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Mokumokuren’s The Summer Hikaru Died has a disturbing and horror setting, with Hikaru Indo and Yoshiki Tsujinaka being the central characters. The story is about Yoshiki realizing that some imposter has disguised himself as Hikaru, but later finding that it is an eldritch (Nonuki-sama) who has taken over Hikaru’s identity, after his death at the Red Sand Mountain.
As the story progressed, more sinister things started to engulf the village. While it may be difficult for people to understand why it is happening, they will be shocked to know that it revolves around the Indou Family. The people of the Kubitachi village believe that it is the Indo Family’s doing that has caused such things. The Summer Hikaru Died Episode 9 saw old-man Takeda speak about the Indo Family in front of Yoshiki and Hikaru, blaming Hikaru and his family for all the catastrophes, before turning into an impurity and being slain by Tanaka.
SPOILERS AHEAD!
Who Is Nonuki-Sama?
There is no Nonuki-sama or any reference that points towards its existence, but for the villagers of Kubitachi, he is a powerful being with the ability to cause catastrophes. The concept of Nonuki-sama originated centuries ago, when the people of Kubitachi extensively used Mercury mining, which led to crop failures and the spread of diseases. Still, the people went on farming Mercury, until misfortunes fell upon them and the level of Mercury dwindled.
When the mercury started to run out, it was turned into a medicine called Uronuki. Women used this medicine to end pregnancies, and people said the child was “returned to Unuki-san of the mountain.” Over time, Unuki-san was no longer just a saying; people began to believe Unuki-san was a real spirit who lived in the Red Sand Mountain. They prayed to this spirit, and the troubles in the land slowly disappeared.
What Is The Indo Family’s Sin And Its Connection To Nonuki-Sama?
The Indo Family’s sin dates back a few centuries, beginning in 1749, when an Indo ancestor attempted to resurrect his deceased wife. The Indo ancestor loved his wife dearly, but during a plague, she passed away. Believing there is a Mountain God (Nonuki-sama), he offered his dead wife’s head to Nonuki-sama in the hopes of reviving her.
Even though Nonuki-sama was not actually a God, he revived his wife’s severed head. However, this event caused a major calamity in the village of Kubitachi, with almost one-third of the population dying within a span of a day. Due to such a scenario, the Indo family members have taken the responsibility of keeping Nonuki-sama satisfied by performing a certain ritual on the Red Sand Mountain every five years.
They go, pay their respects, and come back. It is like an apology ritual, and even though it has no real power or significance, it has been weighed down on the Indo family as an obligation for the mishap they caused centuries ago. Something/Nonuki-sama has already taken the role of attracting other impurities and catastrophes towards himself, acting like a lightning rod. While it can be considered a curse, especially since they are bound forever to perform the ritual, some even consider it a blessing, as the Indo family members are immune to disasters due to the situation.
The Folktale About A Farmer’s Head
There is a popular lore in The Summer Hikaru Died within Kubitachi. It is believed that there used to be two farmers, with one of them being greedy and the other being kind. When the greedy farmer found a prized mushroom and tried hiding it in the hole of the mountain, his head fell into the hole. Shockingly, when the kind farmer went back to the village, he found that his basket was filled with enough food for the village to enjoy a feast. From that incident, the people began to believe it was the mouth of the Mountain God, and feeding it would bring reward and good luck. This lore is known as “The Tale of a Peasant and his Neck.”
In reality, the hole connects Kubitachi to the other side, where Impurities reside. When “Something” was on the Mountain, it attracted impurities, but after it came down as Hikaru, the Impurities became free and more active. Initially, human heads were sacrificed in the mountain hole, with the body parts being buried in different regions. The heads that were sacrificed were replaced by carved wooden replicas and kept at the Indo Family Shrine.
Also Read: 5 Scariest Moments From The Summer Hikaru Died Manga
The Summer Hikaru Died anime is available to stream on NETFLIX.
Priyanko is currently pursuing his Master’s in Economics. He loves to read manga or watch anime in his spare time. He is a massive fan of One Piece, Naruto, and Haikyu. Amidst the Great Pirating Era, he wishes to become the greatest Hokage, even though he is short.
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