Mononoke Movie 2: Hinezumi

One month after the Karakasa incident, the situation at the Inner Chambers is slowly returning to normal. To the noble families that run the country, normalcy means carrying on with their usual schemes to prevent any undesirable power shifts in the government. Their current target is the high-ranking concubine Fuki Tokita, who seems to be receiving Lord Tenshi's attention despite being the daughter of a merchant and, therefore, socially unfit to give him an heir.

However, supernatural forces still dwell in the shadows. When several unnatural deaths take place in the Inner Chambers, its residents are once again forced to allow the presence of the mysterious Medicine Seller inside its halls. The Medicine Seller is the only one who might be able to determine the cause of these incidents—and find out what role Fuki plays in them.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Kusuriuri Main

Kamiya, Hiroshi Japanese

Asa Supporting

Kurosawa, Tomoyo Japanese

Kume Supporting

Hanai, Miharu Japanese

Sakashita Supporting

Hosomi, Daisuke Japanese

Suma Supporting

Mori, Nanako Japanese

Mizutani, Take Supporting

Akaneya, Himika Japanese

Sachiko Supporting

Tanezaki, Atsumi Japanese

Katsunuma Supporting

Kusumi, Naomi Japanese

Suikouin Supporting

Sakakibara, Yoshiko Japanese

Fujimaki Supporting

Horikawa, Ryo Japanese

Satou, Kimiaki Producer

Sudoku, Yuuki Producer

Nakamura, Kenji Director

Suzuki, Kiyotaka Director

Reviews

Aug 10, 2026

President_Megumi

Recommended

From my Letterboxd review: “A big shoutout to actually being able to follow the plot of this one 🙌”

I think this seems like the general consensus, but boy howdy, does this one keep all of what made the first movie (and the original series) great (i.e., the animation and music) and improves upon it by putting together a really tight and engaging story. I enjoyed the first one, of course (as did anyone else with eyes), but I remember feeling kind of lost and like I just needed to “go with the vibe” to enjoy it. I think that was a fine enough experience, but ... it is even more fun to follow a really interesting mystery with an emotionally compelling core.

I think you still need to watch the first movie to understand some of the dynamics between the characters, but watch it in particular so that you can watch this one.

Reviewer’s Rating: 8

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May 9, 2026

Otaku_Senpai

Recommended

Now the story takes place in the same location one month after the events in the first Mononoke movie 'Phantom in the Rain.' So its a good idea to see that movie to enjoy this more.

Now some people might like the first movie more. But me personally liked this much more than Phantom in the Rain. I thought the story was better and even the animation was better.

This is a visually spectacular show with a different art style from other anime (other than Monoke series). The story is very fast paced, part of the reason I liked it more than the earlier movie.

I recommend this ... to all supernatural and psychological horror fans. You will love it. A sequel, Mononoke the Movie: The Curse of the Serpent is set to release in May 2026. I look forward to it.

Reviewer’s Rating: 8

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Feb 12, 2026

emberreviews

Recommended

Mononoke: The Ashes of Rage continues to be an anomalous bright spot in the realm of nearly-forgotten anime properties of the 2000s suddenly getting new entries in the 2020s, no doubt due to the continued involvement of anime auteur Kenji Nakamura. Much like the first movie, this one is exploding at every seam with vibrancy and color that borders on uncontrolled chaos, yet consistently manages to retain its form and intent. Whereas the first film was decisively centered around the relationship between its leads and how the inner machinations of the Ooku drove them towards conflict, we now begin to see the true depths of ... the Ooku’s ugliness brought to light and how those in power seek to retain an antiquated order that is obviously outgrowing its usefulness.
That’s not to say character is missing from this entry; far from it. Whether it’s Fuki’s desperate struggle against a system that seeks to exclude her for not being of their kind, or Botan’s slowly growing trust in the medicine seller and distrust of the system she was brought up to obey, both characters brought to life by the incredible talents of Youko Hikasa and Haruka Tomatsu respectively, there is endless entertainment to be found in the players acting out this period tragedy. Despite its less-than-conventional narrative structure, Mononoke is proving to be more and more timely and captivating with age and with each new installment, and I can’t wait to see how the third film takes us yet another step deeper inside the monsters that our human hearts create.

Reviewer’s Rating: 8

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'Mononoke Movie: Dai Ni Shou - Hinezumi' Unveils More Cast, Second Trailer

The official website of the Mononoke anime movie project revealed five additional cast, the main visual (pictured), and a second trailer for the second movie, subtit...read more

Feb 6, 2025 4:43 PM by DatRandomDude | Discuss (0 comments)

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The official website of the Mononoke anime movie project revealed additional cast, new staff, a teaser visual (pictured), and trailer for the second movie in the tri...read more

Dec 4, 2024 6:36 PM by Vindstot | Discuss (0 comments)

	Poll: Mononoke Movie: Dai-2 Shou - Hinezumi Episode 1 Discussion Spirelord - Aug 15, 2025	15 replies	by _MushiRock11_ »» Jun 1, 3:06 AM
	How to watch outside Japan LizardKing0 - Mar 16, 2025	5 replies	by LizardKing0 »» Aug 14, 2025 7:35 PM
	its coming to netflix on august 14th fanaticrat - Jul 25, 2025	1 replies	by Itachirulz1 »» Jul 26, 2025 1:13 PM
	Another movie? _Ace-kun_ - Jul 28, 2024	12 replies	by lordgaara »» Apr 24, 2025 3:32 PM
	I'm curious about Sachiko. StevieRara - Feb 8, 2025	0 replies	by StevieRara »» Feb 8, 2025 1:48 AM