Fatal Frame V Limited Edition Art Book
The European Limited Edition of Fatal Frame V included a small artbook. The book contains chapter title cards, location images, character/ghost concept art and some brief notes from Makoto Shibata about the story and worldbuilding.
Foreword
In Project Zero: Maiden of Black Water, I wanted to evoke a sense of dread linked with water, drawing upon the mythology of ghosts manifesting in damp environments. The game's characters and ghosts alike are surrounded by the mists, rivers and lakes of Mount Hikami, in a world where - from life to the afterlife - all things are connected by water. When you play, I really hope you can feel the sense of saturated fear I was trying to convey.
Makoto Shibata, Director of the Project Zero series
The Setting
In historical Japan, it was believed mountains marked the boundary between our world and the world of the spirits, allowing passage between the two. The mountain location of this game is an amalgamation of various supposedly-haunted spots and hallowed grounds across Japan: the forest of Aokigahara, the sacred Mount Osore (where it is said people's souls go after they die) and Mount Koya, where legend has it the famed monk and scholar Kukai has remained in a meditative state for over 1,000 years. With such locations as inspiration, the ghostly Mount Hikami was created. Also known as the mountain of the sun gods, to watch the sun set there is to invoke those that dwell in the world beyond...
The Camera Obscura
The key item in this series is the Camera Obscura, developed by Dr. Aso in order to capture images of the unseen world and the spirits within. With this device, the game characters are able to sense the supernatural, and take part in a story from the world of the dead. It is even said that Thomas Edison undertook research into equipment that could be used to communicate with the beyond.
The Camera Obscura is a symbol of a time when technology - while still not very advanced - could capture the world of the unknown. In this game, we will also learn of the motives that led Dr. Aso to create it.
The Shrine Maidens
Sokushinbutsu are Japanese monks who undergo arduous rituals to completely mummify their bodies. By doing this, they believe they can save mankind. Those wishing to become Sokushinbutsu inter themselves in the ground in a small box, where they continue ringing a bell until they pass over. There are around 24 Sokushinbutsu in the Tohoku region of Japan.
The Shrine Maidens in this game are modelled on the Sokushinbutsu, and have sacrificed themselves as an offering to preserve the boundary between this world and the next.