All Ritual Purification Tracks + where they play.

Yoshiro's vocals could be 'keihitsu', signalling movement of the Goddess.(she's coming/descending) 

It's also vocalized during purification rites and when moving sacred objects. 

But it has many uses... 

Keihitsu meaning "to warn and clear the way." 

Articles: English | Japanese

A video on it: The priest's roar

Youtube AI summary:

Keihitsu (警蹕) is a solemn vocalization or ritual cry used in Shinto ceremonies to herald the movement of a deity (Kami), mark sacred transitions, or invoke a sense of awe and reverence.

Key Characteristics and Uses

• The Sound: It is typically a long, drawn-out vocal sound like "oooooo".

• Heralding Deities: Priests use it to announce when a deity is being summoned to or sent away from a temporary shrine or altar (himorogi).

• Ritual Moments: It is voiced during major ceremonies such as opening or closing inner shrine doors, purification rites (Oharahi), imperial processions, or when moving sacred objects (goshintai).

• Significance: It creates an atmospheric interval of solemnity, serving as a sign for participants to bow their heads and maintain sacred order.

Her vocals disappear(and become muffled) after she begins to petrify, with said petrification beginning at Kamukura Shrine where the Goddess is said to have once descended. 

 Do they disappear because there's no need to signal the Goddess is coming because she's here now?

Kunitsu-Gami Game Design Commentary 28 & 29: Nanamagari(七曲ななまがり)

■第28回 穢れは溜まって縺れる。七曲り

昔に読んだ本に書かれた一文。これがとても印象に残っていてラスボスとして決意。特定のモチーフは無く、人や動物を軸に山に存在する全ての物を内包する様なイメージでデザイン。第一形態は、左右の人っぽい腕が一つの顔を共有して、本体を守っています。

顔は３つの顔が正面左右とくっついて、様々な視点を持つ意味合い。

かなり時期的にも佳境であった為、時間の捻出も大変、ラスボスいつ上げるんですか？と自身の脳内でだけで響かせてました。

動きも色々なアイデアを出して貰って形になり、全体的に見たことない感じに出来たと思ってます。

■Episode 28 Filth Accumulates and Entwines. Seven Twists

A single line from a book I read long ago. It stuck with me deeply, and I decided on it for the final boss. Without any specific motif, I designed it with an image that encompasses all things existing in the mountains, centered on humans and animals. The first form has arms that resemble human limbs on both sides sharing a single face, protecting the main body.

The face consists of three faces attached to the front and both sides, symbolizing various perspectives.

It was quite a critical point in the timeline, so carving out time was tough; I kept echoing in my own head, "When am I going to finish the final boss?"

I got various ideas for the movements and shaped them, and overall, I think we managed to create something with an unprecedented feel.

■第29回　  「真の縺れは確固たる結び　七曲り

こういうのは何か超越した感じですよね…気づいたら出来てました。一心不乱とはこのことかと。

一番重要なもつれを解こうとすると、硬くなって解けない感じをお腹のデザインに入れ、読み取りづらい表情で、身体は人と獣を混ぜ、なんとも得体の知れない禍々しさと神々しさを目指しました。

■Episode 29  "The True Entanglement is a Firm Bond: Seven Twists  

This kind of thing has a transcendent feel to it, doesn't it... It was done before I knew it. This must be what they mean by single-minded devotion.  

To depict the most important tangle, I incorporated a sense of it hardening and becoming impossible to unravel into the abdominal design, with an expression that's hard to read, a body blending human and beast, aiming for an indescribable wickedness and divinity.

Plaque Lore:

山祇やまがみとの約束。山での人の暮らしは豊かさと共に、 植物、自然、眷属けんぞくなど山で暮らすものを脅おびやかすこととなる。その際に生まれる穢けがれ、その全ての穢けがれが山の頂上でもつれ、混沌こんとんとした状態である。 七曲ななまがりの真の容貌ようぼう。全ての混沌こんとんの更さらに奥おくに存在するもの。その姿を見た人曰く、「神か、もののけか…」と。約束を守ることができなかった人々への国津罪くにつつみなのか…。人々の築き上げた物すべてを無に返す存在。

The Pact of the Mountain Goddess

The lives of the people on the mountain are rich, but their very existence threatens the plants, nature, and all other life who dwell there. The defilement is born of their lifestyle, spreading to the peak of the mountain and throwing all life into chaos.

Nanamagari's True Appearance

The being exists in the furthest depths of the chaos. Is it a God? A vengeful spirit? Or is it the divine judge who places humanity on trial for their broken promises? It will return all that people have built to nothing.

No mention of its first form wearing a mask reminiscent of the Goddess.

8 arms and 8 floating spirits(the black little balls) around it.

Nanamagari's true form, the silhouette of the figure appears feminine? Not entirely sure since it's distorted. Though it held the corrupted Goddess in its belly so it's definitely meant to be related to the Maiden.

'Mountain Hag' vibes, perhaps?

I put the Japanese lore into good translate:

A pact made with Yamagami—the deity of the mountain. Human life upon the mountain, while bringing prosperity, simultaneously poses a threat to the plants, the natural world, and the various beings—the deity’s kin—that dwell there. The *kegare* (spiritual defilement) born from this existence gathers and becomes entangled at the mountain’s summit, manifesting as a state of pure chaos. This is the true form of "Nanamagari"—a presence that lies even deeper than the chaos itself. Those who have beheld it ask: "Is it a god, or a *mononoke*—a supernatural spirit?" Perhaps it is a *kunitsutsumi*—a divine retribution—visited upon those who failed to uphold their pact. It is an entity that reduces everything humanity has built back into nothingness.

The English translation should've kept the wording consistent. 

The living creatures of the mountain are called the deity's kin in the Japanese. The word 'kenzoku' is used. If I translate the Japanese paragraph by paragraph, without the others for context, I get one similar to the english: 
Human life in the mountains, while bringing prosperity, also poses a threat to the plants, nature, and other living beings that inhabit those mountains.

The word mononoke... the wikipedia article on it is worth a read. Though I'd like to find a book on it.

I was working on a Nanamgari post but stopped once I saw the design commentary happen. There's not much extra information though.

Pinned Insect & Cursed Nails.

Cursed Nails

Pinned Insect

Let's talk about these two mazo talismans!

In Japanese, Cursed Nails is called [呪釘のろいくぎ] and Pinned Insect is called [翁負蟲おきなおぶりむし]

Cursed Nails is true to its Japanese name but Pinned Insect isn't.

翁（おきな） — old man, elder, venerable old person.
負（お）う — to carry, bear, bear a burden.
蟲（むし） — insect / creature / worm.

It's an insect carrying an old man. There's no mention of it being pinned.

This talisman causes Yoshiro to die in one hit.

The butterfly is Yoshiro and the old man, symbolizing Soh, is being carried by this fragile insect. Yoshiro, the delicate shrine maiden, is channeling Soh.

The old man isn't just an old man! 

The face is Okina(翁). A figure in traditional Japanese performance and religious imagery, particularly Noh theatre. (Masks!)

bottom right...you look familiar.

The Okina mask represents a supernatural, auspicious, almost divine elder figure.

宗そうの体力が一で固定され、回復しなくなる。

Cursed Nails prevents Soh's health from recovering and she's defeated in one hit. In the Japanese, it says she can't recover health and that her HP is fixed at 1. (fixed in place by the nails)

In Kunitsu-Gami lore, damage to Yoshiro is damage to Soh. Soh can be depowered by attacking Yoshiro and Yoshiro can be stunned by attacking Soh. These two cannot be separated in terms of damage.

This means these two talismans are meant to work together: the cursed nails pin the insect, causing Yoshiro's health to be at 1, allowing her to be defiled in one blow.

(Since Yoshiro dances when channeling Soh, is it hinting that by 'pinning in her place', Soh is weakened? The Sacred Spinning Top talisman that raises Yoshiro's maximum health is a symbol of movement, spinning around(doesn't real kagura have circular movements?) and this increases her health. Thus the opposite, restraining her, greatly weakens her.)

If  Yoshiro can be defeated in one hit, so can Soh. Yoshiro is carrying Soh, after all. If she's down, it's all over. If Soh loses her body, Yoshiro is vulnerable.

But this mechanic is not active in the gameplay because it wouldn't be too fun. If we lost power as Yoshiro's health drained, people might perceive that is too difficult?

Something strange though...one needed to look at these talismans in both English and Japanese because the Japanese doesn't mention the insect is pinned. Are the Japanese meant to be reminded of the story of the little insect that kept carrying heavy burdens until it was crushed?

Anyway, it blew my mind seeing that the cursed nails that fix Soh's heath at 1 are the nails that fix Yoshiro's health at 1. The nails pin the insect, Yoshiro, and the old man, Soh. It's all meant to imply these two cannot be separated. 

A terrible pair of talismans.

The reversed vocals in Kunitsu-Gami are from Kunitsu-Kami.

A video showing the reversed vocals are from Kunitsu-Kami.

Cursed Soh, who can only be fought on NG+, has long nails. I wonder...?

Here are the lyrics. In the video I cut out the repeated lyrics so here's the full thing:

昼は良い良い夜は怖い
宵々来るは世の罪か
眠らぬ童は手を引かれ
陰に蠢く蟲となる

季節の中に消えようと
今は畏れないで

十二の面は舞い踊り
笛と哭声鳴り響く
畏れを成せば夜に掴まれ
穢れの花は世を乱す
指折り数える御霊を持ち
畏れを祓い罪の血を絶てば
常しえの暁が訪れ
天つ雲居の平らかな
世を照らす日明り

季節の中に消えようと
今は畏れないで

十二の面は舞い踊り
笛と哭声鳴り響く
畏れを成せば夜に掴まれ
穢れの花は世を乱す
指折り数える御霊を持ち
畏れを祓い罪の血を絶てば
常しえの暁が訪れ
天つ雲居の平らかな
世を照らす日明り

 陰に隠れず出ておいで
畏れないで畏れないで
ほら爪の伸びた手の平を
しっかり握って行きましょう

--

The daytime is fine, but the night is frightening.

Is it the sins of the world that bring night after night?

The sleepless child is led away by the hand,

and becomes a worm lurking in the shadows.

Even if we disappear into the seasons,

do not be afraid now.

Twelve masks dance and fret, and the sounds of flutes and weeping resound

If you fear, you will be seized by the night

The flowers of defilement disrupt the world

Hold onto the spirits you count on your fingers, and if you dispel fear and sever the blood of sin, the eternal dawn will arrive, and the light of the sun illuminating the world, the calm of the heavenly clouds

Even if we disappear into the seasons,

do not be afraid now.

Twelve masks dance and fret, and the sounds of flutes and weeping resound

If you fear, you will be seized by the night

The flowers of defilement disrupt the world

Hold onto the spirits you count on your fingers, and if you dispel fear and sever the blood of sin, the eternal dawn will arrive, and the light of the sun illuminating the world, the calm of the heavenly clouds

Come out, don't hide in the shadows

Don't be afraid, don't be afraid

Now, let's firmly grasp the palm of your hand with its long nails

and go.

This english translation is different to the video but it's saying the same thing really. Subjects can be vague so the translation can be a little strange sometimes.

Forces but I'm cursed | Kunitsu-Gami GMV

A vanity project. The second Forces video I made. 

The third and final one I have yet to upload was delayed in hopes new game footage would come.
But there has been nothing new...so I suppose I will finish it. It was the first one I made! So it might be odd that it's posted last...

My other Forces video and the third one of three I finished: Forces

Youtube created this one for me. 

Why does it look so good...? I might use it on the A/B test. Although I still prefer the one I made...

Then there's this next one which is...cursed beyond all reason.

Why...? Who is this man? Why is Yoshiro's kimono open?

Mirrors: shards and spirit.

'as if reflected in a mirror countless times'

When Yoshiro dances on the spirit path, the bits of Goddess power are shards of a special mirror. 

You can see her reflection in the pieces.

But they don't reflect all surrounding areas.

It seems they only reflect her and some kaleidoscope imagery?

But I am on PS4 and many many subtle details can't be seen on the console.

The Goddess power is heavily related to mirrors, with Soh's physical form shattering like a mirror and the Goddess Emblem in the main shrine likely being a mirror:

Soh shattering

shrine mirror in the otherworld

I also suspect the little jewels on all masks(and Yoshiro's crown) are mirrors that hold parts of the Goddess's power, allowing Soh to control and guide them. They 'move' the way the shrine mirror does:

Could the Goddess's spirit be in the large mirror in the shrine?  It's very Amaterasu and her scared mirror:

"Serve this mirror as my soul, just as you would serve me, with clean mind and body."

Soh can rewind time in the mirror-like otherworld(the water is the mirror):

Cursed Soh emerges from the water below, the water reflective like a mirror. 

When Yoshiro is defiled, there is an outline of the mirror when you can retry:

The file name says it's a mirror.

From wikipedia:

A Shinto mirror (神鏡, Shinkyou) is a sacred mirror in Shinto. Some mirrors are enshrined in the main hall of a shrine as a sacred object of the divine spirit, or are placed in front of the deity in a hall of worship.

Cursed Soh emerges from the water below, which is reflective like a mirror. 

This Mazo Talisman is clearly depicting Amaterasu, isn't it? Why is she the one holding us up to protect us from toxic damage?

Why do we not see more depictions of the Mountain Goddess? Instead, Yoshiro is seen as the Goddess and the defilement shows many images of Buddhas.

I wrote this post before Cursed Soh's commentary was revealed.

Are Yoshiro and Soh the mirror?

Tenko's Sacrifice: Benzaiten

 A discovery made while researching Goddesses!

Tenko's Sacrifice

Tenko is not a woman, it's a heavenly fox. That's what I thought this tsuba guard referenced.

Depicted is Benzaiten, considered to be a manifestation of Amaterasu.

Soh is sacrificing herself when she uses this tsuba guard. She's 'tenko'.

We also receive Tenko's Sacrifice in it the Narusawa Wind Caves, where the Maiden is sacrificed.

However, in Japanese, it's only called Tenko(天后 ). Which means Queen of Heaven. This is a title for Amaterasu! It does not use the kanji for fox.

后 (kō): Means empress or queen
狐 (kō / kitsune): Means fox.

This title 'Tianhou' is also for the Chinese Goddess Mazu. But it's also what Amaterasu is referred to many times. (Mazu is also depicted as wearing red, just like in the tsuba guard)

BUT Tenko is a divine general, one of 12. 

All in all, might be a little hint at the who the Goddess is.

Self-Referencing: Yoshiro & Soh are the Goddess.

An otherworldly being that governs the people of the mountain from the heavens.

Soh is a messenger of the Mountain Goddess who guides and governs the world of chaos alongside Yoshiro. The two descended into the human world

The Japanese kanji doesn't use the word meaning to descend from heaven( 降臨:kourin) but it's obvious that it means heaven because this plaque matches Cursed Soh's plaque.
(old post on this: The statue of the Goddess + a Divine Heir)

The two are the descended Goddess.

Korin(光輪) is what Cursed Soh's wheel is called in the official merchandise. It's a homonym.

Kouhai(光背) is what it's called in the files. A Buddha/Bodhisattva halo, specifically.

It's likely Shingon Buddism. 

Yoshiro is a Buddha and is synonymous with the Goddess hence why she walks the Path of the Goddess.

To further elaborate on this descent, the halo is the Goddess emblem which we see when Yoshiro and Soh purify the gate:

Yoshiro's vocals('ooooooo') during the kagura could be the sound a priest makes during a ritual to signal the God is descending. We see this symbol during the ritual. The 'korin'. The Goddess descending: Yoshiro and Soh purifying.

As Yoshiro crystallizes, her vocals disappear from the purification music. Because she becomes the Goddess, there's no need for her to declare the Goddess is descending. She is already here now, almost ready to be enshrined.

(will update with the youtube video showing the music differences)

This phase is where she is likely already the Goddess because she's able to affect Cursed Soh. We also receive 'Birth of a Goddess' when she reaches this stage of petrification.

We see Birth of a Goddess at the true ending, too.

Birth of a Goddess

When she begins her petrification, it's at the place where the Goddess is said to have descended: Kamukura Shrine(神座神社かむくらじんじゃ). 

Kamukura. A place where a divine spirit resides.

Kagura (神楽かぐら, "god-entertainment") is a type of Shinto ritual ceremonial dance. The term is a contraction of the phrase kami no kura ("seat of god"), indicating the presence of gods (kami) in the practice.

Yoshiro is a Kagura maiden. A literal vessel for the Goddess. The divine body of the Goddess must be replaced periodically.

The pact: a Maiden needs to become a vessel for the Goddess, her body used as a katashiro to cleanse the mountain.

But why say Yoshiro descends from heaven? Possibly because 'Yoshiro' is the nigitama of the Goddess.

The Maiden and 'Yoshiro' are different. Otherwise why not simply use her name each time she is referenced? Once she becomes the chosen Maiden and embodies the benevolent side of the Goddess, she is called Yoshiro.

Her plaque is strange though. Why would she worship the ancestral deities? It would fit to call her 'The Maiden' so I don't quite understand. Unless we're meant to acknowledge she is the final Yoshiro and now has that name?

Soh is a wakemitama/bunrei/divided spirit of the Goddess.(So she is the Goddess) Likely the Aramitama, but that is also Cursed Soh. 

Soh's plaque contains information about Yoshiro and bind the two together.

Cursed Soh's commentary never addresses the resemblance to Yoshiro. Instead, it only speaks of capturing Soh's likeness in reverse because Cursed Soh is a mirror. Her clothes are meant to be 'white ritual robes where light is trapped within, reflecting forever in the mirror'

Shintais are often mirrors. The mirror that the Goddess is trapped in is the body of a Maiden which also houses the impurity?

Yoshiro has a bronze mirror on her with 24 circles. A shrine maiden's garb is white and red. And of course, there's this anomaly:

May I add that in old posts(A perspective on artwork of the Maiden and Messenger, The Maiden in the artwork and Soh's face), I suggested that when we look upon Yoshiro's face, we're meant to be looking at Soh's face as well.

why are her eyes so much darker?

The artbook proves I was right but it wasn't implemented. Or it's better to say Yoshiro's face was changed.

In the normal ending. Yoshiro ascends to Godhood, becoming the Goddess, and meets Soh, her messenger/divided spirit/self who then disappears.

In the true ending, Yoshiro is spared from this fate and remains on earth. The pact is broken and we have eternal sunlight.

Question is...how was it broken? Soh re-absorbed all her trapped power but why did she break the pact? To prevent the same outcome? But what about the impurity?

Human sin never wanes no matter how many nights pass, but to walk among the endless shadows is to be human.

人の世の罪は、幾夜いくよを経て尽つきせぬものなれど断ち切れぬ陰かげと共に歩むもまた人の世か……

Normal ending dialogue. Hinting at the acceptance of impurity in life? 

畏哭いこくis Seethe in Japanese. Ikoku. Wailing and lamenting. Very different to the word 'Seethe'. To face sorrow is part of life. Could that also be the meaning here?

 The true ending: 

And so concludes the battle fought across generations.The tale lives on for the telling, to be celebrated as a ceremony for ages to come.

 幾度いくどもの世代せだいを繰くり返した戦いはこれにてお仕舞しまい物語は風習となり語り継つがれ祭祀さいしとして後世へと続いて行く.

Yoshiro's name is read as 'generations' here. Many Yoshiros have passed. 7 in total. 

Cursed for 7 generations. 

Is the Goddess inspired by Inari? Or perhaps a mixture of Inari and Konohanasakuya-hime?

Is it a Dakiniten /Inari situation? The Dakini, after being purified by the Buddhist counterpart of Amaterasu(Dainichi Nyorai), became the deity Dakiniten.

Dakiniten is said to be a manifestation of Amaterasu, likely the result of this purification.

Inari is a Kunitsukami. Amatersu is an Amatsukami. The lines between these two categories eventually disappeared through worship, according to Kunio Yanagita in his 'Mountain Lives':

The Jingiryō of the legal codes preserves the names heavenly gods and earthly gods; down to the time of Wamyōshō, the earthly gods were read as kunitsu-kami or kunitsu-yashiro. But these two alike were to be worshiped by the Jingikan according to the regular rites, and by the Nara period the spiritual lives of the old and new peoples may be recognized as having fused without remaining trace. The register of deity names in the Engishiki, while including many gods clearly known from their names—such as kunitama and kōritama—to belong to the gods of the land, no longer even preserved the distinction between heavenly gods and earthly gods.

Kunitsuyashiro (国津社 or 国つ社).

A little on 'kunitsu-kami' from the book:

It is transmitted that when the ancestors of our great sovereign first arrived on these islands, there were already many earlier inhabitants in the land. In the ancient records, these are named kunitsu-kami, “gods of the land.” 

This is about actual people however so it's not helpful. But it did remind me of the Maiden's ancestors cultivating the land and making a promise to the Goddess. 

Could the Goddess actually have once been a local woman? ...

(I guess not since there's magic and Seethe.) 

But...

"...people and gods, gods and Seethe, and misfortune and fortune are two sides of the same coin." according to Capcom.

There is another Goddess that appears very important: Seoritsuhime, the mysterious Goddess of purification. Said to be the aramitama of Amaterasu and her consort when Amaterasu is male.

Chozuya that feature dragon ornaments such as this are  referencing Seoritsuhime. Dragons and purifying spring water from mountains are her symbols.

Perhaps I have it wrong on the 'mitama'.

Soh & Yoshiro are the nigitama of Amaterasu.

Cursed Soh is the aramitama of Amaterasu, the Goddess of Purification Seoritsuhime.

There are a few Goddesses that could have served as inspiration. I'll touch on them in the next post.

Kunitsu-Gami Design Commentary 27: Kagokaburi(籠かごかぶり)

■第27回　何だこいつは！？ラッキーボーナスだよ、かごかぶり
籠、箱から手足が生えている、ネタキャラ。実は仏法僧を運ぶ畏哭としてデザインしていました。
この箱の中に巨人の仏法僧が入っている的な。色々あって目先の金に釣られて現場を疎かにする状況を作りたいという、… pic.twitter.com/4AZZmsnh72

— 【公式】 祇（くにつがみ）：Path of the Goddess (@Kunitsu_Gami_JP) July 15, 2026

■第27回　何だこいつは！？ラッキーボーナスだよ、かごかぶり

籠、箱から手足が生えている、ネタキャラ。実は仏法僧を運ぶ畏哭としてデザインしていました。

この箱の中に巨人の仏法僧が入っている的な。色々あって目先の金に釣られて現場を疎かにする状況を作りたいという、

意地悪な発想から、お宝放出畏哭となりました。本当に箱から手足が生えている位に考えていた所、

モデリングの際に構造が具体化され、それを見てなるほどな…と感心しました。

異界遷宮ではプレイヤーにとっては強力な助っ人でもあります！

■27th Round: What the Heck Is This!? Lucky Bonus, It's the Basket-Headed One  

A comedic character with arms and legs sprouting from a basket or box. Actually, it was designed as a fearsome entity for transporting the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.  

The idea was something like a giant Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha crammed inside this box. From a mischievous concept of creating a situation where, due to various circumstances, one gets tempted by immediate gains and neglects the site at hand,  

it became the Treasure-Releasing Fearsome Entity. I had envisioned it to the extent of arms and legs literally growing out of the box,  

but during modeling, the structure became more concrete, and seeing that, I was genuinely impressed, like, "Ah, I see..."  

In the Otherworldly Migration Palace, it's also a powerful ally for the player!

Plaque Lore:

ある村に、たいそう金持ちな屋敷やしきがあった。屋敷やしきで働くも精が出ない男がたまたま、屋敷やしきの主の隠かくし財産の話を聞いてしまう。つい魔まが差した男は籠かごを盗ぬすんでしまうが、屋敷やしきの用人に見つかり討伐とうばつされてしまったという。その亡骸なきがらは籠かごから手と足が生えた不思議で不気味な姿をしていたと記されている。

There once was a village with a mansion full of riches. One day, a boy of lowly birth employed there heard rumors of the lord owner's secret stash of treasures. Struck with greed, the boy attempted to run off with a basket of riches, but was quickly caught by the other servants and executed. It is written that the basket clutched by the corpse of the young boy became shrouded in an ominous aura as it sprouted arms and legs.

Such an adorable thing! He carried me in the DLC. 

The commentary on greed is accurate. I died many times in the DLC because I rush to grab this box-boy and then get one-shot smacked by a gaki as I'm charging up.

The google translation says 'A man who worked at the mansion but lacked motivation happened to overhear the owner of the mansion talking about his hidden fortune.'
So I wonder if he heard rumors or overheard some things...

Kunitsu-Gami Design Commentary 26: Yatsukahagi(やつかはぎ)

■第26回　最高峰に厄介な畏哭はやつかはぎ
機能としては、自らはあまり戦わず、ザコを召喚してくるボス。
悪徳でズルい感じの奴が偉そうにして居座り、高つ鳥の災のイメージで何処か鳥っぽさを感じさせつつ、纏まっていきました。… pic.twitter.com/RvvWcjBGUq

— 【公式】 祇（くにつがみ）：Path of the Goddess (@Kunitsu_Gami_JP) July 13, 2026

■第26回　最高峰に厄介な畏哭はやつかはぎ

機能としては、自らはあまり戦わず、ザコを召喚してくるボス。

悪徳でズルい感じの奴が偉そうにして居座り、高つ鳥の災のイメージで何処か鳥っぽさを感じさせつつ、纏まっていきました。

聞き取れそうで何言っているのか分からないけど、SEもハマったのではないでしょうか。

この畏哭もフットロックによって８本脚という複雑な移動を解決して貰う事が出来ました。今作のデザインが活きているのも技術のおかげと感じます。

■26th Round: The Most Troublesome Peak - The Fearful Cry of Yatsukahagi

In terms of function, it's a boss that doesn't fight much on its own, but summons minions.

It has a wicked, sly vibe, lording it over everyone with an air of arrogance, and we wrapped it up with an image of the calamity of the high-flying bird, giving it a subtle bird-like feel somewhere.

It sounds almost intelligible but you can't quite make out what it's saying—don't you think the sound effects fit perfectly?

This Fearful Cry also benefited from Footlock to resolve the complexity of its eight legs for movement. I feel like the design of this game really comes alive thanks to the technology.

Plaque Lore:

その昔、山裾宿やますそじゅくに住む怪僧かいそうがいた。この僧そう、生き物を共食いさせ生き残った方を呪術じゅじゅつに用いていた。呪のろいの言葉と共に己が居るべき真の居場所を求め、夜な夜な路地を出歩き、異界の門を探し回ったという。そんな僧そうを人々は不気味に思いつつも、相手にしなかった。それから暫しばらくして、その町では恐おそろしい笑い声が度々聞こえると共に、路地には異界の門が開き、神隠かみかくしなども頻繁ひんぱんに起こったとされる。蜘蛛くものように見えることもあれば、時には猛禽もうきん類のように上空を飛行し、その笑い声の雨を降らしては村人たちに恐怖きょうふを与あたえたという。

There once was a monk that lived in Yamasuso Lodging. He would pit living creatures against each other, using the last survivor for his dark magic. Night after night, he went outside with his cursed words to find the gate to the other world and return to his true home. The villagers kept their distance from the unsettling man, but their neglect soon led to disaster. Crazed laughter rang throughout the streets and the villagers began to mysteriously vanish as gates to the other world opened. The monster may appear as a terrifying spider or like a raptor that surveys its prey from above, cackling as it rains terror upon the village.

Kunitsu-Gami Design Commentary 25: Noderabo(野寺坊のでらぼう)

■第25回　畏哭は出落ち、いやいや個性です。野寺坊
プランナーから大餓鬼の上位版が欲しいと話があり、前面が無敵が良いです！と。という事は後ろは弱点になる。
古のギャグマンガを連想してしまうも、これは大真面目に作るぞと。… pic.twitter.com/0wKkBMwjQx

— 【公式】 祇（くにつがみ）：Path of the Goddess (@Kunitsu_Gami_JP) July 10, 2026

■第25回　畏哭は出落ち、いやいや個性です。野寺坊

プランナーから大餓鬼の上位版が欲しいと話があり、前面が無敵が良いです！と。という事は後ろは弱点になる。

古のギャグマンガを連想してしまうも、これは大真面目に作るぞと。

出て来た時に姿は見えなくても音で存在が分かる様にプレイヤーにはプレッシャーをかけないといけません。

ああ、あいつが来たな、と。という事で、防御も兼ねて鐘を被らせれば万事解決だ！となりました。

■The 25th: The Fearful Cry is a letdown, no, it's a personality trait. Yatera-bo  

The planner mentioned wanting an upgraded version of the Great Hungry Ghost, and they said it'd be great if the front was invincible! Which means the back would be the weak point.  

It reminds me of old gag manga, but no, we're making this dead seriously.  

When it appears, even if its form isn't visible, the players need to sense its presence through sound so it doesn't pressure them too much.  

Ah, that guy's coming, you know. So, to handle that, we decided to have it wear a bell for defense too, and that solves everything!

Plaque Lore:

寺の鐘かねを突つくと決まって大量の蛙かえるが寄ってくる。その様子を見て楽しんでいた坊主ぼうずがいた。ある時、傷を負った落ち武者が寺に迷い込こんだ。 追手が来るも咄嗟とっさに坊主ぼうずは嘘うそをつき落ち武者を匿かくまったがその嘘うそがばれてしまい、切り殺されてしまう。坊主ぼうずの亡骸なきがらの周りには蛙かえるたちが寄り添そい、助かった落ち武者は自らの鎧よろいを坊主ぼうずに着せ供養したという。

There once was a priest who enjoyed ringing the temple bell to lure in a colony of frogs. One day, a wounded warrior came to the temple with his pursuers in tow. The priest tried to hide the defeated warrior, but his lies were seen through and he was cut down. Frogs gathered around the fallen priest's form, and the rescued warrior shrouded him in his own armor.

Frogs are on him in the artwork! Too bad none come when he rings his bell.

This story is quite touching...

Kunitsu-Gami Design Commentary 24: Raikobo(雷公坊らいこうぼう)

■第24回　真の人気者は雷光坊！？
初期に描いたラフ画を元に急成長。蠱物、蠱道をつかう術者。落雷は高つ神の災。自身は主に攻撃方法、武器、動き等の仕様を監修しました。… pic.twitter.com/piHCru4KpA

— 【公式】 祇（くにつがみ）：Path of the Goddess (@Kunitsu_Gami_JP) July 8, 2026

■第24回　真の人気者は雷光坊！？

初期に描いたラフ画を元に急成長。蠱物、蠱道をつかう術者。落雷は高つ神の災。自身は主に攻撃方法、武器、動き等の仕様を監修しました。

鳥居に張り付いた畏哭の真の姿！衣装は布では無く、肉の様な、皮の様な、人体を感じさせる抽象化造形をしてと言って困らせていたかもしれません。最高にカッコいい長刀もデザインされ、開発内でも人気の畏哭として君臨。

■Round 24: The True Heartthrob is Raikōbō!?

Rapid growth based on rough sketches drawn early on. A sorcerer who uses gu creatures and gu arts. Lightning strikes are calamities from the high gods. I mainly supervised the specs for attack methods, weapons, movements, and such.

The true form of Ikoku, clinging to the torii gate! The outfit isn't cloth, but something like flesh, like skin, an abstracted form that evokes the human body—might've been stumping them with that request. The supremely cool long sword was also designed, reigning as the beloved Ikoku even within the development team.

Plaque Lore:

寺の中に籠こもり、熱心に日和を調べていた白き僧そうがいた。 その評判は山を越こえて伝わるほどだったという。ある時、僧そうは主に呼ばれ「この土地の日和を言い当て、農耕に役立てよ」との命を受ける。しかし、土地が違ちがうことで上手く成すことができず、主から怒いかりを買い処罰しょばつされてしまったという。それからというもの、その土地の路地では恐おそろしい笑い声が頻繁ひんぱんに聞こえるようになり、落雷らくらいなどの天災が多く起こったとされている。

There once was a monk hidden away in a temple who fervently studied the patterns in the weather. Word of his forecasts reached far and wide throughout the mountain, and one day, a lord summoned him to demand that the monk forecast the weather of his domain to ensure his crops would grow strong. But the monk, who was unfamiliar with the area, was unable to complete the task. The lord became enraged and punished the monk for foolishly disobeying his orders. And ever since that day, the alleyways echo with incessant laughter as the land crumbles at the hands of unforgiving lightning storms.

The true form of the seethe clinging to the gate is Raikobo...? The face on the gates resemble Nanamagari though. Hmm.

Kunitsu-Gami Design Commentary 23: Yatsurao(八面王やつらおう)

■第23回　課題多すぎ？皆やつれる、やつらおう
ステージ丸々ボス戦という変化球のためにトンデモない労力が…
見た目のデザインするにも先に決めなきゃ行けないことが多いです。… pic.twitter.com/Sai3WHRFVz

— 【公式】 祇（くにつがみ）：Path of the Goddess (@Kunitsu_Gami_JP) July 6, 2026

■第23回　課題多すぎ？皆やつれる、やつらおう

ステージ丸々ボス戦という変化球のためにトンデモない労力が…

見た目のデザインするにも先に決めなきゃ行けないことが多いです。

この敵は、ステージの進行コンテを描いたり、レベルデザインも考えつつ、細かな造形デザインも自身でさせて貰いました。途中経過で面白い発想と感じたモノを結構取り込んでいます。

八面王（やつらおう）ヤマタノオロチ的な見た目の山の神というイメージから、自然物に取り憑くので、腕、手、指を軸に考え、指で印を結びを８つ作って顔に見せたりして、その形で攻撃方法が分かると面白いかなと考えました。

全てのセクションで取り組んだ最大級畏哭は、皆の情熱により完成しました。BGMも素晴らしい！

■Round 23: Too Many Challenges? Everyone's Worn Out, the Eight-Faced King

For that curveball of an entire stage being a boss battle, it took an absurd amount of effort...

Even when it comes to designing the visuals, there are so many things that have to be decided in advance.

For this enemy, I handled the stage progression key visuals, thought about level design, and even did the detailed modeling design myself. I've incorporated quite a few ideas that felt intriguing during the process.

The Eight-Faced King (Yatsura-Oh)—starting from the image of a mountain god with a Yamata no Orochi-like appearance, since it possesses natural objects, I built it around arms, hands, and fingers as the core, creating eight mudras with the fingers to make them look like faces, and I thought it would be cool if the attack patterns became clear from that form.

The maximum dread I tackled across all sections was completed thanks to everyone's passion. The BGM is fantastic too!

Plaque Lore:

太古より生きる御神木ごしんぼく。山の伐採ばっさいにより木々が穢けがれるのを憐あわれむかのように、自らに穢けがれを集め続けていると言われている。その御神木ごしんぼくの先端せんたんは「顔」と呼ばれ、時折表情を変えるという。その情景を見た村人は八つの面を持つ蛇へびのような木として恐おそれた。

Yatsurao is a sacred tree that has existed since ancient times. It is said that the tree absorbs all of the defilement that has afflicted felled trees into itself out of pity. The tip of the tree is known as its face and has features that change on occasion. Villagers who witnessed this change feared the tree for its likeness to an eight-headed snake.

Yatsurao! 

8 mudras. The number 8 again...

Kunitsu-Gami Design Commentary 22: Notsugo(のつご)

■第22回　良く見ても気持ち悪いのか？かわいいのか？　のつご
これもゲーム的な機能から考えました、部位破壊後に弱点露出の分かり易いやつ。
沼地でのボスである為、ノツゴが頭に浮かび、そのイメージを元にカエルっぽさを混ぜてオブラートに包みました。… pic.twitter.com/ONjIBlinuh

— 【公式】 祇（くにつがみ）：Path of the Goddess (@Kunitsu_Gami_JP) July 3, 2026

■第22回　良く見ても気持ち悪いのか？かわいいのか？　のつご

これもゲーム的な機能から考えました、部位破壊後に弱点露出の分かり易いやつ。

沼地でのボスである為、ノツゴが頭に浮かび、そのイメージを元にカエルっぽさを混ぜてオブラートに包みました。

えっ包めていない？モデル担当のスタッフから、設定から弱点箇所を親的な存在が守っているニュアンス入れても良いですか？

と来たので、良いですねとなり、現在の形に落ち着きました。駄々をこねる動きも相まって何とも言えない良さが出た気がするんです。

■Episode 22: Does It Still Look Creepy Even If You Look Closely? Or Is It Cute? The Notsugo

I came up with this one thinking about game-like functions too—it's the straightforward type where weak points are exposed after part destruction.

Since it's a boss in the swamp, Notsugo came to mind, and based on that image, I wrapped it in a layer of frog-like qualities to soften it.

Huh? You say it didn't get softened? From the model staff in charge, I got a message like, "In the setting, can we add a nuance where a parental figure is protecting the weak point areas?"

So we went with "Yeah, that sounds good," and it settled into its current form. Combined with the tantrum-throwing movements, I feel like it ended up with this indescribably appealing charm.

Plaque Lore:

その昔、山で大きな飢饉ききんがあった。村人は子孫を助けるため、その身を傷つけ神に祈いのりを捧ささげるも、願いは届かず多くの命が沼ぬまに沈しずんだとされている。蓮華沼れんげぬまでは夜に沼ぬまの方から赤子の泣き声がすることがあるという。赤子だと勘違かんちがいした人が不意に沼ぬまへ近づくと、沼ぬまの底へと引きずり込こまれるという言い伝えがある。

Long ago, a great famine seized the mountain. The villagers prayed to the goddess, begging her to spare their kin, but their pleas went unanswered as lives continued to be lost to the marsh. Legend states that at nightfall, an infant's cry can be heard from Renge Marsh. If anyone attempts to approach the marsh to offer aid, they too will be dragged down into the depths.

This boss was where I discovered a wailing sound in the background of certain Seethe boss arenas.

It's not really very cute...

Kunitsu-Gami Design Commentary 21: Cursed Torii Gate

■第21回　腕が４本あった時と無くなった時、呪縛鳥居
異界への入口であり出口の門番。体内から出てくるイメージでデザインしました。
鳥居に取り憑いて道を奪っている、大きな干からびた人型です。あれ、デザイン的には書くことがあまりない。… pic.twitter.com/Gsr3Bq5xmd

— 【公式】 祇（くにつがみ）：Path of the Goddess (@Kunitsu_Gami_JP) July 1, 2026

■第21回　腕が４本あった時と無くなった時、呪縛鳥居

異界への入口であり出口の門番。体内から出てくるイメージでデザインしました。

鳥居に取り憑いて道を奪っている、大きな干からびた人型です。あれ、デザイン的には書くことがあまりない。

祓われる時にリアクション等が分かり易くなる様に大きくしました。（一番大事なので）

鳥居前で敵を狩る事を阻止するために、鳥居自体も動いて攻撃してくる時代もありましたが、その役目は他に奪われ今に至ります。

■21st Round: The Cursed Torii When I Had Four Arms and When I Didn't, Binding Bird Gate

The gatekeeper of the entrance and exit to the other world. I designed it with an image emerging from within the body.

A large, withered humanoid figure possessing the torii and stealing the path. Huh, design-wise, there's not much to write about.

I made it large so that reactions and such are easier to understand when it's exorcised. (This is the most important part.)

There was an era when the torii itself would move and attack to prevent enemies from hunting in front of it, but that role has been taken over by others, and here we are now.

I wanted more lore on the design itself, like the marking on its forehead.
And its resemblance to Nanamagari?

It would've been cool to see these ideas incorporated into the DLC.

Kunitsu-Gami Design Commentary 20: Bupposo(仏法僧ぶっぽうそう)

■第20回　冷静に見て！ふんどし姿なのに何故か人気（開発内）！仏法僧
これはノリノリに作ってしまいました。日本に来ちゃった異国印象の畏哭の剣士的なイメージです。
鞍馬天狗的なイメージで顔のお面を作り、お面に乗っ取られてしまったら！？として、この姿にまとめています。… pic.twitter.com/GElsb97UcE

— 【公式】 祇（くにつがみ）：Path of the Goddess (@Kunitsu_Gami_JP) June 29, 2026

■第20回　冷静に見て！ふんどし姿なのに何故か人気（開発内）！仏法僧

これはノリノリに作ってしまいました。日本に来ちゃった異国印象の畏哭の剣士的なイメージです。

鞍馬天狗的なイメージで顔のお面を作り、お面に乗っ取られてしまったら！？として、この姿にまとめています。

当初はウェーブ中に出てくる事を考えて居たので、村人を乗っ取って姿が変わる等も考えたりもしましたが、

大ボスとして改めて考え、ちっこいオブジェから出て来たら面白いだろうと思って演出しました。

アニメーションもノリノリで仕上げてくれたのでカッコよくなりました！でも、ふんどしにお面姿です！！

■Round 20: Look at it calmly! Somehow popular despite the loincloth look (internal development)! Buddha, Dharma, Sangha

I went all out making this one. It's got that foreign, intimidating swordsman vibe that's come to Japan.

I went with a Tengu-from-Mount-Kurama kind of image and made a face mask for it—what if it gets taken over by the mask!? And that's how I settled on this design.

Originally, I was thinking of having it appear during the wave events, so I even considered ideas like it possessing a villager and changing their appearance,

But then I rethought it as a major boss, and figured it'd be fun to have it emerge from a small object, so I added that as a performance element.

The animation team delivered it with full enthusiasm too, so it turned out super cool! But hey, it's a loincloth-and-mask getup!!

Plaque Lore:

その昔、全身にあざや瘤こぶのようなものがあり、異様に大きく手足の長い者がいた。刀を振ふれば岩をも易々と斬きり、人とは思えないほどだったという。戦場にて主を失い行く当てもなく、落人おちうどとして村に流れ着くがその異様さ故に恐おそれられた。しばらくして墓場で消息を断つも後にはとても小さな達磨だるまのような物が置かれていたという。墓場のある森ではブッポウソウがよく鳴くことから村人はその達磨だるまを「仏法僧ぶっぽうそう」と名づけ、御神木ごしんぼくに祀まつった。

Long ago, there lived a man with elongated limbs and a body swathed in bruises and boils. He wielded his sword effortlessly, slicing through even stone with an inhuman strength. The man lost his master on the battlefield, and with no home to return to, found his way to a village. But his strangeness frightened the villagers, and he disappeared one night from the graveyard, leaving behind nothing but a small Daruma-shaped doll. The villagers named it after the birds known as Bupposo, whose frequent cries could be heard from the forest, and enshrined it within a sacred tree.

The knees are inward again but the body is obviously male. 

(maybe they're using female and male references to create androgyny in the Seethe? Or maybe I'm mistaken about the knees?)

Kunitsu-Gami Design Commentary 19: Shiniku Zamurai(屍肉侍しにくざむらい)

■第19回　見た目の衝撃と機能と屍肉侍
刀を使う敵って魅力ありますよね。ゲーム視点は引き気味なので、鞘から抜いても多分、分からないな、如何しようかな。
開発初期にミーティングで体に刺さった刀を抜いて戦う案があった事を思い出し、それを人体でいう所の頭集約。… pic.twitter.com/PJ7nRWsIhm

— 【公式】 祇（くにつがみ）：Path of the Goddess (@Kunitsu_Gami_JP) June 26, 2026

■第19回　見た目の衝撃と機能と屍肉侍

刀を使う敵って魅力ありますよね。ゲーム視点は引き気味なので、鞘から抜いても多分、分からないな、如何しようかな。

開発初期にミーティングで体に刺さった刀を抜いて戦う案があった事を思い出し、それを人体でいう所の頭集約。

身体は全体的に抽象化した印象にして、色々な角度や切り取り方で顔に見える様にデザインしています。

複数体での連携した動きは割と厄介。SEに関しても色々とお願いして困らせた気もしなくは無いですが、

総合的にインパクトが出たので気に入ってます。皆さんの協力ありがとう！

■19th Round: The Shock of Appearance, Functionality, and the Corpse Meat Samurai

Enemies who use swords have a certain charm, don't they? From a game perspective, it's a bit reserved, so even when drawn from the scabbard, it's probably hard to tell—hmm, what to do.

I recalled that during an early development meeting, there was an idea about pulling out a sword stabbed into the body and fighting with it, so I consolidated that into what would be the head area in human terms.

I've designed the body to give an overall abstracted impression, so that it looks like a face from various angles or cropping methods.

Coordinated movements by multiple units are fairly troublesome. As for the sound effects, I feel like I made a bunch of requests and might have caused some trouble,

But overall, it turned out impactful, so I'm quite fond of it. Thank you all for your cooperation!

Plaque Lore:

合戦の中、敵味方関係なく人を襲おそい刀を振ふるった侍さむらいがいた。ある夜、寝込ねこみを襲おそわれたことで命を落とす。 その亡骸なきがらは無数の顔が集まった見た目をしており、どこが本当の顔か分からなかったと言われている。いつの頃ころからか、夜な夜な戦いを求める侍さむらいが山中に現れ、頭部に刺ささった刀を引き抜ぬき、斬きりかかってくると伝えられる。

There once was a samurai who swung his sword at all those in his path, regardless of friend or foe. His life came to an end one night when he was taken down in his sleep. Legend says the corpse left behind was merely a collection of faces, with no way to tell which one was the true face of the samurai. Even in death the samurai's lust for blood is unyielding, and it can be found roaming the mountains at night, a sword pulled from its own head in hand.

Kunitsu-Gami Design Commentary 18: Nurikabe(塗壁ぬりかべ)

■第18回　驚異で最高の出落ち、塗り壁！？
塗り壁…難しい、とても難しい。動き遅くなるだろうし、大きさにも限界あるしどうにかならんもんかと。
ミーティングの最中に「像が真っ二つに割れて広がって壁になる」というアイデアが出て来た瞬間完成。… pic.twitter.com/r1x0gnRaE2

— 【公式】 祇（くにつがみ）：Path of the Goddess (@Kunitsu_Gami_JP) June 24, 2026

■第18回　驚異で最高の出落ち、塗り壁！？

塗り壁…難しい、とても難しい。動き遅くなるだろうし、大きさにも限界あるしどうにかならんもんかと。

ミーティングの最中に「像が真っ二つに割れて広がって壁になる」というアイデアが出て来た瞬間完成。

道の広さは引き具合で制御対応可、速度は一定で近づく恐ろしさ、大事なのは何よりも見た目とギミックのインパクトですね。

像は具体的な見た目にするのは心苦しいので、それっぽい偶像をデザイン。中の畏哭はデカい顔で平べったい身体が入っていて、

広がるとそれを坂に敵が昇ってくると伝え、後は担当者の情熱で仕上げて貰いました。色んな解釈の塗り壁が居ても良いんじゃなのかな…

唯の像がまっすぐ動くだけという事でアニメーターの方もビックリしていました。

■18th Round: The Ultimate Drop Comedy with Amazement, Plaster Wall!?

Plaster Wall... it's tough, really tough. It'll slow down the movement, and there's a limit to its size too—wondering if there's any way around it.

Right in the middle of the meeting, the moment the idea "the statue splits clean in half and spreads out to become a wall" came up, it was done.

The width of the path can be controlled by adjusting the pull, the speed is constant for that creeping dread as it approaches—most importantly, it's all about the visuals and the gimmick's impact.

It felt wrong to give the statue a specific look, so I designed something like a vague idol. Inside, there's the Wail of Dread with a huge face and a flat body crammed in,

and when it spreads, it conveys enemies climbing up it like a ramp—after that, the person in charge wrapped it up with their passion. Maybe it's okay to have all sorts of interpretations of "plaster wall" out there...

The animator was shocked too, since it was just a straight-moving statue and nothing more.

Plaque Lore:

巨大きょだいな仏像の姿をした畏哭いこく。宗そうたちの目の前で壁かべとなり妨害ぼうがいしてくる。とある村の男の話では夜道を歩いていると、 地響じひびきと共に暗闇くらやみの中から巨大きょだいな仏像が現れたという。男が先に進もうとすると突如とつじょ仏像は二つに割れ、壁かべとなって道を塞ふさがれてしまったという記録が残されている。

The Nurikabe appear as large Buddha statues, but can turn into walls to block Soh's path. Legend says that there was once a man who was walking in the pitch of the night when all of a sudden the ground beneath his feet shook, and a tremendous Buddha statue appeared as if from the shadows themselves. The man tried to continue past, but the statue split into two, forming a large, impassable wall.

A dangerous enemy in the DLC. It can flatten Yoshiro, defiling her instantly.