Kirishima,
I've heard you'll be coming to Rougetsu Island for work, as well. I'm here, myself, doing some research ahead of an upcoming academic conference.
The culture of this island is fascinating. It truly stands out as something original.
My research is focused on the island's masks. It is well-known that masks are a part of the local belief system, but beyond that there are many mysteries.
The a once-in-a-decade kagura is taking place this year, so a great number of masks are being produced right now.
If all goes well, I'm hoping visit the site where the masks are made and witness the creation process myself.
I'll probably be staying on this island for a little while.
Do you remember my younger sister, Iori? She's tagging along with me for this trip. She's really looking forward to this mystical kagura. Ever the consummate tourist.
Iori misses getting to see you, too, though, so let's all have a drink when you get here.
We haven't had many chances to drink since becoming productive members of society!
Kusanagi University Asst. Prof. Takashi Aiba
...insofar as the function of kagura mask is that it allows one to achieve unification with a kami. In other words, kagura is the art of becoming one with a kami by taking on its appearance in a ritualized dance.
However, the masks of Rougetsu Island do not depict kami. In fact, there do not appear to be any kami in this island's beliefs!
With that it mind, it might not be surprising to learn that the Rougetsu Kagura was not called a kagura until rather recently. Long ago, it was known as the Kiraigou. That first character, "ki", means "return", and refers to the souls of the dead...
Bundle of Burned Letters
Bundle of Burned Letters | |
| |
| Kanji | 焼けかけた手紙の束 |
| Game | Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse |
| Author | Takashi Aiba |
| Chapter | Phase VII: Tranquility |
| Located at | Outside Haibara Hospital |
| Obtained | In the open incinerator |
| Description | A bundle of letters left in the incinerator. They are addressed to Kirishima from Aiba. |
| Additional Description | There was a tightly-bound bundle of letters at the bottom. |
| Related Notes | Fragment of Unsent Letter |
霧島へ
霧島も仕事で朧月島に来るらしいな。
⋯俺も今度の学会をにらんだ調査の為に
朧月島に来ている。
この島の文化は面白い。
実に独自性が際立っている。
今回の調査目的はこの島の仮面だ。
この島の仮面信仰は知られているが、
まだまだ謎が多い。
今年は十年に一度行われる神楽の年だ。
神楽には、たくさんの仮面が作られる。
うまくいけば、この島の仮面が作られる
現場に立ち会えるかもしれない。
しばらく、この島に滞在するつもりだ。
妹の伊織を覚えているか？
あいつも一緒についてきてしまった。
神秘的な神楽を楽しみにしている。
完全に観光客だよ。
伊織もお前に会いたがってるし、
島に来たときには一緒に飲もう。
お互い社会人になってから、
あまり飲んでいないからな。
草薙大学史学部 助教授 相庭 崇
⋯そもそも、神楽の仮面というのは、
神になるためのものだ。
神の姿となり、踊る事で、
神と一体化するのが神楽だ。
しかし、朧月島の仮面は神の面ではない。
そもそも、この島の信仰には神がいないんだ。
朧月神楽と呼ばれるようになったのも
最近のことで、かつては帰来迎という
名前だった。
「帰」というのは、死者の魂をあらわし⋯