Kuroba Raimu (Faith) – Slayer of Nightmares
Horichisa, the Osato-kai irezumi artist based in Osaka, chose a Foo Dog or Lion of Buddha as the main centerpiece of Kuroba’s design. She refused to explain the purpose behind the choice to Kuroba, who wanted a tiger or something ‘cool’ as a chinpira, explaining that the answers would become clear in time. And now, having achieved Chairwoman, Kuroba is inclined to agree. She had to be extraordinarily strong to keep the Clan together and claw her way to the top. Like for Isamu, so, too, the metaphor for hardship about being thrown off the cliff was appropriate. Having her irezumi no youkai being immersed in Buddhist law and the ability to purify and force evil away was invaluable against machinations to corrupt her as well as being surrounded by it through deals and fights likewise against the denizens of the Underworld.
The Lion of Buddha, in fact, is depicted standing at the gates of the Underworld, growling and standing protectively, keeping the hordes at bay. A skull sits next to the gate, as well as an oni mask and hanafuda cards, an indication of what lies within and a reminder to forever be mindful of the dangers that lie within the gate and the vices inside one’s own heart, a reminder to respect tradition and the past, and an echo of the play-like nature that the yakuza continue to act out until eternity.
The Baku was added in after her first foray into the Underworld, a fairly large addition wrapping from her back to stomach, ignoring the whines of ‘still not a cool choice’. Horichisa stated that the Baku would save her life and keep the Osato-kai on the right path, but again refused to explain.
It turned out that the obaasan was entirely correct. Kuroba developed a dual invocation with the Baku. She keeps this fairly secret, however, as invoking the Baku is very dangerous for her. She can literally draw the corruption out of an area or person, but she has to hope her own strength, willpower, and primary irezumi no youkai, the Foo Dog, is capable of purifying the corruption and nightmare out of an area, or she could easily cause herself to be possessed. If she’s planning on using this power, she hedges her bet, seeking out blessings from Buddhist priests, carrying a talisman, and using the protective magic she’s learned to fortify her defenses before doing so.
This is, however, the secret behind her victory over another lieutenant, Ara Satoko. Once she sought the permission of her former Matriarch, Sanjou, she and Ara fought a duel to the death, and she used her secondary invocation to literally capture and destroy the woman’s irezumi no youkai, rendering her entirely helpless. Theoretically, she could do this in a one-on-one duel to any living yakuza or any number of ghosts or other yokai. However, trying to do so against an army would probably overwhelm her.
It still remains a secret how she achieved this, as none of the observers were extremely versed in working out magical formulas, and all they saw was ‘s invocation suddenly wink out and then Faith stab her fellow lieutenant. It earned her a lot of fear and respect, and was one step along the path leading to her promotion to secondary Matriarch, direct Matriarch, and, eventually Chairwoman (though she’s still quite young for such a career path!).
Her sleeves are Mala (recitation beads) lying on the earth. She’s only starting to understand this one—while she was aware that her connections with others is important and she’s not an individual—after all, how would she manipulate other people and play the game without it—but she didn’t fully understand her symbiotic relationship with the Amaya-kai and such individuals until recently. Mostly, she used a mantra and willpower to move one bead at a time on any of the mala in order to create positive spiritual energy to bolster her power and protect her (and potentially others) against the threats of corruption.
There’s a boundary leading to her front, where she’s got a pond and lotus flowers on her chest. The back and the baku have the usual symbolism for earth and wind (sky), although near the gate there’s the interesting addition of the miasma that filters out as it reaches the Foo Dog, representing its ability to filter out the evil of the Underworld (and elsewhere).
*Mala-not mentioned in irezumi, but then, without spirit ink most people couldn’t actually move the beads as you’re supposed to do in tattoo form. Creates positive spirit energy and reminder of connection with others
*Foo Dog-courage, strength, soul of a protector
*Baku-protector, devours nightmares
*skull-understand mortality, don’t take life for granted, carpe diem, respect to ancestors
*oni mask-death bringer
*hanafuda cards- luck, courage
*lotus-struggle of life to create a beautiful flower, search for meaning
*when in America as a secondary Matriarch she added the canon Faith tattoo on her arm in between the mala, much to her Horishi’s disapproval. It doesn’t do anything. It doesn’t even use spirit ink. She just thought it looked cool and it was a bit of a rebellion, getting a *gasp* American tattoo as well as her irezumi.
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