fight goes badly for them because Marin can’t transform. Just as they’re about to be killed Kanon shows up and uses her power to save them and she manages to trap the giant octopus and transform it back to it’s original form.

     Marin and the group makes their way inside Sedna’s shrine to find Sedna’s crypt unsealed and over flowing with energy. Inside the maelstrom of energy Marin sees her sister Urin, and as Marin tries to reach her, Urin tells her to stop and don’t come any closer. Urin tells her sister that in a little while she’ll be able to protect herself and be able to win her back from Kanon, but Marin tells her that she has to refuse this power and she’ll save her. As Marin tries to approach Urin, she again tells her to stay back and activates her power blasting Marin and the other away from the shrine, Urin’s energy release is so powerful that the shrine is blasted away. We see a tearful Urin wrapped in a cocoon of energy telling her sister that she only needs a little longer to make the power hers. Well, that’s all for this episode.

      Well, even though I saw this coming several episodes ago I can’t say that it didn’t make my heart sick to see Urin’s fall into darkness. Urin and Marin, sisters, but more than that, two halves of a whole, sharing a love so strong that one is willing to embrace the darkness that dwells inside all of our hearts to preserve that love. As sad as I found Urin’s fall, it’s completely understandable, many times Urin had to watch her sister go into battle and risk her life while Kanon hemmed and hawed on the sidelines, it had to just eat at her soul to watch her sister risk her life while Kanon did nothing with the great power she was granted for free.

      In a magic girl anime the onset of the magic girl’s powers usually coincides with the onset of puberty linking the great trans-formative stage of changing from a girl to a young woman to the change that occurs when the girl changes from a normal girl to a magic girl. So, in this aspect, Urin is still a girl who desires to be more than she is at that moment, and Senda senses her desire and an offers her a deal with the devil. Senda offers Urin a chance to advance faster than nature is allowing her and Urin accepts her offer. No matter how much Kanon desires to help in this situation the matter will only be settled by a battle for Urin’s heart and soul. Marin must be able to touch the goodness that still lives inside Urin’s heart and have her reject her desire to be more than what she should be at this moment. While Senda may think that she has the upper hand, bad guys always underestimate the power of love because they can’t imagine caring for something more than they value their own goals.  

      This episode begins with Kou giving Kyoko and Akira getting a ride back home where we see how Kyoko found out about Yasuko’s tears and her reaction to Yasuko’s tears. Then back at Fumi’s house, we see that Fumi’s still mulling over Yasuko’s confession that she had feelings for someone else and it didn’t work out.  The next morning, Fumi skips school and decides to hangout with Akira who has the day off. Akira and Fumi spend the day window shopping and just hanging out, and we see that Fumi stood up Yasuko. Akira can tell that something bothering Fumi, so when Fumi asks to spend the night she says sure. As they’re getting ready for bed Fumi tells Akira that she did something bad. To Yasuko? Well, Akira says she might be too popular, so I’m on your side. Before the head off to sleep Akira tells Fumi to reconcile with Yasuko. Yes, I should have confronted her directly, I’ll talk with her tomorrow and if we can’t work it out then it wasn’t meant to be.

       The next day at school, Akira finds out from Kyoko that Yasuko has three older sisters and one of them was a teacher at this school. Also, we see that Fumi sends Yasuko multiple text messages, one saying she’s sorry, and another one asking to meet with her after school if she can forgive her. Well, Fumi and Yasuko meet after class, Yasuko doesn’t say much other than asking her if she’s free this Saturday. Fumi tells Yasuko that she’s free, then Yasuko says it’s a date, and she’s going to take Fumi to visit her family. later that night Fumi calls Akira and tells her about getting to meet Yasuko’s family and Akira tells her that Yasuko has three sisters.

      When Saturday comes Fumi waits at the station for Yasuko, and Fumi gets a little nervous about being stood up. Yasuko surprises Fumi by showing up in a chauffeured car to take her to the house, and when they get there Fumi’s shocked by the size of her house. Well, as Yasuko takes Fumi through the house she meets Yasuko’s sisters; Shinako-the eldest sister, Kazusa-the next oldest, and Kuri-the one closest in age to Yasuko. When the four sisters, Fumi, and Yasuko’s mother all sit down for some tea, Yasuko makes the statement that she’s dating Fumi. Shocked looks travel around the table with one of Yasuko’s sister asking you mean like a lesbian? Kuri asks Yasuko some pretty tough questions like do you love her, or do you just love her now, so are you bi-sexual, and Yasuko gets offended and tells Fumi that they’re going to her room.

      As Yasuko gets up to leave, Kuri tells Fumi to stay and let Yasuko go, she says that Yasuko will pout and expect someone to console her, and that she’s such a princess. A short while later, Fumi heads up to Yasuko’s room and they talk. Yasuko says it’s always the same because she lets them manipulate her, and Fumi says that she’s envious of her because she has no siblings. Then Fumi starts to tell her about her previous relationship, saying that she loved someone, but her relationship with Fumi was probably just fooling around. Yasuko butts in, asking Fumi if she doubts her? Yasuko also suggests that maybe Fumi just fell for her after being dumped, or maybe they both just thought they fell for each other at first sight?

      At that moment, Shinako comes into the room and tells Yasuko that it’s not nice to switch the blame to Fumi, and she grabs Fumi and takes her downstairs. Fumi sits down with the other sisters and their mother to play a game, and they invite Fumi to stay for the night. After a little bit, Fumi offers to take some food up to Yasuko. While Fumi’s away, Kuri jokes about whether or not Yasuko will take this to the next level tonight, and one of the other sisters says that maybe they’ve already been to the next level.  Kazusa says maybe that’s enough, and Kuri asks her if she’s feeling guilty?

      Upstairs, in Yasuko’s room, Yasuko tells Fumi that she was cruel and she’s sorry, it happened because she can’t sort out her own feelings. After a short pause, she tells Fumi that in her current state that she can’t be Fumi’s girlfriend. Well, that’s all for this episode.

       Well, basically this episode consisted of two parts with the first part showing Akira and Fumi hanging out and Akira being a good & supportive friend. But, the real meat of the episode was watching the interactions between Yasuko and her sisters, and seeing Yasuko’s uncertainties about her relationship with Fumi. I think that it’s pretty safe to say that Yasuko was/is love with Kagami but he refused her confession because he hooked up with the middle sister, Kazusa. This is pretty much confirmed when Kuri asks Kazusa if she’s feeling guilty after Kazusa tries to get the other sisters to stop talking about whether or not Fumi and Yasuko are going to/or already have had sexual relations. I also felt that Kuri’s tough questions directed Yasuko were perfectly appropriate since she knows about the Yasuko/Kazusa/Kagami mess; So, are you bi-sexual, and do you love her, might sound really tough but they need to be asked. Also, Shinako’s intervention on Fumi’s behalf was needed, Yasuko’s moody behavior isn’t about Fumi, it’s all about her.

       Now, the biggest issues in this episode are all Yasuko’s. As the last two episodes have shown, Fumi has been much more forth coming about her feelings, emotions, and her past than Yasuko has been. While Fumi is very willing to tell Yasuko about loving her cousin and being dumped by her, Yasuko is closed off. Shinako and Kuri asked Yasuko some tough questions and when she stormed off it showed that Yasuko is still pretty uncertain about her real feelings; Yasuko should have been able to answer whether or not she lesbian or bi-sexual and if she loves Fumi, very tough questions, but they need answering. I think that before Fumi and Yasuko move to the sexual phase of their relationship Yasuko needs to be honest with herself and Fumi about whether she still loves Kagami, and if she’s even a lesbian. If the answer yes, then any further relationship with Fumi will only be a distraction from her pain and she’ll only end up hurting Fumi and herself. If her answer is no, then Yasuko should feel free to snuggle up next to Fumi and let nature take its course.

As I was skimming the AnimeNation news blog I spotted a bit of wonderful news; Isao Takahata , legendary anime director and co-founder of Studio Ghibli will make “The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter”, (AKA Taketori Monogatari, or Kaguya Hime no Monogatari) his next film.

The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter or  Kaguya Hime no Monogatari is one of Japan’s oldest and most beloved fairy tale. The first written reference of this tale that I can find comes from the Konjaku Monogatarishū AKA “Tales from the past”, a collection of myths from Japan’s distant past written around the 12th century. Since the tale of Princess Kaguya is one Japan’s most beloved fairy tales/myths is been referenced in so many anime and manga it’s almost too many to count. Because this tale probably was transmitted orally before it was put to written word several different versions, both long and short exist. Below, I’ll give a a quick telling of my favorite version.

The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter

“Once upon a time” (my words),

       There lived a poor bamboo cutter who was one day cutting bamboo in his fields when he beheld a wondrous light, bending down to have a closer look he saw a beautiful creature in the heart of the reed, the girl was only four inches tall. The bamboo cutter picked the small girl up and took her home to his wife, and together they raised her in a small basket. As the days went by, every time the cutter returned to his fields to do his cutting work he found gold, and soon the cutter and his wife became very rich.

       After a period of only three months the girl grew from her small stature to a fully grown maid, the most beautiful maid in the whole land. When the bamboo cutter decided to name his daughter her held a feast and named her Lady Kaguya or (Precious Slender Bamboo of the Field of Autumn). As the story of Lady Kaguya’s beauty spread throughout the land many suitors showed up at the bamboo cutter’s house attempting to win her love. After a long period of time all but five of the men went home and finally the remaining five men (all Noblemen) asked the bamboo cutter to bestow his daughter to one of them, to which, he replied that since Lady Kaguya really wasn’t his real daughter she wasn’t required to follow his wishes. Even thought the five men eventually went home they still kept asking the bamboo cutter for his daughter’s hand in marriage.

         The bamboo cutter soon became bothered by the men’s demands for his daughter’s hand and he went to her and said it would be fitting for such a handsome and fair maid to marry one of the noblemen, to which, she replied that I’m not so fair to be able to trust myself to choose marriage to an untested heart. So, it was soon arranged that all five noblemen were summoned before Lady Kaguya and each nobleman was be given a difficult task to complete, and the one that succeeded would marry Lady Kaguya.

      The first nobleman, Prince Ishizukuri, was told to travel to northern India and bring back the stone beggar bowl that the Buddha himself had used. The second nobleman, Prince Kuramochi, was told to travel to a mountain named Horai where a tree grows that has silver roots, a golden trunk, and bears fruit of pure white jade and bring back a branch. The third nobleman, Sadaijin Dainagon, was told to find and have fashioned a robe made of the pelts of flame proof rats for Lady Kaguya. The fourth nobleman, Chiunagon, was told to bring back the rainbow hued jewel that’s hidden inside a dragon’s head. The fifth and final nobleman, lord Iso, was told to find and return with the cowry-shell that the swallow carries over the sea plain.

        The noblemen departed to complete their tasks, and over the course of several years either tried to fake, steal, or just plain failed to complete their assigned tasks and Lady Kaguya rejected all five of the noblemen. Soon the news of Lady Kaguya’s beauty eventually reached the Mikado (Emperor of Japan) so he sent one of his palace ladies to meet with, and report back to him everything about Lady Kaguya, but Lady Kaguya refused to meet with her. The Mikado soon sends for the bamboo cutter and his daughter to report to the palace with the reward of a noble title to be awarded to the bamboo cutter. After talking with his daughter, Lady Kaguya tells her father that if she’s forced to his house she’ll die, so the price of his nobility will be his daughter’s life. The bamboo cutter travels to the palace and tells the Mikado of his daughter decision, and the Mikado is so interested in seeing Lady Kaguya that he arranges a royal hunt so he can stop by for a visit the bamboo cutter’s house.

        When the Mikado enters the bamboo cutter’s house he sees a wondrous light and finds its source is Lady Kaguya, as he gets a glimpse of her face she disappears. Knowing that Lady Kaguya is no mortal woman he begs for her to return, and she does. The Mikado pleads his love for Lady Kaguya, but Lady Kaguya tells him that she must remain at this house, so the Mikado departs in sadness. In the seventh month of the third year after the royal visit, Lady Kaguya looks upon the full moon with sadness and pain, and Lady Kaguya tells her father that the sight of the moon causes her to reflect on the sadness of the world. The next month, Lady Kaguya tells her maids that she’s no mortal woman but was born in the palace of the moon kingdom, and will soon leave this world and depart for her birthplace. . When the bamboo cutter finds out that his daughter would soon depart he becomes angry and informs the Mikado, who sends a whole company to prevent her departure.

     On the night of the next full moon, a great cloud descends from the moon bringing with it a great host of moon-folk, and a glorious carriage. The troop of soldiers tries to prevent the moon-folk from landing but all their arrows miss the mark, and the leader of the moon-folk orders the bamboo cutter to bring forth Lady Kaguya, the power of his command opens all the locked doors, and Lady Kaguya comes forth. The commander tells Lady Kaguya that it’s time to leave this sorry world, and just as she’s about to depart she hands the bamboo cutter a scroll which says that she’s sorry for causing him pain and that if she was born to this world she would have not caused her father pain. Lady Kaguya also says that because her father loved her so well, she’ll leave behind her silken mantle as a memorial so he can gaze upon it when the moon shines and he can remember his daughter.

    Then the moon-folk bring forward a coffer that contains a Celestial Robe of Feathers and a small portion of the Elixir of Life, and after Lady Kaguya drinks some of the Elixir of life the moon-folk   attempt to place the Robe of Feathers over her back but she stops them. She tells the moon-folk that she still has something to do; Lady Kaguya proceeds to write a message to the Mikado, and she gives the scroll and the remaining Elixir of Life to the troop commander. Once Lady Kaguya places the Robe of Feathers over her back all her memories of the mortal world are erased and she departs with the moon-folk to return to the moon.

        The message to the Mikado says that while he desired to be with her, it was not permitted to be, and that basically she wanted to be with him but she was forbidden to do so, and that caused great pain to her heart, so she’s sorry.

       After the Mikado read the letter his heart was so overcome with sadness that he ordered his commander to take the scroll along with the Elixir of life to the top of the highest mountain in Suruga and burn them. His loyal commander, following the Mikado’s orders, climbed to the summit of the tallest mountain and carried out the Mikado’s orders. From that time forward men would look upon that mountain and say that the smoke rising from its peak mingles with the clouds of heaven, and that mountain is now called Fuji-yama, the never dying.

This is a wonderful tale that showcases how the Japanese love of nature is linked with the divine, and I’m sure that when Studio Ghibli completes this movie it’ll be a monster hit in Japan.