Madoka Tsukimori

Madoka Tsukimori
"...I can't remember... I don't want to remember! I have to find Misaki!"
Japanese	月森 円香 つきもり まどか
Age	17
Family	Mother (unnamed)
Residence	Lived with Misaki's family
Room	203
Status	Dead
Date of death	1980s
Games	Fatal Frame IV
Notes	Notes from Madoka Madoka's Diary Madoka's Notebook Madoka Begging for Help Young Madoka's Voice
Japanese Voice Actor	Saori Goto

Madoka Tsukimori is one of the four playable characters in Fatal Frame IV, and is the first character played as in the game.

One of five surviving girls kidnapped ten years ago, Madoka has a timid personality. When her best friend, Misaki Asou, begins acting strangely and insists on returning to Rogetsu Isle to regain her lost memories, Madoka goes too because she is worried about her.

Past

At the age of seven, Madoka was admitted to Rogetsu Hall, where she met and befriended Ruka and Misaki. A timid girl, she caught the attention of Ayako, who pushed her down the stairs in the entrance hall and, on another occasion, cut her pet canary's head off with scissors. She enjoyed drawing, and covered the walls of her room with her artwork, including a picture of the Cape Tsukiyomi Lighthouse and a girl resembling Ayako. Both her mother and the doctors encouraged this hobby in the hope that it would help to stabilise her condition. Painting helped Madoka to hold onto her sense of self, like Ruka's piano playing and Misaki's doll.

Madoka was one of the five girls selected by Yo Haibara to perform as the Organ playing the strings in the Rite of Descent ritual that was to be held secretly underground on the night of the lunar eclipse. Madoka was kidnapped from the Rogetsu Kagura, and when the ritual failed, she and the other Organs lost all their memories. For two weeks they remained in the Moonglow Cavern as Shigeto Haibara tried to stabilise their condition, until eventually they were rescued by detective Choshiro Kirishima.

An unknown time after this, Madoka's mother apparently died, leaving her alone in the world. Madoka went to live with Misaki and her family, but never felt at home in the grand, old-fashioned house. Although she and Misaki were close, she always sensed that Misaki was using her as a substitute for someone she was afraid to remember.

A Folie à Deux in August

A short story published in Rogetsu Isle Reminiscences. English translation available here.

In A Folie à Deux in August, Marie Shinomiya, one of the other kidnapped girls, asks Madoka for help researching Rogetsu Isle and Kagura traditions, as the Asou household is full of books on folklore. She has already asked Misaki, who refused, but Madoka agrees to help and sends the information.

After Marie and Tomoe die mysteriously, Madoka worries their deaths are her fault. She confesses to Misaki that she had been sending Marie information. Misaki comforts her, but her mood seems more distracted and unpredictable than ever, and Madoka privately worries this could be a symptom of returning Moonlight Syndrome. Although she frequently bears the brunt of Misaki's mood swings, she remains devoted because of the times when Misaki is kind to her, as she used to be when they were children.

When Misaki announces her intention to return to Rogetsu Isle, Madoka is frightened, but helpless to refuse when Misaki tells her to come too.

Fatal Frame IV

The two set out for Rogetsu Isle, though Madoka's doubts soon return. After arriving on the island, Madoka tries unsuccessfully to convince Misaki to leave. They become separated after Misaki seemingly wanders off.

As Madoka explores the hospital searching for her, some of her own memories begin to return, but Madoka doesn't want to remember, and focuses on trying to find Misaki and leave. She unlocks the Asou Museum, where she finds a Camera Obscura. Almost immediately she is attacked by the ghost of Yoriko Sonohara, and manages to defeat her using the camera, but drops it after the battle. When she tries to leave the museum, she finds herself surrounded by a group of ghosts.

During the next chapter, Ruka Minazuki finds strange notes left behind by Madoka throughout Rogetsu Hall. Madoka is eventually found in the Archive by Ruka with her face distorted. She is now a ghost, and Ruka fights her off with the camera.

Misaki also finds some of Madoka's writing, which grows ever more childish and fragmented. When she enters Madoka's room, she sees her sitting on the bed, but the photograph Misaki takes of her shows Madoka as a child, and when Misaki reaches out to her, she disappears. Misaki learns of Madoka's fate when Madoka's spirit attacks her in the dining room. Afterwards, Misaki finds Madoka's final note, in which she has written:

"Misaki, you go back to your room too. Go and be with your friend. [...] The two of you can die together."

Madoka's Fate

First Ending

In the normal ending, Madoka's fate is not directly addressed; however, being dead, it can be assumed she crossed over with the other spirits.

Second Ending

In the Hard mode ending of the game Madoka appears to Misaki in the Temple of Tsukiyomi, and the two are reunited. Madoka leads her out of the tunnels and outside to the beach. Like the other spirits, she dissolves into a body of light, and crosses over through the gateway that appears in the shadow of the moon.

Gallery

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• 
  Much of Madoka's character design is actually from an early concept for Ruka. The developers felt the outfit suited Madoka so well they decided to use it for her instead.
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  Madoka's remastered design

Misc. Info

• Madoka was the second character to be shown in production stills holding the Camera Obscura.
• Madoka means tranquil or passive, matching her personality.
• Madoka's room is #203 - 祓月 (Haraezuki; "purifying moon")
• With each of Madoka's notes, the writing steadily becomes more and more childlike as they go on. This is illustrated by Madoka using fewer and fewer kanji and more hiragana when writing her notes.
• Madoka seemed to be jealous of Misaki and Sakuya's relationship, to the point where she felt like a "replacement" when Sakuya was gone.
• Madoka is an unlockable ghost in Spirit Camera.
• Madoka cannot die during her initial fight with Yoriko Sonohara.

See Also

• For other members of the Tsukimori Family, see Tsukimori Family.
• For other player characters in the Fatal Frame Series, see Player Characters.
• For more information on the Getsuyuu Syndrome, see Moonlight Syndrome.
• For other shrine maidens, see Shrine Maiden.
• For other rituals in Fatal Frame IV, see Fatal Frame IV Rituals.
• For information on other spirited aways, see Spirited Aways.
• For images related to Madoka, see Images of Madoka Tsukimori.