Keiji Watarai
| ||
| "The moment you think of her as beautiful, the vow is sealed..." | ||
| Japanese | 渡会 啓示 わたらい けいじ | |
| Alias | Boxed Man | |
| Occupation | Folklorist | |
| Cause of Death | Failed bridegroom | |
| Encounter | Chapter 5, Watarai Residence | |
| Games | Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water | |
| Notes | Folklorist's Notes Keiji's Cassettes The Ghost Marriage Tales of the Sunset The Female Perspective | |
Keiji Watarai is a character in Fatal Frame V. He was a folklorist researching Mount Hikami. He lived in a house on the mountain from which he conducted his research, but while he was studying the mountain's religion, both he and the house vanished.[1]
Born to a Japanese mother and English father, Keiji lived in England, but eventually became fascinated by Japanese folklore and made the journey there to research it. He came to Mount Hikami to study the rituals performed there, and had a house specially built on the mountain so he could immerse himself in the local atmosphere and conduct his research more easily.
During this time, he heard about the work of Dr. Kunihiko Asou – in particular, his Postmortem Photographs – and became interested in the idea of a camera that could capture the soul.[2] He befriended the owner of Ichiru Manor, who showed him old records about the mountain, and helped him by collecting postmortem photographs from nearby towns.[3] During his research, he published several books about the mountain, which can be found in Kurosawa's Antiques during the game.
While exploring the mountain, Keiji found the photograph of Ose Kurosawa lying on a path lined with higanbana. He was captivated by her beauty, and therefore cursed. He was summoned to the House of Joining to be her partner in the Ghost Marriage ritual, but he was terrified when he saw her corrupted form, and the marriage failed. He was forced into a reliquary by the Wedding Celebrant, and died.
After his death, his house disappeared, and became known in legend as the Veiled House, which sometimes revealed itself to explorers, only to vanish with them still trapped inside. The innkeeper found and kept the album of postmortem photographs Watarai had compiled with his help.[3]
Voice Lens Quote
- "The photo... smiled at me... that photo... I should never have looked... at her beauty... hngh... She was too beautiful... and now... I'm melting.... away... ahaaah!"
- ―Keiji Watarai src
Misc. Info
- Keiji makes a few appearances in Kurosawa's Antiques, most notably during Chapter 8, when Ren sees him out of Yuri's window, walking down the opposite hallway, and then in the mirror in Hisoka's room.
- He briefly appears in footage recovered from a well-known tape discovered on Mt. Hikami, depicting an unknown camerawoman exploring The Veiled House. Keiji's ghost attacks her once she reaches the attic.