Fumiko: Fumiko Mifune's name may speak of her true identity in Chainsaw Man

Fumiko Mifune's name may speak of her true identity in Chainsaw Man

Modified Jan 12, 2025 10:30 GMT

Chainsaw Man's latest chapter has been all the buzz thanks to a very intriguing bit in the second half. Chapter 189 continued the story by revealing Denji, or his mouth rather, as a pathway between the Aging Devil's world and the world. As such, both Hirofumi Yoshida and Yoru stuck their arms down his throat, attempting to attack the Aging Devil, but were naturally unsuccessful.

If that wasn't odd enough, the latter half of the chapter featured a brief scene showcasing two Fumiko Mifunes. As seen already, she was sacrificing parts of herself to power the Aging Devil's actions. Now, on the verge of death, another Fumiko appeared, grinning disturbingly and claiming that she had always intended to side with the likely winner of the current battle.

Needless to say, the fandom bit hard into this, spinning a ton of theories to explain this weird happening. This feature will explore one such theory, which links Fumiko's name in Japanese to two of her appearances.

Disclaimer: This article is speculative in nature.

Chainsaw Man: Mifune's name might explain her dual appearance in latest chapter

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As mentioned previously, Chainsaw Man chapter 189 featured two Fumiko Mifunes appearing. With the first one barely hanging onto life, given that her innards had been sacrificed by Aging, a second Fumiko appeared. This other Fumiko claimed that it was always her intention to support the likely winner. To explain the double's appearance, a recent theory has surfaced.

This bout of speculation links the two Fumikos to the character's name. In Native Japanese, numbers 1, 2, and 3 are counted as Hii, Fuu, and Mii or Hitotsu, Futatsu, and Mittsu. This method is apparently used to enable Natives to remember numbers better by creating words with them. Thus, the theory points out that 2 is Futatsu or Fuu, which could translate Fumiko to 2miko, thereby hinting at her double.

Moving on, the "miko" in Fumiko, when translated, means shrine maiden." These are young priestesses who work at Shinto shrines, once seen as shamans, and perform duties ranging from sacred tasks to daily chores, including the Kagura dance. There is also a speculation that in early times, they would be sacrificed to gods, but that is highly debated. The theory links this to Fumiko sacrificing herself and offering her heart to Yoshida to likely help his side.

Is it proper to read between the lines so carefully?

Fumiko Mifune in Chainsaw Man (Image via Viz Media)

The above theory does have plausibility to it when one considers Tatsuki Fujimoto's expertise in foreshadowing and hiding details. Moreover, given the vastness of Japanese translation, it wouldn't be incorrect to draw conclusions like this. But taking a step back to examine the whole situation, this theory might be reading a little too carefully between the lines.

It is unlikely that the plot really introduces a Fumiko Mifune body double at this point. It would simply be too much baggage for the narrative to unpack later to explain it. What it most likely could be is Fumiko having an internal dialogue or realization about her original goal, i.e., staying safe by siding with the winner. She might have seen Aging as the likely winner previously, but not anymore.

Alternatively, more than a double, it might also be some kind of Devil power that fans haven't been introduced to yet. The series features intriguing Devil abilities like the Octopus Devil's metamorphosis or the Fire Devil's power to alter its contractor's appearance drastically. This could be something similar. Point to also note, apart from Fumiko, nothing acknowledges the double's appearance.

These facts together point to the second Fumiko probably being the character speaking to herself, reminding herself to look out for her own well-being.

In Conclusion

To end off, Chainsaw Man chapter 189 giving Fumiko Mifune a thought-provoking double appearance has ignited fascinating speculation. As explored above, this includes theories linking her name to Japanese etymology and the mysterious event.

While the “2miko” concept is creative and fits in with the series’ intricate symbolism, it might be reading into the situation a little too much. It is more plausible that the second Fumiko represents an internal realization or a yet-unseen Devil ability rather than an actual body double.

Ultimately, the scene further deepens Fumiko's complexity while simultaneously showcasing Fujimoto's knack for generating intrigue. It also encourages readers to voice their opinions and unravel the mysteries of his unpredictable narrative.