♂ m 40

Sex: Male Occupation: Author/Occult Journalist Age: 40 years old Nickname: "Avi." A fantasy author and occult journalist whose books are published in both America and England (but they apparently don't sell well). Unmarried. He has apparently come to Japan in search of mermaids. Notable works inclu... read more

Sex: Male Occupation: Author/Occult Journalist Age: 40 years old Nickname: "Avi." A fantasy author and occult journalist whose books are published in both America and England (but they apparently don't sell well). Unmarried. He has apparently come to Japan in search of mermaids. Notable works include "The Fiend of Ringgit and the Solar Crow," "Hermod's Travels," and the "Bon Appétit, the Phantom Gourmand" series. * * * Although a grown man, he still has a certain naive boyishness to him, most evident in his passion for romantic tales and appetite for chasing his dreams. However, this also comes with an equivalent amount of immaturity, making him somewhat troublesome to deal with. He believes that most any circumstance he finds himself in will sort itself out, an optimistic creed that often sees him casually throwing himself into difficult situations, and he remains impressively unbothered even on those occasions he does find himself in trouble, often managing to slip out of danger with nary a dent in his usual carefree attitude. That he's made it this far unscathed is largely owed to sheer luck, although he remains blissfully unaware of this. * * * He is currently in Japan seeking mermaid flesh, which is believed to grant immortality. His reason is simple: a fascination with the occult, a pursuit he feels is worthy of devoting his entire life to. Indeed, he is primarily driven by his pursuit of romantic ideals—if he finds something suitably inspiring, he will readily risk his life for it, and is willing to change his views just as quickly for the same. Avi's interest in the occult was born when he discovered his great-grandmother's vast collection of mysterious occult artifacts in the storage of his family home in America. Among them was a mermaid mummy, which yielded a mysterious map when taken apart—a discovery which captivated his imagination and led to his current quest. This great-grandmother happened to be a relative of the main Lunarlight family in England, albeit one who had chosen not to succeed the family estate. After discovering this through independent research into his lineage, Avi made contact with the Lunarlight family, and continues to maintain a secret correspondence with them to this day.

♂ m 18

Sex: Male Occupation: Apprentice Ama Diver Age: 18 years old A young man born and raised on Kameshima. Although generally quiet and serious, he has an eccentric side that often sees him make jokes and wisecracks with a straight face, catching whoever he's talking to off guard. read more

Sex: Male Occupation: Apprentice Ama Diver Age: 18 years old A young man born and raised on Kameshima. Although generally quiet and serious, he has an eccentric side that often sees him make jokes and wisecracks with a straight face, catching whoever he's talking to off guard. * * * After losing his parents in the large-scale maritime accident five years ago, he was raised by his grandmother, veteran ama diver Tsuyu Minakuchi. He briefly found work at a seafood processing plant in Toba after graduating high school earlier in the year, but upon hearing that Tsuyu had injured her leg, forcing her to retire from diving and causing difficulties in her daily life, he quit his job after only three months and returned to Kameshima. At present, he is caring for Tsuyu while looking for work on Kameshima, and he has recently made the decision to follow in Tsuyu's footsteps and become an ama diver himself. Although he has been unable to bring himself to enter the sea since the disaster five years ago, he is hoping that his previous aptitude for swimming will lend itself to a natural talent for ama diving. * * * Quiet and introverted as a child, he began to show a more animated side upon befriending Azami Kumoi, a boy his same age, and it eventually became a common sight to see them getting up to mischief together. Although the maritime disaster five years ago saw a drastic shift in the way most of Kameshima's inhabitants treated Yuza, Azami alone continued to treat him the same. Even now, it is not uncommon for Azami to find himself caught up in Yuza's eccentric exploits, but he is always quick to laugh and follow his lead.

♀ f

Sex: Female Occupation: Ittensai Shiki's Wife; Paranormal Affairs Employee Age: Secret A housewife from Tokyo who came to Kameshima to visit Wakamura. A woman who balances her work as a house... read more

Sex: Female Occupation: Ittensai Shiki's Wife; Paranormal Affairs Employee Age: Secret A housewife from Tokyo who came to Kameshima to visit Wakamura. A woman who balances her work as a housewife with her position as a full-time employee of the Paranormal Affairs Bureau, a secret department within the Tokyo Metropolitan Police. Although the very image of a refined lady in appearance, she has a surprisingly free-spirited personality and tends to find anything she has no interest in too bothersome to take seriously. Things that do catch her attention, on the other hand, often command all of it, and she will actively involve herself in looking into them. She utterly adores her husband, swooning in admiration whenever the topic turns to him, and she is also viewed with affection by her coworkers, who call her "ma'am." * * * Out of the five current full-time members of the Paranormal Affairs Bureau, Yumeko alone lacks any particular metaphysical abilities despite possessing a meager degree of spirit sense. Even so, she was chosen to be part of the Bureau's elite unit for very particular reasons — reasons known only to a handful of people close to her. There was once one other member of the Bureau who had no paranormal powers to speak of —veteran police detective Tetsuo Tsutsumi— and the two occasionally worked on investigations together. When dispatched on assignments now, she always pairs up with freelance psychic detective Sodo Kiryu, leaving all paranormal-related procedures —and often her much-despised paperwork— to him. Yumeko's husband is also a psychic by the name of Ittensai Shiki, and Sodo is his cherished protégé.

♀ f 17

Sex: Female Occupation: Houseguest Age: 17 years old A mysterious girl currently lodging with Shinobu Wakamura, a local Kameshima magnate. * * * Roughly three months ago, Sato suddenly arrived on Kam... read more

Sex: Female Occupation: Houseguest Age: 17 years old A mysterious girl currently lodging with Shinobu Wakamura, a local Kameshima magnate. * * * Roughly three months ago, Sato suddenly arrived on Kameshima claiming that she was the child of a relative of the Wakamuras. She showed no sign of attending school or doing any sort of work, instead spending her days holed up in the Wakamura household, leading many islanders to wonder just who she is and what she's doing there. Those who know about Wakamura's high-interest moneylending behind the scenes speculate that she might be the daughter of one of his borrowers, sent to work as a domestic servant to pay off a debt, but Sato herself is extremely easygoing and doesn't seem to be bothered by the endless rumors. A huge television fan, she spends much of her spare time glued to the set in the Wakamura household, with her most recent obsessions being soap operas and two-hour thrillers. However, she isn't all that fond of period dramas. She is good friends with Tsukasa Awao, who is close to her in age, and the two can often be seen enjoying themselves wandering the island together.

♀ f 17

Sex: Female Occupation: High School Student; Apprentice Ama Diver Age: 17 years old A girl born and raised in Kameshima. She has a bright, friendly nature and an inquisitive personality. Currently in her second year of high school, she boasts excellent grades and a sharp intuition. * * * She has be... read more

Sex: Female Occupation: High School Student; Apprentice Ama Diver Age: 17 years old A girl born and raised in Kameshima. She has a bright, friendly nature and an inquisitive personality. Currently in her second year of high school, she boasts excellent grades and a sharp intuition. * * * She has been staying at a relative's house in Ise City since last year in order to attend an all-girl's high school on the mainland, and is currently back on Kameshima for summer break. Despite this, she frequently makes trips back to the island on weekends, and has been trying her hand at underwater gathering since the current diving season began, having long been interested in the ama lifestyle. Her estimated Diver Rank is 6. However, her teachers have been strongly encouraging her to aim for a national university. She has been friends with Azami Kumoi and Yuza Minakuchi since childhood, with their close rapport making up for their difference in academic years, and it was more common to find her playing with the two boys than with girls her own age up until middle school. However, since leaving the island to attend high school, she has grown more conscious of their age difference, and has put some distance between herself and them. She hit it off immediately with Sato Shiranami, a girl who came to Kameshima to lodge with the Wakamuras a few months ago, and was looking forward to showing her around the island and helping her adapt to life there whenever she returns home. * * * 18 years ago, her still pregnant mother, Nagisa Awao, moved to Kameshima alone before giving birth to Tsukasa shortly afterwards. Tsukasa subsequently grew up in a single-mother household. Although she used to occasionally ask her mother about her father, her questions were always evaded, so she has since stopped inquiring. However, the fact that her mother never seems to have any financial difficulty despite not working has led her to quietly suspect he might still be involved in some way.

♀ f 15

Sex: Female Occupation: Exchange Student; Exorcist Age: 15 years old A young exorcist from England, currently on exchange in Japan. Possessed of a bold and willful nature, she harbors an ardent interest in Japanese folklore and occult stories. She is quick to involve herself in anything that intere... read more

Sex: Female Occupation: Exchange Student; Exorcist Age: 15 years old A young exorcist from England, currently on exchange in Japan. Possessed of a bold and willful nature, she harbors an ardent interest in Japanese folklore and occult stories. She is quick to involve herself in anything that interests her, not stopping until her curiosity has been completely sated. Although she can be fairly blunt, she shows a naivety appropriate to her age around those she's comfortable with, and is not above the occasional prank. * * * Circe is the third daughter of Ciara Lunarlight, the current head of the matrilineal Lunarlight family, a long line of exorcists based in England. Along with her two older sisters, she has received a specialized education in exorcism ever since she was a child, and is currently in training as an apprentice. As the beings known as "demons" in the West ultimately share the same root cause as harmful supernatural phenomena in the East —the spirits of the dead, strong thoughts, and curses— what she does as an exorcist is fundamentally the same as what Japanese psychics do, with only the methods and terminology differing. * * * Although she is supposed to be in the care of the Paranormal Affairs Bureau —a confidential Japanese institute— during her time in Japan, Circe has been spending more time traveling around the country sightseeing than working through her training curriculum. The supervisor in charge of her training has all but given up on trying to manage her as a result, resolving to keep an eye on her but otherwise not interfere; as such, she's afforded a relatively high level of freedom. * * * Circe is an ardent fan of Mio Kurosuzu, a girl with potent spirit sense and her senior in the industry in Japan. She harbors both strong admiration and strong feelings of rivalry towards her in equal measure, and it is not uncommon for her to end up a babbling mess when then topic turns to the other girl. She treasures the photograph she had taken with Mio upon first meeting her in Tokyo, and keeps it with her at all times.

♂ m 25

Sex: Male Occupation: Yumeko's Assistant; Psychic Detective Age: 25 years old A man who visited Kameshima alongside Yumeko Shiki. An independent psychic who makes his living as Japan's only "psychic detective." Sodo has no permanent residence, i... read more

Sex: Male Occupation: Yumeko's Assistant; Psychic Detective Age: 25 years old A man who visited Kameshima alongside Yumeko Shiki. An independent psychic who makes his living as Japan's only "psychic detective." Sodo has no permanent residence, instead traveling throughout the country for training and resolving any metaphysical incidents he comes across — something which eventually led to him gaining his current moniker within the industry. Although he has a calm and taciturn personality and is possessed of a sharp mind, he is surprisingly sensitive by nature; however, this trait does not extend to mercy towards spirits and other phenomena, which he often ends up subduing by force. * * * Sodo's family runs a small shrine dedicated to a certain onmyoji from the Sengoku period. This onmyoji is said to be an ancestor of the Kiryu family, which may explain why their bloodline has produced many individuals with a strong spirit sense over the years. Sodo was born with an exceptionally potent spirit sense even within his lineage, leading to his abilities catching the attention of legendary psychic Ittensai Shiki when he was eight years old. Ittensai subsequently took him under his wing as his protégé, and Sodo underwent rigorous training under his watchful eye.

♂ m 19

Sex: Male Occupation: Fisherman Age: 19 years old A young man born and raised on Kameshima, he has been friends with Yuza Minakuchi since childhood. He has a friendly and caring personality, and his willingness to help those around him has made ... read more

Sex: Male Occupation: Fisherman Age: 19 years old A young man born and raised on Kameshima, he has been friends with Yuza Minakuchi since childhood. He has a friendly and caring personality, and his willingness to help those around him has made him someone islanders of all ages rely on in times of need. * * * His father was a fisherman, and he accompanied him out to sea on his boat from a very young age. As a result, he grew up never doubting that he, too, would one day become a fisherman. After his father died in a maritime disaster five years ago, his mother —an ama diver— took on the responsibility of raising Azami and his much younger brother on her own. During the closed season for diving, when his mother worked on the mainland, Azami was responsible for looking after his brother. After graduating middle school, he refused his mother's suggestion to attend high school and quickly obtained a 4th-class boat pilot license while helping with fishing around the island. He is now able to take his father's small fishing boat, the Saiun-Maru, out on fishing trips on his own. * * * He has a frank, easygoing relationship with Yuza, his childhood friend, and the two often get up to mischief together. Although he was happy for Yuza when he left to attend high school on the mainland and later found a job there, he also felt somewhat lonely. For this reason, he secretly welcomed the news that Yuza would be leaving his job and returning to Kameshima to take care of his grandmother.

♂ m 35

Sex: Male Occupation: Prefectural Police Detective Age: 35 An assistant inspector in the First Investigative Division of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Mie Prefectural Police. He often finds himself saddled with whatever troublesome tasks come to the department's way —something he mak... read more

Sex: Male Occupation: Prefectural Police Detective Age: 35 An assistant inspector in the First Investigative Division of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Mie Prefectural Police. He often finds himself saddled with whatever troublesome tasks come to the department's way —something he makes sure to grumble about each time— but is a proficient detective in his own right, being diligent in his duties and having passed his promotion exam without difficulty. Although often said to have a somewhat unreadable expression, he is quite sociable and makes a point to attend all the department drinking parties. * * * Born and raised in Mie, Masaru never ventured beyond bicycle commuting distance of his hometown, Tsu City, until the time came for him to attend university. With no particular plans for his future in mind, he took the employment exam for police officers, figuring that a local government job would at least be stable. He had no admiration for the police or any strong sense of duty or justice, but found the strict discipline of the police force suited his personality. He quietly married a fellow classmate from the police academy soon after graduating, and at home he takes on the role of doting father to two sons and a daughter. If pressed to discuss his hobbies, they would include walking and combination puzzles. Strangely enough, he often happens to be walking nearby whenever incidents occur, leading to him being first on the scene even when off duty — something his colleagues frequently tease him about.

♂ m 26

Sex: Male Occupation: Event Services Co. CEO Age: 26 years old Director of Sala Planning, a venture company primarily focused on planning and producing tourism promotion events in Ise City. An ambitious young man, Kippei is both highly driven and extraordinarily tenacious when it comes to fulfillin... read more

Sex: Male Occupation: Event Services Co. CEO Age: 26 years old Director of Sala Planning, a venture company primarily focused on planning and producing tourism promotion events in Ise City. An ambitious young man, Kippei is both highly driven and extraordinarily tenacious when it comes to fulfilling his goals. He is currently planning a PR project themed on "mermaids" as a sightseeing attraction. * * * About six years ago, with the support of wealthy tycoon Yoshiatsu Yamashina, Kippei moved to Ise from the countryside with nothing but the clothes on his back and an eye to making his fortune. This aggressiveness won him Yamashina's favor, and after several years spent building up experience as his assistant, the tycoon granted Kippei an investment with which he started his current company. Although Yamashina could be said to be particularly strict with him, this is a reflection of the high expectations he has for his future. Kippei is often told that he looks old for his age, but as this means he is not taken lightly when doing business, he sees it as an advantage.

♀ f 63

Sex: Female Occupation: Housewife Age: 63 years old Yuza Minakuchi's paternal grandmother, and a former ama diver. Born in the Taisho period. She has a relaxed and broad-minded nature, but her tendency not to concern herself with the finer detai... read more

Sex: Female Occupation: Housewife Age: 63 years old Yuza Minakuchi's paternal grandmother, and a former ama diver. Born in the Taisho period. She has a relaxed and broad-minded nature, but her tendency not to concern herself with the finer details often makes those around her uneasy. * * * Although now retired due to health issues, she was one of the best ama divers on Kameshima — especially in her younger days, during which she had a fierce rivalry with Chie Toyama, also know as Chie the Mermaid. Later years saw them reconcile, and they could often be seen talking and laughing together at the diver's hut while grilling their catches. She lost her husband in the war when her son, Tosuke Minakuchi, was 3 years old.

♀ f

Sex: Female Occupation: Age: A woman living in Toba. Although she occasionally does work as an ama diver, it is unclear who she is and where she came from. She apparently showed up in Toba about five years a... read more

Sex: Female Occupation: Age: A woman living in Toba. Although she occasionally does work as an ama diver, it is unclear who she is and where she came from. She apparently showed up in Toba about five years ago with nothing but a grubby wooden box to her name, and has been living there ever since.

♀ f 59

Sex: Female Occupation: Veteran Ama Diver Age: 59 years old The de facto leader of the ama divers on Kameshima, she is a highly influential figure on the island. * * * She married into a family on Kameshima shortly after the end of the Second World War at the age of 20 and has been working as an am... read more

Sex: Female Occupation: Veteran Ama Diver Age: 59 years old The de facto leader of the ama divers on Kameshima, she is a highly influential figure on the island. * * * She married into a family on Kameshima shortly after the end of the Second World War at the age of 20 and has been working as an ama diver for close to 40 years, rarely missing the opening day of each diving season. She has displayed a natural talent for diving ever since her days as an apprentice, coming to be known as "Chie the Mermaid" for the deft ease in which she moves through the water. In her heyday, she earned more money than her husband — enough to send all three of her sons to university, an achievement that she takes great pride in and also earned her considerable authority in her household. Now a grandmother to seven, a back injury has led to her being less active than she used to be, but she is still considered one of the most experienced divers on the island. Her graceful swimming shows no signs of decline, continuing to inspire others even now. Her estimated Diver Rank is 67.

♀ f 28

Sex: Female Occupation: Ama Diver Age: 28 years old A woman born and raised on Kameshima. Unmarried. She is known for her friendly, sociable nature and almost sisterly tendency to look after others, both of which make her a familiar face to many on the island. * * * Ever since her school days, Kiku... read more

Sex: Female Occupation: Ama Diver Age: 28 years old A woman born and raised on Kameshima. Unmarried. She is known for her friendly, sociable nature and almost sisterly tendency to look after others, both of which make her a familiar face to many on the island. * * * Ever since her school days, Kikuko harbored a strong desire to leave Kameshima and make a life for herself elsewhere. While most of her classmates began working as ama divers following graduation from middle school, she decided to enroll in a boarding school as a first step towards fulfilling this goal, going on to graduate from a junior college in Aichi Prefecture and then finding a job in general administration at a company in Ise City. However, because her assigned work consisted only of unfulfilling, menial tasks like pouring tea and answering calls, she left after only one year. She changed jobs repeatedly over the following years, but found no further luck in subsequent workplaces. Eventually, recognizing that success as an ama diver is determined solely by the extent of one's physical prowess and ingenuity, she came to find the idea of such work appealing, and moved back to Kameshima four years ago. Despite her late start as an ama diver compared to her peers, she leveraged her high athletic ability —a talent which even saw her star in the National Athletic Meet during her school days— and her innate knack for analytical thinking and research to consistently turn out good results, and she has since earned the respect of even the veteran ama divers of the island. Her estimated Diver Rank is 41. * * * Kikuko has had scant luck with men, having been introduced to several potential partners only to be turned down by all of them. Her parents, anxious for her future, worry that the large birthmark on her face is to blame, but Kikuko herself remains unfazed, citing her lack of interest in marriage as the primary cause — something which has caused them no end of concern. Although she endeavored to hide her birthmark with makeup while at school and during her time as an office worker, she has since embraced it, proudly proclaiming it to be her symbol.

♂ m 55

Sex: Male Occupation: Local Magnate Age: 55 years old The single most influential person on Kameshima. Although born to an ordinary fishing family on the island, he entered his twenties during the post-war economic boom, and through tireless work and juggling multiple side jobs, he managed to amass... read more

Sex: Male Occupation: Local Magnate Age: 55 years old The single most influential person on Kameshima. Although born to an ordinary fishing family on the island, he entered his twenties during the post-war economic boom, and through tireless work and juggling multiple side jobs, he managed to amass a small fortune over the years. He went on to invest this fortune into the development of Kameshima, not only upgrading its fishing equipment, but also improving the island's infrastructure to entice business to set up shop on the island — efforts that have earned him the appreciation of people all over the island. He currently holds many key positions on the island, including serving as head of the Kameshima Fisheries Cooperative Association, and it is said that his appointment as the next mayor of Kameshima is all but confirmed. * * * Although admired for his many contributions to Kameshima's development, his personality leaves much to be desired. With many stories of him using force to get things to go his way, he is often high-handed in his dealings with others, fully aware that his position makes it difficult to oppose him. Having moved his main home and base of operations to the mainland many years prior, there are abundant rumors that he has since added loan-sharking and land grabbing to the list of ways he's willing to add to his sizable fortune. It is said that he has recently become an ardent devotee of a certain famous sorcerer in Tokyo, and often relies on their guidance when making decisions.

♂ m 21

Sex: Male Occupation: University Student Age: 21 years old The only son of Shinobu Wakamura, a local Kameshima magnate. Due to his father's influence, he was pampered by those around him from an early age, but he grew up to be a pleasant and sin... read more

Sex: Male Occupation: University Student Age: 21 years old The only son of Shinobu Wakamura, a local Kameshima magnate. Due to his father's influence, he was pampered by those around him from an early age, but he grew up to be a pleasant and sincere young man despite this attention. He is well regarded by those who know him, often being told that he has been blessed with a sharp intellect, good looks, and a variety of talents. He is currently attending a university in Tokyo, and is back on Kameshima for summer break. * * * Although his father Shinobu wants Shotaro to inherit the influence and wealth he has spent much of his life building up, Shotaro himself has no intention of doing so. On the contrary, he is skeptical of the old-fashioned, insular ways of island society, and regards his father as the very embodiment of those outdated mores, viewing him with utter disgust for his overbearing, vulgar tendencies and superstitious beliefs.

♂ m 70

A wealthy tycoon who owns multiple companies and swathes of land, particularly in the Tsu and Ise areas. Born in the Taisho period. Unmarried. * * * His family first came into business in the Edo period, traveling from town to town selling talismans, miscanthus reed hoops, and other items to ward of... read more

A wealthy tycoon who owns multiple companies and swathes of land, particularly in the Tsu and Ise areas. Born in the Taisho period. Unmarried. * * * His family first came into business in the Edo period, traveling from town to town selling talismans, miscanthus reed hoops, and other items to ward off evil spirits. During the Meiji period, this business expanded into a trading company, and the Yamashina family became prominent contributors to the development of the region. Born to the heir of the Yamashina family business and the daughter of a noble family, Yoshiatsu grew up in an affluent environment, where he received a thorough education tailored to gifted children. Following the end of the war, Yoshiatsu inherited the company assets in his thirties, but was quick to sell off all the shares he owned, using the proceeds to buy and sell real estate and stocks — a practice that made him extremely wealthy. After amassing his fortune, he showed a keen interest in investing in ambitious young people, actively mentoring those he took a particular liking to. This approach led to the emergence of many successful businessmen, which included Shinobu Wakamura of Kameshima. Those who have received Yamashina's support view him with both gratitude and a sense of awe bordering on reverence, referring to him as "Unkakudono," a title that evokes a figure elevated above the clouds. * * * Yamashina has always shown a strong attachment to wealth, even going so far as to partake in illicit activities such as illegal donations, tax evasion, insider trading, and media control, all in an effort to garner ever more status and money. In the shadow of the many success stories enabled by his support, many more of his beneficiaries have fallen into bankruptcy or been arrested, fueling endless unsavory rumors about him to this day. Yamashina himself, however, seems to be unconcerned by these rumors, considering anything that does not directly harm him to be beneath his notice. * * * Even as a lifelong bachelor, he has surrounded himself with many followers, both publicly and privately, and has never lacked for anything to satisfy his personal needs. A few years ago, he began to seriously consider the issue of a successor, driven by his determination that his beloved fortune should never fall into the hands of someone untrustworthy. Perhaps for this reason, he began to develop a keen fascination with immortality around the same time, and is said to be secretly investing vast amounts of money into research on the topic.

♀ f

Tsukasa Awao mother. 18 years ago, a still-pregnant Nagisa moved to Kameshima alone before giving birth to Tsukasa shortly afterwards. Tsukasa subsequently grew up in a single-mother household. Although Tsukasa used to occasionally ask her about... read more

Tsukasa Awao mother. 18 years ago, a still-pregnant Nagisa moved to Kameshima alone before giving birth to Tsukasa shortly afterwards. Tsukasa subsequently grew up in a single-mother household. Although Tsukasa used to occasionally ask her about her father, she always evaded her questions, so Tsukasa has since stopped inquiring. However, the fact that Nagisa never seems to have any financial difficulty despite not working has led Tsukasa to quietly suspect that he might still be involved in some way.

♀ f

The current head of the matrilineal Lunarlight family, a long line of exorcists based in England. She has given a specialized education in exorcism to her three duaghters, with Circe currently in training as an apprentice.

♀ f

Kuki Sumitaka's daughter, Princess Hatsune, was said to have been a woman of great beauty. Sumitaka planned to marry her off as part of a political marriage; however, Princess Hatsune refused, saying that she had already promised her future to so... read more

Kuki Sumitaka's daughter, Princess Hatsune, was said to have been a woman of great beauty. Sumitaka planned to marry her off as part of a political marriage; however, Princess Hatsune refused, saying that she had already promised her future to someone else. Upon learning that Princess Hatsune's beloved was a member of an enemy clan, Sumitaka was enraged and insisted that she marry the person he had chosen for her. Although Princess Hatsune made numerous attempts to escape in order to be with her lover, she was caught each time and forced to return home. Despairing of her fate, Princess Hatsune lamented her beauty, blaming it for her predicament, before throwing herself down a well in her sorrow. As she did so, she prayed with her last breath that no beautiful women would ever be born in that land again, or so the legend goes. Despite the tale persevering as part of local folklore, many questions about the accuracy of Princess Hatsune's legend remain, including Sumitaka's age at the time.

♀ f

The curse echo of The Curse of the Forsaken Fish. Curse: Kills any human submerged in the waters of Ise Bay by gradually turning them into a fish starting from their feet. Its curse bearer is Arnav Barnum. A curse born from the final moments of ... read more

The curse echo of The Curse of the Forsaken Fish. Curse: Kills any human submerged in the waters of Ise Bay by gradually turning them into a fish starting from their feet. Its curse bearer is Arnav Barnum. A curse born from the final moments of Hayase, a mermaid brutally tortured to death by humans on Taishima around 400 years ago. The excruciating pain suffered during the transformation often results in the victim dying before the metamorphosis is complete. The bodies of those who succumb to the curse decay almost instantly, shriveling up into desiccated, fibrous masses. The curse can also be triggered remotely, provided that the curse bearer knows their victim's exact location. Mermaids inherently possess the ability to turn humans into fish at will. The Curse of the Forsaken Fish is the result of that ability being turned into a conditional curse and sealed within a curse stone. * * * During the Invasion of Taishima, Hayase stayed behind on the island as bait to allow Sobae, Nagame, Princess Hatsune, and a man named Somekawa to escape. Komatsu Sadamune's forces discovered Hayase in hiding and captured her. Sadamunde demanded that she make his troops immortal, but the mermaid staunchly refused — even as Sadamune turned to torture, inflicting unspeakable pain with every refusal. The torture escalated, until eventually even her supernatural nature was not enough to withstand the torment. On the brink of death and resigned to her fate, Hayase gave a final terrible cry, overflowing with resentment and anger as she breathed her last. Sadamune ordered his men to take the flesh from her body, but as they moved to do so, a strange phenomenon began to occur — all the soldiers who approached her body began to transform into fish, their bodies decaying rapidly as the transformation took hold. Hayase had cast a curse upon them with her dying breath.

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A vassal of the Kuki clan during the Sengoku period. * * * Komatsu Sadamune approached Kuki Yoshitaka with some intriguing information: three mermaids were said to be living on Taishima under the protection of some of the island's residents even though the island was thought to be uninhabited. Sadam... read more

A vassal of the Kuki clan during the Sengoku period. * * * Komatsu Sadamune approached Kuki Yoshitaka with some intriguing information: three mermaids were said to be living on Taishima under the protection of some of the island's residents even though the island was thought to be uninhabited. Sadamune urged Yoshitaka to take advantage of this, suggesting that if he possessed such power, and invincible army would be his to command. Yoshitaka gave the order for Sadamune to prepare a military invasion of Taishima. Sadamune immediately set sail for Taishima at the head of a large army. In the blink of an eye, the once peaceful and beautiful landscape of Taishima was transformed into a nightmare. The islanders, guardians of the cared land, desperately fought back, but they stood no chance against seasoned soldiers hardened by years of battle on the frtonlines, and one after another they fell before the invaders. Sadamune ordered that even women and children be cut down without mercy, and soon the waters around Taishima ran red with blood. Finally, they discovered a mermaid in hiding by the name of Hayase and captured her, torturing her to death. Eventually, he found a deep cave in the interior of the island, which housed a shrine and a door with a power seal. Convinced this had to be the entrance to the "sacred land" —the home of the mermaids— Sadamune gathered all his remaining gunpowder and artillery and unleashed it on the door, destroying both it and the shrine in the process. The next moment, a violent tremor wracked the entire island, and the skies above were engulfed by a storm. Taishima sank beneath the waves, and thus Taishima and the sacred land —along with Sadamune and his army— lost to the sea in an instant.

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The nephew of Kuki Yoshitaka. While Yoshitaka was in the service of Nobunaga, the head of the Kuki clan was Sumitaka, with Yoshitaka serving as his advisor. Despite his position, Sumitaka was little more than a puppet lord and died young, reportedly due to illness, just two years after the Honno-ji ... read more

The nephew of Kuki Yoshitaka. While Yoshitaka was in the service of Nobunaga, the head of the Kuki clan was Sumitaka, with Yoshitaka serving as his advisor. Despite his position, Sumitaka was little more than a puppet lord and died young, reportedly due to illness, just two years after the Honno-ji Incident. However, some theories suggest that he was actually poisoned by Yoshitaka as part of a scheme to seize control of the family.

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Azami Kumoi's father. Captain of the fishing vessel Dai-ichi Kyosui-Maru. He was among the 10 casualties of the Southern Sea Disaster after his vessel was foundered. A fisherman who frequently had Azami accompany him out to sea on his boat from ... read more

Azami Kumoi's father. Captain of the fishing vessel Dai-ichi Kyosui-Maru. He was among the 10 casualties of the Southern Sea Disaster after his vessel was foundered. A fisherman who frequently had Azami accompany him out to sea on his boat from a very young age. As a result, Azami grew up never doubting that he, too, would one day become a fisherman. After Kyokichi died, his wife —an ama diver— took on the responsibility of raising Azami and his much younger brother on her own. Azami is now able to take his father's small fishing boat, the Saiun-Maru, out on fishing trips on his own.

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Sex: Female Occupation: Yuza's Mother Age: Unknown Yuza Minakuchi's mother. Having gone missing in the Kameshima Southern Sea Disaster five years ago, she was declared dead a year later after search parties found no sign of her. * * * More than ... read more

Sex: Female Occupation: Yuza's Mother Age: Unknown Yuza Minakuchi's mother. Having gone missing in the Kameshima Southern Sea Disaster five years ago, she was declared dead a year later after search parties found no sign of her. * * * More than twenty years ago, Mare Somekawa arrived on Kameishma with no possessions to her name, expressing that she had taken a liking to the local environment and wanted to move there. However, she remained tight-lipped about her background, only revealing that she was from a small town out in the mountains and that she had had to leave her home for undisclosed reasons, and although her request to move to Kameshima was accepted, many islanders remained suspicious of her. After settling on the island, she showed an interest in the ama lifestyle and eventually took it up after displaying a talent for free-diving, with Tsuyu Minakuchi acting as her instructor. During this time, she grew close to Tosuke Minakuchi, Tsuyu's only son, and eventually married him a few years later. The two would go on to have a son of their own, who they named Yuza. Despite this, Mare was unable to fully shake the air of mystery that surrounded her, and many islanders continued to question whether her presence on the island might cause trouble down the line. Something of a free spirit, her nonconformist ways and somewhat naive personality meant that she was often absent from local activities, leading to further criticism from a portion of the population. Some also reported frequently spotting her wandering the island after she first moved there, seemingly looking for something, or catching sight of her doing something on the shore in the middle of the night. Fortunately, her mother-in-law, Tsuyu Minakuchi, was a person of no small influence on Kameshima, and no one dared openly persecute Mare under Tsuyu's watchful eye. The three generations lived peacefully under the same roof for more than ten years, until the Kameshima Southern Sea Disaster tore them apart. Since her disappearance in the disaster five years prior, a growing number of people have accused her of somehow being responsible, citing her various instances of suspicious behavior as justification.

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Tsuyu Minakuchi's son, Mare's husband, and Yuza's father. Captain of the fishing vessel Minakuchi-Maru. He and his wife were among the 10 ... read more

Tsuyu Minakuchi's son, Mare's husband, and Yuza's father. Captain of the fishing vessel Minakuchi-Maru. He and his wife were among the 10 casualties of the Southern Sea Disaster after his vessel was foundered. Around twenty years ago, he grew close to Mare and eventually married her a few years later. The two would go on to have a son of their own, who they named Yuza. The three generations lived peacefully under the same roof for more than ten years, until the Kameshima Southern Sea Disaster tore them apart. * * * He lost his father in the war when he was 3 years old.

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Yumeko Shiki's husband and a psychic. Sodo Kiryu is his cherished protégé.

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The curse echo of The Curse of the Heike/The Curse of Taira no Tomoshige. Curse: Its curse bearer is A curse born from Taira no Tomoshige's feelings of malice and resentment when he was struck down 800 years... read more

The curse echo of The Curse of the Heike/The Curse of Taira no Tomoshige. Curse: Its curse bearer is A curse born from Taira no Tomoshige's feelings of malice and resentment when he was struck down 800 years ago following the fall of the Taira clan. Part of the clan's main lineage, Tomoshige had been seeking a mermaid flesh in a bid to attain immortally with the goal of eventually reviving the Taira clan, but was killed before realizing his dream.

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A renowned onmyouji and friend of Princess Hatsune during the Sengoku period. Kuki Sumitaka, looking for a solution to the Curse of the Raging Wa... read more

A renowned onmyouji and friend of Princess Hatsune during the Sengoku period. Kuki Sumitaka, looking for a solution to the Curse of the Raging Waves, turned to Harukage. After conducting an investigation, Harukage concluded that it would be possible to seal the sacred land by offering up a sacrifice, thereby suppressing its calamitous effects. With Princess Hatsune's noble sacrifice, the storm at last died down, and peace was restored to the seas around the island. Harukage was also able to seal the Curse of the Forsaken Fish in the wooden accessory that Princess Hatsune had been wearing, turning it into a curse stone. Harukage used the resentful memories contained within the curse stone to create a record of the event, which he sealed within a heavily-locked iron box before concealing it in a rock on the seabed. In the event the Curse of the Raging Waves had not abated even after 400 years, he made it so that the seal on the rock would be lifted at the same time as the seal on the sacred land, so that the record of what had happened and the method of undoing the curse would make its way to future generations.

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The tale of Yao Bikuni —a bhikkhuni (fully-ordained Buddhist nun) who acquired preternatural longevity after eating the flesh of a mermaid— can be found in almost every region of Japan. Although the exact details vary greatly between regions they all share the same fundamental element: a girl who at... read more

The tale of Yao Bikuni —a bhikkhuni (fully-ordained Buddhist nun) who acquired preternatural longevity after eating the flesh of a mermaid— can be found in almost every region of Japan. Although the exact details vary greatly between regions they all share the same fundamental element: a girl who ate mermaid flesh lived for 800 years. The Yao Bikuni legend passed down in Mie Prefecture is as follows: Once upon time, a beautiful girl by the name of Osato lived in Kusawa Village. One day, when Osato was seventeen, the flesh of a mermaid was served at a village gathering. The other villagers, disturbed at the thought of eating such a strange creature, refused to eat it, but Osato unknowingly ate the mermaid's flesh. From that moment on, Osato didn't age a day. Shunned by the other villagers and treated as a monster, she was eventually forced to leave the village. Becoming a nun, Osato traveled the length and breadth of Japan for hundreds of years before eventually returning to Kusawa Village, where her long life at last came to an end.