STORY AND ILLUSTRATIONS NUMBER 07:

Mikanko

End of Page 1

Secret Image

Org note: We have previously translated the reference art for Ha-Re, as well as Ni-Ni.

End of Chapter

TL notes:
1) “Kami” directly translates to “god”, but in a Shinto context, it also encompasses a number of entities, from deities to spirits.
2) “Amato Biraki” (天戸開き) would translate to “the opening of the heaven’s gate”. This part of the Mikanko lore is inspired by the Shinto mythology of Amaterasu and the Ama-no-Iwato. Amaterasu confined herself into a sealed cave, and the other deities conducted a celebration outside of it to entice her to come outside. In the Mikanko context, there is an opening in the heavens for the Kami to descend, and the Mikanko perform a ritual to entice the Kami to come to the mortal realm. The celebration in Shinto mythology is also considered to be the origin of the Kagura dance.
3) The “Kami of the Sun” is a reference to Amaterasu.
4) In Shinto, a “Yorishiro” is a vessel for a Kami for them to have a physical form.
5) Arahitogami is a Kami manifested in human form.
6) The three sacred treasures are also part of the Shinto mythology: The sword, the mirror and the orb, as represented by each of the three Mikanko girls.
7) Tokoyo-no-Naganakidori (lit. “the eternally-long singing bird”) is also a reference to the Amaterasu mythology. According to the Kojiki, the various Kami used Tokoyo-no-Naganakitori, i.e., long-crowing roosters, to draw Amaterasu out of the cave. This is the origin story of the rooster becoming the symbol of announcing the arrival of the sun. Thus, the rooster is the sacred animal associated with Ohime.
8) The name of each of the families/clans (Mitsurugi, Mikagami, Mitama) are written as “Mi” (御) plus the name of each relic (Tsurugi = sword, Kagami = mirror, Tama = orb/jewel). “Mi” here can mean divine, governing, and honorable. In other words, each family is named after some form of reverence to the sacred relic that they hold. This is the same “mi” used in the name of the theme “Mikanko”, with the other character being “medium, oracle”.
9) The “hinezumi” is a fire rat. The nicknames Ha-Re is being called are “nezumikko” (rat girl) and “ha-re-chuu” (chuu being the sound a rat makes).
10) Nekomata, the two-tailed cat youkai.
11) Regarding the Mitama clan, being “recognized” is a localization for “being entered into the (family) registry”. It is implied that if the Mikanko candidates aren’t good enough, they wouldn’t even be recognized as family.
12) Youko, a fox spirit, or rather, a kitsune. “Mayowashidori”, or “fascinating bird”, is another name for kitsune. The kitsune can transform into different animals (bakegitsune).