Shinshu Field is a location in Ōkami and Ōkamiden. It is the first open area that Amaterasu and Issun can visit, as well as the first place found to be covered in the darkness of a cursed zone. This area is the center of most of Amaterasu's travel across Nippon for most of the first major arc. It connects to many different areas.
History[]
Ōkami[]
Amaterasu passes through the past version of Shinshu Field while carrying the unconscious Nagi to the Moon Cave. The area contains nothing particularly important to the story, but does contain the only instances of the Clay army demons.
Ōkamiden[]
Chibiterasu makes his passage through Shinshu Field in the past while, like Amaterasu, racing to the Moon Cave, but his trip is in order to stop Akuro from bathing its vessel in the blood of True Orochi. Little changes from the previous game except that Chibiterasu is joined by Manpuku, who needs assistance in rescuing his mother Charity. The demons fought are also different, changing from the Clay army to members of the Beast demon group.
Geography[]
Shinshu Field is a large field said to be "the most beautiful field in Nippon"Kamiki Village, Hana Valley, the Moon Cave, Agata Forest, Yakushi Village and Kamui. The field mostly consists of hills and grassland. Lake Harami and the Moon Cave are located in the southern section of the field. Nameless Man, Tama, Mika and Ida along with many wild animals live in the field. Onigiri-Sensei also has a Dōjō in the field.
. It has a paths leading toShinshu Field's geography is mostly the same 100 years in the past, though it is cut short by a strange disappearance of the ground partway into the area. Three iron rocks are encountered throughout the field, making the Praise from the Clovers under them unobtainable if Amaterasu has not obtained Power Slash 2. The Guardian Sapling is completely missing in Ōkami, but is replaced by a tree that can be bloomed in Ōkamiden. The passageway to Yakushi Village can be entered, but the actual entryway to the village has not yet been built.
Sidequests[]
- Mika's Monster Notebook
- Ida's Races
- Vase Offerings
Behind the scenes[]
Shinshu Field is a parallel to present day Nagano Prefecture, in ancient times called Shinshū (「信州」?; shinshuu). The characters used in the name are a pun on the real characters' pronunciation—both the characters「神」(「かみ」?; kami; lit. "god, the supernatural") and「信」(「しんじ・る」?; [verb] shinji・ru) have the on'yomi pronunciation of shin (「しん」?). Such a pun on character in this case is used in reference to the divine link between nature and Amaterasu.
The 100 years ago locations are the only ones in the game to contain anything which can be permanently missed: in Shinshu, if the player has not fought a Clay Soldier and a Clay Flyer before entering the Moon Cave, it will not be possible to complete the Bestiary without starting a New Game+ since the Spirit Gate cannot be re-entered. The other Clay enemies can be added to the Bestiary later during the Devil Gate trial in Kamui for Stray Bead #79.