Changes: Nippon

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Both Ōkami and Ōkamiden take place in Nippon, a fictionalized version of real life Japan. The name itself is derived from (「日本」^?; Nippon; Land of the Rising Sun). The parallels between both the real-life and fictional versions of Japan are strong, with many locations in-game being based off of or borrowing names from actual places that can be found somewhere in Japan.

The Japanese name of this land, however, is not Nippon. Rather it is nakatsukuni (「ナカツクニ」^?; nakatsukuni; central land), which itself is a shortened version of ashihara no nakatsukuni (「葦原の中津國」^?; ashihara no nakatsukuni; Central Land of Reed Plains). This term refers to an ancient Japan, when earth kami and humans freely roamed the pure, lush landscape, and sky kami ruled from the heavens, in an attempt to purify the world below.

Even with the similarity in naming, Nippon does not have a clear placement within Japan’s history. Many attributes suggest a connection to the Kamiyo era, yet the dates for births and deaths of historical figures do not line up, nor have major cultural pieces been fully developed or imported during this time. Other parts of the world suggest that the stories both take place during a highly idealized Edo Period, but in truth, the exact timeline is irrelevant. Nippon is meant to represent the best parts of Japan throughout all of the ancient eras, making attempts to tie down the stories to one era a fruitless effort.

Regardless, Nippon shares many of Japan’s natural beauties, such as lush forests, mountains that kiss the skies, and rivers that slice through the island nation, all protected by miles and miles of deep blue oceans. The countries Amaterasu and Chibiterasu explore are largely defined by three regions: East and West Nippon, and the Northern Lands of Kamui.

Eastern Nippon

Eastern Nippon (「ナカツクニ東部」^?; Nakatsukuni tōbu; Eastern Nippon) is home to Nippon’s many towers of stone covered in endless numbers of trees, shrubs, flowers, and vines for the lupine gods to explore. The northern half of Eastern Nippon contains Kamiki Village and Shinshu Field, home to many of the region’s inhabitants and legends, including both Shiranui and Nagi, the duo who sealed away the terrible demon Orochi.

Regions

Main article: River of the Heavens

The River of the Heavens--based on the real world (「天の川」^?; Amanogawa; Milky Way)--is the first accessible location to Amaterasu upon her rebirth into the mortal world. It is a vast landscape that appears to hang in the sky, featuring a river of stars, Yomigami’s constellation, and a small forest near the Cave of Nagi, which sports several pools of water and a small creek running through everything. The hidden secret floating among the stars perpetually remains night, even if Amaterasu uses Sunrise. The moon will remain hung in the sky regardless of any divine intervention. Use of Sunrise, however, will still create a glowing red sun, but its effects will not be felt here.

Main article: Cave of Nagi

The Cave of Nagi is a small shrine hidden within a cavern, bearing a statue of the legendary man raising the summoner of the moon, Tsukuyomi. Here, Amaterasu regains one of her foregone powers.

Main article: Konohana tree

Konohana is the tree belonging to the spirit Sakuya, acting as her corporeal form in the mortal realm. She, in union with the tree itself, protects the village of Kamiki and its outlying neighbors. Even disaster strikes, the tree acts as a guardian, but not without taking some damage itself. In order to restore it to its former glory, Amaterasu Template:Tt on a journey to heal the offshoots of Konohana, known as Guardian Saplings.

Main article: Kamiki Village

Kamiki Village is the home of the annual Kamiki Festival, legendary heroes Shiranui and Nagi, and Konohana. Normally, the town is a sleepy agricultural landscape, hidden between two mountains and guarded by the sea. However, the defeat and reawakening of Orochi more than shook up the tiny town, leaving them fearing for their lives during a festival meant to celebrate their success over the last year.

Main article: Shinshu Field

Shinshu Field is one of the larger landscapes that Amaterasu and Chibiterasu are able to explore during their journeys. The area is vastly wide and painted with green grass, dotted with rolling hills and faces the extensive lake that is Lake Harami. Here, connections to Yakushi Village, Hana Valley, Agata Forest, and Lake Harami can be found and accessed at one point or another. This massive field is also home to Tama, Mika, Nameless Man, and Onigiri-Sensei.

Main article: Hana Valley

Wander too far near the edge of the fields and Amaterasu will find herself facing a rocky mouth that leads to Hana Valley, home to the first of many Saplings. The valley is hidden between two mountains and features a wooden bridge hung over a river that feeds a majestic waterfall, in addition to a fire to get warm by set before a tunnel of stone leading up to the grand tree.

Main article: Lake Harami

Lake Harami is a vast body of crystal clear waters veiled by a magic only the divine and their believers can see. This is also one of the few locations sporting a silver torii, which typically is used to signify locations that only Amaterasu can see and access. The lake bears a small island in the middle, which can be accessed during low tide.

Main article: Agata Forest

Dark and dream-like is the forest of Agata. Soaring, peacock-colored trees cloud the skies, only allowing hints of sunlight to speckles the emerald floor.

Main article: Hitoshio Spring

High above the forest green sits Hitoshio Spring, a cold, crystalline pool of water, perfect for use in the creation of sake. The spring boasts an unobstructed view of the bright blue sky and a withered tree that still stands as proudly in death as it had in life, even promising some of the spring’s deliciously cool waters itself.

Main article: Tsuta Ruins

Carved into a cliff wall hides the massive gates to Tsuta Ruins, an ancient structure that appears to be long forgotten. The lack of care and upkeep has allowed for an infestation of demons that has begun to plague the forest it resides in. The ruins themselves, however, are a complex network of bridges and ledges that continue in a maddening manner. However, the further one ventures into the ruins, the more one can find how nature ultimately reclaims her right to rule. A grand waterfall spills over the edges of a water-filled chamber back into a hall where an old, beaten statute still proudly stands, looming over the rest of the mysterious place.

Main article: Taka Pass

Covered in bamboo and weary with travelers, Taka Pass stands between the border of Eastern and Western Nippon, providing access to nearly all of its key economic districts. The skies are always a crystal clear blue during daylight hours, rarely obstructed by anything but trees, which can be surpassed by climbing up one of the numerous jagged cliffs or sitting atop any one of the endless mountain peaks. Traveler’s paths are marked on dirt roads, and journeying has even been made easier with the installation of bridges and establishment of tucked away resorts for rest and recuperation and tea shops where visitors can obtain a small treat and some company for a short time before pressing on..

Main article: Sasa Sanctuary

Perhaps Taka Pass’ best kept secret is a little onsen-slash-hotel run by the Sparrow Clan. This little place for rest and recovery is only accessible to those who are pure of heart and otherwise tucked away behind cliff-covered walls of stone and in between scores of bamboo stalks in what can only be called a forest. Adding to the avian-inhabited home are its many mysteries, one of which has ties to the mysterious people of the moon.

Main article: Kusa Village

Atop the highest peak lies the windy city on a hill, Kusa Village. This town is heavily dependent on constant blowing breezes for both energy and day-to-day functions, given how many of the citizens structures and businesses take advantage of this natural powerhouse. The village is home the Gale Shrine, dedicated to the god of the winds, and its guardians: former priest Yatsu, his beautiful wife and current priestess Princess Fuse, and their Canine Warriors.

Main article: Gale Shrine

Situated where the winds blow the best and the strongest lies the Gale Shrine dedicated to Kazegami. The shrine itself is an elaborate maze of passages leading outward to a massive windmill constructed from bamboo and Template:Wp that elegantly captures the powerful gusts of air bustling about high in the sky.

Main article: Moon Cave

The Moon Cave is perhaps one of the most confusing and still intriguing areas in Eastern Nippon. The cave itself is inaccessible to mere mortals, but gaining entrance is not difficult feat for those bearing the ability to see the dark mountain and the Serpent Crystal needed for easy access. A legion of demons and their terrible leader make their home here, having built base-like structures and a terrifyingly regal throne room in which an eight-headed snake resides.

Geography

Eastern Nippon, as mentioned before, is primarily covered in mountain ranges and other rocky natural structures, much like eastern parts of Japan. The landscape bears few opportunities for easy farming, and flatter fields often bear insufficient soils, making cultivation difficult or impossible. Even in spite of the total refusal to be tamed by man, the East maintains a regal emerald beauty. Many lush landscapes are sliced at by gentle and raging waters alike, each of which laps at the edges of solid shores.

History

Nearly two hundred years before, the peaceful fields of Eastern Nippon were caught up in the affairs of the heavens and dragged into a slew of tragedy and demonic curses that plague the land for 100 years to come. The demon they face is one seeking to become an eternal force of wicked evil by devouring the souls of its 100 victims. The goddess who dragged the beast to the mortal realm must wait, guided by the word of a prophet, with the hopes that the Chosen One will be born before it’s too late. However, despite having nothing but the best intentions for the people plagued by this demon, they mistake her for its familiar, fearing and despising her, for they believe she chooses the demon’s next victim.

During the annual Kamiki Festival, at the peak of the Chosen One’s maturity, the goddess and the swordsman unite to slay the eight-headed terror, but even this powerful duo’s punch lacks the force it needs. The goddess, weakened by the demon’s venom, summons the light of the moon from the darkness of night in a last attempt to defeat the beast. Her efforts are somewhat effective, allowing the Chosen One to seal the demon away in its lair but costing the goddess her life in the process. The villagers, now made aware of their unfounded fears, lay the mighty warrior to rest and erect a statue in her honor. In the century that follows, the land is blessed with peace, and the people are well.

However, 100 years after the demon is sealed away, it mysteriously reawakens and lays a curse over the whole of Nippon, Threatening to destroy the beauty and nature of the land, the tree spirit of Konohana throws her life on the line to protect the village she inhabits while calling upon the goddess to help restore peace once more to the land. Thus begins the journey of a wolf and her flea-like companions.

Politics

Despite being merely the eastern half of a larger country, this region has a noticeable lack of larger political institutions and influence from the West. Rather, this region is left to govern itself without significant regard to many of the assumed established rules. The people of these areas depend upon their own skills or the combined skills of their communities to survive and maintain their day-to-day lives. What this also means is that any loss of even one person can destroy the society entirely.

Even in spite of the rigid social structure, each community has a leader of sorts, with more closely packed villages having more definitive leaders. For example, the leader of Kamiki Village is none other than the wise old Mr. Orange, often consulted during major events that affect all members of the village. In Kusa Village, this responsibility is handed to the head of the shrine, formerly Yatsu and now Princess Fuse. These communities all, however, maintain a unique independence. The power rests in a single set of hands, yet the people are largely permitted to do what they see fit within their existing social structure.

Culture

Contrary to the hustle and bustle of the West, Eastern Nippon is more in tune with nature and relaxed. Though faith in the gods has long since been abandoned, the people still perform god-related traditions and rituals, such as the construction and maintenance of various shrines and prayer to gods in times of need or struggle. In this way, they have not completely forgotten the ways of their ancestors, but rather have found difference occupations to fill their time.

The average diet of a citizen dwelling within the East typically consists of whatever that person is able to grow with their own hands or obtain from their neighbors. Trade is slow and can be dangerous, making imports expensive and exports even more unlikely. However, foods are typically vegetarian in nature, containing Japanese staples such as rice, seaweed, and anko--a red bean paste used in many traditional foods--in addition to fish meats as additives for extra flavor or sustenance.

The general attire of the people in the East is more practical, generally reflecting one’s specific profession or career within a community. Clothing is simple, plain, and usually not adorned with any jewelry or elaborate patterns, giving the impression that the people do not have much money, and what little they do possess goes into the funding of their various tools of the trade, whether those are seeds for planting, plows for tilling, or axes for cutting down stalks of bamboo. The few Merchants found here purchase the completed wares and sell them in the West if the craftsman doesn’t do so themselves.

Western Nippon

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