View Full Version : Jigoku Shoujo, Onwards to Hell, Part 2
I hope the mods don't mind me starting a new thread; the old one had 233 posts on it. (http://forums.animeondvd.com/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Number=1041792&page=5&view=c ollapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1) It contains discussions up to episode 10.
For those that don't know, Jigoku Shoujo is about people (usually youths) who feel so much hatred, anger, or fear against someone that they make a contract with Enma Ai, the Jigoku Shoujo (Hell Girl), to send (kill) the person to hell (after a bit of torment/punishment); however, the person making the contract will also go to hell after he/she dies normally. The "victim" must access Jigoku Shoujo's website at midnight, enter the name or description of the person they want to send to hell, gets contacted by Enma Ai, who gives the contractee a "hell-doll." The hell-doll has a red string which when pulled, binds the contract and Ai and her helpers send the target to hell.
Ai is helped by three assistants, Ichimoku Ren (One-eyed Ren), who usually carefully observes the sins of the "target," Hone-Onna (Bone Woman), who often portrays sexy women to gather data, and Wanyuudo ("Wheel Path to Righteousness" ... this is a very liberal translation on my part), who is usually the hell-doll and Ai's chariot when she goes to send the person to hell. In addition, Ai has a "grandma," who you can only see as a silhouette of an old lady using a loom (reminds you of the supernatural being, "Fate") or as a spider. The grandma tells Ai of any requests from her website or to tell her that her hell kimono is ready.
There are also two other recurring characters, Hajime, a freelance reporter/photographer, and his daughter Tsugumi. Tsugumi and Ai seem to have some kind of connection or bond. Tsugumi can sometimes see what Ai is seeing. When Ai saw her for the first time, she told her grandma that she felt kind of "nostalgic." Hajime is actively interested in finding out more about Ai.
Click here for the official website (http://www.jigokushoujo.com/)
It looks like episode 11 has aired. The 2chan thread isn't much help, as it just has a couple images.
Episode title is "Chigireta Ito" (The Broken String).
The contractee in this episode is Kataoka, a son of a politician in the midst of a scandal. In addition, he was falsely reported in a tabloid that he was using drugs, further discrediting his family. He wants vengence against Inagaki, who also happens to be owner/editor for the tabloid that Hajime is freelancing for. What's interesting this episode is that Hajime finds out about this contract early on and tries to talk Kataoka out of using Jigoku Shoujo's services. At one point, he yells out, "Jigoku Shoujo's methods are wrong!" (he must have been possessed by the spirit of Bemani /images/graemlins/tongue.gif).
Further details: <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>Kataoka is abandoned by his friends in an alley after he tried to borrow some money from them. He soon contacts the Jigoku Shoujo website and gets the hell doll, contract details, and standard warning.
Hajime visits the grave of his dead wife; it seems his daughter Tsugumi had been there earlier, as evidenced by the kids snacks left as an offering on her gravestone. Hajime gets an annoying phone call.
Hajime is talking to a tabloid owner who gives him his next assignment. The tabloid owner, Inagaki, tells Hajime to make up stuff if he can't find any dirt. Hajime said he won't resort to falsehood and leaves. Ichimoku Ren was observing the conversation (eye on the wall). He comments to Hone Onna outside that Hajime will never get promoted. Hone Onna says they should concentrate on the target, and not Hajime.
Outside, a security guard is trying to subdue an angry Kataoka who wants to speak to Inagaki. He tries to punch the security guard but is stopped by Hajime. Hajime takes him to a park area where he tries to hear about his grudge. There Kataoka slowly talks about how Inagaki made up stories of him taking drugs; that plus his father's scandal has ripped his family apart. Hajime tells him to use his energy to do something positive instead of trying to get vengence on someone. Kataoka says Hajime knows nothing and runs off.
At Hajime's house, Tsugumi is cooking dinner, assisted by a bartender or restaurant owner friend. Suddenly, Tsugumi has a vision.
Hajime is spying on Inagaki, who is coming out of a hostess club. Tsugumi contacts him on his phone about her vision. Hajime realizes that he's in the spot that she's describing and he runs. In an alley where Inagaki is walking through with hostess girls on his arms, he is confronted by Kataoka, who tries to attack him with a broken bottle. However, Inagaki beats the crap out of him. (Pathetic.) Hajime arrives on the scene and asks if Kataoka is okay. He tells him that Inagaki was a karate champion. He then says, you've contacted the Jigoku Shoujo, haven't you? "That guy..." says, Ichimoku Ren. "Is being an interferring pest" says Hone Onna.
Kataoka explains how the doll works. Hajime tells him not to pull the string. He said he'll find dirt on Inagaki and write an article so Kataoka should leave things to him and not do anything. Hajime runs off to the hostess bar but finds that Inagaki is gone. The girl says there was some hottie who told Inagaki to come to her club instead and he went off with her. Inagaki is with a girl on his arm and he tries to open a door... but the doorknob turns into a hand and pulls him in. Hajime runs to the scene but finds himself at a dead end. Hone Onna appears from a pillar after he leaves. Inagaki is tormented then sent to hell.
Hajime returns to the spot where Inagaki was and finds the red string on the ground. He asks Kataoka why he pulled the string. Kataoka said whatever he did now wouldn't change the damage done to his family; what's broken can't be fixed. He said Hajime has a family so he should understand. </span>
My comments: the persons making these contracts sure are weak... they really don't try hard enough. They really do deserve to go to hell.
Pics:
This week's contractee: Kataoka (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep11/js11-01.jpg)
Kataoka's vision of what'll happen when he goes to hell (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep11/js11-02.jpg)
Hajime and this week's target: tabloid owner/editor Inagaki (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep11/js11-03.jpg)
Ai keeps her eyes on Kataoka (seen on the right) (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep11/js11-04.jpg)
Tsugumi cooks dinner with the help of a family friend (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep11/js11-05.jpg)
but she gets a Jigoku Shoujo vision (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep11/js11-06.jpg)
Hajime and Kataoka talk about the Jigoku Shoujo contract (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep11/js11-07.jpg)
The start of Inagaki's journey to hell (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep11/js11-08.jpg)
Hone Onna plays "hide and seek" with Hajime (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep11/js11-09.jpg)
Inagaki finds himself in tabloid hell (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep11/js11-10.jpg)
It seems this week Ai has an extra fervor to her eyes as she sends someone to hell (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep11/js11-11.jpg)
This sounds more like a plot forwarding episdoe with Hajime rather then a bonified Jigoku Shoujo moment like in the first couple episodes. I like the fact that Hajime is getting closer and closer to finding out and possibly talking to Ai and her associates.
I also find it interesting that they're spying on him also. But I still want to know about Ai's background, which hopefully we'll get to see.
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Lego said:
This sounds more like a plot forwarding episdoe with Hajime rather then a bonified Jigoku Shoujo moment like in the first couple episodes. I like the fact that Hajime is getting closer and closer to finding out and possibly talking to Ai and her associates.
I also find it interesting that they're spying on him also. But I still want to know about Ai's background, which hopefully we'll get to see.
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I'm interested in what kind of bond Tsugumi has with Ai... that graveyard scene made me wonder if Ai has any kind of connection with Tsugumi's mom.
And actually, they only spied on Hajime by accident; he just happened to be in the same room with the target.
Hmm, that would be a interesting twist for them to be related some how. Although I don't think that they'd pull the ultimate twist of her being Tsugumi's mom. Maybe her mom was sent to hell by Ai, so they have a bond there. Not totally sure.
Well, episode 12 has aired, and we're closing in on the half way point of the series.
This episode looked good, but I won't try to explain it since Wrex can do so much better. It looked like it involved a <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>teacher and student </span> relationship. The preview for the next episode looks really interesting.
Episode Title: 零れ�カケラ� (Koboreta Kakeratachi: difficult to translate this one... Literal translation: Spilled people who talk to each other: Liberal translation: "Fallen Confidants")
As you said, Lego, this episode involves a teacher and a student... but it's not that kind of relationship. /images/graemlins/happy.gif
Basically, there's a girl named Akane Sawai who has withdrawn into her room and won't go to school. Her young homeroom teacher, Yoshiki Fujisawa, comes to her house every day, banging on her door, pleading for her to come to school, but to no avail. Akane feels the only person that understands her is her email friend, who shares her feelings. She's sick of the persistency of Fujisawa, and with the agreement of her mail friend, enters his name into the Jigoku Shoujo site. <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>After Fujisawa is once more pressured by his superior, he goes to Akane's house and talks to her. He tries to convince her to come to school, saying that she may get to understand her feelings better if she interacts with others; and to this she blurts out that he can't understand her feelings, and asks if he isn't just doing this because if she doesn't go to school, he'll just look bad. It's touched off a nerve and he yells out, "If you know how I'm feeling, then don't ask! Don't think you're so special in your situation! But apologizes immediately after. After an awkward silence between the two, he says that she's right and that he was only thinking of himself. He gets ready to leave, but gently says that he'll come again, and she shouldn't worry her mom too much and should try to go to school. This moment of honesty seems to have touched Akane and she follows him out of the house and watches him leave.
After, she contacts her mail friend, saying her feelings are mixed and now doesn't know what to do. Her mail friend shares similar feelings, by coincidence. The next day, Fujisawa is surprised to see her come to class. They talk to each other during a break. Someone calls him and he goes out for a moment. She takes the opportunity to send a message to her email friend and see's his keitai (cell phone) buzz. She sends another message and it buzzes again. She picks up his phone and sees the messages are from her. He returns and asks what she's doing. She in turn asks if he knew all along that she was "Anemone," but he says he didn't. Eventually, they sort things out; this was his only way he could talk about his feelings; she says that his words saved her. She says she's sorry, but she'd entered his name into the Jigoku Shoujo site. He seems excited and asks if she's seen the Hell Girl. She says "yes," and he asks what she was like. She says that Ai looked kind of forlorn. He asks if she could send him to hell; that he was tired of it all and wanted some relief. She seems to understand the pain he was going through, and though she thinks about herself going to hell, decides to pull the string.
Fujisawa finds himself lying on the boat to hell (no torments). He asks Ai if he's going to hell this way. Ai says, "do you know what you did?" She makes him look at an image of Akane sad in the upper world. She says that by sending him to hell, she'll also fall to hell, wandering for all eternity. She hears Akane saying, "I'll see you later in hell, my teacher."
Later, Hajime (he had been to that school as a guest speaker and had met Fujisawa) learns that the teacher was reported missing. As he's sitting in the car with Tsugumi, he says, "what a shame... he seemed like such a fine, upstanding, serious teacher." But Tsugumi goes into a trance again, and says, "is it okay like this, that hell becomes heaven?" In Ai's garden, the granma replies, "it's okay, if they regard it that way. You don't have to think any further than that." </span>
Thoughts: this episode was concentrated greatly on the main character and the target; there was no appearance of Ai's helpers. Ai seems to be disturbed by feelings of injustice and sadness, but her grandma doesn't want her to think about things like that... just do her job like a robot. The artwork on this episode was pretty good too; the scenery of their secret spot and the facial expressions, especially the eyes were well done, I thought.
Next week's episode does look interesting... Tsugumi has a vision, but it's not the present, it's about the past... something that happened 50 years ago.
Pics:
Akane Sawai is withdrawn into her own world (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep12/js12-01.jpg)
This week's target: homeroom teacher Fujisawa visits Akane at home to try to convince her to come to school (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep12/js12-02.jpg)
Akane can only talk to her mail friend; Akane's handle is "anemone" (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep12/js12-03.jpg)
A secret spot treasured by both Akane and her mail friend (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep12/js12-04.jpg)
Nobody pays attention to guest speaker Hajime (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep12/js12-05.jpg)
Akane discovers something shocking (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep12/js12-06.jpg)
Enma Ai reveals the sad truth (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep12/js12-07.jpg)
Tsugumi has a vision (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep12/js12-08.jpg)
Ai begins to wonder about the state of things (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep12/js12-09.jpg)
Next week: Hajime speaks to this old man (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep12/js12-10.jpg)
What is his connection with Ai? (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep12/js12-11.jpg)
Thanks for the summary Wrex. This episode looks to have been emotional, rather then playing the whole revenge thing. I liked it. It seems that Ai didn't choose her job. I'm starting to wonder if the lady behind the curtain is her real grandmother. Who knows, the guy looking at a picture of Ai could be her grandfather.
It seems like we'll finally get some background on Ai and how she got into the role. So if it's 50 years ago and we see Ai around the same age/height, then something must of happened to her.
The thing I like the most about Jigoku is that when someone finally gets sent to hell, it kind of makes you think "was that really worth sending someone to hell for?" or "to deal with the problem, the person resorted to sending them to hell?" To me, Ai and associates seem to be offering the easy way out, and she is dismayed that her job causes sadness as you mentioned.
roastedpekingduck
12-20-2005, 09:16 PM
This show sounds very interesting and seems like the only psychological anime to have come out this year. I looked forward to a licensing of this show.
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roastedpekingduck said:
This show sounds very interesting and seems like the only psychological anime to have come out this year. I looked forward to a licensing of this show.
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Yeh, it reminds me of Requiem from the Darkness(Hundred Stories). It has a tale that is mostly a stand alone. The thing that I like about the series, as I stated in my last post, is that it lets you sit back and go "Was this really worth sending that person to hell?".
I'm looking forward to the Ai background episode.
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Lego said:
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roastedpekingduck said:
This show sounds very interesting and seems like the only psychological anime to have come out this year. I looked forward to a licensing of this show.
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Yeh, it reminds me of Requiem from the Darkness(Hundred Stories). It has a tale that is mostly a stand alone. The thing that I like about the series, as I stated in my last post, is that it lets you sit back and go "Was this really worth sending that person to hell?".
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I think you can change "sending a person to hell" to "killing" or "committing suicide" and it would be relevant to the current state of affairs in modern society. There are many group sucides in Japan, for example, especially among young people; they contact each other via the internet, find a location, and commit suicide together. Or, there are cases where some kid might be getting bullied in school or by their parents, and they lash out against their classmates or families by killing them.
Besides being a dark anime just for entertainment purposes, I think this show may be trying to make kids think if they are doing the right thing. You may think there is no way out and you choose the easy path, but is it the right choice? Are your troubles really so bad that it's worth dying or killing someone over?
Interesting way to look at it Wrex. Yeh, I have heard about group suicides in Japan. The thing I have noticed though is that they haven't gone down the suicide route. Well except maybe for this teacher in episode 12. If you think about it though, the person is actually sending their tormentor to hell for a few years(depends on subject) of "peace" until they die.
beatmania
12-23-2005, 01:09 PM
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wrex said:
Episode title is "Chigireta Ito" (The Broken String).
At one point, he yells out, "Jigoku Shoujo's methods are wrong!" (he must have been possessed by the spirit of Bemani /images/graemlins/tongue.gif).
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Finally someone agrees with me!
These last 2 episodes are kind of weird, since they deviate from the standard jigoku shoujo formula. I like how they don't waste any time with the explaination of the straw doll now. Now they just have to get rid of the recycled flaming chariot scene.
So now we know you don't really need a grudge settled to use Emma Ai's service.
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Lego said:
The thing I have noticed though is that they haven't gone down the suicide route. Well except maybe for this teacher in episode 12.
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Ep 1's girl jumped off a building before Ai somehow saved her. I thought that was the most justifiable case since that girl suffered so much she wanted to kill herself.
So I was checking out the offical site, and decided to take a look at the story section. While it isn't a great translation(maybe Wrex can take a shot at it), you get the picture:
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The hell communication was published one old book that Shibata had obtained by second hand book shop "Egrodou" and there and the novel "Purgatory girl" which the story was just like was published. Shibata finds a man named Fukumoto who is the author.
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So could it be that someone made a book and documented what happened with Ai and her associates?
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bemani said:
These last 2 episodes are kind of weird, since they deviate from the standard jigoku shoujo formula. I like how they don't waste any time with the explaination of the straw doll now. Now they just have to get rid of the recycled flaming chariot scene.
So now we know you don't really need a grudge settled to use Emma Ai's service.
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But maybe you do need a grudge to at least get a connection and receive the hell doll.
As for all the repetitive scenes, they'll probably still use them time to time, depending on how much time they need to tell the meat of their stories. But I do like how the stories are focusing on different areas now.
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Lego said:
So I was checking out the offical site, and decided to take a look at the story section. While it isn't a great translation(maybe Wrex can take a shot at it), you get the picture:
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The hell communication was published one old book that Shibata had obtained by second hand book shop "Egrodou" and there and the novel "Purgatory girl" which the story was just like was published. Shibata finds a man named Fukumoto who is the author.
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So could it be that someone made a book and documented what happened with Ai and her associates?
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Yeah, that's basically what it says for the preview text for ep. 13. The old man must've published a novel based on his experience with the Jigoku Shoujo. If he made a contract with Ai, I wonder if we'll get to see him fall to hell (he looks like he's pretty close to croaking naturally)... or if she'll come personally to escort him there.
It should be interesting Wrex. Didn't the preview or the site say that it was 50 years ago? So whoever this guy is/was, he must of had close contact with Ai. I mean he is sitting in front of a giant painting of Ai in the last shot of the preview.
It should be interesting to get some nice backstory.
beatmania
12-24-2005, 02:47 AM
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Lego said:
Didn't the preview or the site say that it was 50 years ago?
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I can just imagine some guy putting a person's name on a punch card and running it through a reader in a room full of vacuum tubes in the middle of the night.
Heh. I do remember Wrex stating that the preview said something about it being 50 years ago. Something along the lines of:
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Next week's episode does look interesting... Tsugumi has a vision, but it's not the present, it's about the past... something that happened 50 years ago.
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Since it was 50 years ago, Bemani was making a joke that you had to use a punch-card system to input something into the ancient computers... however, I think the punch-card system was used in the 70s... so about 30 or 40 years ago?
I bet 50 years ago, you had to contact the Jigoku Shoujo via the communications methods back then... such as writing a letter maybe and burning it in a fire at midnight (kinda like how you send messages to Santa Claus... speaking of which, Merry Christmas!)... or maybe a telephone call to 555-HELL or something like that. Anyway, we'll see if this part of the mystery is explained. /images/graemlins/happy.gif
Ah... what a teaser... but it's as I expected; they can't reveal too many secrets right now or else the show will be over.
Basically, Hajime investigates another Jigoku Shoujo case after Tsugumi gets a vision, but it leads to a novel found in a used book store. Hajime stumbles upon a Jigoku Shoujo case that happened 50 years ago.
Also, I'm convinced Hajime is Bemani in anime form. /images/graemlins/tongue.gif
I'll post more details and screencaps tomorrow morning (gotta go to sleep; it's 12:49 am here).
Hmm, good point Wrex. Well at least it gives me comfort in knowing that the show will go on for 13 more episodes. I'm likeing the current trend of episodes though. It seems that Ai is becoming more and more annoyed by her job of taking people to hell. I wonder if we'll get a episode where she flat out refuses to take someone.
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It seems that Ai is becoming more and more annoyed by her job of taking people to hell. I wonder if we'll get a episode where she flat out refuses to take someone.
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It could happen... in any case, it seems like Ai's trying to break out of her role or trying to be more than a 2 dimensional "death god."
So anyway, this episode focused on Hajime's investigation of Ai, her operations more than 50 years ago, a view of the end of someone's contract and the person's feelings toward Ai, and Ai's indirect attempt to express herself (or maybe even a plea for help?).
Episode title was "Rengoku Shoujo" (Purgatory Girl).
Btw, my prediction that you probably had to send mail to Ai was correct... but you didn't have to burn it... I guess that's only mail to Santa.
Some Pics:
Tsugumi has another vision; Ai enters a used book store... is she looking for porno? (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep13/js13-01.jpg)
Hajime snaps her out of the vision... just wanted to share this cute pic of Tsugumi (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep13/js13-02.jpg)
Ai's helpers wonder what the hell (pun intended) Ai's doing (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep13/js13-03.jpg)
Just wanted to share Hone Onna's legs... she's got nice bone structure. ^_~ (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep13/js13-04.jpg)
Hajime finally finds the novel; the illustration shows the Rengoku Shoujo along with the main characters (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep13/js13-05.jpg)
Beware... the Rengoku Shoujo beckons you to hell.... (this is not quite Ai though....) (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep13/js13-06.jpg)
An old photo of the author of the novel (on the left) and his best buddy (in the center) (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep13/js13-07.jpg)
Ah, there's the Ai we know (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep13/js13-08.jpg)
The author of the novel, Fukumoto (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep13/js13-09.jpg)
An empty newspaper ad... (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep13/js13-10.jpg)
the contents can only be seen by those who bear great enmity (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep13/js13-11.jpg)
The moment you put your request letter in the mail box, the Jigoku Shoujo appears (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep13/js13-12.jpg)
This Ai looks a bit scarier (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep13/js13-13.jpg)
Fukumoto's Jigoku Shoujo shrine... a room full of Ai artwork (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep13/js13-14.jpg)
Painting the finishing touches on Ai's eye (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep13/js13-15.jpg)
Ai sheds tears for Fukumoto (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep13/js13-16.jpg)
because his candle goes out... (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep13/js13-17.jpg)
Ai's mysterious smile.... what does it mean? (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep13/js13-18.jpg)
Now for the summary: <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>Tsugumi has a vision of Ai going into a used bookstore. She sees a scruffy looking middle aged book owner and his parrot, a bookstore full of dirty magazines... and Ai's fingers brush against a certain book on the shelf. Hajime snaps her out of it, she relays what she's seen, and Hajime goes to investigate, thinking there's another Jigoku Shoujo case on foot. Meanwhile, Ai's helpers talk amongst themselves, wondering what Ai's doing. Hone Onna says they'll find out when the time comes... and hints that they'll have to deal with Hajime one day.
Hajime eventually finds the bookstore and with the help of an incredibly intelligent parrot (who seems to be able to have a sensible conversation with him and even speak for him), he finds the novel that Ai's fingers touched. It's a book called "Rengoku Shoujo" (Purgatory Girl). The book owner says the author's name is probably a pen name and directs Hajime to the publisher of the book.
Hajime talks to the publisher, who gives him the real name of the author, Fukumoto. He also shows him a photo of Fukumoto and the real picture that Fukumoto drew (he was an artist) of Ai. The pic of the Rengoku Shoujo in the novel was drawn by someone else because they thought it would look scarier and thus better for sales of the novel. The picture of Ai looks exactly like the Ai that Hajime's seen. The publisher also tells him that there was some tragedy in Fukumoto's life, as his wife had committed suicide and his best friend disappeared shortly after.
Hajime finds Fukumoto, who eventually tells him about Ai. First, he mentions the methods of contacting Ai. Ironically, he was told by his best friend on how to do so. There was a newspaper ad that was completely blank. Only those who had a big grudge against someone could see the ad. Fukumoto at the time couldn't see anything of course. But one day, he discovered that his best friend raped his wife (maybe... he didn't say, I just saw the pic and interpreted it as such). His wife committed suicide shortly after and Fukumoto felt for the first time in his life like killing someone... and he could see the message on the blank ad. The moment he entered his letter into the post box, he felt a presence, and Ai appeared behind him. His vengence was carried out shortly after. He tells Hajime about the condition that he himself had to fall to hell after his natural death, and that he bore the mark of hell on his chest.
Fukumoto said he tried to forget about the mark and his eventual journey to hell by engrossing himself in work, then going on some kind of zen like training, then gambling his life away, then trying to help out humanity in small ways like picking up litter; but in the end, he couldn't forget that his fate was to suffer an eternity in hell.
He shows Hajime his room dedicated to Ai... the room is full of artwork he had drawn and painted of Ai. His last work is a mural on one of the walls and he makes the finishing touches on it. He says that thinking of meeting Ai once again was the only thing he was looking forward to. "What?" says Hajime, "But she messed up your life!" "No," answers Fukumoto, "the one that messed up my life was my best friend. I heard that he carried around a gun; should I had tried to take vengence myself, I would have joined my wife quite soon. No, I'm thankful to Ai." "Just what the hell is she, the Jigoku Shoujo?" "She's not human... or maybe she was once a person. There are records speaking of the Jigoku Shoujo in the Edo period... but it probably goes back to the Azuchi-Momoyama period." "Why did you decide to write about the Jigoku Shoujo?" asks Hajime. "It was probably her will, not mine," says Fukumoto, "She wanted to tell her story to someone." "Someone?" whispers Hajime, "who?" "That's right," says Fukumoto, looking at Hajime, "You."
Then Fukumoto feels some pain in his body... the mural of Ai begans to shed tears. Fukumoto looks at the painting and says, "Are you crying for me?" His candle goes out and he passes away. He finds himself lying on the ferry with Ai. "We finally meet again... you haven't changed a bit," says Fukumoto. "Do you think I'll meet my old friend?" he asks. Ai smiles for a second, then says, "Hell is a big place." End of story. </span>
Why did she smile? It was creepy! Was it just poor animation/artwork or did it mean something sinister? Ki ni naru!
Hmm, nice summary Wrex. I find it interesting that he comments to Hajime that Ai wanted to tell her story to someone. Maybe Ai became the Jigoku Shoujo not by choice, and she is starting to get more and more annoyed by it.
As for the smileing part, I dunno. It's one of the first times I've seen Ai show emotion. Was she smileing because she knows what the guy is going to get in hell, or was she smileing due to the question?
At least we can date Ai back a long, long ways.
beatmania
01-02-2006, 11:20 PM
[ QUOTE ]
wrex said:
Why did she smile? It was creepy! Was it just poor animation/artwork or did it mean something sinister? Ki ni naru!
[/ QUOTE ]
Are you talking about the close-up of her lips just before she said her only line in this ep?
To me, it seems Ai wanted to say something to answer Fukumoto's question of whether he'll be meeting his friend again, but stopped herself just before she said whatever's on her mind and gave him a non-committal answer instead.
[ QUOTE ]
wrex said:
Also, I'm convinced Hajime is Bemani in anime form. /images/graemlins/tongue.gif
[/ QUOTE ]
LOL
So Jigoku isn't airing this week right? I know that most shows took a break due to New Years.
[ QUOTE ]
Lego said:
So Jigoku isn't airing this week right? I know that most shows took a break due to New Years.
[/ QUOTE ]
Episode 14 will air shortly (in 10 minutes as I'm typing this). /images/graemlins/happy.gif No rest for our friends in Hell. /images/graemlins/wink.gif
Ah. Haven't seen a summary or even 2ch pics of the episode yet, although it says it's supposed to air today. Guess I'll wait for Wrex's summary(as usual) and comment on it.
something
01-03-2006, 03:29 PM
Only just yesterday got to see 7, so I'm not reading the rest of this thread because of spoilers, but if someone could answer very vaguely and succinctly without spoiling ANYTHING, has a central story or recurring theme with promise of more background on Ai and company evolved yet as of ~13 or so that you're all on?
Sure, I like it, and ep 7 involved another nice twist (and Ai pulling off some ninja moves in a tree), but it's still formulaic. I can't do 26 episodes of this, but I don't know where to stop really.
I'll just say that we've had hints about Ai's past, but nothing like in FMA when they would give the whole backstory about certain characters.
I'm enjoying the show(as you can see by my constant posts). The first couple of episodes were a little forumlatic, but the last couple have been really good. I'm hopefully after reaching the half way point.
something
01-03-2006, 04:46 PM
[ QUOTE ]
Lego said:
I'll just say that we've had hints about Ai's past, but nothing like in FMA when they would give the whole backstory about certain characters.
[/ QUOTE ]
Hmm, sounds like there's a little going on, but not as much as I hoped. Ah well, I'll stick with it more since I *am* liking it and all.
If I could compare it to a series plot wise, I would say Tsukihime. You keep waiting for a episode where they spill the beans, yet they give you "drops" of information while building up a bigger plot. Although I wouldn't be surprised if we got a Ai background episode soon.
Episode title: Beyond the Blind Alley (Fukurokou no Mukou: 袋�路����)
Basics: The target is Kusunoki, the beloved mayor of a small town; the person wanting vengence is a high school girl named Saki, whose father commited suicide. However, Tsugumi gets the vision of this, and Hajime goes to try to stop it.
Pics:
Tsugumi wakes from her Jigoku Shoujo vision while in class (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep14/js14-01.jpg)
After another day at work for Enma Ai (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep14/js14-02.jpg)
Hajime and Tsugumi investigate who the hell target might be (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep14/js14-03.jpg)
The target: Mayor Kusunoki (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep14/js14-04.jpg)
Saki is saddened by the loss of her father (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep14/js14-05.jpg)
Hajime makes a request to Kusunoki, but his son wants him to butt out (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep14/js14-06.jpg)
To make matters worse, Saki's dad didn't have much in his savings; Ichimoku Ren looks on (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep14/js14-07.jpg)
Will Ai have to face further tragedy? (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep14/js14-08.jpg)
Saki makes her decision (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep14/js14-09.jpg)
Spoilers: <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>Tsugumi gets a vision of hell. In hell, Ai's granny asks her how (work) was. Ai answers, "the same as usual... everyone had sad eyes." Ai doesn't look so happy either.
After Tsugumi gets a vision of the next target, she tells Hajime and they investigate till they find a match: Kusunoki, a mayor of a small town, and Saki, whose father died in an apparent suicide.
Saki confronts the Kusunoki, but his angry son drives her away. Saki remembers how she woke up in the middle of the night to hear her dad speaking angrily to someone on the phone. She finds a large envelope which has photos of the mayor apparently having a meeting with criminal organization members. He leaves in the middle of the night and the next day it seems he'd commited suicide. At the funeral, she tells the mayor and his son to leave. She goes to the police, but they found no envelope and say if she wants money, she should try some other method.
Hajime finds Saki, learns about the situation. They talk near an old folks home and the senior citizens throw a stone at her. The mayor is much loved, and he had built this home for them. At that point, Hajime sees the hell doll sticking out of her pocket. "Have you already seen the Jigoku Shoujo?" he asks. He tells her not to do anything, that he'll do his best to find out the truth.
The next day Hajime goes to the mayor's office to demand to talk to him. Although his son tries to turn him away, the mayor eventually talks to him. We find that he is quite kind hearted and loves old folks because he was brought up by his granddad when his parents died when he was young. He takes him to the old folks home. He said that the underworld had backed the building of a luxury condo, but he was able to build the old folks home instead. That night, Hajime calls Saki and asks her not to exact vengence; if she does, she'd surely regret it.
The next day, the mayor's son has a meeting with Saki at a diner. He tries to bribe her to drop this whole deal. He said if something happens to his dad, the whole town would grieve. On the other hand, the only person that grieves for the death of her father is her. She runs off in tears, bitter, sad, and angry.
Hajime has another meeting with the mayor. He says at the least, try to apologize to Saki even if he can't come clean to the public. The son bursts in, angry, asking what he's doing. Hajime pleads to understand the girl's feelings.
At the bank, Saki receives the savings of her deceased father. It's not much.
It is sunset, Saki is on a bridge. Hajime calls Saki and says he'll bring Kusunoki with him. She says, "never mind. I realize clearly what I must do." "Ah, then you've decided to stop this vengence thing!" says Hajime, optimistically. "No, there's only one thing I can do to help the memory of my father. I'm sorry," she says, and hangs up the phone. Ai watches her with resigned eyes, then shuts her eyes after Saki pulls the string, then Ai walks away. Wanyuudo's voice sounds sad as he says, "this request has been accepted." Kusunoki's son runs out of the building in horror and says his father disappeared.
Kusunoki is on Ai's ferry. After he finds out his situation, he says, "ah, it was that girl. There was one thing I wanted to do before I died... I wanted to apologize to her. Is there any way I can do that?" "No," answers Ai, emotionlessly.
The old folks home is slated to be closed. Saki looks at the mark on her chest.</span>
Overall a sad episode.
It looks like next week is a filler episode showing flashbacks of the previous episodes.
Hmm, that was a sad episode. I'm more interested though in Ai's new found contempt for her job. She even mentions that everyone has sad eyes. Not to mention you get a couple shots of her in the episode showing how she feels. This goes along with how she has acted the past couple of episodes.
I still want to know more about Ai and her "grandmother". It seems the grandmother is pushing Ai to do the job while Ai is having second thoughts about it. I'm still hoping for a episode that is about Ai's personal struggles.
[ QUOTE ]
Lego said:
Hmm, that was a sad episode. I'm more interested though in Ai's new found contempt for her job. She even mentions that everyone has sad eyes. Not to mention you get a couple shots of her in the episode showing how she feels. This goes along with how she has acted the past couple of episodes.
I still want to know more about Ai and her "grandmother". It seems the grandmother is pushing Ai to do the job while Ai is having second thoughts about it. I'm still hoping for a episode that is about Ai's personal struggles.
[/ QUOTE ]
I forgot to mention that Hajime asked Tsugumi if she had any idea why Ai was giving her these visions. Of course, they don't answer the question, but it leaves me to speculate that maybe Ai's reaching out for help from Hajime and his daughter. I think she wants someone to interfere so that she doesn't have to follow through on completing her sad duties.
[ QUOTE ]
I forgot to mention that Hajime asked Tsugumi if she had any idea why Ai was giving her these visions. Of course, they don't answer the question, but it leaves me to speculate that maybe Ai's reaching out for help from Hajime and his daughter. I think she wants someone to interfere so that she doesn't have to follow through on completing her sad duties.
[/ QUOTE ]
Thats a good point Wrex. Maybe Ai is subconsciously "Calling out for help" when she goes on "jobs" now. It would be interesting to see what would happen if they sat down for a heart to heart.
Melazomah
01-04-2006, 03:15 AM
It's important to note that by all accounts of this episode, Kirino Saki's father was blackmailing Kusunoki with the photographs with Kusunoki and the mobsters in them before he "commited suicide". Kusunoki makes clear what actually happened at the old people's home, that did had to make a deal with the mobster to keep them from demolishing the home and build a luxury condo on top of it. Even as Kusunoki did not do it, he feels responsible. "Do you really think that a man who asked for money to fund his daughter's Tokyo University education would kill himself? I didn't do it, but someone else must have done it for me" says Kusunoki.
[ QUOTE ]
Melazoma said:
It's important to note that by all accounts of this episode, Kirino Saki's father was blackmailing Kusunoki with the photographs with Kusunoki and the mobsters in them before he "commited suicide". Kusunoki makes clear what actually happened at the old people's home, that did had to make a deal with the mobster to keep them from demolishing the home and build a luxury condo on top of it. Even as Kusunoki did not do it, he feels responsible. "Do you really think that a man who asked for money to fund his daughter's Tokyo University education would kill himself? I didn't do it, but someone else must have done it for me" says Kusunoki.
[/ QUOTE ]
That's an important detail... and increases the sadness or tragedy of this particular episode.
beatmania
01-05-2006, 12:09 AM
I love how the culprit is never revealed.
Just a quick reminder about the offical Jigoku site. It's helpful when you want the basic plot of a past episode, or want to know the plot of a upcoming episode. You can find that page here (http://www.jigokushoujo.com/story.html).
They also have the cover for Vol 2 up under the CD/DVD page. Nice pic of Ai in the snow.
Melazomah
01-05-2006, 03:40 AM
[ QUOTE ]
bemani said:
I love how the culprit is never revealed.
[/ QUOTE ]
I'm thinking it's the mobsters that did it to avoid potential exposure.
beatmania
01-05-2006, 02:12 PM
But the fact that you don't know if the girl is going to hell for taking revenge on the wrong person, makes it super sweet.
golthin
01-05-2006, 03:42 PM
[ QUOTE ]
bemani said:
But the fact that you don't know if the girl is going to hell for taking revenge on the wrong person, makes it super sweet.
[/ QUOTE ]
Hmmm? She is GOING to hell! Once you pull the string from the doll, and you get the mark, You are going to hell when you die.
beatmania
01-05-2006, 04:11 PM
[ QUOTE ]
golthin said:
[ QUOTE ]
bemani said:
But the fact that you don't know if the girl is going to hell for taking revenge on the wrong person, makes it super sweet.
[/ QUOTE ]
Hmmm? She is GOING to hell! Once you pull the string from the doll, and you get the mark, You are going to hell when you die.
[/ QUOTE ]
???
What I was saying is she doesn't truly know if she got her revenge or not, but she's going to hell anyway.
golthin
01-05-2006, 04:59 PM
[ QUOTE ]
bemani said:
[ QUOTE ]
golthin said:
[ QUOTE ]
bemani said:
But the fact that you don't know if the girl is going to hell for taking revenge on the wrong person, makes it super sweet.
[/ QUOTE ]
Hmmm? She is GOING to hell! Once you pull the string from the doll, and you get the mark, You are going to hell when you die.
[/ QUOTE ]
???
What I was saying is she doesn't truly know if she got her revenge or not, but she's going to hell anyway.
[/ QUOTE ]
Ah, then you should rephrase it, because the way it reads
"that you don't know" implied that there is doubt if she won't go to hell or not. I understand now what you meant that She doesn't know that she is going to hell for sending the wrong person to hell that and she didn't get her revange. is that what you meant?
Shiroi Hane
01-05-2006, 08:21 PM
[ QUOTE ]
bemani said:Ep 1's girl jumped off a building before Ai somehow saved her. I thought that was the most justifiable case since that girl suffered so much she wanted to kill herself.
[/ QUOTE ] Something occurs to me... if Ai had simply let her fall, she would never have gone to hell (well, depends on your beliefs/philosophy really, but in terms of the series one can assume not).
Kaiga
01-05-2006, 09:13 PM
I'm glad I stumbled upon this thread, and Jigoku Shoujo seems pretty interesting. looks like something new for me to watch.
[ QUOTE ]
Kaiga said:
I'm glad I stumbled upon this thread, and Jigoku Shoujo seems pretty interesting. looks like something new for me to DL.
[/ QUOTE ]
You may want to rephrase that heh. Not the best choice of words.
Anywho, onto the ongoing discussion about Ai. We know for a fact that if you're meddling around on Ai's site, she and her team knows. Remember the office lady, and recently Hajime. So you could have something where she typed in the name, wanted to click send, but she thought "I better wait". Anyway Ai probably went out to watch her(like she does later on in the series).
I think if she wouldn't of went to Ai's site and almost contacted her, she would of ended up as a splat on the pavement.
Not to double post, but did a Jigoku ep air today? I could of sworn Jigoku aired at midnight on Tuesday.
[ QUOTE ]
Lego said:
Did a Jigoku ep air today? I could of sworn Jigoku aired at midnight on Tuesday.
[/ QUOTE ]
It did air, but it was a filler episode: basically a montage of past episodes.
Next week's episode is called "Shima no Onna" (Island Woman). It looks like it takes place on some remote area. The artwork seems a little off. Here are some pics of Ai from the preview:
Ai among buddhist statues (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/filler/js-01.jpg)
Ai in someone's house (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/filler/js-02.jpg)
Hmm yeh. The art does look a little "different". In the second pic Ai's eyes are smaller than usual and the first one doesn't look "right". While I'm a Jigoku fan, I'm starting to tire a little of the "person has problem, they contact Ai about it, person sent to hell" routine lately.
While I know it's the crux of the show, I wish they would get into their background a little, or spice it up.
something
01-10-2006, 07:43 PM
Just wanted to drop in and say I saw Jigoku Shoujo ep 8 a little while ago and it was EXACTLY what I've been waiting for all along~ I really hope they latch onto what they started, and run with it, because it could get soooo interesting...
[ QUOTE ]
Lego said:
Hmm yeh. The art does look a little "different". In the second pic Ai's eyes are smaller than usual and the first one doesn't look "right". While I'm a Jigoku fan, I'm starting to tire a little of the "person has problem, they contact Ai about it, person sent to hell" routine lately.
While I know it's the crux of the show, I wish they would get into their background a little, or spice it up.
[/ QUOTE ]
I figure they'll spread out Ai's story along with the regular "send someone to hell" story. If done right, those "regular" stories can be entertaining too.
[ QUOTE ]
disarm said:
Just wanted to drop in and say I saw Jigoku Shoujo ep 8 a little while ago and it was EXACTLY what I've been waiting for all along~ I really hope they latch onto what they started, and run with it, because it could get soooo interesting...
[/ QUOTE ]
It's been awhile, but I think I enjoyed that episode too... for me, it was a good, proper, satisfying punishment for an evil person.
What exactly did you like about that episode?
something
01-10-2006, 08:18 PM
[ QUOTE ]
wrex said:
What exactly did you like about that episode?
[/ QUOTE ]
The first hints finally of a story developing =P We meet the reporter who wants to investigate Ai, and also his daughter seems to have some connection to Ai that isn't explained yet, but certainly seems interesting...
Also, first time an outsider to the contract has witnessed at least part of a revenge.
If the show does what it should with all this and develops a gripping story, it'll be FANTASTIC. If it squanders it for revenge of the week stuff all the way to the end, it'll go down as one of the worst wastes of potential ever.
[ QUOTE ]
disarm said:
[ QUOTE ]
wrex said:
What exactly did you like about that episode?
[/ QUOTE ]
The first hints finally of a story developing =P We meet the reporter who wants to investigate Ai, and also his daughter seems to have some connection to Ai that isn't explained yet, but certainly seems interesting...
Also, first time an outsider to the contract has witnessed at least part of a revenge.
If the show does what it should with all this and develops a gripping story, it'll be FANTASTIC. If it squanders it for revenge of the week stuff all the way to the end, it'll go down as one of the worst wastes of potential ever.
[/ QUOTE ]
Ah, I forgot that was the introduction to Hajime (the reporter) and Tsugumi, his daughter.
Then, as far as the halfway point goes, you won't be disappointed. Hajime continues to investigate Ai and we get some hints with his Tsugumi's connection with Ai. We also get to see a little more into Ai's feelings, but things are still mysterious right now.
something
01-10-2006, 08:29 PM
[ QUOTE ]
wrex said:
Ah, I forgot that was the introduction to Hajime (the reporter) and Tsugumi, his daughter.
Then, as far as the halfway point goes, you won't be disappointed. Hajime continues to investigate Ai and we get some hints with his Tsugumi's connection with Ai. We also get to see a little more into Ai's feelings, but things are still mysterious right now.
[/ QUOTE ]
Sounds good to me. The premise is very interesting and Ai and her cronies are awesome, so I'm really not asking TOO much of this show. If it breaks the episodic mold, I'm pretty guaranteed to love it, so long as they don't run out of budget near the end or something /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif I figure a couple more eps will have this soundly on my "to buy" list, since a coherent story is finally beginning... and that's really all I've been waiting for to make the decision.
Melazomah
01-10-2006, 11:40 PM
[ QUOTE ]
wrex said:
[ QUOTE ]
Lego said:
Did a Jigoku ep air today? I could of sworn Jigoku aired at midnight on Tuesday.
[/ QUOTE ]
It did air, but it was a filler episode: basically a montage of past episodes.
Next week's episode is called "Shima no Onna" (Island Woman). It looks like it takes place on some remote area. The artwork seems a little off. Here are some pics of Ai from the preview:
Ai among buddhist statues (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/filler/js-01.jpg)
Ai in someone's house (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/filler/js-02.jpg)
[/ QUOTE ]
The montage is delivered by the three straw dolls, and notes some of the most "justified" calls for vengence so far. It could be that this montage is arranged in such a way so that the straw dolls present their "best work" and shove the rest under the carpet, in a manner of speaking.
[ QUOTE ]
The montage is delivered by the three straw dolls, and notes some of the most "justified" calls for vengence so far. It could be that this montage is arranged in such a way so that the straw dolls present their "best work" and shove the rest under the carpet, in a manner of speaking.
[/ QUOTE ]
Hmm. That is kinda interesting, even though it was a highlight package. Hopefully next weeks episode is good though, I hope that I'm not getting tired of the show.
[ QUOTE ]
Melazoma said:
[ QUOTE ]
wrex said:
[ QUOTE ]
Lego said:
Did a Jigoku ep air today? I could of sworn Jigoku aired at midnight on Tuesday.
[/ QUOTE ]
It did air, but it was a filler episode: basically a montage of past episodes.
Next week's episode is called "Shima no Onna" (Island Woman). It looks like it takes place on some remote area. The artwork seems a little off. Here are some pics of Ai from the preview:
Ai among buddhist statues (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/filler/js-01.jpg)
Ai in someone's house (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/filler/js-02.jpg)
[/ QUOTE ]
The montage is delivered by the three straw dolls, and notes some of the most "justified" calls for vengence so far. It could be that this montage is arranged in such a way so that the straw dolls present their "best work" and shove the rest under the carpet, in a manner of speaking.
[/ QUOTE ]
Wow, you actually watched the show /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif ... I just scanned through the episode to see if there were any new scenes; I didn't realize it was presented by the straw dolls/Ai's henchmen.
Well episode 14 has aired. It looks like a good episode. I'm interested in why Ai's lackies were "stalking" Hajime and his daughter or someone on the island. The last pic on the 2ch thread is interesting. It looks like something out of the game Fatal Frame for the PS2.
[ QUOTE ]
Lego said:
Well episode 14 has aired. It looks like a good episode. I'm interested in why Ai's lackies were "stalking" Hajime and his daughter or someone on the island. The last pic on the 2ch thread is interesting. It looks like something out of the game Fatal Frame for the PS2.
[/ QUOTE ]
Hmm... Ai's helpers were not really "stalking" Hajime, but rather, trying to prevent him from interfering.
Episode 15's title is "Shima no Onna" or "Island Woman"
Hajime and Tsugumi go to a small island village based on a vision that Tsugumi's had. On the boat they meet a young man with an arm injury who tells them a little about the island.
The main character this week is a girl named Mina and the target is her strict aunt. Basically, most of the people of the island have a closed mentality and distrust or dislike anything outside of their island. Mina's mom once left the island because she fell in love with a boy from the outside, but came back after he dumped her; however, she had a baby girl with her. The three of them lived together, but one day Mina's mom apparently commited suicide, and the aunt raised her. At first, they had a close bond, but things turned sour when Mina found interest in boys... especially boys outside their island village. Now Mina has a new beau, Yuuji, the young man Hajime met on the boat.
Ai's helpers are suprised and dismayed to see Hajime on the island. They try to prevent him from interfering, but he's too persistent. They get some info from a snack/souvenir shop owner (before he's scared off by a trick by Ichimoku Ren) and the school principal. They finally meet the target, Mina's aunt, and decide she's a nice woman. Meanwhile, Mina and Yuuji discuss sending the aunt to hell. Tsugumi has a vision of the location and Ai's words: "Are you going to pull it... or not pull it?" Hajime takes off to try to prevent another tragedy. Will he make it in time?
Main spoiler points: <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>Mina convinces Yuuji that her aunt is crazy or evil; she's seen proof that her aunt was the person who tried to kill Yuuji while he was diving (that's why his arm is injured). They are about to pull the string when Hajime arrives. After desperately talking to them, he convinces them not to do it. "You can't find happiness by harming others!" he says. After thinking about it, they decide to just elope instead (finally! a sensible alternative) and thank Hajime. Although he thinks eloping may not be the best solution, he's glad they don't decide the send the aunt to hell. Ai's helpers are frustrated and they push Hajime over the railing of the lookout point (he's not hurt, though).
Mina has packed her things and is about the leave the house when she hears her aunt mention her name. It seems she's in a conversation with her dead mom, asking what she needs to do. Mina's curiousity leads her to a small shack and she's surprised to hear her mother's voice. "She's still alive?" she wonders. She goes down to the basement, but falls to her knees in shock. Her aunt is talking to a decomposed body... the corpse of her mother. By flashback, or maybe by the aunt's twisted narration, we learn that she had tied up her sister in the basement because she had wanted to leave the island again. "I hate this island!" she shouted. Those words were not the right thing to say, as the aunt decides to lodge an ax into her sister's body.
The aunt turns to Mina and Mina sees she's holding an ax in her hand. Mina takes out the straw doll but the aunt knocks it out of her hand with the ax. "The three of us will live in harmony on this island," the psycho aunt says, alternating her and her sister's voice. She raises her ax, Mina dives for the straw doll, and Yuuji arrives to try to wrestle the ax away. She knocks him down on top of Mina and tries to strike them with the ax. Mina screams and pulls the string and the aunt disappears. Hajime arrives too late on the scene and is saddened.
On the boat to hell, the aunt is lying on the boat, hugging the skeletal features of her sister's face. "I love you, dear sister," she says, tenderly, "we'll always be forever..." Wanyuudo is also sitting on the boat. "How sad," he says, looking at her. </span>
I liked this epidode. It was well written with the full dynamics of Hajime actively trying to prevent tragedy and people trying to think clearly. But well, sometimes sh*t happens...<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>especially when your aunt is a psycho. </span>
Some screencaps:
Tsugumi's cute drawing of the island (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep15/js15-01.jpg)
The real island in comparison (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep15/js15-02.jpg)
Yuuji, a friendly young man (and boyfriend of the main character, Mina) (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep15/js15-03.jpg)
Mina, who's not getting along with her aunt (in the background) (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep15/js15-04.jpg)
Ai's helpers are dismayed to see Hajime on the island (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep15/js15-05.jpg)
Poor Tsugumi has to eat a bunch of island sweets so that Hajime can get some information... I love how her hair is in cute buns (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep15/js15-06.jpg)
Ichimoku plays a prank to scare off the person giving Hajime info (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep15/js15-07.jpg)
They laugh at their success (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep15/js15-08.jpg)
Another one of Tsugumi's cute drawings (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep15/js15-09.jpg)
Ai patiently waits for the lovers' decision (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep15/js15-10.jpg)
Will the lovers listen to Hajime? (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep15/js15-11.jpg)
Warning, the pics get spoilerish from here
Mina discovers something shocking (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep15/js15-12.jpg)
Long time no see? <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>It's Mina's mom</span> (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep15/js15-13.jpg)
Flashback (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep15/js15-14.jpg)
In dire straits... (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep15/js15-15.jpg)
Don't interfere with our happiness! (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep15/js15-16.jpg)
Together forever... (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep15/js15-17.jpg)
Hmm, nice summary as always Wrex. I'm starting to like the story again. I like the fact that <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>instead of "arriving to late" to stop anything, Hajime is actually trying to stop things before they happen. </span>
I can't wait for the episode where he actually comes face to face with Ai.
Just a heads up regarding the offical Jigoku site. Under CD/DVD's they now have a couple tracks from the OST that you can sample(windows or real player). I'm looking forward to it on the 25th.
[ QUOTE ]
Lego said:
Just a heads up regarding the offical Jigoku site. Under CD/DVD's they now have a couple tracks from the OST that you can sample(windows or real player). I'm looking forward to it on the 25th.
[/ QUOTE ]
It's on my "buy" list; gonna get the Jigoku Shoujo (Snow's "Gyakusama no Cho") CD, DVD and probably the 1st Mai Otome and Shakugan no Shana DVDs next weekend.
Ah. I really want the track from episode 1 where the girl is trying to commit suicide. She is falling down and Ai appears next to her. We get a chorus then some beats, it's a good song.
Melazomah
01-23-2006, 12:47 AM
[ QUOTE ]
wrex said:
[ QUOTE ]
Lego said:
Just a heads up regarding the offical Jigoku site. Under CD/DVD's they now have a couple tracks from the OST that you can sample(windows or real player). I'm looking forward to it on the 25th.
[/ QUOTE ]
It's on my "buy" list; gonna get the Jigoku Shoujo (Snow's "Gyakusama no Cho") CD, DVD and probably the 1st Mai Otome and Shakugan no Shana DVDs next weekend.
[/ QUOTE ]
I don't mean to be pedantic, but isn't it "'Sakasama' no Chou"?
[ QUOTE ]
Melazoma said:
[ QUOTE ]
wrex said:
[ QUOTE ]
Lego said:
Just a heads up regarding the offical Jigoku site. Under CD/DVD's they now have a couple tracks from the OST that you can sample(windows or real player). I'm looking forward to it on the 25th.
[/ QUOTE ]
It's on my "buy" list; gonna get the Jigoku Shoujo (Snow's "Gyakusama no Cho") CD, DVD and probably the 1st Mai Otome and Shakugan no Shana DVDs next weekend.
[/ QUOTE ]
I don't mean to be pedantic, but isn't it "'Sakasama' no Chou"?
[/ QUOTE ]
Eheh, you're right... my brain's wires got crossed again and made up my own Japanese word. /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif
golthin
01-23-2006, 05:36 AM
LOL so many people that want to be mods!
/images/graemlins/devil.gif
Episode title: 旅芸人�夜 (Tabigeinin no Yoru: Evening of the Traveling Performers)
This week's main character is a girl named Yumi who is part of a traveling circus. It seems that when she's not performing, she's locked up in a unlit compartment and frequently lashed with a whip by the circus owner. Tsugumi gets a vision of Ai making the contract with Yumi, and Hajime and Tsugumi look for the circus so that he can stop someone else being sent to Hell.
Pics:
Yumi and the Jigoku Shoujo (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep16/js16-01.jpg)
Hone Onna and Ichimoku Ren is dismayed to see Hajime again (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep16/js16-02.jpg)
Hone Onna and Tsugumi talk (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep16/js16-03.jpg)
Hajime tries to run off with Yumi but she doesn't want to (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep16/js16-04.jpg)
The circus owner is about to deal out punishment again (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep16/js16-05.jpg)
Ai comforts Yumi (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep16/js16-08.jpg)
For spoilers and more pics, click here. (http://wrex-anime.blogspot.com/2006/01/jigoku-shoujo-ep-16.html)
Next week's episode looks interesting too.
Hmm, from your blog posting Wrex, it looks like a good episode. I like that they're giving Ai more and more "face time". She seems to be softening up a little bit, as noticed in this episode. I liked the exchange between Hone Onna and Tsugumi /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif.
Next weeks episode looks good to. Hopefully the show is hitting a high note with 10 episodes left in its run.
[ QUOTE ]
Lego said:
Hmm, from your blog posting Wrex, it looks like a good episode. I like that they're giving Ai more and more "face time". She seems to be softening up a little bit, as noticed in this episode. I liked the exchange between Hone Onna and Tsugumi /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif.
Next weeks episode looks good to. Hopefully the show is hitting a high note with 10 episodes left in its run.
[/ QUOTE ]
OMG, is it only 10 more episodes? Well, better short and sweet, I guess. Yeah, I'm hoping to see some interesting developments from here on. As Hajime and Tsugumi get more involved, somethings gonna happen soon. And for all we know, Ai might try to break out from her role... if she rebels, I wonder if her helpers will help her or be against her.
Oh, and one more thing: the helpers call Ai "ojou," which means something like, "Miss" and is usually referred to some young lady of upper class. When Tsugumi is having a vision in the parking lot, Hone Onna starts a conversation with her and calls her "ojou-chan," which could be "young Miss"... I don't know how significant that is, but it was quite striking when I heard it. It was almost as if she accidently saw her as Ai.
Hmm interesting. While I think the show is only going to run for 26 episodes. I don't see how they could pull a Blood+ and go for 50 episodes with the same set of stories.
Wow, that was a great episode! Kinda spooky, kinda sad, with action, and interaction between supernatural elements! And Enma Ai's helpers and beginning to notice that their mistress is not behaving like a judge of hell should...
Gonna go to sleep now, but I'll have pics and a summary (hidden with spoiler tags) tomorrow.
[ QUOTE ]
wrex said:
Wow, that was a great episode! Kinda spooky, kinda sad, with action, and interaction between supernatural elements! And Enma Ai's helpers and beginning to notice that their mistress is not behaving like a judge of hell should...
Gonna go to sleep now, but I'll have pics and a summary (hidden with spoiler tags) tomorrow.
[/ QUOTE ]
Hmm, interesting Wrex. I seemingly lost my 2ch link, due to all the porn/hentai pics that would get posted. I'll wait for your summary. Hopefully the episodes are starting to get better and tie the plot together. I'm curious what would happen if Ai just said "you know, I'm tired of this crap, im gone".
Shiroi Hane
01-31-2006, 03:48 PM
Does Ai have a special service for select customers? I can't see how a girl in a box in a travelling circus is going to get access to the 'net at midnight?
golthin
01-31-2006, 05:54 PM
[ QUOTE ]
wrex said:
Wow, that was a great episode! Kinda spooky, kinda sad, with action, and interaction between supernatural elements! And Enma Ai's helpers and beginning to notice that their mistress is not behaving like a judge of hell should...
Gonna go to sleep now, but I'll have pics and a summary (hidden with spoiler tags) tomorrow.
[/ QUOTE ]
Lucky you living in Japan!
golthin
01-31-2006, 05:58 PM
[ QUOTE ]
Shiroi Hane said:
Does Ai have a special service for select customers? I can't see how a girl in a box in a travelling circus is going to get access to the 'net at midnight?
[/ QUOTE ]
She was not in the box all the time, she got to go in the trailer when she needeed to get dressed. They show that the Circus owner has a laptop on his desk and she must have found the website while surfing or heard it from someone. She was only put in the room whenever she "MADE a MISTAKE" which was most likely when her syster frame her.
Omniscient
01-31-2006, 06:31 PM
I have to agree with wrex on this one. <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>They're breaking a lot of new ground this week. On top of being a really good and creepy episode complete with ghosts and supernatural powers, this episode features no one going to hell. Also, Ai and her companions actually help Hajime and Tsugumi by saving their lives.</span>
Summary and Screencaps on my website (see sig link).
[ QUOTE ]
golthin said:
[ QUOTE ]
Shiroi Hane said:
Does Ai have a special service for select customers? I can't see how a girl in a box in a travelling circus is going to get access to the 'net at midnight?
[/ QUOTE ]
She was not in the box all the time, she got to go in the trailer when she needeed to get dressed. They show that the Circus owner has a laptop on his desk and she must have found the website while surfing or heard it from someone. She was only put in the room whenever she "MADE a MISTAKE" which was most likely when her syster frame her.
[/ QUOTE ]
Exactly as Golthin said. However, in episode 17, it seems you really don't need to access the website if the strength of your hatred is strong enough. You can communicate with Ai using your heart.
[ QUOTE ]
Omniscient said:
I have to agree with wrex on this one. <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>They're breaking a lot of new ground this week. On top of being a really good and creepy episode complete with ghosts and supernatural powers, this episode features no one going to hell. Also, Ai and her companions actually help Hajime and Tsugumi by saving their lives.</span>
Summary and Screencaps on my website (see sig link).
[/ QUOTE ]
Wow, the famous Omniscient! I've seen your other blog entries, and it's amazing how much anime you can cover (and so quickly) each week.
Anyway, since there's already a blog summary and pics available, I won't bother listing full spoilers here. I'll just write the teaser:
Hajime and Tsugumi head toward another Jigoku Shoujo case. Tsugumi has had a vision of a girl saying, "help me." The road is foggy, however, and Tsugumi has misgivings... she hates the fog because she's afraid of what's hidden. They hear music box tones (Bach's "Air") and see a shadowy figure on the road and Hajime brakes. Tsugumi goes into an Ai trance and says, "Don't go... return..." The place they have stopped though, is a sanatorium, but it looks like no one's there. They go to the room where Tsugumi's had a vision, but she said it's a little different. They are about to return, but they see a girl with long blond hair and bright blue eyes. She's called Nina.
Some spoiler points (supplementing what Omni said): <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>Ai's helpers realize it's Ai that's tipping off Hajime and Tsugumi. They wonder what's on her mind. Hone Onna, especially seems to complain the most. She helps save Hajime's life only on Ai's orders, and begrudingly, at that. They also show that they can fight: Hone Onna throws shuriken and Ichimoku Ren has a flashing eye that burns things away. He's also quite fast on his feet.
There are no computers at this sanatorium. The main character accessed the Jigoku Tsushin through her soul. </span>
Some pics:
Tsugumi and Nina (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep17/js17-01.jpg)
Creepy eyes (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep17/js17-02.jpg)
"Touch my hair," Nina says (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep17/js17-03.jpg)
Enma Ai watches close by... is she concerned? (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep17/js17-04.jpg)
Ai's helpers wonder what's up (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep17/js17-05.jpg)
For the rest of the spoilerish pics and summary, check out Omni's blog or my blog later (I'll be writing it up now).
golthin
01-31-2006, 07:37 PM
[ QUOTE ]
wrex said:
[ QUOTE ]
Omniscient said:
I have to agree with wrex on this one. <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>They're breaking a lot of new ground this week. On top of being a really good and creepy episode complete with ghosts and supernatural powers, this episode features no one going to hell. Also, Ai and her companions actually help Hajime and Tsugumi by saving their lives.</span>
Summary and Screencaps on my website (see sig link).
[/ QUOTE ]
Wow, the famous Omniscient! I've seen your other blog entries, and it's amazing how much anime you can cover (and so quickly) each week.
Anyway, since there's already a blog summary and pics available, I won't bother listing full spoilers here. I'll just write the teaser:
Hajime and Tsugumi head toward another Jigoku Shoujo case. Tsugumi has had a vision of a girl saying, "help me." The road is foggy, however, and Tsugumi has misgivings... she hates the fog because she's afraid of what's hidden. They hear music box tones (Bach's "Air") and see a shadowy figure on the road and Hajime brakes. Tsugumi goes into an Ai trance and says, "Don't go... return..." The place they have stopped though, is a sanatorium, but it looks like no one's there. They go to the room where Tsugumi's had a vision, but she said it's a little different. They are about to return, but they see a girl with long blond hair and bright blue eyes. She's called Nina.
Some spoiler points (supplementing what Omni said): <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>Ai's helpers realize it's Ai that's tipping off Hajime and Tsugumi. They wonder what's on her mind. Hone Onna, especially seems to complain the most. She helps save Hajime's life only on Ai's orders, and begrudingly, at that. They also show that they can fight: Hone Onna throws shuriken and Ichimoku Ren has a flashing eye that burns things away. He's also quite fast on his feet.
There are no computers at this sanatorium. The main character accessed the Jigoku Tsushin through her soul. </span>
Some pics:
Tsugumi and Nina (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep17/js17-01.jpg)
Creepy eyes (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep17/js17-02.jpg)
"Touch my hair," Nina says (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep17/js17-03.jpg)
Enma Ai watches close by... is she concerned? (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep17/js17-04.jpg)
Ai's helpers wonder what's up (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep17/js17-05.jpg)
For the rest of the spoilerish pics and summary, check out Omni's blog or my blog later (I'll be writing it up now).
[/ QUOTE ]
I have not watched the episode yet, but maybe the reason that the "client" was able to access hell girl with out a computer was because it was not really human, thus why hell girl couldn't make a contract with it.
Thanks for the summary Wrex. Looks like a great episode. You could argue that Ai is almost like a "doll" herself. It's interesting to see <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>the doll basically try to do what her "master" wasn't able to. The more interesting thing for me is that Hajime and Tsugumi were saved by Ai's orders. </span>
I still think the show is leading up to a episode where Ai ends up walking off the case, or ends up being "freed" from her bond to be the Jigoku Shoujo some how.
[ QUOTE ]
Lego said:
Thanks for the summary Wrex. Looks like a great episode. You could argue that Ai is almost like a "doll" herself. It's interesting to see <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>the doll basically try to do what her "master" wasn't able to. The more interesting thing for me is that Hajime and Tsugumi were saved by Ai's orders. </span>
I still think the show is leading up to a episode where Ai ends up walking off the case, or ends up being "freed" from her bond to be the Jigoku Shoujo some how.
[/ QUOTE ]
That is a good observation. Ai does seem like a doll in that she's cute, emotionless, and just seems to do her job. However, I feel like she's full of turmoil underneath, and that's why she's subconsciously reaching out to Hajime and Tsugumi for help. <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>But I think she took a step further in ordering her assistants to help Hajime and Tsugumi. If she were doing her job, she didn't need to stay any further, as Nina said Ai wasn't going to grant her request anyway. </span>I wonder how her assistants would react in the future should Ai "rebel" any further. However, more than her assistants, I wonder how her "grandma" would react. That would make a good finale to the series.
This could be interesting though. We're coming up on episode 18 next week. I couldn't picture Ai suddenly boiling over and becoming full of emotions. During the series she is just so cold and emotionless, it would be a great scene if they showed her laughing, crying, or verbally lashing out at someone.
The thing that is "bothering" me a little, is that it feels like each time they tease us with perhaps a little bit about Ai's past, or show a little bit about how Ai wants to act. But then with the next episode or scene, it's back to "Oh yeh, gotta send these people to hell".
Shiroi Hane
02-02-2006, 01:14 PM
The outward picture of Ai and the way she feels about people that you get from the early episodes is like the scene from the OP with her watching the drowning goldfish - she seems curious about it but is not motivated to help it; she just does her job without really getting involved in anything or actually caring about her clients. That impression starts to change as she starts showing apparent reluctance to riding out and especially when Tsugumi is introduced.
Well, this episode was back to a normal "send someone to hell" episode, but the character really deserved it. She (Shimono Meiko) was coercing a young girl into being her slave by holding the girl's dogs as hostage. Tsugumi asks some good questions to Hajime.
Some screencaps:
Ai looks up to Miki's condo (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep18/js18-04.jpg)
Ai sadly waits (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep18/js18-06.jpg)
"You stink!" Tsugumi tells Hajime (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep18/js18-10.jpg)
For the full summary and pics, click here (http://wrex-anime.blogspot.com/2006/02/jigoku-shoujo-ep-18.html)
Wow, what a bitch. I mean, wow. This person really, really, really did deserve getting sent to hell twice over. Although I find the picture of the two human like dogs as hillarious.
[ QUOTE ]
Lego said:
Wow, what a bitch. I mean, wow. This person really, really, really did deserve getting sent to hell twice over. Although I find the picture of the two human like dogs as hillarious.
[/ QUOTE ]
Yeah, she was just human trash. And the two human dogs were Hone Onna and Ichimoku Ren, of course. Maybe it was supposed to be scary, but it was kinda funny because they're so cute! LOL.
golthin
02-07-2006, 08:12 PM
[ QUOTE ]
wrex said:
[ QUOTE ]
Lego said:
Wow, what a bitch. I mean, wow. This person really, really, really did deserve getting sent to hell twice over. Although I find the picture of the two human like dogs as hillarious.
[/ QUOTE ]
Yeah, she was just human trash. And the two human dogs were Hone Onna and Ichimoku Ren , of course. Maybe it was supposed to be scary, but it was kinda funny because they're so cute! LOL.
[/ QUOTE ]
I like to see those two develop a more than coworkers relationship. I will also like some episodes about how they became Emma's helpers.
Melazomah
02-08-2006, 03:29 AM
The voice of the murderous Shimono is Kujira, who is better known to Naruto fans as the voice of Orochimaru. I seriously thought that a male actor was hired to do that voice before I saw the end credit.
Ingraman
02-08-2006, 04:19 PM
[ QUOTE ]
Melazoma said:
The voice of the murderous Shimono is Kujira, who is better known to Naruto fans as the voice of Orochimaru. I seriously thought that a male actor was hired to do that voice before I saw the end credit.
[/ QUOTE ]
Thanks. I remembered that I'd heard the voice before, but I couldn't recall the character that used it...
I gave up on Naruto waaay back near ep. 100, so I haven't heard Orochimaru in quite a while (Naruto was just too boring with unlikeable characters, fights that were too long, and too many flashbacks and time-wasting moments).
TnAdct1
02-09-2006, 01:15 PM
[ QUOTE ]
Melazoma said:
The voice of the murderous Shimono is Kujira, who is better known to Naruto fans as the voice of Orochimaru. I seriously thought that a male actor was hired to do that voice before I saw the end credit.
[/ QUOTE ]
You mean to tell me Orochimaru is voiced by a woman? /images/graemlins/stunned1.gif
Anyways, I myself noticed some interesting casting choices in some episodes of Jigoku Shoujo:
Episode 6: The seiyuus of two main housewives in this epiosde are the two females who voice A-Ko and B-Ko in Project A-Ko (A-Ko's seiyuu as the one who gets abused, B-Ko's seiyuu as the one whom Ai sends to Hell).
Episode 9: The person who gets sent to Hell in this episode (a big shot baker who sabotages another baker's dream of having her own store just because she refused to be his girlfriend) is voiced by the same seiyuu who voices Kimura from Azumanga Daioh (a total pervert when it comes to school girls), while the person who summoned Ai to send him to hell (the younger sister of the baker whose business is ruined by the big shot baker) has the same seiyuu as Negi Springfield in Negima (a gentleman when it comes to his students). Of course, the Negima connection is even more interesting considering how:
1. Ai Enma's seiyuu, Mamiko Noto, voices Nodoka in Negima;
2. In the manga version of Negima, Nodoka <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>is one of the four girls who have made a Pactio (a contract to be a partner in magic) with Negi.</span>
Melazomah
02-09-2006, 01:40 PM
[ QUOTE ]
TnAdct1 said:
[ QUOTE ]
Melazoma said:
The voice of the murderous Shimono is Kujira, who is better known to Naruto fans as the voice of Orochimaru. I seriously thought that a male actor was hired to do that voice before I saw the end credit.
[/ QUOTE ]
You mean to tell me Orochimaru is voiced by a woman? /images/graemlins/stunned1.gif
Anyways, I myself noticed some interesting casting choices in some episodes of Jigoku Shoujo:
Episode 6: The seiyuus of two main housewives in this epiosde are the two females who voice A-Ko and B-Ko in Project A-Ko (A-Ko's seiyuu as the one who gets abused, B-Ko's seiyuu as the one whom Ai sends to Hell).
Episode 9: The person who gets sent to Hell in this episode is voiced by the same seiyuu who voices Kimura from Azumanga Daioh (a total pervert when it comes to school girls), while the person who pulls the string that sends him to hell is voiced by the seiyuu who also does Negi Springfield in Negima (a gentleman when it comes to his students). Of course, the Negi connection is even more interesting considering how:
1. Ai Enma's seiyuu, Mamiko Noto, also voices Nodoka in Negima;
2. In the manga, Nodoka <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>is one of the four girls who have made a Pactio (a contract to be a partner in magic) with Negi.</span>
[/ QUOTE ]
By all accounts, Kujira is a women.
As to the big names, I was trying to compile a list of the big-name VAs who were cast as the major one-shot characters (client/target) with reference, but got too busy. Here it is up to episode 6:
Ep. 1:
Victim: Hashimoto Mayumi by Ueda Kana (Yumi in Maria-sama ga Miteru)
Target: Kuroda Aya by Kawakami Tomoko（Sugar in A Tiny Snow-Fairy Sugar)
Ep. 2:
Victim: Takamura Ryouko by Shimizu Ai(Karen in Please Twins!)
Target: Detective Kisaragi by Ichijou Kazuya(Hiroyuki, To Heart)
Ep. 3:
Victim: Iwashita Daisuke by Hatano Wataru(Tomokazu, Yumeria)
Target: Hanagasa Mamoru by Sugiyama Noriaki(Uchiha Sasuke, Naruto)
Ep. 4:
Victim: Kanno Junko by Arai Satomi(Sakura Kaname in Fafner)
Target: Honjou Yoshiyuki by Koyasu Takehito(Everything)
Ep. 5:
Victim: Urano Misato by Kawasumi Ayako(Everything)
Target: Kaifu Riho by Neya Michiko(Miss Deep in R.O.D.)
Ep. 6:
Victim: Yasuda Haruka by Satou Chiwa(Anita in R.O.D. the TV)
Target: Todaka Namiko by Shinohara Emi(Mizuki Kaho in Cardcaptor Sakura)
There is at least one big-name seiyuu for every episode after that list as well.
Hmm, so Jigoku is kind of like a all star game for VA's /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif?
golthin
02-09-2006, 08:05 PM
[ QUOTE ]
wrex said:
Well, this episode was back to a normal "send someone to hell" episode, but the character really deserved it. She (Shimono Meiko) was coercing a young girl into being her slave by holding the girl's dogs as hostage. Tsugumi asks some good questions to Hajime.
Some screencaps:
Ai looks up to Miki's condo (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep18/js18-04.jpg)
Ai sadly waits (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep18/js18-06.jpg)
"You stink!" Tsugumi tells Hajime (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep18/js18-10.jpg)
For the full summary and pics, click here (http://wrex-anime.blogspot.com/2006/02/jigoku-shoujo-ep-18.html)
[/ QUOTE ]
I agree that this person deserved to go to hell, but jeez.
Why didn't the girl tell her parents that <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'> the hag took the dogs. That is not like the woman could do anything to her after the police took the dogs back from her. faking the leg injury was a real dirty trick.</span>
My guess is that it would a honor thing. I'm not a expert on Japanese society, but from news stories, anime, movies, and other mediums, the honor card plays a big roll. Maybe she didn't want her family to get sued or the like. Or it could be that she simply didn't want her parents to find out.
[ QUOTE ]
golthin said:
[ QUOTE ]
wrex said:
Well, this episode was back to a normal "send someone to hell" episode, but the character really deserved it. She (Shimono Meiko) was coercing a young girl into being her slave by holding the girl's dogs as hostage. Tsugumi asks some good questions to Hajime.
Some screencaps:
Ai looks up to Miki's condo (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep18/js18-04.jpg)
Ai sadly waits (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep18/js18-06.jpg)
"You stink!" Tsugumi tells Hajime (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep18/js18-10.jpg)
For the full summary and pics, click here (http://wrex-anime.blogspot.com/2006/02/jigoku-shoujo-ep-18.html)
[/ QUOTE ]
I agree that this person deserved to go to hell, but jeez.
Why didn't the girl tell her parents that <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'> the hag took the dogs. That is not like the woman could do anything to her after the police took the dogs back from her. faking the leg injury was a real dirty trick.</span>
[/ QUOTE ]
Well, the girl said that her mother <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>didn't like dogs, so she must have felt that the mother wouldn't do anything about it. Of course, even a mother who doesn't like dogs may do something about this situation. It's just a kid's illogical thinking that lead to this. </span>
Shiroi Hane
02-10-2006, 09:23 AM
She told her she'd kill the dogs if she told anyone.
Nork22
02-10-2006, 01:42 PM
[ QUOTE ]
Melazoma said:
Ep. 6:
Victim: Yasuda Haruka by Satou Chiwa(Anita in R.O.D. the TV)
Target: Todaka Namiko by Shinohara Emi(Mizuki Kaho in Cardcaptor Sakura)
[/ QUOTE ]
And the mother of the victim is played by Miki Itou.
Onee-san, you're going to hell. /images/graemlins/tongue.gif
[ QUOTE ]
Melazoma said:
As to the big names, I was trying to compile a list of the big-name VAs who were cast as the major one-shot characters (client/target) with reference, but got too busy. Here it is up to episode 6:
Ep. 1:
Victim: Hashimoto Mayumi by Ueda Kana (Yumi in Maria-sama ga Miteru)
Target: Kuroda Aya by Kawakami Tomoko（Sugar in A Tiny Snow-Fairy Sugar)
Ep. 2:
Victim: Takamura Ryouko by Shimizu Ai(Karen in Please Twins!)
Target: Detective Kisaragi by Ichijou Kazuya(Hiroyuki, To Heart)
Ep. 3:
Victim: Iwashita Daisuke by Hatano Wataru(Tomokazu, Yumeria)
Target: Hanagasa Mamoru by Sugiyama Noriaki(Uchiha Sasuke, Naruto)
Ep. 4:
Victim: Kanno Junko by Arai Satomi(Sakura Kaname in Fafner)
Target: Honjou Yoshiyuki by Koyasu Takehito(Everything)
Ep. 5:
Victim: Urano Misato by Kawasumi Ayako(Everything)
Target: Kaifu Riho by Neya Michiko(Miss Deep in R.O.D.)
Ep. 6:
Victim: Yasuda Haruka by Satou Chiwa(Anita in R.O.D. the TV)
Target: Todaka Namiko by Shinohara Emi(Mizuki Kaho in Cardcaptor Sakura)
There is at least one big-name seiyuu for every episode after that list as well.
[/ QUOTE ]
Kawakami Tomoko is also Utena, Soi-Fong (in Bleach, and Kris Christopher (in Battle Athletes Victory).
Let me help you with the other episodes:
Ep. 7:
Client: Kurenai Ayaka by Yukino Satsuki (Yomi in Azumanga Daioh, Yoruichi in Bleach, Mutsumi in Love Hina, Milly Thompson in Trigun)
Target: Kurushima Kaoruko by Inoue Marina (Shigeru Kanmuri in Yakitate!! Japan)
Ep. 8:
Client: Tanuma Chie by Matsuoka Yuuki (dunno.... ANN's encylopedia lists the person as a sound director...)
Target: Ishizu Goro by Hayamizu Shou (a singer)
Ep. 9:
Client: Kasuga Yuka by Sato Rina (Takeshima Tsukato in Maria Sama ga Miteiru, Ren-tan in Binchotan)
Target: Nobusaki by Ishii Kouji (Fujisawa-sensei in El-Hazard, Mitsukake in Fushigi Yuugi, among a ton of others)
Ep. 10:
Client: Shibuya Minami by Ishige Sawa (Poppu Harukaze in Ojamajo Doremi, Norma in Sugar)
Target: Akasaka Shiori by Toyoguchi Megumi (Meg in Burst Angel, Kotobuki Ran in SuperGals, Teien in Twelve Kingdoms)
Ep. 11:
Client: Kataoka Masaya by Ono Daisuke (Enju in Rozen Maiden, Yukito Kunisaki in Air)
Target: Inagaki Takashi by Takagi Wataru (Zeiram in Iria, Shiba Ganjuu in Bleach, Kamidake in Tenchi Muyo!)
Ep. 12:
Client: Sawai Akane by Tanaka Rie (never heard of her... just kidding)
Target: Fukuzawa Yoshiki by Chiba Susumu (Ichimonji Hayao in Burst Angel)
Ep. 13:
Client: Fukumoto by Saito Shiro (Yoruichi in Bleach)
Ep. 14:
Client: Kirino Saki by Kobayashi Yuu (Setsuna Sakurazaki in Mahou Sensei Negima)
Target: Kusuno Ryuuzou by Hirose Masashi (Seijirou Togotsu in SpeedGrapher)
Ep. 15:
Client: Minato Mina by Asano Masumi (Sonsaku Hakufu in Ikki Tousen, Yuko Ayase in Okusama wa Mahou Shoujo)
Target: Minato Fujie by Okamura Akemi (Mylandah in Battle Athletes, Nami in One Piece, Mathilde Saint-Omer in Shakugan no Shana)
Ep. 16:
Client: Yumi by Tanii Asuka (Farin in Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha A's)
Target: The Chairman by Tobita Nobuo (Aoshima Toshiyuki in Ah! My Goddess, Tomo in Fushigi Yuugi)
Ep. 17:
Client: Nina by Minami Omi (Mido Miko in La Blue Girl, Ruri Hoshino in Martian Successor Nadeisco)
Ep. 18:
Client: Kawakami Miki by Shitaya Noriko (Ururu in Bleach, Sakura Matou in Fate/Stay Night)
Target: Shimono Meiko by Kujira
TnAdct1
02-12-2006, 11:28 AM
[ QUOTE ]
wrex said:
Let me help you with the other episodes:
Ep. 7:
Client: Kurenai Ayaka by Yukino Satsuki (Yomi in Azumanga Daioh, Yoruichi in Bleach, Mutsumi in Love Hina, Milly Thompson in Trigun)
Target: Kurushima Kaoruko by Inoue Marina (Shigeru Kanmuri in Yakitate!! Japan)
[/ QUOTE ]
Actually, you have that reversed. It was Kaoruko who recruited Ai to send Ayaka to Hell, not the other way around (Ayaka was trying to send her "mother" to Hell, but was stopped by Kaoruko).
[ QUOTE ]
Ep. 8:
Client: Tanuma Chie by Matsuoka Yuuki (dunno.... ANN's encylopedia lists the person as a sound director...)
[/ QUOTE ]
Either this is a joke, or you need to search harder, as she is the voice of Osaka in Azumanga Daioh and Nana in Elfen Lied.
[ QUOTE ]
Ep. 9:
Client: Kasuga Yuka by Sato Rina (Takeshima Tsukato in Maria Sama ga Miteiru, Ren-tan in Binchotan)
Target: Nobusaki by Ishii Kouji (Fujisawa-sensei in El-Hazard, Mitsukake in Fushigi Yuugi, among a ton of others)
[/ QUOTE ]
Don't forget the two characters that I mentioned earlier:
Rina Satou - Negi Springfield
Kouji Ishii - Kimura-sensei
[ QUOTE ]
Ep. 14:
Client: Kirino Saki by Kobayashi Yuu (Setsuna Sakurazaki in Mahou Sensei Negima)
[/ QUOTE ]
Man, there's quite a few Negima cast members that are appearing in this show (Nodoka's seiyuu as Ai Enma; Evangeline, Negi, and Setsuna's seiyuus as clients of Ai).
[ QUOTE ]
Ep. 17:
Client: Nina by Minami Omi (Mido Miko in La Blue Girl, Ruri Hoshino in Martian Successor Nadeisco)
[/ QUOTE ]
Thus officially making sure that the seiyuu of the three "kawaii" anime teachers (Mika, Negi, and Beccy) are involved somewhat in Jigoku Shoujo. /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif
This was a regular kinda episode (I'll have the summary up tomorrow (it's 12:44 after midnight here now), but I gotta post about the next episode.... Jigoku Shoujo vs. Jigoku Shonen!
The Jigoku Shonen looks kinda dorky, but the episode looks interesting. I think some poor dumbass fated to go to hell is making a curse on the Jigoku Shonen... so Ai has to fight him (this is just pure speculation based on the preview images).
The Jigoku Shonen (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep19/js19-pre1.jpg)
The Jigoku Shonen smirks (http://www.wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep19/js19-pre2.jpg)
Hmm, wasn't expecting that. So there is a male conterpart to Ai? That is interesting. Nice Dracula cape he has there.
[ QUOTE ]
Lego said:
Hmm, wasn't expecting that. So there is a male conterpart to Ai? That is interesting. Nice Dracula cape he has there.
[/ QUOTE ]
And he says he's stronger than Ai.
Episode 19's about a girl married into a dollmaker's house. The dollmaker (her mom-in-law) just wants her to be like a doll, but she can't, and she's also frightened by the old lady's actions and eyes. There's a small twist at the end. click here for the summary and pics (http://wrex-anime.blogspot.com/2006/02/jigoku-shoujo-ep-19.html)
DeadlyMessiah
02-14-2006, 11:30 PM
Okay, I'm confused. You guys have a discription of ep 15, but the ep 15 I saw was a clip show. What the hell?
TnAdct1
02-14-2006, 11:42 PM
[ QUOTE ]
DeadlyMessiah said:
Okay, I'm confused. You guys have a discription of ep 15, but the ep 15 I saw was a clip show. What the hell?
[/ QUOTE ]
I consider the recap episode to be episode 14.5. This episode was basically made so that other Japanese stations could catch up with the main station that was airing Jigoku Shoujo.
Thanks for the summary as always Wrex. Did you notice Ai's facial expressions at the end of the show? She usually looks like her mind is elsewhere, but this time she seemed to be genuinely concerned about the girl.
DeadlyMessiah
02-15-2006, 06:05 PM
[ QUOTE ]
TnAdct1 said:
[ QUOTE ]
DeadlyMessiah said:
Okay, I'm confused. You guys have a discription of ep 15, but the ep 15 I saw was a clip show. What the hell?
[/ QUOTE ]
I consider the recap episode to be episode 14.5. This episode was basically made so that other Japanese stations could catch up with the main station that was airing Jigoku Shoujo.
[/ QUOTE ]
Are you serious? The place I got my episode from listed it as 15, and the one you guys described was never put up there. /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif
[ QUOTE ]
Lego said:
Thanks for the summary as always Wrex. Did you notice Ai's facial expressions at the end of the show? She usually looks like her mind is elsewhere, but this time she seemed to be genuinely concerned about the girl.
[/ QUOTE ]
I thought she was showing sadness; and I thought she showed real sadness when she sent the woman to hell.
It's hard to interpret her facial expressions because she does try to stay expressionless; however, sometimes her actions show how she's feeling. I think just her presence there when the girl picks up the straw doll showed concern, and when she says, "are you going to pull it?" (hiku no?), she almost seemed to be saying, "don't do it" for me.
[ QUOTE ]
DeadlyMessiah said:
[ QUOTE ]
TnAdct1 said:
[ QUOTE ]
DeadlyMessiah said:
Okay, I'm confused. You guys have a discription of ep 15, but the ep 15 I saw was a clip show. What the hell?
[/ QUOTE ]
I consider the recap episode to be episode 14.5. This episode was basically made so that other Japanese stations could catch up with the main station that was airing Jigoku Shoujo.
[/ QUOTE ]
Are you serious? The place I got my episode from listed it as 15, and the one you guys described was never put up there. /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif
[/ QUOTE ]
That's the numbering system of the place where you saw the episode. Officially, the recap episode is a non episode. Here are the episodes as listed in the official website (http://www.jigokushoujo.com/story.html). It was the same with Ah! My Goddess. They had a recap episode in the middle of the first season, but it was not numbered and didn't show up on the DVDs until they released a special DVD that included 2 other episodes unseen on TV.
golthin
02-15-2006, 07:31 PM
[ QUOTE ]
DeadlyMessiah said:
[ QUOTE ]
TnAdct1 said:
[ QUOTE ]
DeadlyMessiah said:
Okay, I'm confused. You guys have a discription of ep 15, but the ep 15 I saw was a clip show. What the hell?
[/ QUOTE ]
I consider the recap episode to be episode 14.5. This episode was basically made so that other Japanese stations could catch up with the main station that was airing Jigoku Shoujo.
[/ QUOTE ]
Are you serious? The place I got my episode from listed it as 15, and the one you guys described was never put up there. /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif
[/ QUOTE ]
Some people call episode 16=15, same people call 15=14.5
I never understood why people call racaps as .5, but to each their own. You never watched episode 16 as I can tell.
Hmm, interesting. I think this is all leading up to a episode or two where Ai looses it emotionally or mentally.
Shiroi Hane
02-15-2006, 09:40 PM
[ QUOTE ]
golthin said:Some people call episode 16=15, same people call 15=14.5
I never understood why people call racaps as .5, but to each their own. You never watched episode 16 as I can tell.
[/ QUOTE ]
14=14, 15=15 and 16=16
The recap episode is referred to as 14.5 as it came between episodes 14 and 15.
I've always wondered this about the series. Is Ai reaching out to Tsugami without knowing it? For instance she is subconsciously showing her what she sees. Or do you think there is more to it. I'm starting to think that Ai has the ability to "take over" people or possess them. It has happened many times with Tsugami when she basically becomes Ai for a couple seconds.
[ QUOTE ]
Lego said:
I've always wondered this about the series. Is Ai reaching out to Tsugami without knowing it? For instance she is subconsciously showing her what she sees. Or do you think there is more to it. I'm starting to think that Ai has the ability to "take over" people or possess them. It has happened many times with Tsugami when she basically becomes Ai for a couple seconds.
[/ QUOTE ]
Good question. I think it's subconscious, myself, though. I think the first time she met Tsugumi by that railroad crossing, she had a strange feeling, but nothing more than that... she wasn't thinking, "hey, I'll use that little girl to get some help." I think, rather, that she felt some connection, and her ill feelings about her duties just naturally connected with Tsugumi on a subconscious level. Maybe we'll see soon what Ai's truly trying to do soon.
Btw, I won't be able to summarize this week's episode on a timely basis as I'll be on vacation on Maui for week. This week's episode looks really interesting too....
Shiroi Hane
02-19-2006, 01:38 PM
I think it's both. Ai tried to warn them away from the Sanitorium, but it was her that lead them there in the first place so she is 'leaking' stuff subconsciously but can also make a conscious connection.
Maui eh, take me with you /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif
This episode looks fun, with the Jigoku Shounen
Since Wrex is on his vacation, I figured I would make a post about episode 20. This episode is one that I've been looking forward to since the series started. It isn't the straight send someone to hell type of episode. You get to see Ai do battle with the Jigoku Shounen. The end of the episode was also interesting.
Ingraman
02-24-2006, 02:13 AM
[ QUOTE ]
wrex said:
I'll be on vacation on Maui for week.
[/ QUOTE ]
Where on Maui? Not that it makes much of a difference, since I can't get there until July... ;p
Nork22
02-24-2006, 06:31 AM
Ai in Goth-Loli mode was damn awesome. /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif
[ QUOTE ]
Nork22 said:
Ai in Goth-Loli mode was damn awesome. /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif
[/ QUOTE ]
Heh yeh, she didn't look to happy when he dressed her up. I loved the part when he tried to set her on fire, she emerges, and the giant hand beats him down.
It was a good episode, and gave us a glimpse of Ai's past, especially at the end. Hopefully it all wraps up nicely.
[ QUOTE ]
Ingraman said:
[ QUOTE ]
wrex said:
I'll be on vacation on Maui for week.
[/ QUOTE ]
Where on Maui? Not that it makes much of a difference, since I can't get there until July... ;p
[/ QUOTE ]
We stayed at the Westin Maui in Kaanapali (http://wrexgrafix.com/photos/maui/1hotel_lobby.jpg), but we did the standard things like check out 'Iao Needle (http://wrexgrafix.com/photos/maui/2iao_needle.jpg) in the mountains west of Wailuku (http://wrexgrafix.com/photos/maui/3west_mountains.jpg), spent a lot of time at our hotel (http://wrexgrafix.com/photos/maui/4beach_view.jpg), marvelled at the Silverswords (http://wrexgrafix.com/photos/maui/5silverswords.jpg) high atop the dormant volcano Haleakala 10,000 feet above sea level, (http://wrexgrafix.com/photos/maui/6haleakala.jpg) bathed in the glory of glowing sunsets (http://wrexgrafix.com/photos/maui/7sunset.jpg) and went shopping and sightseeing in places like Lahaina (http://wrexgrafix.com/photos/maui/8jodo_pagoda.jpg) and beaches in Wailea. (http://wrexgrafix.com/photos/maui/9kite_surfing.jpg) We didn't go to Big Beach (it was closed anyway due to cautionary measures as a diver might have gotten killed in a shark attack), Hana (too adventurous for us... my gf is deathly afraid of mosquitos), or check out the sights in the north part of the island.
As for Jigoku Shoujo ep. 20, I finally saw it (got back today, unpacked, started washing clothes, downloaded photos, ate dinner, and watched it while folding the laundry)... it was pretty awesome! As Lego said, it was cute seeing Ai in a doll outfit, and it's funny how Watanabe began calling her Ai-chan, and then Ai-tan... that guy's gotta be an otaku! Now that the painter is dead, Watanbe can start a web Ai-tan fan club. /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif It was cool seeing Ai's helpers in action but being overpowered by Jill D'Ronfer (or whatever his name is), and cool seeing glimpses into Ai's past. <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>It's interesting seeing Ai's helpers investigating Ai's connection with Hajime and Tsugumi, them being careful not to talk too freely around the Spider/grandma, seeing how powerful Ai is. Who is that child that Ai sees in the end? What's the signficance of the cherry blossoms and her falling? Was she a human that died? </span> I'm really looking forward to seeing the final episodes.
Yeh, that is what kept me watching, and will keep me watching Jigoku. There is that air of mystery surrounding the show. I personally think Ai existed in the human world as a person. We know she is 30+ years old, yet she maintains the apperance of a child. Maybe something happened to her.
I would be surprised if the boy she sees at the end either sent her to hell, or she sent him to hell.
[ QUOTE ]
Lego said:
Yeh, that is what kept me watching, and will keep me watching Jigoku. There is that air of mystery surrounding the show. I personally think Ai existed in the human world as a person. We know she is 30+ years old, yet she maintains the apperance of a child. Maybe something happened to her.
I would be surprised if the boy she sees at the end either sent her to hell, or she sent him to hell.
[/ QUOTE ]
I forgot which episode it was, but the Jigoku Shoujo goes back several hundred or maybe even a thousand years. Now, whether this particular Enma Ai is the same one throughout the ages or if she gets replaced periodically is another story.
The little boy she sees at the end looks like he's wearing clothes from hundreds of years ago. I thought maybe he could be her brother or something... someone quite close to her. Ooh... and it would be even cooler if that little boy's descendent is Tsugumi....
Interesting heh. They give you little bits of the plot, then take them away.
Ai's reaction to the boy is pretty profound. She usually has that blank stare, but when she saw the boy, she dropped what she was doing and stared at him.
Somehow I think in the end it'll be a showdown with the grandmother. It would be creepy if the grandmother was a older version of Ai, or someone that looks exactly like Ai.
Melazomah
02-27-2006, 03:58 AM
[ QUOTE ]
wrex said:
[ QUOTE ]
Lego said:
Yeh, that is what kept me watching, and will keep me watching Jigoku. There is that air of mystery surrounding the show. I personally think Ai existed in the human world as a person. We know she is 30+ years old, yet she maintains the apperance of a child. Maybe something happened to her.
I would be surprised if the boy she sees at the end either sent her to hell, or she sent him to hell.
[/ QUOTE ]
I forgot which episode it was, but the Jigoku Shoujo goes back several hundred or maybe even a thousand years. Now, whether this particular Enma Ai is the same one throughout the ages or if she gets replaced periodically is another story.
The little boy she sees at the end looks like he's wearing clothes from hundreds of years ago. I thought maybe he could be her brother or something... someone quite close to her. Ooh... and it would be even cooler if that little boy's descendent is Tsugumi....
[/ QUOTE ]
You're probably thinking of Episode 13: Rengoku Shoujo, where a dying hellbound recounts his own research into Jigoku Shoujo to Shibata.
"There are accounts about Jigoku Shoujo in Edo period. No, perhaps even further back? Perhaps in Azuchi-Momoyama period?"
To which a stunned Shibata murmurs, "The Warring States period..."
According to the Azuchi-Momoyama period (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azuchi-Momoyama_period) entry in Wikipedia, the era marked the end of the Warring States period and ended around 1600 A.D. That would put the history of Jigoku Shoujo to at least 400 years ago. Fukumoto, the dying hellbound, also did not rule out that Jigoku Shoujo could have been human at one point.
"She is something that human beings cannot be. No, She might once have been human." -Fukumoto
Hmm. I guess it's one of those things where we have to wait and see /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif.
Episode title: Yasashii Rinjin (Kind Neighbor)
This week's client is Yuko, someone that Hajime and Tsugumi knows. Apparently, a neighbor, acting kind and considerate, "helped" out Yuko's dad, but in the end, he tricked him into ruining the crops on his land, causing the dad to drink to death. Hajime tries to stop Yuko from taking vengence. <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>In the end, he succeeds in convincing Yuko not to take vengence; however, things may not be fully resolved as Yuko, kicked out of her own home, has to go to foster home of some sort, where she spies a personal computer... the Jigoku Shoujo is not far away.
Another significant development is the growing difference in opinion between Hajime and Tsugumi. Tsugumi thinks taking vengence is all right, and the two have a big fight.
Ai also sees the vision of the boy again... she stares at him more calmly now, but after the boy disappears, she covers her mouth with her hand as if she wants to throw up. </span>
Hmm, interesting Wrex. If she <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>covered her mouth like she wanted to throw up, maybe she drowned or was sick(coughing up blood). I wonder who this boy is though. He looks around the same age as Ai, and Ai obviously has a strong reaction to him. Maybe it was something where she died, then they "wiped" her memory to make her the new Jigoku Shoujo.
You have to remember though, whoever the boy is, it could go back hundreds of years, if Ai is the same Jigoku Shoujo that was in the past. I think we're going to get a showdown in the last couple of episodes where Hajime and Tsugumi end up having a argument with Ai and her helpers about what she does and etc.
It seems like Ai's helpers might be leaning a little more towards her side of thinking. </span>
Does it have any signifigance that they boy keeps showing up near that headstone? In 20 and 21, it's at the same place.
Episode title: Rain of Regret (Kaikon no Ame)
This episode focuses more on Hajime's relationship with his wife, how they met, got separated, and how she died. It also focuses on Tsugumi's & Hajime's different attitudes toward Jigoku Shoujo's job. The target this time is a money-hungry girl who uses and discards men when they're out of money.
Spoilers: <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>First of all, we get a name of the boy that Jigoku Shoujo sees: Sentaro. It's the anniversary of the death of Tsugumi's mom, Ayumi. She prepares to go to the cemetary, but it seems Hajime never goes. Tsugumi tells Hajime to go this year, but he just ignores her. She leaves to visit her grandparent's house.
Ai vandalises the shouji (paper covered sliding doors) of her house by licking a finger then poking holes... the grandma's voice (sounding puzzled and alarmed) tells her that there is a new case, but Ai keeps poking holes. Ai's helpers watch this outside the house and they comment that something must be disturbing Ai.
Through flashbacks, we see that Hajime met Ayumi in college. They got married, but so focused was Hajime on his reporting job that in the middle of their own wedding reception, he leaves because there's a big case. The scenario keeps repeating, as he frequently leaves Ayumi for some case. It's clear that she loves him but is feeling lonely and abandoned. She thinks that after Tsugumi is born, he'd spend more time with them, but there's no change.
Meanwhile, as Tsugumi and her grandparents get ready to go to the cemetary, Tsugumi gets a vision from Ai. Ai says a name and her eyes scan up and down the building's name. Tsugumi realizes that Ai's clearly giving names and locations this time. She's disturbed but finally gives Hajime a phone call and gives the name and location and hangs up. Hajime rushes to the site.
In the taxi, Hajime remembers how he was staking out a politician who was rumored to be having an affair. Out of a love motel, he sees the politician come out... with Ayumi. Hajime runs toward them, angered, punches out the politician, and has to be restrained by his boss. Ayumi falls to her knees, devastated.
The taxi arrives to the hotel site and Hajime runs out... he scans the area and he spies a man holding the hell doll. "Noriko!!!" he yells and pulls the string. Hajime yells at him to stop but of course he's too late. Hajime roughs him up, yelling that he's just killed someone. The man, in tears, said he'd loved her but she only saw him as a source or money and nothing more, and that she couldn't be forgiven. The words strike Hajime hard, as he remembers his own words to his boss saying that he couldn't forgive Ayumi for cheating on him. Even after she pleaded to get back together, he stubbornly refused. She drove off in the rain that night but died in a one-car accident. The man's comments echo too closely to Hajime's feelings at that time. Meanwhile, the girl, Noriko, gets punished and is sent to hell. Hajime tells the man vengence is not good, but the man just laughs, brokenly. Ai looks at them from high above.
In the end, Tsugumi and her grandparents go to the cemetary and are surprised to see flowers and a bento of chestnut rice already offered on her grave. "Who..." says the grandparents. "Hajime-chan..." says Tsugumi, tears in her eyes. </span>
Next week, Tsugumi's feelings toward Ai's job may be tested (right now she feels what the Jigoku Shoujo is doing is all right).
This episode was interesting. Although it was interesting to see <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>Hajime basically clock the guy who was out with his wife. So it seems like he was never there for her, she had a affair, and he basically said "get lost". Then she died that night, wow.
The more interesting thing to me is this boy that Ai sees. I was reading memento's blog, and someone had a interesting theory that it could be Ai's son or something like that. I personally think that Ai was around the same age as the boy, they were playing, and she fell off the top of the waterfall and drowned. </span>
golthin
03-08-2006, 09:27 AM
[ QUOTE ]
wrex said:
Episode title: Rain of Regret (Kaikon no Ame)
<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'> Out of a love motel, he sees the politician come out... with Ayumi. Hajime runs toward them, angered, punches out the politician, and has to be restrained by his boss. Ayumi falls to her knees, devastated. The words strike Hajime hard, as he remembers his own words to his boss saying that he couldn't forgive Ayumi for cheating on him. Even after she pleaded to get back together, he stubbornly refused. She drove off in the rain that night but died in a one-car accident.
In the end, Tsugumi and her grandparents go to the cemetary and are surprised to see flowers and a bento of chestnut rice already offered on her grave. "Who..." says the grandparents. "Hajime-chan..." says Tsugumi, tears in her eyes. </span>
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Wow! that is double whammy for Hajime, but he kind brought it on himself. At least he is smart enough to have dedicated his life to his daughter and job. I can't wait to watch this episode. It is going to be hard to watch poor Ayumi suffer because of Hajime stupidity. This is one of the few times I don't blame a woman for cheating on a man.
I don't think it is right, but I can understand. In my opinion most women that do this, don't do it only for the sex.
something
03-09-2006, 03:03 AM
...Japan is at 22? DAMNIT I need more of this faster >_<
Anyway, I just watched 11 and 12 and I am sooo glad to see things getting stirred up a bit more each time. The show is great, has an awesome premise and a wonderful atmosphere, but episodic and formulaic can only go so far. JS carries it farther than you'd expect, but it wasn't until the reporter guy and Tsugumi got into things that it really started showing its true potential. I mean, I swear this show has me so completely whipped. I get so excited over every little twist in the plot, every little variation... when at its core it's still formulaic enough that I should be far less enthusiastic about it.
But I guess I just *really* want it to live up to the potential it has inside it. I want very badly for this show to be awesome, and thus I snap up every morsel it throws my way =P But hey, as long as I'm enjoying it, all is well.
Anyway, ep 11 was interesting because Shibata got involved in a much more direct way than before -- he almost even stopped the revenge. He also learned a bit about Ai, or at least the doll and the terms of the contract. Also, Ai's "ippen, shine miru?" was at its best. She sounded almost frantic, but we know that's not the case so... what was it? Mocking perhaps? Well, it was awesome, which is good enough. Then episode 12... very interesting. A pair that willingly went to hell, although the one initially sent didnt realize what was happening to the one who sent him... What was most interesting was Ai finally showing some cracks in her calm exterior. She has, finally, questioned if what happened was right. And this was the first episode, if I'm remembering correctly, without her signature line /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif After all, she didn't need to chase down someone who went willingly.
And the next ep preview for 13 looks like it might touch on Ai's past, and THAT would be awesome. I've been waiting for Ai to play more of an active role in the story (rather than a purely reactive force), and if I can get that... well, it'll be awesome.
Anyway, I know you're all ten episodes ahead of me (wonder if I'll ever get a chance to get that far, or if it'll just be licensed first /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif) so there's probably not much you can say without spoiling, but I just had to come in and post something about it.
golthin
03-09-2006, 04:58 AM
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disarm said:
...Japan is at 22? DAMNIT I need more of this faster >_<
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That is why I learned enough Japanese to be able to watch the stuff raw. I still have problem with the high tech and Mystical anime, but Hell girl dialogue is not hard. I still get lost sometime in things like Noein when they start explaining stuff about the infinity of realities etc etc.
something
03-09-2006, 11:22 AM
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golthin said:
That is why I learned enough Japanese to be able to watch the stuff raw. I still have problem with the high tech and Mystical anime, but Hell girl dialogue is not hard. I still get lost sometime in things like Noein when they start explaining stuff about the infinity of realities etc etc.
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Haha, as much as I want that to happen for me, it probably never will. I do want to at least get reading proficency in SOME foreign language (would make me more marketable in my field), but finding the time is the problem. Ah well.
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Lego said:
This episode was interesting. Although it was interesting to see <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>Hajime basically clock the guy who was out with his wife. So it seems like he was never there for her, she had a affair, and he basically said "get lost". Then she died that night, wow.
The more interesting thing to me is this boy that Ai sees. I was reading memento's blog, and someone had a interesting theory that it could be Ai's son or something like that. I personally think that Ai was around the same age as the boy, they were playing, and she fell off the top of the waterfall and drowned. </span>
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Hmm... I can't see how he could be Ai's son, being that he looks around the same age (unless you look younger when you "become" the Jigoku Shoujo. My theory is that he may be her brother. I also have a feeling he could be Tsugumi's ancestor, which is why Tsugumi can receive Ai's visions. OR.... they were siblings, she accidently killed him, then feeling regret, committed suicide herself, saying something like, "I want to go to hell right now" then got transformed into the Jigoku Shoujo by the previous Jigoku Shoujo or by the "grandma."
Hmm, interesting theory. The big thing for me is who this "grandma" is. I hope we get a episode where Ai just pulls the curtain back to reveal her sitting their, or nothing at all.
Shiroi Hane
03-09-2006, 09:37 PM
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disarm said:
...Japan is at 22? DAMNIT I need more of this faster >_<
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Japan is the only place it is airing so I don't see why you sound so surprised; everywhere else is still at 0.
something
03-09-2006, 09:48 PM
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Shiroi Hane said:
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disarm said:
...Japan is at 22? DAMNIT I need more of this faster >_<
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Japan is the only place it is airing so I don't see why you sound so surprised; everywhere else is still at 0.
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Oh good god, you know what I meant, I'm not going to play semantic games. If you have something to say about my comments as regards the episodes, go ahead, otherwise, it seems you have nothing to add. Thanks.
Wow, this episode was good. The big draw for dedicated Jigoku fans is the last bit of the episode, as I'm sure Wrex will mention. We get to see a <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>young Ai playing with the boy (forgot his name) that she has had flashbacks of the past couple of episodes.</span>
Episode title: Light of the Hospital Ward (Byoutou no Hikari)
Tsugumi receives many visions in this one and the target is a popular, attractive nurse named Kanako at a hospital. Hajime investigates. Spoiler points: <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>Tsugumi receives disturbing visions which she can't quite figure out. Tsugumi tells Hajime once more that he should stop trying to interfere with the Jigoku Shoujo's work because those people have legimitate grudges and people deserve to go to hell. Nevertheless, Hajime investigates, but his investigations on the nurse Kanako turn up nothing; everyone loves Kanako and she seems to have no enemies. Finally, one night, as Hajime goes undercover as a patient, he and Tsugumi spy an old man blaming Kanako for his wife's death. Hajime offers to investigate, but later he tells the old man that the nurse is not to blame for his wife's death and that he should stop his idea of vengence. The old man doesn't know what he's talking about, and eventually Hajime discovers the old man doesn't know how to use the net.
Meanwhile, Tsugumi receives a vision that the nurse is falling to hell. Tsugumi tries to run toward her to save her but she can't. Kanako discovers Tsugumi in the middle of her trance, and later Tsugumi wakes up in a hospital bed. Kanako talks to her awhile and leavves with an apple in her hand. Later, in the hosptial hall, Tsugumi hears a bouncing noise, and sees the apple on the floor. Hajime arrives and Tsugumi says that Kanako has been sent to hell. Later, Hajime and Tsugumi spot a young man with a red thread in his hand.
Kanako wakes up on Ai's boat and Ai tells her she's being sent to hell. Kanako asks why and Ai tells her someone wished so and shows in image of the person, but Kanako doesn't know who it is. She naturally cries in anguish. Ai's voice sounds slightly emotional as she delivers her lines to Kanako. On the shore, Ai's helpers are watching and Ichimoku Ren comments how wonderfully Ai always does her duties. But Wanyuudo says that he can hear from Ai's heart how she really feels.
Hajime and Tsugumi discover the young man, apparently dead from an overdose... he has the hell mark on his chest. They don't know his reasons for sending Kanako to hell and Tsugumi cries after Hajime once more reiterates that sending people to hell is wrong. Then Tsugumi receives another vision... it's the cherry blossom, waterfall scene. She sees a boy and a younger girl playing. Then she sees Enma Ai. Ai asks her, "Do you know Sentaro?" End of episode. </span>
Lego: I think my theory about Ai and Sentaro may be close.
Next week we see that there is a 400 year link between Ai and Tsugumi.
Pics:
Tsugumi has unfathomable visions (http://wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep23/js23-01.jpg)
This week's target: Kanako, the angelic nurse (http://wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep23/js23-02.jpg)
This case is disturbing Ai (http://wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep23/js23-03.jpg)
This old man blames Kanako for the death of his wife (http://wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep23/js23-04.jpg)
Spoiler: <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>The real client</span> (http://wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep23/js23-05.jpg)
(Her vision) Tsugumi tries to stop an innocent from being sent to hell... (http://wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep23/js23-06.jpg)
but she's too late (http://wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep23/js23-07.jpg)
Ai's helpers comment on Ai's duties and feelings (http://wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep23/js23-08.jpg)
Spoiler: <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>the real client has killed himself with drugs or poison</span> (http://wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep23/js23-09.jpg)
Tsugumi cries out against the injustice (http://wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep23/js23-10.jpg)
Another vision (http://wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep23/js23-11.jpg)
Sentaro... and Ai? (http://wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep23/js23-12.jpg)
Ai talks to Tsugumi face to face... (http://wrexgrafix.com/anime/jigoku_shoujo/ep23/js23-13.jpg)
The scene makes Sentaro seem older then Ai. Maybe it was her brother? I find it interesting that she asks do you know/have you seen Sentaro. Is Ai actively looking for her friend/brother?
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Lego said:
The scene makes Sentaro seem older then Ai. Maybe it was her brother? I find it interesting that she asks do you know/have you seen Sentaro. Is Ai actively looking for her friend/brother?
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I think Sentaro is long dead, and Ai's just trying to remember her past. Her memory had been wiped out, so she's trying to piece it together from whatever sources she can... so she's asking Tsugumi in case she can help in some way. We don't know if Tsugumi's ability to see visions is because Ai's sending her those visions or if it's some kind of innate ability she has.
I have a feeling that this question leads to the investigation that connects Tsugumi to Ai... and maybe to Ai's eventual freedom from her not-so-happy duties. I'm hoping there's going to be some kind of rebellion/confrontation between Ai and her helpers vs. the "grandma."
Hmm..
That is a interesting theory, about the "grandma" anchoring Ai to her job and to the world she lives in. I think her "helpers" side with Ai, and even in this episode they seemingly care for Ai and her feelings.
golthin
03-14-2006, 08:31 PM
I have not watched the episode yet, but did they say why the real client had a grudge on the nurse?
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golthin said:
I have not watched the episode yet, but did they say why the real client had a grudge on the nurse?
[/ QUOTE ]
If I read the summaries(wrex's and others right), it seems like <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>that the nurse was innocent, and a good person. The guy that pulled the string seemed like a wacko, and over dosed after he pulled it. It was probably someone who she turned down, or just some wacko. </span>
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Lego said:
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golthin said:
I have not watched the episode yet, but did they say why the real client had a grudge on the nurse?
[/ QUOTE ]
If I read the summaries(wrex's and others right), it seems like <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>that the nurse was innocent, and a good person. The guy that pulled the string seemed like a wacko, and over dosed after he pulled it. It was probably someone who she turned down, or just some wacko. </span>
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Yup, as Lego said, <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>they never said what his grudge was. But we can speculate that maybe he was some kind of wacko stalker... everyone loved the nurse and maybe he wanted to be with her and the only way was to send her and himself to hell. </span>
golthin
03-14-2006, 09:37 PM
[ QUOTE ]
wrex said:
[ QUOTE ]
Lego said:
[ QUOTE ]
golthin said:
I have not watched the episode yet, but did they say why the real client had a grudge on the nurse?
[/ QUOTE ]
If I read the summaries(wrex's and others right), it seems like <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>that the nurse was innocent, and a good person. The guy that pulled the string seemed like a wacko, and over dosed after he pulled it. It was probably someone who she turned down, or just some wacko. </span>
[/ QUOTE ]
Yup, as Lego said, <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>they never said what his grudge was. But we can speculate that maybe he was some kind of wacko stalker... everyone loved the nurse and maybe he wanted to be with her and the only way was to send her and himself to hell. </span>
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holly crap! That is the most messed up wrong doing so far.
Shiroi Hane
03-15-2006, 08:50 PM
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wrex said:We don't know if Tsugumi's ability to see visions is because Ai's sending her those visions or if it's some kind of innate ability she has.
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As I said once before, it does not seem to be something Ai is doing on purpose as, after Tsugumi has a vision that send them towards the sanatorium with the doll, Ai tries to warn them away. If she had consciously given them the information that lead them there, she would not have tried to warn them.
I was always under the impression, until lately that Ai was sending out visions more like someone would sleepwalk. Sure you have times in recent episodes, especially this one where Ai blatantly leads them to the scene, or even talks to them.
But if you notice some of them, they almost seem subconcious. Maybe Ai's inner self/mind is reaching out for help. It would be a interesting twist if the reason why she keeps asking for her brother is that she was kidnapped as a child, or some great tradegy came upon her and they got seperated.
With three more episodes to go, I'm interested in seeing how they end it.
Wow! This episode had a huge surprise...
Basic summary: Hajime and Tsugumi's investigations (nudged by Ai's vision), takes them to learn about Ai's past. As Ai tags along, it releases the forgotten memories and feelings, and her connection to the Shibata family.
Now for the spoiler: <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>Hajime and Tsugumi are descendents of Shibata Sentaro, the boy that Ai kept seeing. Shibata was her playmate, but when Ai turned seven, the villagers sacrificed her in the mountains... she was buried alive. When Hajime and Tsugumi reach the spot of the visions, Ai is there in her Hell Kimono and after sending Tsugumi the vision that she was buried alive, she asks if they are here to kill her again. She goes nuts... her face contorts with hatred and anger, and she tries to send them to hell. Ai's helpers show up on the scene and try to stop her, but a hell blasts seems to hit Tsugumi and Hajime. It looks like Hajime falls into the water while Tsugumi disappears. Whoa! </span>
Full summary and pics here. (http://wrex-anime.blogspot.com/2006/03/jigoku-shoujo-ep-24.html)
golthin
03-21-2006, 09:36 PM
[ QUOTE ]
wrex said:
Wow! This episode had a huge surprise...
Basic summary: Hajime and Tsugumi's investigations (nudged by Ai's vision), takes them to learn about Ai's past. As Ai tags along, it releases the forgotten memories and feelings, and her connection to the Shibata family.
Now for the spoiler: <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>Hajime and Tsugumi are descendents of Shibata Sentaro, the boy that Ai kept seeing. Shibata was her playmate, but when Ai turned seven, the villagers sacrificed her in the mountains... she was buried alive. When Hajime and Tsugumi reach the spot of the visions, Ai is there in her Hell Kimono and after sending Tsugumi the vision that she was buried alive, she asks if they are here to kill her again. She goes nuts... her face contorts with hatred and anger, and she tries to send them to hell. Ai's helpers show up on the scene and try to stop her, but a hell blasts seems to hit Tsugumi and Hajime. It looks like Hajime falls into the water while Tsugumi disappears. Whoa! </span>
Full summary and pics here. (http://wrex-anime.blogspot.com/2006/03/jigoku-shoujo-ep-24.html)
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Oh my gosh! I can't wait to watch this episode!
Me to heh. So it finally comes together. I was expecting <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>that Ai had some bad accident, or even happen to her in her past life. It seems like Ai's emotions finally got the best of her, and she went off the deep end. </span>
Although the more interesting thing to me is <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'> Tsugumi seemingly disapearing. Could this mean that she is in Ai's world now or will wake/show up at Ai's house? I still think we're set to have a show down with this Grandma person. </span>
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Lego said:
Me to heh. So it finally comes together. I was expecting <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>that Ai had some bad accident, or even happen to her in her past life. It seems like Ai's emotions finally got the best of her, and she went off the deep end. </span>
Although the more interesting thing to me is <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'> Tsugumi seemingly disapearing. Could this mean that she is in Ai's world now or will wake/show up at Ai's house? I still think we're set to have a show down with this Grandma person. </span>
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The previews show <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>more about Ai's village, Sentaro, and the spider (the granny)... it appears to be the origin story of Jigoku Shoujo. It also shows Tsugumi there, crying with sadness. </span>
Hmm, interesting. I guess it's one of those wait and see things heh. Maybe thats the reason Ai's "world" looks like it does. I mean what she lives in, in hell could be a mirror of what she lived in when she was alive.
Shiroi Hane
03-28-2006, 04:26 PM
iirc the Jigoku Shouju was killed by his parents because he was born with some sort of special powers, which is also presumably also how he managed to make his was back from hell. Is it possible that Ai was <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>buried alive</span> because she had supernatural abilities too and the buddhist monks were afraid of her?
Scratch that, reading up on the bits (well, I say bits..) I didn't understand, its more of a Crimson Butterfly-type ritual.
Wow. That is all I can really say about this episode. We get <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>a history lesson about Ai's past in her village. I especially liked the part where she seemingly came out of her grave and torched the town heh. That freaky spider is back next episode. </span>
Yes, what happened to Ai was both tragic and chilling, and her actions make me understand why it was good that she couldn't remember her past. I was a bit disappointed though that it didn't go into how she officially became the Jigoku Shoujo and what role exactly the "grandma"/spider had in it.
What's more chilling is the preview for the last episode: <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>Ai seems to be goading Tsugumi into sending someone to hell. And it doesn't seem like there's going to be a showdown between Ai and her granny... unless they kept it out to keep it a surprise. </span>
Click here to see the spoiler summary and pics (http://wrex-anime.blogspot.com/2006/03/jigoku-shoujo-ep-25.html)
In the shot you have in the summary Wrex, where she first <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>emerges from her grave, that look on her face gives me the chills heh. </span>
Whats up with all the <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>shots of the spider in the next episode preview? Maybe the Grandma herself is a giant spider behind the curtain? I don't know.
I'm not sure who Tsugumi would want to send to hell though. I mean as far as we know, her and her dad are still alive. You know, I really wouldn't be surprised if Tsugumi sent Ai to hell, to end her pain and suffering and quest for vengence. </span>
The offical Jigoku site, through a web translation site mentions that the "father is the target" of the doll. Hmm, I guess that would refer to Hajime if it was translated right.
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Lego said:
In the shot you have in the summary Wrex, where she first <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>emerges from her grave, that look on her face gives me the chills heh. </span>
Whats up with all the <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>shots of the spider in the next episode preview? Maybe the Grandma herself is a giant spider behind the curtain? I don't know.
I'm not sure who Tsugumi would want to send to hell though. I mean as far as we know, her and her dad are still alive. You know, I really wouldn't be surprised if Tsugumi sent Ai to hell, to end her pain and suffering and quest for vengence. </span>
The offical Jigoku site, through a web translation site mentions that the "father is the target" of the doll. Hmm, I guess that would refer to Hajime if it was translated right.
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What gave me chills is in the preview when Ai gives the standard instruction/warning about sending someone to hell and how she ends with <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>"Tsugumi"... the way she says her name is very haunting. </span> Wow, you're right... I just checked the official site, and that's what they say... <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>but I wonder if Ai's blackmailing/brainwashing Tsugumi into doing that, or maybe she'll send the giant spider? </span> But damn, somehow I feel like the ending may be rushed...
Well, there has to be a reason for her to want to send Hajime to hell. The only thing I can think of off hand is that she might now know what really happened to her mother, that Hajime basically told her to get away.
I still think that we'll see a showdown with that stupid spider in the last episode though. Part of me wonders if they'll go for the ultra happy "Tsugumi breaks down the system" ending where the spider gets vaporized and Ai is out of a job.
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Lego said:
Well, there has to be a reason for her to want to send Hajime to hell. The only thing I can think of off hand is that she might now know what really happened to her mother, that Hajime basically told her to get away.
I still think that we'll see a showdown with that stupid spider in the last episode though. Part of me wonders if they'll go for the ultra happy "Tsugumi breaks down the system" ending where the spider gets vaporized and Ai is out of a job.
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I have another theory of why se wants her to send Hajime to hell: <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>because Ai wants vengence on Sentaro (and his descendents), she may have laid on the guilt trip to Tsugumi: "It's your ancestor's fault that I got horribly killed and the only way this can be settled is for both of you to go to hell... so wish your father to hell." Because Tsugumi is so sensitive, she may consider doing so. </span>
But yeah, I'd like to see a showdown with the Spider as the real plot element in the final episode.
Hmm, interesting theory. I personally don't see Ai doing that though. I mean it seems like what she did in the last couple episode was what she was waiting to get out for probably tens of years. She finally released her anger about being burried alive and basically being tormented her whole life.
I don't know the reason why I hate the spider(grandma) so much, but I just see her as this manipulative/controlling woman or thing in Ai's "second life".
Well, it's over... but I'm not quite satisfied with the end. The way the left it, it's possible to have more episodes. I wonder if they're planning another season or an OVA.
I'll have a more detailed summary and pics later on my blog, but basically, <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>Ai tries to brainwash Tsugumi into sending Hajime to hell by noting that it was his fault that her mom went to hell, and he said it wasn't his fault. Tsugumi remained strong till the very end, when Ai put her into a trance-like state. The spider, btw, tried to stop Ai from doing this, but Ai was too strong. Her helpers tried to stop her as well, and they talked to Hajime in Ai's house... even the "granny" talked to Hajime, which shocked the hell... or not... out of Hone Onna and Ren. The spider, btw, had a different voice, a male voice, so maybe the spider and the granny are not one in the same. </span>
Hmm, thats a interesting way to end it. Although it's kind of fitting since <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>the whole series is about revenge, and it seems like Ai's is the ultimate. The big question for me though with the ending is a simple, why? I mean they spend the whole series trying to make Ai seem human like, and with emotions, then they basically turn her into a crazy person in the last two episodes.
I was a little surprised how deep her hatred went though. I mean if it was anyone, she should be pissed off at the villagers for burrying her alive. I'd still like to see who Granny was though. </span>
[ QUOTE ]
Lego said:
Hmm, thats a interesting way to end it. Although it's kind of fitting since <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>the whole series is about revenge, and it seems like Ai's is the ultimate. The big question for me though with the ending is a simple, why? I mean they spend the whole series trying to make Ai seem human like, and with emotions, then they basically turn her into a crazy person in the last two episodes.
I was a little surprised how deep her hatred went though. I mean if it was anyone, she should be pissed off at the villagers for burrying her alive. I'd still like to see who Granny was though. </span>
[/ QUOTE ]
Well, it does show her human side; when she took on the role of the Jigoku Shoujo, she had to cast off her feelings and do her job. As for the ending, <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>it's like they rushed it or left it open for a further series. It doesn't explain the details of how she became the Jigoku Shoujo (only that it was to atone for her sins of killing the villagers) and who the spider and granny are.</span>
Edit: I just checked the official site, and they've decided to do a second series. That explains the ending. Now I feel better.
Melazomah
04-04-2006, 11:03 PM
[ QUOTE ]
wrex said:
[ QUOTE ]
Lego said:
Hmm, thats a interesting way to end it. Although it's kind of fitting since <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>the whole series is about revenge, and it seems like Ai's is the ultimate. The big question for me though with the ending is a simple, why? I mean they spend the whole series trying to make Ai seem human like, and with emotions, then they basically turn her into a crazy person in the last two episodes.
I was a little surprised how deep her hatred went though. I mean if it was anyone, she should be pissed off at the villagers for burrying her alive. I'd still like to see who Granny was though. </span>
[/ QUOTE ]
Well, it does show her human side; when she took on the role of the Jigoku Shoujo, she had to cast off her feelings and do her job. As for the ending, <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>it's like they rushed it or left it open for a further series. It doesn't explain the details of how she became the Jigoku Shoujo (only that it was to atone for her sins of killing the villagers) and who the spider and granny are.</span>
Edit: I just checked the official site, and they've decided to do a second series. That explains the ending. Now I feel better.
[/ QUOTE ]
Awesome! I was wondering about the "マタツヅã‚*マス・・・" screen.
A second series eh? I've followed Jigoku Shoujo with you since episode 1 Wrex heh. During this season we even complained time to time about the set of "victim of the week" stories. I don't know if I can go through 26 more episodes of the same thing heh.
something
05-21-2006, 07:00 PM
Edit: I can't count so I meant to say this post was about 24-26 not 23-26, but I think youall got the point
Oh goddddddd this was so fucking fantastic of an ending. I just watched 23-26 back to back to back and I'm fairly well blown away. Easily one of the most coherent and powerful endings I've seen in a good while. Even the animation in these episodes seemed better to my eyes, which is always a nice surprise for late series episodes.
Ai's backstory was heartwrenching and wonderfully told, and ohh man, the creepiness in her voice when she was being buried alive... <3 <3 <3 Her unrelenting prodding of Tsugumi to send Hajime to hell was no less well done. And Tsugumi's final rejection of the doll and embrace of Hajime in the rain was just... gaaaaaaaaah! So awesome, so so awesome.
I'm just torn on whether or not I wish we got more of it, earlier on. On the one hand, there were 23 episodes that were almost entirely formulaic and contained and ranged from decent to fantastic, but only three consecutive episodes of continuous storytelling of one event. This could be interpreted as wasted time, or overstretching their limits.
On the other hand, the last three episodes were paced so perfectly that I can't imagine how they could have been improved if lengthened any. Every scene was meaningful and competently done, and all the other elements (music, voice acting, animation etc etc) were in sync with the overall greatness of it.
Could the show have been 13 episodes, perhaps? 1-10 was more than enough time to introduce Hajime and Tsugumi, and develop a bit of the tension Ai was feeling near the end. And then 11-13 could have been justw hat 23-26 were. Nothing would have felt rushed and we wouldn't have missed any of the possible variations in the formula nor have lost any characterization from, well, anyone.
Buuut I dunno. I can say that I felt that every single episode was worth my time, even the few scattered episodes where someone took revenge for a preposterously absurd reason (taking into consideration the damnation Ai's revenge entails, of course). I felt like my time spent watching it was completely worth it. I'll for damn sure buy all the DVDs (as singles), if someone is so kind as to license it (they damned well better!) And I almost feel like the formulaic nature (one pre-Hajime formula, and the other once Hajime came into the show, running until ep 23) of it makes the episodic nature all the more forgivable.
Besides, I'll never ever tire of Ippen, shinde miru? delivered with that angelic (or demonic? /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif) voice.
------
And as a somewhat off topic side note, what the hell was up with Episode 20: Jigoku Shoujo vs. Jigoku Shounen? XD I enjoyed it and all, and it was an interesting change of pace, but what the hell were they smoking when they made it? And I refuse to believe it was the same director... that or he was partaking in the above mentioned smoking /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif It was just so strange and out of character and all. Well, anyways whatever =P
Jigoku Shoujo rocks, hard. I'd say I want more, but what more could they do? Ai finishing her "job" and breaking free, or will she never be free? Does she just do the job for eternity? Perhaps... I just don't know that they can make 13-26 more episodes of it without somehow cheapening it... but I'd absolutely love to be proven wrong.
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One last note... Never before has a show pleased me to much with so little. I don't mean to say that JS has little to offer viewers, but the formulaic nature of the vast bulk of the show left me begging for more at every turn, and I would just eat up every bite I was offered along the way. Every little shift in the formula, every little flicker of emotion in Ai's face, every little change in Hajime's understanding of the situation, every little promise of something more... Every single one had me by the throat, eager for more. It kept me waiting so impatiently to get my hands on each new episode, and made the payoff so much greater than it would have been for many other shows.
At times I wondered if I was just being biased and was giving Jigoku Shoujo more credit than it deserved. But when I started to think that, I'd just remember that we're talking about a piece of entertainment here, and for it to make me feel so strongly doesn't indicate some bias or unfairness on my part.
All it indicates is a damn well done show.
Heh disarm. Yeh, I got a little bored halfway through, but I ended up enjoying Jigoku a lot. Wrex was saying something about a second season, but as I mentioned in a eairlier post, if they do what they did with the first season, I couldn't see myself watching all of it again.
jlazar
05-21-2006, 09:46 PM
[ QUOTE ]
Lego said:
Heh disarm. Yeh, I got a little bored halfway through, but I ended up enjoying Jigoku a lot. Wrex was saying something about a second season, but as I mentioned in a eairlier post, if they do what they did with the first season, I couldn't see myself watching all of it again.
[/ QUOTE ]
Yeah, the ending was great, although I still can't figure out how they got out of drowing in the lake. Was that a preminition or did they get saved and sent to the shrine as the flashback happened?
All in all, there were times when I was going to stop watching. The repeated "somene screws someone over, they take revenge" sometimes got boring and I sometimes tuned out as I watched. I especially liked the rare times when the revenge wasn't taken. The story of Ai and the father and daughter was enough to keep me interested enough to watch to the end.
And I'm glad for that. It was a good ending for this show and made watching it all worthwhile.
something
05-21-2006, 10:43 PM
[ QUOTE ]
Jim Lazar said:
Yeah, the ending was great, although I still can't figure out how they got out of drowing in the lake. Was that a preminition or did they get saved and sent to the shrine as the flashback happened?
[/ QUOTE ]
I think it might be Ai's "grandmother" who did that. Of course, we don't know what the heck she is... Unless she's the spider of course, in which case she/he still could have saved them, as it the spider seemed to be quite powerful. That or it was indeed just something symbolic, or whatever. There were all sorts of scene shifts and such during these three episodes, so it didn't seem TOO strange to me, although, yes, I did wonder at first.
[ QUOTE ]
I especially liked the rare times when the revenge wasn't taken.
[/ QUOTE ]
Yep. Do you remember which ep it was, so I can skim it a tad? I was quite surprised at episode 22 (Edit: again, I can't count so I meant for this to be 23 not 22), where Ai sent a truly good person to Hell. The whole time, I thought Ai had some control over what revenge she grants. Didn't she repeatedly ignore the one revenge seeker in one of the episodes? The one with the crazy corporate lady taking advantage of her... I dunno, that girl working for her? I thought Ai was refusing her... or SOME episode that was the case.
And yet Ai accepts the request of a crazy drug addict to kill a wonderful and beloved nurse? The hell? I suppose something one ofher underlings said sort of explains it though... hatred takes many forms. As long as the one seeking revenge truly hates the one whose name they enter, I suppose Ai has to do it. Poor Ai, and man that's pretty shit for the one sent to hell. I also have very very strong negative personal reactions to that sort of concept, but for fiction I'll let it slide. Still left a sour taste in my mouth though.
But Ai not having any choice but to act on hatred... just makes her "punishment/job" all the more depressing. But hey, she is a minion of Hell... I just thought maybe this concept of Hell was more about punishing the wicked than satisfying the whims of those full of hatred. I guess it's a mix of both, and very much dependent on your point of view.
As for this talk of a second season... I also heard that on IRC as I was watching 23-26. I just... I don't know how they'll do it (if they do), because they really can't use the same formula they used in season one. It worked once, but after throwing 23-26 at us, you just can't go back to basics and expect us to forget about the brilliance we now know we'd be missing.
jlazar
05-21-2006, 11:13 PM
[ QUOTE ]
disarm said:
Yep. Do you remember which ep it was, so I can skim it a tad?
[/ QUOTE ]
I don't remember exactly. I think there was one in the middle, then the recent one with the farmer's daughter who didn't take revenge right away (although it looks like she was going to do it after at at the end).
And maybe one more.
Sly05
05-21-2006, 11:26 PM
If they do make a second season, I hope Ai gets forgiven for her sins and allowed to stop being the Jigoku Shoujo. I was hoping that would happen at the end of episode 26, but that didn't turn out to be the case. She had a really sad life. /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif Ai's redemption is the only storyline that I can think of that is left open from the first series.
pianocello
06-15-2006, 08:27 PM
I just finished this series. While I can see how some folks may be turned off with the "revenge of the week" episodes, I was okay with that and I took sadistic pleasure /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif in watching some of the villains get what they deserve. This is one of the stronger anime of the past 12 months.
It does however remind me a bit of Vampire Princess Miyu TV except that this seems like it would also attract a large number of the lolicon crowd what with the pedolicious shots of Ai looking cute in goth-loli clothes, sucking cherries, simulating oral sex by licking fingers, blowing phallic flutes, showing Ai's bare ass and smooth thighs etc etc (not that I'm complaining /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif ). I haven't even started yet on naked Tsugumi... /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif
I wonder how the next season is like? I'm thinking that they migh give us some backstory on Ai's 3 helpers. Oh and one more thing that no one has mention - it seems a little deus ex machina how <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>Ai just escaped from the boat to hell. </span>
Anyhow I liked how the last few episodes became one of the most powerful stories of parent-child love. I love these kind of stories.
something
06-15-2006, 09:59 PM
[ QUOTE ]
piano_cello_conducting said:
I wonder how the next season is like?
[/ QUOTE ]
So is this, like, 100% completely confirmed and real now, or is it still just a rumor?
pianocello
06-15-2006, 10:17 PM
[ QUOTE ]
disarm said:
[ QUOTE ]
piano_cello_conducting said:
I wonder how the next season is like?
[/ QUOTE ]
So is this, like, 100% completely confirmed and real now, or is it still just a rumor?
[/ QUOTE ]
Confirmed. Starting in fall.
something
06-15-2006, 10:43 PM
[ QUOTE ]
piano_cello_conducting said:
Confirmed. Starting in fall.
[/ QUOTE ]
Very awesome, I think I need to go touch myelf now.
I don't know what exactly the storyline will be, but as I said before, I hope it doesn't start off episodic... we already did that, and while it was fun, we need more of the concentrated story/awesomeness of season one's ending.
littleharlock
08-15-2006, 02:07 AM
Announced at the Official site (http://www.jigokushoujo.com/news.html) for Jigoku Shoujo (and rumored for a while now with Moonphase having listed it since the first series ended its broadcast) it seems that Enma Ai will take care of more poor souls and hand them a one-way ticket to hell this fall season.
The second series has the title Jigoku Shoujo ~ Futakomori and according to Mangazoo Mamiko Noto (seiyuu of Enma Ai) is going to perform the ending theme Aizome" for the series (like she did for the first series/season).
According to fansites (I haven't seen this confirmed officially anywhere though) the series is supposed to commence broadcast in October 2006 (07th October) on MBS, Tokyo MXTV, Animax.
so far
yours
littleharlock
something
08-15-2006, 03:30 AM
[ QUOTE ]
littleharlock said:
The second series has the title Jigoku Shoujo ~ Futakomori
[/ QUOTE ]
I have nothing much to say in response other than 1) YESSSSSSS, details! and 2) thanks!
I remember when Jigoku Shoujo ended, the main site mentioned season 2 heh. My only hope is that they put in more plot episodes then the first season had. I mean I loved Jigoku Shoujo, but the weekly "person sent to hell" got boring after a while heh. Oh well, I'm looking forward to the second season to see what happens.
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