The film reaches its climax as the medicine seller faces the haunting Ayakashi during a birth celebratory ceremony. Tasked with locating the spirit and uncovering its origins, the legendary vanquisher of Mononoke sail through a complex environment.
Viewers gain insight into the oppressive dynamics within the Ooku, largely through the perspectives of key characters Asa and Kame. Something feels unsettling about the festivities, including the disturbing activities taking place in Emperor Tenshi’s chamber.
Unsettling secrets surface during Emperor Tenshi’s birth ceremony, revealing a darker truth (Photo: The Phantom In The Rain Scene/EOTA)In the concluding moments, the event’s true nature is revealed alongside the darkness permeating it, yet the narrative remains shrouded in ambiguity.
Mononoke The Movie: The Phantom in the Rain Plot Synopsis
In the lead-up to Emperor Tenshi’s newborn child’s birth celebration, two young girls, Asa and Kame, become part of the harem. While Asa aims to raise her status as a scribe by becoming the chief scriber, Kame aspires to become a concubine.
Despite their differing motivations, the girls quickly bond after being initiated into the ceremony by the two overseeing madams, Awashima and Mugitani. However, their unease begins when they are forced to drink from a rancid well and discard a cherished item into its depths before serving the emperor.
Outside the ceremonial grounds, the medicine seller begins an investigation with his spiritual tools, seeking signs of the Ayakashi. His discretion is necessary due to the prohibition against men entering the Ooku, often conducting his inquiries under the watchful eye of palace guard Sakashita.
As he delves deeper, he uncovers a powerful force within the ceremony that explains the strange occurrences experienced by Asa and Kame. When the girls encounter the formidable Madam Utayama, they soon realize the environment is harsh and unyielding.
Complications arise when Asa meets a mysterious woman named Kitagawa, who expresses concern for Asa, suggesting she might be “drying up.” Upon their arrival at the ceremony, the girls are relegated to menial roles as maids, working tirelessly for the incoming guests as the event approaches.
Asa diligently fulfills her duties, while Kame grapples with her youthful innocence. Asa’s efficiency draws scorn and jealousy from her superiors, Awashima and Mugitani, particularly after a quick promotion. Kame, meanwhile, faces criticism for her performance and her natural beauty.
The tension escalates when two government samurai question Madam Utayama about the event’s extensive delays, a query that receives no satisfactory response. Mononoke The Movie: The Phantom in the Rain Ending: The Origins of Karakasa and Its Connection to Lady Kitagawa
As the medicine seller continues his investigation, he gradually uncovers a series of unsettling revelations that, due to his extensive experience, do not unsettle him.
These findings intertwine with the journeys of Kame and Asa as they fulfill their roles during the birth ceremony. The two plotlines converge when the medicine seller confirms the presence of the Ayakashi, which he names Karakasa.
Its swift attacks coincide with Kame’s troubles with her madams. Unsurprisingly, Karakasa’s initial victims are Madam Mugitani and Awashima, who attempt to intimidate Kame, leaving their desiccated bodies hidden from view.
As the spirit’s methods and origins become clearer, the medicine seller begins to understand its manifestation. Most Mononoke arise from negative human emotions, each linked to a unique story.
In Karakasa’s case, its existence is connected to Madam Kitagawa, the enigmatic woman who visits Asa multiple times. Kitagawa befriends Asa and offers crucial advice on surviving in the ceremony household, urging her to cling to something precious to avoid “drying up.”
This phrase strikingly aligns with Karakasa’s method of disposing of its victims, linking it to Lady Kitagawa’s own harrowing experiences as a handmaid. Kitagawa, much like Asa, had joined the birth celebration with aspirations of becoming a renowned scribe.
However, she eventually fell victim to the misogynistic practices prevalent within the ceremony, which eroded her sense of self. She had a close friendship akin to Kame’s but severed that bond due to her growing responsibilities.
Tragically, she later discovered that her friend had been killed, with her body discarded into the well. This loss left Kitagawa emotionally parched, leading her to take her own life by jumping into the well.
Her negative emotions birthed the Mononoke. Consequently, the spirit targeted anyone who threatened Asa and Kame, feeling a connection with them. In the process of unraveling the mystery, it becomes evident that Kame inadvertently gave life to Karakasa when she discarded her grandmother’s comb into the well.
This act symbolizes the age-old traditions that oppressed the women in the Ooku, binding them to their roles without room for personal expression. Karakasa embodies the chaotic spirit of rebellion dormant within Kitagawa.
Unable to fight back, the spirit took on a form, fueled by the comb thrown into the well. However, it is plausible that Kitagawa’s spirit recognized a resemblance between Kame and her deceased friend, ensuring Kame’s safety.
Does the Medicine Seller Vanquish Karakasa? Does Lady Utayama Die?
Identifying Karakasa’s presence is merely the beginning of the medicine seller’s quest to resolve the situation; however, he lacks crucial information to confront it. The only method at his disposal for vanquishing such an adversary involves his sacred sword, Kon.
Before he can wield it, he must uncover three key aspects of the Ayakashi: its form, truth, and reason. The medicine seller first identifies its presence and circular shape by analyzing the damp patterns on the floor.
This discovery resonates with the doll Kitagawa gifted Asa, which lacks an umbrella, mirroring the circularity associated with both the spirit and the haunting presence in the Ooku.
The second requirement is satisfied when the medicine seller links the spirit’s existence to Lady Kitagawa, while the third becomes clear after he uncovers the tragic history behind Karakasa’s creation.
With this knowledge, he finally draws his sword in the film’s climax and engages in a fierce battle against the Mononoke. The fight uncovers with various twists, beginning when Saburomaru, one of the visiting samurai, dives into the tainted well and uncovers the remains of previous handmaidens, explaining the rancid water.
Following this revelation, Karakasa surfaces, intent on attacking Madam Utayama, whom it perceives as the source of evil within the Ooku. Harnessing the full power of his sword, the medicine seller confronts the Ayakashi, fiercely defending those in its path.
His efforts culminate in the swift destruction of the spirit, shattering it into countless fragments. Although this triumph ends the cycle of hatred and violence that plagued the birth ceremony, the societal issues that birthed the Ayakashi remain potent as long as Madam Utayama persists.
However, the concluding scenes indicate her removal from power. Whether she faced demotion or met her end during the clash with Karakasa remains ambiguous, yet it marks a new chapter for the birth celebratory ceremony.
What Happens to Asa and Kame?
The film’s conclusion switch focus to Asa and Kame’s fates in the result of the conflict. With Madam Utayama gone, Asa inherits the responsibility of organizing the event, stepping into a leadership role.
Ambition meets harsh reality as Asa and Kame confront jealousy and scrutiny in the Ooku (Photo: Asa and Kame/EOTA)She resolves to embrace her position with a commitment to rectify her predecessor’s failings, particularly in wielding her authority without replicating past abuses.
Having experienced the tragedy of Lady Kitagawa, Asa appears unlikely to repeat those mistakes, as her growth is marked by caution and sensitivity. However, her decision to remain at the ceremony necessitates a separation from Kame, who departs with a new comb pin, leaving Asa behind.
The emotional weight of Asa and Kame’s parting adds a bittersweet layer to the ending, especially considering the deeper connection that could be interpreted as romantic.
While their feelings might be platonic, the separation evokes a sense of loss. Nevertheless, this outcome feels inevitable given their contrasting natures and the responsibilities they must embrace as time progresses.
Asa is unlikely to adopt Kame’s free-spiritedness, just as Kame is unlikely to become confined by expectations and ambitions. Each girl is defined by her unique identity and path, which will undoubtedly remain unchanged.
