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Shiki 2
You say goodbye and I say hello…
Let’s start from a cheery face, shall we? Because we would need it as the death progression from the last episode of four has increased to ten(!) and this is only the beginning. Before getting into the nitty gritty though, a tip for this anime: if you are watching this on your desktop/laptop, go for earphones/headphones rather than relying on speakers. Ideal situation is surround sound HDTV with 720p or higher to actually enjoy the hauntingly appropriate sounds and environmental effects that are a sensory awakener.
Village of 1,300, minus 10 and counting...
「 Shiki 2 – Second Decay (第腐堕話) 」Seems like more than an epidemic has hit the small village that is surrounded by momi fir trees on three sides (raw material for making death markers), almost triangular akin to the tip of an arrow. The thirteen-hundred population of Satoba is suddenly facing a dwindling rate of mortality that is unexplained and strange in many ways. The hardest hitting has been the death of Megumi Shimizu, who was only fifteen and died of an unexplained anemia and heart failure. On further investigation by a very devastated medical chief, Toshio Ozaki has nothing but to lament at his failure. Yet he resolves to uncover this mystery with the proof of blood tests and autopsy.
Weird hair tutorial: add in copper wire & hide pointy stars while braiding to get this effect... >.>
Life is fickle and everyone knows that. It can be cruel in ways that a girl can’t even confess her feelings to the guy she likes. But a girl like Kaori who is hardly fourteen, such worries shouldn’t trouble her yet she feels it even more acutely with Megumi’s demise. I have never lived in a small town so except for witnessing it on TV, really don’t know the mechanics of close spaces; however, listening to the comments of the people attending Megumi’s funeral I had a severe itch in my hands to slap them for incessantly talking behind her parents’ backs. Natsuno does attend the funeral with his parents (Yuuki and Azusa Koide) but leaves early to the dismay of Kaori, who couldn’t pass Megumi’s feeling to him and seems to be the only one feeling acute sadness after her parents.
Start acting nice, you jerk!
Coming to the troubled teenager, I was a bit more than pissed at Natsuno for being all broody and a whiny jerk for the general displeasure he throws at everyone, who’s nice to him. Ritsuko Kunihiro, a Nurse at Ozaki clinic finally grounds him to a level that he apologizes for his behavior. He of course is not in any way at ease because even after the death of his stalker, he continuously feels being stared at. His worries are nowhere over yet.
That smoke doesn't make you look kakkoi, Toshio... fail. -.-
Seishin (Junior Monk) and Toshio meet to compare notes about the occurring deaths and with the help of Ishida at local town office arrive at some very disturbing observations:
- There have been ten deaths between 1st to 24th August that is very high for half a summer when last year only four elderly people died during summers. The ten deaths include a number of young and old, the youngest being Megumi.
- The common cause for deaths are summer cold, organ failure, anemia, while symptoms range from fatigue, looking pale and dazed to sleepy.
- 20 years ago something similar happened in the village due to illness and accidents on the shore of unexplained nature.
- The village is not only surrounded by death but an epidemic is on the fore for which the town office would be taking measures in recording everything and warning people to get medical help in case of similar symptoms.
Definitely grim tidings for this small town. As predicted earlier, the story progress is slow with small pieces of puzzle coming together to make a picture. The little nuggets that we got in the current episode is that Natsuno has some special powers to either read people’s minds or sense presence of both physical and spiritual kind. The way he stares at nothing in particular and how he sometimes zones out of conversations with a hint of annoyance can just be the proof of this. I don’t think he’s worried about the growing pains rather he’s disturbed with the village’s ethereal atmosphere and the limitedness of small-town grapevine. Being given an old noble’s name or not, Natsuno has to work on his social skills or else he’ll be left very alone and not in a good way.
Get used to the "eyes" because they have become a creepy theme for Shiki
I was disappointed with the total absence of Kirishikis, especially GACKT because I really wanted to hear how he took up Seishiro’s character. Also, that vampire theory is looking even more promising right now because of the anemia; though, there’s no clear sign of any kind of fang-like bites. I read in a summary somewhere that Sunako (the daughter of Kirishikis) has a disease that doesn’t allow her to go out in the sun, which is probably the reason for them moving to Satoba at night. Currently all fingers point at them for being the culprits of bringing misfortune to the village and preying upon the innocent-folk. If the same events are repeating, someone should go to the town library and check out who lived in the old house over which the new mansion was built in Kanemasa twenty years ago. I can bet that they were either the Kirishikis themselves or have some distant connection to them.
Going back to the corpse demons, I have a feeling that Megumi would be returning to reprise her role of stalking Natsuno. It could actually be her whose strong stare he has been screening unconsciously with the closed shōji. I expect the death toll to almost double next episode in the similar manner of unexplained phenomenon. Hopefully, we would meet the Kirishikis and dwell deeper into the unfurling mystery with Toshio and Seishin. Interestingly, Shiki does not have a preview; thus, keeping things fresh and mysterious. So, till next time, Ja ne~
Shiki 4
Shiki 3
Shiki 5-6
Shiki 7/ 16 Commentsleave a comment /
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- Shiki 9 03 September 2010
- High School of the Dead 9 03 September 2010
- Amagami SS 9 31 August 2010
- Seikimatsu Occult Academy 9 31 August 2010
- Shiki 8 29 August 2010
- Ookami-san 9 29 August 2010
- High School of the Dead 8 26 August 2010
- Seikimatsu Occult Academy 8 24 August 2010
- Break Blade 01 23 August 2010
- Shiki 7 21 August 2010
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Decre on High School of the Dead 9
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Sekijitsu was founded to provide readers a diverse perspective on anything and everything manga and anime. The scope doesn’t end there though, as the blog will also occasionally dish out on the the writers' other interests, such as gaming, technology, movies, books, sports or whatever the flavour of the month happens to be. Fundamentally though, the sole focus will tend to be on anime, manga and Japanese culture in general. 
FIRST!
I don’t recall but is Gackt going to be one of the antagonists in this anime?
Some things that I didn’t mention in the first post.. The presentation is enough to send multiple signals down my spine….
Other than that, another great review! and Keep em coming!!!
Till then.. TRIP D’s OUT!
bakuhasu´s last blog ..Baku out!… see you back when I’m 19!!!
Most probably he would be as his role is Sunako’s father Seishiro; he could simply be the head vampire. And you are right, the music is definitely spine-tingly and the best thing that I like about this anime.
Thanks for the compliment and advance Happy Birthday! ^^;
Thanks ALOT Kyoukai!! Currently thanking you in a hotel room at a Reno Resort. Really means alot!
Sorry if I derailed a bit in the comments.
Lol! Enjoy your trip! ^_^
You’re both weirdos. I like how Baku said ‘Kyoukai’ since that’s the technical english spelling for ‘boundary’ and ‘church’ from ‘Kara no Kyoukai’. I’m fine with just calling you ‘Chief’!
Lol, world is filled with weirdos, man! xD
Btw, Baku, one correction, I use Kyokai as my handle for the reason as it means ringleader/chief as Flags said. Though, it all originated from me more than liking Kara no Kyoukai movies. ^^;
Yes, the lack of previews work really well in this mystery/horror anime. Any kind of shock value would be ruined otherwise. Nice to know that the people behind this anime realize that. xD
Mikoto´s last blog ..Shiki 02
Daume is doing a really good job in maintaining the mystery. Props to them. xD
ain’t megumi the main character?
No. She’s dead now, so her being the main character would be kind of weird.
Mikoto´s last blog ..Shiki 02
@ anom, it’s hard to say that as Natsuno and Sunako pretty much cover all posters of Shiki but I think we will be seeing her very soon.
@ Mikoto, Lol! But do you think death can actually stop her… ^_~
Interesting theory about Natsuno. I wonder if “growing pain” is even a real thing. Given that she is a nurse, I take it that Natsuno was taken to the clinic by his family, presumably because of pain in his leg. Kind of a weird detail to raise.
Joojoobees´s last blog ..Shiki 2- worst case scenario
The most likely answer is that he has Osgood-Schlatter Disease. Which is one of two major growth conditions that occur in adolescence because of the pulling of tendons around bone joints. The other one is called Sever’s Disease which has to do with the achilles heel. The reason that I am guessing Osgood-Schlatter is because the nurse said “legs” rather than feet and OSD is growth problems around the knee plate. The only reason I can think for the show to mention this is to either build a relationship between Natsuno and Ozaki. Or that one of the reasons he hates the town is because he can’t play sports which is a common cause of rapid growth problems.
@ Joojoobees, At least in medical terms, growing pain is definitely a real thing and as I deem every little hint in this anime important, thought to brought this up. Now, was it really growing pains is what he experienced is still to be looked into.
@ Flags, then OSD sounds more plausible if there was a bone disease that Natsuno was suffering from. I’m still wondering why the Koides shifted from city to such a small village. The answer to that would explain Natsuno’s special powers if there are any.
Certainly seems to be vampires. The doctor’s diagnosis was a very roundabout way of saying blood had been drained. I must say I’ve read ahead in the manga, and the show is a very good adaption to the manga.Don’t expect this series to be action-packed, it’s all about the story. It certainly does get more creepy.
Laughed when the dog jumped on Natsuno xD
Fabrice´s last blog ..Temple of Olympian Zeus Athens
Oh, so you know all the secrets! ~_~ That vampire hint was one of the reasons of me not going into the explanation of reticulocyte count or normocytic-monochromic anemia. I do like story-based anime be it dialogue-filled (like Katanagatari) or slow-paced yet with a strong story (like Aoi Bungaku), so Shiki’s just my thing.
Btw, Natsuno deserved more than dog-slobber, hopefully some more insults in the next epi? xD