Shinji Mizuno

Background

Shinji Mizuno was born in Hokkaido. He studied ancient history in university, specializing in Japanese medieval culture. Eventually, he took a position as an editor for a men's general-interest magazine. At some point, the magazine publishes a one-shot drawn by Rohan Kishibe to great success.↗

At the age of 27, two years prior to the Unseen Ritual, Shinji books seats for him and Rohan at a famous Phantom Soba Restaurant that only opens once a year. Unbeknownst to him, Emiko Torose and the other residents of Gokedani choose him to be the "visiting deity" for the town's annual ritual, renaming it to the Unseen Ritual to be homophonous with his name. Emiko also designs and publishes a handful of websites discussing the Unseen Ritual to pique his curiosity when the time comes.↗↗↗

The Unseen Ritual

Two years after making reservations, Shinji and Rohan visit the Phantom Soba Restaurant for a meeting, with Shinji driving the five-hour distance to the restaurant from Morioh himself. At the restaurant, Shinji asks Rohan to draw another one-shot for the magazine, but their negotiations are cut short when the editor hears his own name being spoken aloud by other patrons. Rohan investigates the name in connection with the restaurant, and stumbles across the websites describing the Unseen Ritual.↗↗

The two drive through the mountains for an hour or so before arriving at the village of Gokedani. As soon as they arrive, Shinji notices Toroseya Inn and parks the car to book their rooms. After discussing the town's history with the owner, Kaori Torose, Shinji is told that their rooms won't be ready for another half hour. Rohan decides to take a walk around the village, and Shinji joins him.↗↗↗

At the inn, Shinji and Rohan are treated to an extravagant meal of vegetable tempura, wild boar, and high-quality soba. When Kaori apologizes for the hastily-prepared meal, the two struggle to hold in their laughter. After finishing the meal, the three begin to discuss the Unseen Ritual. Shinji mentions the woman they met at the soba field, who Kaori reveals to be her daughter.↗↗↗

The next day, at 10 A.M., the two visitors are informed that Rohan cannot bear witness to the ritual. The village elders are honored to be visited by such a famous manga artist, but claim they haven't been able to properly prepare for his visit and offer to invite him to a future ritual. Rohan reluctantly accepts his inability to participate, but discreetly uses Heaven's Door on Shinji, ordering him to not forget what he experiences at the ritual.↗↗

The true proceedings of the ritual remain a mystery. Shinji himself is made to believe that Emiko was going to be sacrificed during the ritual, but that he was able to save her and permanently alter the ritual from that moment forward. Shinji thus falls even deeper in love with Emiko.↗

Shinji returns to the inn with sake on his breath. During his absence, Rohan has discovered a strange power defying Heaven's Door to keep the ritual a secret; fearing the worst, the manga artist tells Shinji that they have to leave immediately. The manga artist also asks what Shinji saw at the ritual, but Shinji is unable to reveal anything. Using Heaven's Door once more, Rohan orders Shinji to draw the ritual with his feet, thinking he is circumventing the rules of the ritual.↗↗

Despite Shinji's desperate pleas to see Emiko again, Rohan shoves him into the car and takes the keys. On the road, the two glimpse Emiko looking at them. Rohan chooses not to acknowledge her and keeps driving. Shinji returns to work the next morning, but the influence of the ritual remains within him, drawing him back to Gokedani. At the end of the year, he decides to resign from his job via email and return to Gokedani.↗↗↗↗

Profile details

Status: Alive (TSKR)↗