Another "Okami" post. I know. However, after finding a collection of Japanese myths and folktales, I found a story in that book which I remembered from "Okami". The legend of the Moon Princess is one that is widely known in Japan. To summarize, a poor bamboo-cutter is out one night, and sees a bamboo stalk that has a radiant light coming from it. He cuts it open, and sees a beautiful baby girl. He takes her home to his wife, and they raise the child. As the child grows, she becomes famous for her beauty and radiance, with kings and commoners alike in love with her. The day comes when Kaguya-hime (Moon Princess) is summoned back to the moon. she does, but leaves behind a garment to remind her guardians of her love for them.
"Okami" uses this legend for one of the stages in the game, and the details are very accurate. A humorous element is even mixed in by making the princess have rabbit ears, referencing another popular Japanese myth; the rabbit in the moon legend goes along with the Moon Princess legend. The player must find the princess and free her from the evil emperor, so she can return to the moon.
So, yet another reason to check out "Okami". You can get a literary education.
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