Mushi to Uta: Redefining the boundary between human and others

After reading this manga collection by Ichikawa Haruko, I somehow integrated with the weird perspective in the fictional world. I felt everything was possible in the reality.

It is another example of Jaque’s post-humanism that she defines as blurring the boundary between human and other; for example, animals, insects and even the environment. This theme is not unusual in manga, especially for those who have read Mushishi and other mangas about ‘youkai’(which is close to the word, monster).

So, what is the different aspect that Ichikawa illustrates? As the hint in the title, we can tell that it’s about insects, which are short-lived and alienated by human beings.  And strangely, science research involves persuading readers to believe the fantastic settings. How do we understand other creatures if they happen to sing around us? Is it a nightmare or a sweet dream? Ichikawa demonstrates both sides of the fantasy, bonding human beings and others.

Reference

Jaques, Z. (2015) ‘Introduction: The Child, the Book and the Posthuman Ethic’, Children’s Literature and the Posthumanism, pp. 1-22. Oxon: Routledge.