The Truth of the Tsukumogami Tribe in Kozan

In Japanese mythology, the tsukumogami is a type of youkai manifesting in the form of an object inhabited by one of the Eight Million Gods in Shinto. One of the thousands of youkai tribes recognized by the Federal Kingdom of Kozan follows a different practice.

When a child of such tribe is born, they are given a tool or object blessed by the god inside the object. The object must be at least a century old from its creation. This is to symbolize the object gaining life after a century from its creation. Depending on how the child behaves during their youth, they would end up being harmless and friendly, or otherwise a horrifying vengeful spirit, regardless of how the object was treated and used prior to the child’s birth.

The type of object given at birth also determines the customs they must follow:

Karakasa Obake

Literally, an umbrella spirit. The umbrella given generally has one eye and a long tongue protruding from it, and the handle is shaped like a foot. The Shintoist Province and Scarlet Devil of Team Crimson created robotic versions of this monster to use as weapons during the Kozanese Civil War. They are referred to as Mecha-gasas, and you might have seen them in the later stages of Chuhou Joutai 2: Paraided! and Chuhou Joutai 3: Three Nights of Scarlet Abscess.

Instrumentals

There are multiple objects that are musical instruments: First is biwabokuboku, a stringed musical instrument similar to a lute, as well as kotofurunushi, taking the form of a koto. Individuals given the object must learn to play it during their lifetime.

Clothing and Accessories

Additionally, fashion may also play a role in the tribe. Such examples are the menreiki, given a mask they must wear at a festival at least once, and the kutsutsura, being a pair of shoes or a crown they must wear when getting married.

Conclusion

The possibilities are endless, but these are the ones that are known in Kozan.