Guardians (FF4)

Guardians Game Fatal Frame IV Kanji/Kana 月守の巫女 Alias(es) - Range of Age Unknown Occupation Shrine Maiden / Musician Purpose To play the Moonsong and calm the moon Rituals Playing the Tsukimori Song Location Rogetsu Isle, Lunar Odeum Total Member Unknown, possibly 4

The Guardians (or Tsukimori Shrine Maidens in the fan translation) are a group of shrine maidens and folk healers mentioned in Fatal Frame IV, who traditionally played a role in Rogetsu Isle's Rite of Descent. Originally it was their duty to select suitable Organs before the lunar eclipse and oversee preparation for the ritual. If the ritual were to fail and Blossoming occurred, the maidens would ascend to the Lunar Odeum at the top of the Cape Tsukiyomi Lighthouse and play the Moonsong to calm the moon and protect the islanders from its resonance. This song was passed down orally, along with a mirror, which would reveal the music at a time when nobody living remembered it.

The Guardians were all psychic mediums who could sense people's Moonsounds. According to Dr. Kunihiko Asou, who attended the Rogetsu Kagura in the presence of a Guardian, they possessed "a surprisingly modern mindset, and are kind, intelligent and beautiful", but they also had a reputation for being withdrawn from normal society.

By the 1970s, the Guardian tradition had died out, but Sayaka Minazuki nevertheless taught the song to her daughter, Ruka.

Known Guardians

• Sayaka Minazuki

Misc. Info

• The Japanese name of the Guardians is (月守( つきもり) tsukimori; "moon keeper/protector").
• Madoka Tsukimori's surname sounds the same as the Japanese name of the Guardians, though written with different characters, and her mother reassured her that the moon will protect her during her illness, therefore fans have speculated that Madoka's family was connected with the Guardians in some way.

See Also

• For other shrine maidens, see Shrine Maiden.
• For other rituals in Fatal Frame IV, see Fatal Frame IV Rituals.