Ginko

Lore & Background

Ginko is a man with one pale, almost white or light grayish-blue eye who not only sees various types of Mushi but also attracts them. Because of this ability, he is constantly wandering the countryside. To keep the creatures at bay, he smokes cigarettes made from special Mushi Tobacco, also known as Mushi Soot Grass. The story implies that Mushi are the most primitive lifeforms, more so than animals, plants, fungi, or bacteria, and they simply try to survive like everyone else. Ginko stresses this philosophy, insisting that Mushi are not evil entities. His role is strictly diagnostic and curative; a majority of the stories rely on him as a catalyst to move the plot forward by solving mushi-related illnesses and phenomena rather than engaging in combat. He dedicates himself entirely to solving these problems without an overarching personal plotline beyond his mission.

Reader's Guide

To understand Ginko's role in Mushishi, note that he is the sole protagonist connecting all episodes in an anthology format. He is characterized by his green eye and his habit of smoking Mushi Tobacco to keep attracting Mushi at a distance. His primary function is to act as a mediator who diagnoses problems caused by supernatural creatures called Mushi. He does not fight these beings but researches them to aid people. His personality is laid-back, yet he becomes intensely serious when protecting humans from Mushi-related dangers. In the anime adaptations, which aired between October 2005 and June 2006 (first season) and April to December 2014 (second season), his character remains consistent as a man who views Mushi as natural forces of survival.

Did You Know?

• Ginko is voiced by Yuto Nakano in the original Japanese version and Travis Willingham in the English dub.
• The series features no overarching plotline; Ginko is the only common element across all episodes alongside the Mushi themselves.