Doctor's True Intentions | Ch. 97 Houseki no Kuni

Chapter 97 of Houseki no Kuni (Land of the Lustrous) by Haruko Ichikawa is here! Let's talk about the dialogue of the monologue of this brisk chapter.
Spoiler Warning Please read Ch 97 of Houseki no Kuni
HnK Chapter Analysis: • Houseki no Kuni Chapte...
Ch. 97 Livestream: • Chapter 97 Live Discus...
Visuals:
Houseki no Kuni Manga Ch 39, 55, 64, 80, 88-89, 94, 96-97
Mushi to Uta Volume Cover
References:
Pause and Select's video on Erased: • How ERASED's panels we...
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Social Media:
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Music:
Small Village [Vinland Saga OST #3]
Red and Black Threads of Fate [Tatami Galaxy OST #26]
Video Table of Contents:
0:00 Prologue
0:16 SPOILER WARNING
0:19 Dialogue Subtext
4:26 Epilogue
Equipment:
iPad Pro Gen III
Procreate - Thumbnail
Lumafusion - Editing
Notion - Script
Audacity - Recording
Apogee Hypemic - Microphone
[0217, 3985]

[@fall_tea8857]

Man Phos is changing themselves more than oc’s with never satisfied creators.

[@anastasia_852]

Plot twist: *The whole suffering train was the result of Ichikawa not being satisfied with Phos's design*

[@fall_tea8857]

@@anastasia_852 💀 And then theyre like „hi so Uh i like the old phos the most are you fine with that?”

[@inspirashamul]

Facts I love that Phos has so many iterations

[@viridianacortes9642]

I think it has something to do with the theme of the story. Phos is not scared to change, while everyone else wants to remain the same even though they claim they want change. Change is painful, but it has the most interesting results!

[@fall_tea8857]

@@viridianacortes9642 yes yes, I agree, I’m just joking:D

[@A-bp9hq]

I am so hoping that “burning the bridge” will be phos not praying and actually letting lunarians to find their own nirvana. I mean, the dog lunarian vanished without a prayer after all… so I wonder why couldn’t they pray after themselves? Also, the lunarians left were the worst ones… that must mean something more… can they even be saved? 👀👀👀 theories and more theoriesss

[@Gooberwares]

My dude same why do they need to hurt someone else just to find THEIR own peace

[@A-bp9hq]

@@Gooberwares yes!! And all this plan… wouldn’t it count as bad karma? Putting someone through pain for egoistic reasons? Can someone that put others through suffering for so many centuries be saved? 👀👀👀 I hope not

[@WobblesandBean]

I have a sinking feeling "burning the bridge" is going to mean Phos will end themselves. But then what will happen to the new gems that fall from the cliffs? Will they just lie there, unrefined and eyeless, forever?

[@dandanthedandan7558]

I've always interpreted the remaining Lunarians being the scum of society left behind as a story of redemption. When you first meet them, they just act like normal people. You have to be directly told that they were the lowest of the low previously but now they just live and act as normal

[@A-bp9hq]

@@WobblesandBean I wonder if nobody was birthed in these 10.000 years :(

[@SaiScribbles]

I think it's possible that the Doctor actually told Kongo to burn the bridge between the old world and the next, then kissed him on the forehead as he fell asleep. Presumably to sleep through the end of the world and her death. Like it's ALL a memory but it's resonating with Phos. Which I know is the exact opposite of the premise of the video but it's been rattling around in my mind lol. Knowing Ichikawa I do wonder if it'll just be left up to interpretation. This could also mean maybe she's the reason why Kongo broke. She made him for this purpose of praying for the people converted into Lunarians but seemingly has realized how futile that is. And that the world ending and transforming into something completely new after humanity is just a natural process they shouldn't fight.

[@inspirashamul]

No it’s ok if it’s completely opposite of the premise of the video that’s the beauty of how Ichikawa lays it out. I do agree that a resonating memory makes sense as well.

[@epicjonny155]

Why they shouldn't fight it?

[@SaiScribbles]

@@epicjonny155 Why they shouldn’t fight humanity dying off and the world essentially ending. She seems to me to be saying it’s only chance she was born in this transitional era of the planet. I mean it’s only by chance that anyone exists really. And she’s come to the conclusion that this is just a natural process of the world that humans have no control over and shouldn’t.

[@epicjonny155]

@@SaiScribbles is following a natural process a good thing?

[@SaiScribbles]

@@epicjonny155 I don’t think the manga is making a judgement call on that. But it seems to be what the Doctor thinks.

[@onemoregodrejected9369]

Another analogy i read in either reddit or 4chan (and expanded a bit myself), i don't remember, is that the chips and organic fluids of Kongo and Ayumu last dinner could be an image of Jesus _bread_ and _wine_ last dinner before "sacrifice" and "resurrection" as "child of god", and althought is a great contrast with Lunarian Buddhism, *precisely* because there is very different ideals beetwen them they could be protraying Ayumu as a whole new different "being". But the thing I see about Ayumu is that she really hates humans.

[@GiGitteru]

Wait who's Ayumu 😭

[@rinn985]

@@GiGitteru Ayumu is the doctor

[@GiGitteru]

@@rinn985 I guessed as much, but how do we know that? Like, where was this name mentioned?

[@sorrelsticks5546]

@@GiGitteru You can see Kongo referring to her as such at 4:15

[@inspirashamul]

Love this especially since it shows her as a foreign being in all regards with religion as well that’s really cool.

[@bonk78624]

Maybe the mainly reason why the Lunarians can't save themselves its because it's more comfortable to rely on others, forcing others and abusing others, instead of enacting change (like Phos does it all the time). To burn the bridge is to force the Lunarians to change instead of relying on the piety of the Bodhsiattvas. I firmly believe that Phos can save themselves.

[@inspirashamul]

Great parallel to Phos’ struggles especially when their journey is tied to the manipulation of a Lunarian all they know is their way of thinking so to finally be forced to face reality due to that check by Phos would be amazing.

[@marilucs]

I'll just be really frustrated if Phos prays for the Lunarians They don't deserve it, and neither his forgiveness, after everything they made him go through. But hey we're never sure what Ichikawa has in store for us

[@inspirashamul]

Yeah idk what Phos will do I can see them doing both but Ichikawa will for sure surprise us once again

[@lollypuddn]

Did you see the updated chapters 99 an 100m

[@rga1605]

I feel the Doctor and Aechmea aren't that different in their opinion about humans. Suppose Phos pray - they'll go to nirvana without deserving it, so it was all their effort to find loopholes and "win" through manipulating the rules, instead of trying to be better and is there anything more yucky than Aechmea manipulating the kindness of Phos to his own purposes, imposing massive suffering on him, just to cheat his way into nirvana? But if Phos doesn't pray, Aechmea will have a moral victory in the end, that the most human emotion is vengeance and that is Phos's ultimate vengeance, and that won't be just Aechmea's moral victory but also the Doctor's as well, that humans are yucky and Phos will burn the bridge. So there should be a third path for Phos to choose but I have no idea of what that could be, but if Phos continues to be kind, he won't accept a path to his happiness that'd make everyone else worse.

[@A-bp9hq]

!!! This!!! so cool!

[@inspirashamul]

Mhm but this really depends on what the “after” is for the soul post praying but you are onto something of how similar Doctor and Enma methodologies seems to line up.

[@Pakapakachama]

I actually thought of Ayumu's "body modifications" as some sort of medical sickness since I read one anthology about the "Prince of the Moon" which is a pretty interesting Slice of Life parallel universe to the fantasy universe of Houseki no Kuni

[@inspirashamul]

Ohhhh I shall check this out thank you!

[@Stillseeurshad0ws]

Seeing phos right before their change to something holy really shook me. I can't even fathom what they will do next, im so invested and its startling seeing what they are now even if it's a "pure" version of them. Thank you for making videos on this series, I'm so glad someone is giving this series some love.

[@inspirashamul]

Glad you enjoy them! Yeah the kids to that transition was just wow

[@Electric_Bagpipes]

I feel like the sparkly nature of the doctor’s room is a reference to the inclusions themselves.

[@inspirashamul]

That would be an awesome aesthetic choice I love it

[@HateItHere.]

I can't wait to hear your analysis over Sakuhinshuu.

[@inspirashamul]

Look out for it!

[@Grappleberry]

aa i love hearing everyone’s different thoughts on this recent chapter 😭 i personally get the feeling that maybe the doctor could be linked to the eye phos got on the moon, but who knows lol, this series just has surprise after surprise.

[@inspirashamul]

So many surprises it is insane how Ichikawa continues to shock us everytime

[@DragonKnight401]

Another nice video. I noticed in the last few pages of 97 the flower that first appeared in Phos hair in the first chapter shows itself again on the side when Phos is standing greeted by all the new Lunerians. This marks the beginning of a new story unfolding, as god Phos has amazing powers now and can possibly start fighting back against everyone’s manipulations. While many have speculated Dr Ayumu to have reincarnated into Phos I don’t believe that’s the case because Dr Ayumu nature, it feels very pessimistic and psychotic as opposed to Phos optimistic nature before they were altered. The half panel where Dr Ayumu face is half colored with the galaxy reminds me of Euclase. Euclase also had a panel where half her face was colored black when she asked corrupt phos to take her to the moon just before Phos smashed her to pieces. I feel both their personalities line in very well. We first see their compassionate nature in the beginning but then there calculated cold nature of pessimism bring a suspicious sense of unease like something darker lurks beneath. Well this is where I’m putting my money on so when the series finishes let’s see if I’m right.

[@DragonKnight401]

Also I wanted to recheck something and just might be a coincidence but Dr Ayumu smile is the first thing we are greeted by this new chapter but it reminded me of something. I went to look back at chapter 65 when Euclase reintroduces themselves to Kongo after phos takes the gems to the moon, Euclases smile is really similar to Dr Ayumus smile. It’s a small detail but when I rechecked that chapter Euclase is obscured in that chapter not only by the flying sheets of fabric, but also by Kongos text speech bubble as he explains himself. Everyone else’s face is shown (except cinnabar because they’re standing from a distance) and only Euclases face is hidden.

[@quinquecaelum9738]

Dang you up to something

[@inspirashamul]

Yooo ohhh the little dandelion with pollen or whatever? Nice catch I completely brushed over that that's really cool touch yeah I wonder if this is the second phase of the story (more than happy if it continues for longer). I also agree with you that I don't think Doctor is Phos reincarnate but not for the same reasoning since you could argue that without memories a pessimistic Doctor could act like an optimistic Phos. Great point about the Euclase comparison Cody made that same observation with how similar Doc looked to Euclase down to the mannerisms and shading. Yeahhh I noticed that smile immediately since I believe that is what I used for the Thumbnail of the Euclase video. Also true the sheets were used in both Euclase's "rise" to power as well as imitation Doc's introduction. Maybe Enma was onto something with these sheets of paper thrown everywhere? (Also sorry for the really delayed response. I have reread this comment multiple times throughout the past 2 weeks and never ended up giving a response my bad!)

[@galanothi]

I hope that Phos prays, no matter what they do, the Lunarians would hinder or ruin it without remorse, Phos would be finally free if they were gone and, having the whole time of the universe, make their own happiness, there is much more to the starts than simply void you know?

[@inspirashamul]

Oh for sure an empty world to do anything and everything it’s an open field to possibilities

[@titanbomb1]

ichikawa told me that 98 is gonna be absolutely insane, lots of character deaths

[@inspirashamul]

INSANE good we will be looking out for it

[@inspirashamul]

INSANE good we will be looking out for it

[@Creatorsan]

It's not like this manga shys away from character death at all to move along the plot..hehe.. Ok yeah this manga is always full of character death I'm not even surprised at this point haha.

[@YosepRA]

I forgot almost everything about Houseki no Kuni, so everything that happened in Ch. 97 went over my head. Though I never dig too deep into the lore and Buddhism in general, so it's not like I'm as invested in the story as much as others, even though I enjoy it just fine. I think re-reading it might help me refresh my memories. But do I have the heart to go through the rollercoaster again? Now that's another question... 😭

[@inspirashamul]

As long as you are vibing with it it’s all good a reread is really helpful but like you said it might be even more painful that way

[@A-bp9hq]

background music was a bittt high at 2:30-2:40...:c Piano killing us

[@inspirashamul]

Ah damn I’ll lower it for the next time my bad

[@A-bp9hq]

@@inspirashamul don’t worry!! It’s still understandable 💖

[@horuho245]

this chapter was so mindblowing, and Ayumu- LABCOATS, DOGS AND PEGLEGS LDPPP Ichikawa and Ayumu thank you for LDP

[@inspirashamul]

LDP! LDP! LDP!

[@laneallen7118]

Wow this was excellent and quickly reached its its point and made it very plainly. I’m really excited to see more out of you!

[@inspirashamul]

Great that you loved it! Thank you!

[@allyli1718]

I'm so glad you made this video! Comic paneling analysis has always been a minor interest of mine, ever since that Nerdwriter video about Maus, so it's always a treat to stumble upon a new video breaking down clever manga paneling! Thanks for feeding my interests!

[@inspirashamul]

Glad you enjoyed it! Yeah there’s so many subtexts with how the author decides to convey the story it’s awesome.

[@05w47d]

Love these breakdowns, sometimes the manga can be tricky to understand for me so I appreciate these vids

[@inspirashamul]

Thank you! Yeah there are so many ways to interpret it mine is just a small slice of it.

[@A-bp9hq]

love your videos

[@inspirashamul]

Thank you!

[@Shlamuffen]

Rewatching episode 10 “Shiro” hits differently now 🥹

[@inspirashamul]

Always gave me chills but even more now the OST goes crazy

[@cyan411n]

I’ve always interpreted cinnabar’s “windy comment” also as them referring to the chapter phos told them they were going to the moon, in which they shouted at phos not to go to the moon, but phos didn’t catch that just because the wind was too strong. It may be cinnabar regretting that they didn’t stop them from going to the moon, even after their feelings for phos may have long since died out. but maybe that’s just me

[@inspirashamul]

Ahhhh this is a really cool interpretation I love it because even if they don't feel bad, they still hold a little bit of regret of their passive stance.

[@cyan411n]

​​@@inspirashamul@inspirashamul yup yup, i just read the chapter again today and the way they said "again" rlly implied they were referring to a certain event that happened rather than just a random note on the weather. they also said "風が強い" (meaning strong wing) which is the exact wording phos said in the earlier chapter. another interesting thing to note is that, while i was reading the japanese raws, i found that what jade asked there was actually "Do you feel that you can't (live on? accept it?) without Phos by your side?" (to which they answer "I'm troubled because I don't feel that way") instead of "Do you feel bad about Phos?" like some translation websites might have translated it as. I don't know what translation you're reading, but i think its worth noting seeing as the japanese version makes cinnabar sound less apathetic and more about being less dependent on phos

[@cyan411n]

​@@inspirashamul i just really love how ambiguous the way ichikawa writes her characters and dialogues, she can write like one sentence and there will be ten thousand different interpretations of it. like theres no actual answer, just how you perceive it. sort of like the manga itself

[@inspirashamul]

@@cyan411n this is really cool. I read all the Eng Translations myself but sadly I can’t read Japanese myself so I usually wait until the Eng volume gets released to make any “solid interpretation” which won’t come for a couple years probably 😫

[@cwistheentertainer7646]

Man this manga really messed with my head. Just learning the reality of phos and their reason of existing. I really can't wait to see what happens next, if there will be any grudges resolved or any revenge being served.

[@inspirashamul]

Ichikawa is evil fr

[@elenadepanicis8383]

@@inspirashamul lmao

[@this2941]

Nice 👌

[@Marrianno]

So I wanted to speculate about some things, but missed livestream dur to living in Europe. 1. Im surprise that Phos wasn't forced to see all those memories of Kongo looking after each individual gem and teaching them. But it could mean that Phos needed to see Kongos memories until "last hunan" died. 2.(OUTDATED, not relevant, I changed my mind)Speaking of humans. I think admirabilis(hope I pronounsed it right) will never regain countiosness. I also dont think they will get human-like form even after again getting larger is size. But that's just my thought. They, as third fraction that presented humans weakness of death, illness and dependance on resources, has always been sidelined and didn't really played large role in the story. 3.I think Doctor's words was present in her conversation with Kongo, but it overlapped with birth of Divibe Phos. Perhaps Kongo also supported to become like Phos, but due to Doctors restrictions he failed. Or maybe he failed because he was emotionally attached to humans. Only ishikawa knows.

[@Marrianno]

But I must admit, if Phos caries inclusions and modifications that Doctor used, than its possible they are connecting throu said inclusions, similarly to dream of Lapiz

[@chadmekhane3636]

The Admirabillis were there in the last panel of chapter 97, Aechmea already said that the Admirabillis were going to be turned into Lunarians in chapter 96

[@Marrianno]

@@chadmekhane3636 I see, thank you for correcting me

[@inspirashamul]

No worries about missing the stream I know it's not the best time for people in EU. And yeah that is interesting we don't know if the memory looped endlessly in the 10k years only the scenes that we saw in 96 but we did see other memories like the meteoroids falling onto cities in the end of 95 so maybe Phos did see more but only the final iteration of the memory is what was presented to us in 97. Yeah Phos has no real attachment to humans since they didn't know what they were until others told them while Kongo witnessed humans first hand. Hahah TRUE only Ichikawa really knows lol

[@czajnis1970]

I swear, the more I look at this chapter, it becomes better. Maybe it's pretty short but really important.

[@inspirashamul]

Yeah every page hits so hard for how little it is.

[@militarydeviltube5014]

I NEED TO BUY BISCUITS TO CONCENTRATE ON THIS LET'S GGGGOOOOOOO

[@inspirashamul]

Hahahah hope they helped!

[@chadmekhane3636]

BURN THE BRIDGE PHOS

[@inspirashamul]

BURN ITTTT

[@takasimirecipe]

I couldnt understand a thing but its REALLY cool

[@inspirashamul]

LMAOOO glad you liked it at least

[@father270]

god the doctor is so cool

[@gayfanta9254]

Damn phos looking ethereal

[@inspirashamul]

Actually though another fantastic design choice

[@A-bp9hq]

Do you have any theories on the finger hole?

[@inspirashamul]

Nah I noticed it but can’t really pinpointed what it is

[@raulfloram8866]

You Sound Like You Talk Like Someone Who Types Like This But I think that's due to the iffy voice editing. Interesting video nonetheless. There were some stuff I disagreed with and it felt like you were looking under rocks (no pun intended) for meaning, but in the end it's good to see others have different opinnions than what I came up with myself.

[@inspirashamul]

There was no voice editing but go off lol and yeah I like looking under Patrick’s house doesn’t hurt to have multiple perspectives.

[@WobblesandBean]

I wonder if the doctor is the past life of Aechmea?

[@inspirashamul]

Could be we don’t really know anything about Emma’s real past since it was all through Barbarta’s PoV and Kongo is extremely friendly to Enma.

[@kykdakshoftedov2154]

Cette salle est la même que la page 107 chapitre 41 tome 6 👀✨

[@inspirashamul]

Yeahhh it’s the same one from that geometric pieces section in the middle of the story.

[@Ndomby_06]

Houseki no kuni volume 12 when ?

[@inspirashamul]

Amazon says Feb 2023 idk how accurate that is

[@ohdonny]

why are you clicking your pen every second

[@inspirashamul]

Fucked up my mic fr

[@Naamcisza]

I'm reading all those comments and tbh I feel like I'm the only one that is okay with Phos praying for Lunarians, ik that it would make gems disappear too but without Lunarians gems wouldn't have any purpose to live and like Lunarians back then, they would get tired from eternity. And even tho Enma manipulated Phos for so long and made them suffer so much and did many other horrible things, for me it doesn't really change anything. The only thing that makes me a bit sceptical about this is that Phos will be lonely forever. But tbh I believe, or rather I want to believe that when they pray they would become nothingness too, since the device is is just an eye. Notice how they still could restore Sensei's memories to turn him into Lunarian from pieces of his body, even tho it's said that his memories are still in this eye. It means that we have two exactly same copies of Kongo's memories, when we should have only one if he was a device as a whole creature. Also, you've called the previous device Kongo too. I thought it was his "older brother"? Or I didn't understand it right? Bc if it's his older brother, like I'm thinking, and the eye is the same, which is most likely to be, it kinda proofs my theory. Yeah that's what I'm thinking, I don't really know if it even makes sense tbh

[@inspirashamul]

I do get the justification for Phos praying but my biggest worry I guess is why is after that? There would be no other plot progression that I can think of. In regards to the Kongo’s older brother, it was just speculation from my part. Since we only heard that term for Barbarta/Enma, I don’t want to take it as face value.

[@chronred8190]

i feel like Phos will kinda go ballistic, destroy the lunarians and attempt to fix everything, realizing everything that happened after calming down and feeling guilty and trying to redeem the harm he has done no matter what; that is what i hope at least. and that, perhaps, hopefully-Phos will return to their original design, or a similar one, as frankly, to me the original Phos had the most appealing and endearing appearance out of all versions

[@inspirashamul]

Yeah honestly would be really refreshing to get the old Phos shape back after all of this change.

[@travelerscramine3828]

I kinda want and don't want phos appearance back. Its just phos been through alot because of phos previous appearance (fragile, happy, etc). I just hope phos can find something so phos can be happy and get loves from other🥲

[@qeeun5140]

I am in fear of the future of this manga. So many twist and underlaying meanings and it fun to guess what theory is correct. So hard to predict what is going to happen to Phos as 10 0000 years ends. Will they pray for the lunarians? Tries to get revenge? Or maybe something else entirely. This is what makes a good story. Houseki No Kuni is a literal gemstone. Very precious!

[@inspirashamul]

Yeah I am terrible at predicting the future so take all of my guesses very loosely LOL. But yes this series is really a gem!