Tale of Ronin

An ink style digital artwork of a woman in robes standing in front of a Japanese style temple or building.

Miko: Japanese Shrine Maidens

A miko, also known as a shrine maiden, is a woman who serves the Shinto kami. Their origins date back to the prehistoric Jomon period (approximately 10,500 BCE-300 BCE) in Japan. The responsibilities and requirements to become a miko have gone through many changes over the years. However, their traditional red hakama, white kosode, and …

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Izanami and Izanagi: Shinto’s Creation Story

Most belief systems have a creation myth, and Shinto, Japan’s native belief system, is no exception. The Shinto creation myth focuses on Izanami-no-Mikoto and Izanagi-no-Mikoto, a pair of brother and sister kami who appeared after heaven and earth separated from chaos. They created the Japanese islands using a jeweled spear to stir the ocean. Izanami …

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Ink style artwork of a Japanese Shinto priest standing in robes with a hat, and holding a stick with paper attached to the end.

Harae: Japanese Purification Ritual

Harae is the general term for ritual purification in Shinto, which is one of the four essential elements of a Shinto ceremony. Harae rites have been practiced for centuries. The aim of harae rites is to purify pollution or wrongdoing (tsumi) and impurity (kegare) from the body. These encompass not only guilt but also negative …

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Role-Playing Skills in Tale of Ronin

Role-playing is a fundamental aspect of Tale of Ronin. Each ronin you play as possesses unique characteristics, including specific skills. The game features a total of 15 skills divided into five distinct categories. Some give an advantage in combat, while others offer passive features to aid survival in the challenging world. Certain skills are utilized …

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A black, ink style, drawing of a giant spider with a woman's body erecting from the front. This artwork depicts a Jorogumo, a yokai creature of Japanese lore.

Jorogumo: Japan’s Man-Eating Spider Spirit

Like many other yokai—Japanese spirits, monsters, and supernatural phenomena—the jorogumo is connected to a real animal. The jorogumo spider, known as the Joro spider internationally, is a species of golden orb-weaver spider. It’s usually small and timid. Most specimens reach only a few centimeters in length. However, their bodies are colorful, their webs are strong, …

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A screenshot from the film, Seven Samurai.

Seven Samurai and the Birth of the Samurai Movie: Tale of Ronin’s Origins

According to Akira Kurosawa’s perspective, “the Japanese see self-assertion as immoral, and self-sacrifice is the sensible course to take in Life.” This is because one must serve their master, the shogun, or the emperor. However, this hypothesis is challenged in Seven Samurai, a classic film that inspired Roger Ebert to write: “Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai …

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