Overanalysis of Mihotose no Komoriuta (spoilers ahead)
As a huge fan of this musical, I couldn’t help but gather my thoughts on this masterpiece. Beware of spoilers and of many unnecessary analysis ! Long post with screencaps !
Credits to screencaps and subs : Amaris fansub and @sohmariku
-- A subtle theme of Ruriiro no Sora begins when Ishikirimaru mentions their story for the first time.
-- Monoyoshi happily singing Ruriiro no Sora before the mission even started, showing how attached he is to the Tokugawas. The theme of Ruriiro no sora will become sadder and sadder along the musical.
-- Nikkari is the first to hold 1-month-old baby Takechiyo, which is nice, when we know he will become the closest to him with Monoyoshi.
-- The Master and Ishikirimaru know the vassals have been killed, and the only way to get it right is to become the vassals. When they leave, Ishikirimaru is the only one knowing it’s gonna be a long mission.
-- Nikkari to Ookurikara : “Looks like we’re fated to stay together” might be foreshadowing
-- Baby Takechiyo is laughing every time he is in Monoyoshi’s arms
-- Ruriiro no Sora sang my Monoyoshi is way more cheerful than any other versions. At this moment he is just happy to be reunited with a Tokugawa. Ishikirimaru may be thinking of assuming Hanzo’s role at this moment. He is observing everyone and then the baby.
-- 10-year-old Takechiyo outfit could be matching Nikkari and Monoyoshi’s color scheme (all right, this one is certainly an overoveranalysis)
-- Nikkari learns two lessons from Monoyoshi : “You should never lose your smile”
-- And the “Laugh Strategy”. Nikkari starts to laugh, to make Ishikirimaru laugh back, and bring him good fortune again. (also, he learns that smiles aren’t always “Nikkori”)
-- Nikkari & Monoyoshi : They are Takechiyo’s preceptors. Monoyoshi teaches him how to fight, while Nikkari supervises school. We see him teaching maybe reading, and mathematics. They are the first to come&see Ieyasu on his death bed.
-- Ishikirimaru is more interested in Baby Nobuyasu than tactics useful to fulfill their mission as Touken Danshi
-- Most likely, Gohei was supposed to die by the hands of the swordsmen, or at the Fort Marune but he didn’t, thanks to Ookurikara. Ironically, the one TouDan who has no interest in changing history at all, is the one to create the most important one. Indeed Nobuyasu is supposed to die from his father’s orders, but Gohei’s presence and friendship change the balance between father and son. But fate will catch them, as it is Gohei’s death that changes Nobuyasu’s state of mind and eventually drives him to suicidal thoughts.
-- The whole scene where Ishikirimaru realizes he’s been killing not even Retrogrades, but human beings, breaks my heart. We can see Nikkari above him, who stops fighting and is watching him, concerned.
-- And just after, Ishikirimaru snaps at Ookurikara’s comment. I think he’s angry towards himself more than anyone else.
-- The theme of Kibou no Minamoto plays when Ookurikara pledges allegiance. One more step following the right flow of History.
-- Ishi/Hanzo and Nobuyasu’s relationship is utterly important. Even Nobuyasu’s outfit matches the colors of Ishikirimaru. Their movements will also match during scenes, even in the background. Ishikirimaru follows his duty and tells him to learn sword fights, as the firstborn of a family of warriors. But he also teaches him the core of his own personality, to love and cherish living beings.
-- Nikkari tries to talk to Ishikirimaru, to make him face his feelings. But Ishikirimaru runs away. The next time we see a similar scene, 10 years has passed. We can assume Nikkari tries several times. Or maybe he didn’t, out of respect for Ishikirimaru’s feelings. Nikkari is not the type of personality to force people to act.
-- Monoyoshi was going to tell Ieyasu : “A smile will bring Good Luck” but Nobuyasu does it first. Monoyoshi is a proud parent.
-- Ieyasu acknowledges Hanzo/Ishi heavy involvement in Nobuyasu’s education, but Nikkari worries too much now. He is the only one to foresee Ishikirimaru’s heavy duty as Hanzo.
-- Even if Sengo seems careless, he actually cares a lot, and is very professional. He knows he is a Muramasa, a sword family cursed for the Tokugawa family (A muramasa killed Ieyasu’s grand-father, father, and Nobuyasu too). He stays away to be sure nothing happens to any Tokugawa before time. Then he becomes a vassal, around the time Nobuyasu should commit suicide. He also protects Monoyoshi, so he would remain a “lucky” sword.
--The theme of Touken Ranbu is playing, when Nikkari and Ookurikara discuss Ishi’s conflict with war. A reminder they’re Touken Danshi with a duty to fulfill, with their own share of conflict.
-- Historically, the Six vassals died before Tokugawa. Which means, the Mihotose Team fulfilled their duty until the historical death of their role, disappearing one by one, then certainly watching the others from afar. Naomasa (Sengo) and Tadakatsu (Tombo) are the last to die in 1610. The TouDan may have returned to the citadel but I think they stayed to ensure Retrogrades wouldn’t come back to interfere in Ieyasu’s end of life. They come back to witness Ieyasu’s death and say their goodbyes. The two first to show up are Monoyoshi and Nikkari, the closest to him when he was a child. Ieyasu thinks he’s seeing spirits. Then Nobuyasu’s real spirit shows up. He took the name of Gohei, meaning his spirit is free from torment.
They stayed alongside Tokugawa Ieyasu for 73 years.
Bonus :
- For IshiKari fans like myself: In this scene, Ishi shows him Nikkari’s portrait, without real enthusiasm from Nikkari. Then he shows him Ookurikara’s. During Tombo and Sengo’s scene, we see IshiKari chatting, Ishi shows Nikkari’s portrait again. I think he’s asking him what’s wrong with it! Then, after Muramasa’s and Monoyoshi’s scene, we see Ishi with the pen in his hand, drawing on Nikkari’s portrait again! He wants Nikkari to be proud of his drawing aren’t they cute ??
