Tokoyami (meaning 'endless' or 'eternal darkness') and ginko (silver mushi) are two different mushi living as one. Tokoyami seem to be on the rare side; ginko seem to be even rarer than that. It could be that no one lived near a tokoyami long enough to see the ginko before Nui; it could be that that particular tokoyami was different for some reason.
Ginko's main purpose seems to be turning creatures--fish, humans, mushi--into tokoyami. It appears to be a rather gradual process, however; a creature needs to be exposed to the ginko over a long period of time, or all at once but in an intense way, before they gain the distinctive white hair, pale skin, and green eyes. The missing eye appears to be universal as well, though which eye it is tends to change from creature to creature.
A person exposed to the ginko/tokoyami enough to change.
The tokoyami emerging at night.
A pond shining with ginko's light.
A fish being turned into tokoyami
Once the change has started, it seems that it's inevitable that the complete change to tokoyami is only a matter of time; however, there is some evidence that if a person is removed from exposure to the ginko quickly enough, they can live a long life even if they've already experienced the first stage of the process.
However, getting away from the tokoyami is no simple feat. It is a mushi that eats memories; if you can't remember your name, it won't let you go. But if you manage to remember a name, any name at all, it will release you... without any memory of your life before it caught you.
Tokoyami and Ginko
Tokoyami (meaning 'endless' or 'eternal darkness') and ginko (silver mushi) are two different mushi living as one. Tokoyami seem to be on the rare side; ginko seem to be even rarer than that. It could be that no one lived near a tokoyami long enough to see the ginko before Nui; it could be that that particular tokoyami was different for some reason.
Ginko's main purpose seems to be turning creatures--fish, humans, mushi--into tokoyami. It appears to be a rather gradual process, however; a creature needs to be exposed to the ginko over a long period of time, or all at once but in an intense way, before they gain the distinctive white hair, pale skin, and green eyes. The missing eye appears to be universal as well, though which eye it is tends to change from creature to creature.
A person exposed to the ginko/tokoyami enough to change.
The tokoyami emerging at night.
A pond shining with ginko's light.
A fish being turned into tokoyami
Once the change has started, it seems that it's inevitable that the complete change to tokoyami is only a matter of time; however, there is some evidence that if a person is removed from exposure to the ginko quickly enough, they can live a long life even if they've already experienced the first stage of the process.
However, getting away from the tokoyami is no simple feat. It is a mushi that eats memories; if you can't remember your name, it won't let you go. But if you manage to remember a name, any name at all, it will release you... without any memory of your life before it caught you.
The ginko mushi (with Yoki kneeling beside it).