(L) Jigoku Shoujo Futakomori

[Jewelray]

What is the significance of the cherry? Since the Jellyfish/Spider is ferrying the boat, Kikuri probably isn't possessed and is returning to hell... but what is the cherry?

Also, from the way Tsugumi was talking in episode 24, it sounded like something had happened to Hajime... did I miss any hints as to what happened?

[kira-sama]

after watched the final episode
in my deep heart i'm so hate that townspeople especially that group which send hotaru brother into hell and made Ai dead
it's very hard to see Ai being hit by them (i cried when i watched that part)
but i hope ren or honne-onna help her

glad to see Ai parents don't go into hell and takuma father get well
at last takuma can smile again ^_^

[TinyRedLeaf]

I've just finished the last few episodes of Futakomori, and I'm utterly amazed by it all turned out. Amazed because, I lost interest in the series somewhere in the middle, between Episodes 12-15. At that point, the second season didn't seem to have an overarching storyline like the first season.

The Takuma arc took me completely by surprise, and hooked me instantly. What an ending!

There are so many ideas swimming in my head at the moment. I'm trying to jot down as fast as possible, so please forgive me if sound garbled.

Spoiler for Ai's Reckoning:

Contrary to Guido, I do not feel that the Hell Spider was "testing" Enma Ai at all. Rather, it almost seemed that he was getting even for Ai's first act of disobedience at the end of Season 1. On hindsight, it seems that the whole season had actually been an elaborate setup to trap Ai.

Wouldn't that be very much in the nature of a spider? To spin an elaborate web of deception to trap and finally ensnare its prey? Maybe that's why the 2nd Season was called Futakomori? Ai was a condemned prisoner, walking towards a certain doom?

I've always felt it strange that Ai got off so lightly at the end of Season 1. She openly rebelled against the Spider, and did not seem to have been punished for that act. Her "death" by the end of Futakomori, I think, may be that long overdue punishment.

Spoiler for Kikuri:

Looking back at the Season, I get the feeling that Ai knew Kikuri's true identity and purpose from the very beginning. Yet, she made no attempt to avoid Kikuri, and even made her own of her "companions".

It's almost as though Ai knew that the Spider was out to get her, but she was prepared to meet her fate nonetheless.

Spoiler for Matyrdom:

Ai's matyrdom at the end, and the circumstances leading to her death -- it almost reminded me of Christ's matyrdom. That sounds almost blasphemous, haha, so let me try to explain.

Towards the end, Ai realised that Takuma had ended up in the same predicament she suffered 400 years ago. She, like Takuma, had also been feared as the devil's child. And, like Takuma, she too had been persecuted by an irrational supersition.

Why was Ai so determined to prevent Takuma's death? I suspect, it's possible that she feared that history would repeat itself. Should Takuma die the same way she did, killed by a lynch mob, it may just be possible that Takuma would be caught in same karmic cycle of vengeance that turned her into the Jigoku Shoujo.

By stepping in at the last moment, she saved Takuma, and in effect, took responsibility for her own sins. To me, it is extremely striking that she died in almost the same way she did the first time -- being clubbed to death by a maddened mob. It's almost as though the townsfolk were the dead villagers' proxies, exacting their revenge upon Enma Ai from beyond the grave.

The key difference however, is that this time, she chose not bear a grudge, unlike the first time round, when she cursed the villagers.

So, the way I see it, the reasons why Ai was finally released from her duties are:
1) Good karma earned from saving Takuma.

2) Finally letting go of her 400-year-old grudge.

3) Accepting her final punishment -- her second death. She willingly died for her sins from her previous life (and perhaps for her sins as the Jigoku Shoujo) and in that process, she cleaned the slate. A 400-year-old cycle of karmic vengeance was finally broken and wiped clean. (Doesn't that have a familiar ring? Someone dying on a cross for humanity's sins?)

Spoiler for Random ideas:

a) Always fear a mob. Mob behaviour can turn meek individuals into evil people -- that to me is the key moral of the Takuma arc.

b) "Lovely Hills"? I wonder if that is actually be a sly reference to Silent Hill? Yet another cursed town with a "cursed" devil's child?

c) What happened to Tsugumi and Hajime? Recall that Grandmother asked Hajime for a favour at the end of Season 1, and we still don't know what the favour was. Maybe the favour was for Hajime to write that book about the Jigoku Shoujo. I suspect however, that it might have been something far darker. It seems that Hajime had come to a bad end, and Tsugumi seemed troubled during her guest appearance in Ep 25. Could this be a possible story for a third season? Who knows?

d) As for who the next Jigoku Shoujo might be, who knows -- it may well turn out to be Tsugumi. Remember -- we still don't know why she shared a connection with Enma Ai. It may well be her karma to become Ai's successor after all.

[Jewelray]

Originally Posted by TinyRedLeaf

Spoiler for Random ideas:

c) What happened to Tsugumi and Hajime? Recall that Grandmother asked Hajime for a favour at the end of Season 1, and we still don't know what the favour was. Maybe the favour was for Hajime to write that book about the Jigoku Shoujo. I suspect however, that it might have been something far darker. It seems that Hajime had come to a bad end, and Tsugumi seemed troubled during her guest appearance in Ep 25. Could this be a possible story for a third season? Who knows?

d) As for who the next Jigoku Shoujo might be, who knows -- it may well turn out to be Tsugumi. Remember -- we still don't know why she shared a connection with Enma Ai. It may well be her karma to become Ai's successor after all.

Spoiler for :

But Tsugumi doesn't have a a grudge or a strong hatred towards anyone that we know about, since she forgave Hajime (but actually, why did she go back to calling him Hajime, after she finally starting calling him dad at the end of season one...?) But especially if something bad did happen to Hajime, considering his stance on Jigoku Tsuushin, I don't think Tsugumi would have strong feelings of revenge towards anyone out of respect.

Wasn't the reason Tsugumi and Ai shared a connection because Hajime was related to the guy from Ai's past that betrayed her?

[TinyRedLeaf]

Originally Posted by Jewelray

Spoiler for :

But Tsugumi doesn't have a a grudge or a strong hatred towards anyone that we know about, since she forgave Hajime (but actually, why did she go back to calling him Hajime, after she finally starting calling him dad at the end of season one...?) But especially if something bad did happen to Hajime, considering his stance on Jigoku Tsuushin, I don't think Tsugumi would have strong feelings of revenge towards anyone out of respect.

Wasn't the reason Tsugumi and Ai shared a connection because Hajime was related to the guy from Ai's past that betrayed her?

Spoiler for :

Yes, Hajime and Tsugumi were descendants of the guy that betrayed Ai, but it was never fully explained why only Tsugumi shared a psychic connection to Ai. The first time we see Tsugumi in Season 1 (at the railway tracks), it was almost as though Ai had purposedly sought her out, even though Ai would later deny it.

And it appears that Tsugumi still retains some sort of connection to the Jigoku Tsuushin, as evidenced by her ability to "see" and "talk" to Kikuri. That's what I meant by saying that Tsugumi is "fated" in some inexplicable way. As such, it might be possible for Tsugumi to assume the role of the Jigoku Shoujo without a deep-seated grudge.

Who knows? Hajime's favour to Grandma might have been to let Tsugumi become Ai's successor when the time comes. Maybe that's why Hajime looks so run-down -- perhaps he's feeling guilty? I also get the feeling that Hajime and Tsugumi aren't actually together anymore -- the way Tsugumi referred to Hajime, it seemed that their relationship had come under some strain. Of course, that's entirely speculation on my part.

As for Tsugumi not calling Hajime "Dad", I guess it's force of habit? Since she hardly ever refers to him as "Dad", it makes the one time she called him by that title much more dramatically significant.

[PastPrime]

Originally Posted by TinyRedLeaf

Spoiler for :

Yes, Hajime and Tsugumi were descendants of the guy that betrayed Ai, but it was never fully explained why only Tsugumi shared a psychic connection to Ai. The first time we see Tsugumi in Season 1 (at the railway tracks), it was almost as though Ai had purposedly sought her out, even though Ai would later deny it.

And it appears that Tsugumi still retains some sort of connection to the Jigoku Tsuushin, as evidenced by her ability to "see" and "talk" to Kikuri. That's what I meant by saying that Tsugumi is "fated" in some inexplicable way. As such, it might be possible for Tsugumi to assume the role of the Jigoku Shoujo without a deep-seated grudge.

Who knows? Hajime's favour to Grandma might have been to let Tsugumi become Ai's successor when the time comes. Maybe that's why Hajime looks so run-down -- perhaps he's feeling guilty? I also get the feeling that Hajime and Tsugumi aren't actually together anymore -- the way Tsugumi referred to Hajime, it seemed that their relationship had come under some strain. Of course, that's entirely speculation on my part.

As for Tsugumi not calling Hajime "Dad", I guess it's force of habit? Since she hardly ever refers to him as "Dad", it makes the one time she called him by that title much more dramatically significant.

We are given the impression that Ai was nearing the completion of her service. Perhaps it was necessary for her to face her past before she finished so the Hell Spider caused the connection. I am not sure that things didn't work out the way the Hell Spider wanted.

As for a new Hell Girl, I think that the Hell Spider has many choices. Perhaps the girl who was raped and murdered would do it to save her sister from Hell. The two friends who went to Hell might work as Hell Girl and her assistant to earn their way out of Hell. And I am sure there are many others.

[Jewelray]

Originally Posted by TinyRedLeaf

Spoiler for :

Yes, Hajime and Tsugumi were descendants of the guy that betrayed Ai, but it was never fully explained why only Tsugumi shared a psychic connection to Ai. The first time we see Tsugumi in Season 1 (at the railway tracks), it was almost as though Ai had purposedly sought her out, even though Ai would later deny it.

And it appears that Tsugumi still retains some sort of connection to the Jigoku Tsuushin, as evidenced by her ability to "see" and "talk" to Kikuri. That's what I meant by saying that Tsugumi is "fated" in some inexplicable way. As such, it might be possible for Tsugumi to assume the role of the Jigoku Shoujo without a deep-seated grudge.

Who knows? Hajime's favour to Grandma might have been to let Tsugumi become Ai's successor when the time comes. Maybe that's why Hajime looks so run-down -- perhaps he's feeling guilty? I also get the feeling that Hajime and Tsugumi aren't actually together anymore -- the way Tsugumi referred to Hajime, it seemed that their relationship had come under some strain. Of course, that's entirely speculation on my part.

As for Tsugumi not calling Hajime "Dad", I guess it's force of habit? Since she hardly ever refers to him as "Dad", it makes the one time she called him by that title much more dramatically significant.

Spoiler:

The reason Tsugumi got the vision and not Hajime is probably just because it's always the little girl who gets the magic powers and never the middle aged man. Not a very good reason, I know. And I think it gave some reason like Ai was subconsciously sending visions to Tsugumi because she was trying to remember her past or maybe because she wanted someone to stop her or something like that. But I don't remember season 1 too well so I could be making that up.

I don't think that Hajime would let Tsugumi become Jigoku Shoujo. That would be too out of character for him. Considering how much he loved Tsugumi and how much he hated Jigoku Tsuushin, it just wouldn't make any sense.

It's possible the spider can pick whoever he wants to run Jigoku Tsuushin, even if they don't have a grude. But I think the ending makes more sense if you assume that Jigoku Shoujo is someone who has to bear a strong grudge. Then the ending can be interpreted as saying that even though Ai realized the extend of the hatred cause be her own revenge and decided to be a martyr and put a stop to it, people are hateful and spiteful so there will always be someone else starting a new chain of revenge, hence the new Jigoku Shoujo that takes her place. Kind of depressing, but Jigoku Shoujo was not exactly a happy feel-good show.

[TinyRedLeaf]

Interesting. Although, I think you meant "not" exactly a feel-good show?

In any case, I don't think the chances are that high for a third season now.

[Jewelray]

Originally Posted by TinyRedLeaf

Interesting. Although, I think you meant "not" exactly a feel-good show?

In any case, I don't think the chances are that high for a third season now.

heh, typo

The fact that we got a second season was incredible (although, I probably would have preferred if season 1 and 2 had been condensed into one. Futakomori was pretty good and it was nice to see the sanwara's backstories, but there were a lot of less than amazing episodes I don't think it was overall as good as season 1. But there isn't any reason to make a 3rd season since everything has been wrapped up pretty nicely, so I think we can safely say it's the end of Jigoku Shoujo. (unless you want to go read the manga, which is pretty awful.)

[BBOvenGuy]

Originally Posted by Jewelray

I think we can safely say it's the end of Jigoku Shoujo. (unless you want to go read the manga, which is pretty awful.)

They can do another season of the live-action series. It was a bit cheesy, but good enough, and they went with a completely different mythology. In fact, in the last episode...

Spoiler for Jigoku Shoujo live-action finale:

Hajime ends up with a Hell mark! It wasn't entirely his fault, though, and I'd kind of like to see him try to reverse it in a second season story arc.

[Jewelray]

Originally Posted by BBOvenGuy

They can do another season of the live-action series. It was a bit cheesy, but good enough, and they went with a completely different mythology. In fact, in the last episode...

Spoiler for Jigoku Shoujo live-action finale:

Hajime ends up with a Hell mark! It wasn't entirely his fault, though, and I'd kind of like to see him try to reverse it in a second season story arc.

Actually, now that you mention it, another season of the live action could be interesting. The live action was very entertaining but I think it missed a lot of the subtly and the depth of the anime. But still, even though the ending didn't have the same message that the anime's did, it was still awesome and wonderful angsty.

[TinyRedLeaf]

Which came first actually? Anime or manga? I just stumbled on a few copies of the manga the other day......and what can I say? It looks awful. Enma Ai in the manga looks completely different from the anime, and the art style reminds me of crappy shoujo romance manga.

[DSJFX18]

Omg I really want to watch the rest of the episodes. All this talk is making me dreadful and I suspect that when I finally finish the series, I'll be a sad sad person.

I think I might just watch SHS's for now though I usually like to stick to one group...

Ai...

[Jewelray]

Originally Posted by TinyRedLeaf

Which came first actually? Anime or manga? I just stumbled on a few copies of the manga the other day......and what can I say? It looks awful. Enma Ai in the manga looks completely different from the anime, and the art style reminds me of crappy shoujo romance manga.

The anime was first. The manga is complete reinterpretation done for a much younger audience. Some of the stories are similar, but at least as far as I've read, it doesn't use any of the wonderfuly depressing stories and focuses on ones where the 'bad guy' gets what he deserves and the victim doesn't feel too bad about having to go to hell later on.

But, the only bright side to it being a manga for elementary school kids is that it's right about at my Japanese reading comprehension level.

[Guido]

Originally Posted by NoSanninWa

Indeed. I have been very happy to see the subbing of the second season is so much faster than the original season, by both Ayu and Shinsen. Ayu is also subbing at a respectable pace and I look forward to seeing them complete it.

You'll be glad to know that Ayu finished their subs for Futakomori. They released the complete batch of twenty-six episodes. Last time, they subbed up to episode 18.

Eight straight episodes in the same day. Way to go!

[guest]

Originally Posted by Guido

You'll be glad to know that Ayu finished their subs for Futakomori. They released the complete batch of twenty-six episodes. Last time, they subbed up to episode 18.

Eight straight episodes in the same day. Way to go!

I think that is the re-torrent for the first season, not the second one. Is Ayu trouble or something? It seems that they are re-torrent all their release ever.

[NoSanninWa]

You also misunderstand. They are not re-torrenting anything. Those are old torrents that are being resubmitted to that site (you know which site and you aren't allowed to mention its name) despite the fact that they are old. Those torrents have been listed on AnimeSuki for a long time.

And Ayu has only subbed up to episode 19 of Futakomori so far.

[dogfaja]

Ai's, martyrdom.... i think she was released and went to heaven together with her parents.. because self-sacrifice is a strong heaven's ticket pass right?? i mean in many religions and culture.

[Thingle]

I don't really get why she let herself suffer.

[Edgewalker]

Ill be honest: I have no idea whats going on.

Im totally confused by the fact that this site still lists The torrents despite the fact that the series is licensed ?

I assumed that it was only the first season that was licensed...but when I decided to take a look at the first episode it was the same as what I thought the first season was. Did I watch the second season without realizing it ? If so, where is the first season ? Why are we still listing it ?