Kyozo Kururugi
Template:FFV GhostKyozo Kururugi is a ghost that appears in Fatal Frame V. He instigated a massacre on Mt. Hikami, slaughtering every shrine maiden he could find before killing himself.
A folk-tale passed down in the region states that Kyozo fell in love with one of the Maidens of Black Water, and began his murderous rampage in revenge when she refused him, but this legend is apocryphal. Through quotes obtained using the Voice Lens, it is revealed that Shino Kururugi was Kyozo's sister. He murdered a man to "protect" her, but Shino was heartbroken and went to Mount Hikami to commit suicide. Kyozo blamed the shrine maidens for her death, believing they had lured her there.
Initially, it appears he intended to die a proper death as well, in accordance with the local religion. A Maiden of Black Water, Emi Mikomori, lifted her veil to glance into his soul, but Kyozo was unable to bear her gaze, or the idea that she would know all his sins and secrets. He became agitated, shouted at her not to look at him, and fled into the forest. Since it was forbidden for anyone to leave the mountain, she gave chase, but Kyozo escaped.
Resolving to kill every shrine maiden on the mountain, he covered his body with sacred writing, then returned to the mountain and started a massacre, first killing the shrine maidens and then using his blade to crush their eyes so they would no longer look at him. He also slaughtered the Flamekeepers at the Hall of Fire by cutting off their heads. Finally, he returned to Pool of Purification, where he set himself on fire and slit his own throat.
In battle he walks around carrying a lit torch, rushing at people he encounters in the forest. In defeat, he charges at the player, making it challenging to perform a Fatal Glance.
Voice Lens Quote
- "Don't LOOK at me... I... by my own hands, I... I KILLED him... to protect my sister, I ended his life... And yet... she turned to the mountain... It's THEIR fault... All of them... THEY beckoned her there... I have to kill them all... I have to kill them... I HAVE to KILL them..."
- ―Kyozo Kururugi src
Misc. Info
- The sacred writing on Kyozo's face was probably inspired by the legend of Hoichi the Earless, who had a sutra written on every part of his body to make him invisible to spirits.