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Nitori Kawashiro
kawaɕiɺo nʲitoɾi (♫) Nitori Kawashiro Kawasiro Nitori More Alternative Spellings | |
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Nitori Kawashiro in Hopeless Masquerade Super Youkai WarheadMore Character Titles | |
Species | |
Abilities |
Manipulation of water |
Occupation | |
Location | |
Music Themes | |
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Appearances | |
Official Games | |
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Print Works | |
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Nitori Kawashiro (河城 にとり Kawashiro Nitori) is a very shy Kappa who lives on the Youkai Mountain. She has the power to control water. Along with the other kappa she is very good with technical stuff, as she is an engineer. She first appeared as a stage 3 boss in Mountain of Faith and later became a playable partner with Marisa in Subterranean Animism. According to ZUN, there were also plans to make her a playable character in Touhou Hisoutensoku, but she was scrapped due to time constraints.
General Information
Personality
Nitori is a shy kappa by nature, and if she is alone and sees a human, she'll run away, like in Mountain of Faith. She considers herself to be superior to humans and even other youkai, and when she's by herself it's easy to see. However, when among her own circle of friends, she is quite cheerful. As a kappa, she is easily persuaded to leave you alone by a cucumber or two. However she has a greedy side when it comes to running a stand and is quick to come up with plots to maximize profit.
Ability
Her ability to manipulate water is inherent in the fact that she is a kappa, and has nothing to do with the myriad tools she uses. No one knows the true extent of this power, but she has been seen to use it to shoot water, create fountains, and perform other tricks.
Apparently her arms are connected inside her body as well, so she can retract one while extending the other, such as in one of her spellcards from Mountain of Faith. This would appear to be another commonality among kappa, but some speculate that this may be the effect of certain tools they use.
Occupation
As she is an engineer she is very interested in products made by the humans of the outside world. She takes such products apart and puts them back together in order to understand them. However, she has trouble creating magical tools of any sort. She is fond of selling her inventions and other things such as Fish as her story mode in Hopeless Masquerade details her attempts at running a stand before getting sucked into the battle.
Possessions
Nitori possesses many small devices and objects, and carries them all in her backpack.
Design
Name
Her full name is Nitori Kawashiro (河城 にとり). Kawashiro (河城) means "river(河) castle(城)". Nitori is in hiragana.
Her name might have originated from Ryuunosuke Akutagawa's novel Kappa the second chapter of which begins with the sentence 「そのうちにやっと気がついてみると、僕は仰向けに倒れたまま、大勢の河童にとり囲まれていました。」(Sono uchi ni yatto kigatsuite miru to, boku wa aomuke ni taoreta mama, oozei no kappa ni tori kakomarete imashita., "When at last I came 'round, I found myself lying on my back surrounded by a large number of kappas.") — from the translation by Seiichi Shiojiri.
Appearance
Nitori has blue hair tied into twintails and blue eyes in Mountain of Faith. She wears a blue dress with lots of pockets around the hem of the skirt and her upper arm, and a dark aquamarine backpack with a golden key on the strap in front of her. She also wears a green hat with a white wispy symbol on it, blue wellington boots and carries a cattail. As an engineer she carries a lot of tools with her in the pockets.
Story
When she first sees the heroine, she immediately runs away. But later they fight. After the midboss fight she says her "optical camouflage suit" broke. The heroine doesn't know what it is. Nitori then says the heroine beat her up pretty good even with the camouflage. And then, again, runs away with the message that it is dangerous in the mountain.
- Main article: Reimu Arc
When Reimu and Nitori meet again Nitori immediately starts about what she said in earlier, that it is dangerous. But Reimu thought she was in her way and want to go to the mountain to talk with the gods there. Nitori again warns her but Reimu has to go. Then Nitori starts to fight because that could work to make her go away. But she is defeated. Nitori couldn't believe it. Then she wants to tell something about the human and kappa being friends. So, Nitori let her pass to deal with the gods on the mountain.
- Main article: Marisa Arc
Nitori also tells Marisa to not go any further. She says she hasn't met a human for ages, and thought she could have a little test with her camouflage suit. She again tells Marisa to go back, but Marisa says that you will get even more curious to go further if someone says stop. And she starts to fight to go further. And Nitori lost. Nitori tells about the human and kappa being friends for a long time. And she wants Marisa to deal with the new gods on the mountain, so she lets her pass.
In the end the kappa accepted the new gods of the mountain.
- Subterranean Animism
- Main article: Marisa and Nitori's Scenario
During the events of Subterranean Animism, she is one of the kappa who hears from the God of the sky, Kanako Yasaka about the new power of nuclear fusion in the Underworld. However, they are unwilling to go there due to the oni living underground. Learning that Reimu is going underground to investigate, she convinces Marisa to explore there as well, since she doesn't seem to have anything better to do.
Relationships
Nitori knows Marisa Kirisame. In the story of Subterranean Animism the kappa heard news about nuclear power and Nitori asked Marisa to investigate underground.
Obviously she is in a friendly relationship with the other kappa. With the other kappa they experiment and invent with new items. She is seen with the other kappa in Wild and Horned Hermit. It should be noted that Kappa are not that great at group projects so it's not likely that she'd work with them.
Humans aren't aware of it, but she states kappa are friends with humans. Nitori in particular is too shy to be with a human when by herself. Even so, Symposium of Post-mysticism states that as a kappa, if a human gets too close she'll remove their shirikodama, and the human will die. She can even use her extending arms (tsuuhai) to grab a person's legs from a distance and drag them in. Because of the conflicting information, it's not really known just how much of an "ally" the kappas are to humans.
Gallery
Nitori's sigil in The Grimoire of Marisa.
Spell Cards
Name | Translated | Comments | Games | Stage | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total: 28 | ||||||
光学「オプティカルカモフラージュ」 | Optics "Optical Camouflage" | Related: SA bomb "Optical Camouflage" | MoF | St. 3: E/N | ||
光学「ハイドロカモフラージュ」 | Optics "Hydro Camouflage" | MoF | St. 3: H/L | |||
洪水「ウーズフラッディング」 | Flood "Ooze Flooding" | MoF | St. 3: E/N | |||
洪水「デリューヴィアルメア」 | Flood "Diluvial Mere" | MoF | St. 3: H | |||
漂溺「光り輝く水底のトラウマ」 | Drown "Trauma in the Glimmering Depths" | MoF GoM |
St. 3: L — | |||
水符「河童のポロロッカ」 | Water Sign "Kappa's Pororoca" | MoF GoM |
St. 3: E/N | |||
水符「河童のフラッシュフラッド」 | Water Sign "Kappa's Flash Flood" | MoF | St. 3: H | |||
水符「河童の幻想大瀑布」 | Water Sign "Kappa's Great Illusionary Waterfall" | MoF | St. 3: L | |||
河童「お化けキューカンバー」 | Kappa "Monster Cucumber" | MoF GoM |
St. 3: E/N — | |||
河童「のびーるアーム」 | Kappa "Exteeeending Aaaaarm" | MoF | St. 3: H | |||
河童「スピン・ザ・セファリックプレート」 | Kappa "Spin the Cephalic Plate" | MoF | St. 3: L | |||
水符「ウォーターカーペット」 | Water Sign "Water Carpet" | DS | St. 4 | |||
河符「ディバイディングエッジ」 | River Sign "Dividing Edge" | DS | St. 4 | |||
河童「乾燥尻子玉」 | Kappa "Dried Shirikodama" | DS | St. 4 | |||
豪雨「河底大戦争」 | Heavy Rain "Great War Beneath the River" | HM ULiL AoCF |
Use Use Use | |||
泡符「撃て!バブルドラゴン」 | Bubble Sign "Fire! Bubble Dragon" | HM ULiL AoCF |
Use Use Use | |||
戦機「飛べ!三平ファイト」 | Battle Machine "Fly! Sanpei Fight" | HM ULiL AoCF |
Use Use Use | |||
「スーパースコープ3D」 | "Super Scope 3D" | HM | Use-LW | |||
水符「夏のペットボトルロケット」 | Water Sign "Summer Plastic Bottle Rocket" | HM | Story | |||
妖怪戦艦「三平ファイター」 | Youkai Battleship "Sanpei Fighter" | HM | Story | |||
瀑符「シライトフォール」 | Waterfall Sign "Shiraito Falls" | ISC GoU |
St. 6 — | |||
瀑符「ケゴンガン」 | Waterfall Sign "Kegon Gun" | ISC | St. 6 | |||
*ネス湖は今ここにある!* | *Loch Ness is Here Right Now!* | ULiL AoCF |
Use-LW Use-LW | |||
*ネッシーの完全養殖技術* | *Perfect Nessie Cultivation Method* | ULiL | Story | |||
水面符「ミズバクマスカレード」 | Water Mask Sign "Water Bomb Masquerade" | Co-owner with Kokoro | AoCF | Story | ||
拳水符「入道叢雲ミズバク拳」 | Fist Water Sign "Nyuudou Murakumo Water Bomb Fist" | Co-owner with Ichirin | AoCF | Story | ||
兵器「ウォーター火炎放射器」 | Weapon "Water Flamethrower" | 100BM | 4th Market | |||
「沢の流れのように」 | "Like the Flow of a Mountain Marsh" | 100BM | 4th Market |
Additional Information
- The Kappa in the series seem to be inspired by the Kappa in the above mentioned novel, where they have their own civilization as opposed to their bloodthirsty nature in folklore.
- Nitori's "Optical Camouflage" spell cards may refer to another aspect of kappa that Akutagawa writes about: "But what is most remarkable about kappas is that, unlike human beings, they change colors according to their surroundings."
- Her backpack resembles a tortoise shell. Isn't that fitting for a kappa?
- Nitori is the only playable partner in Subterranean Animism who never appeared in Scarlet Weather Rhapsody; all the other partners, including Reimu's, did.
- Nitori's last word in Hopeless Masquerade partially resembles Solid Snake's Final Smash from Super Smash Brothers Brawl.
Fandom
- As traditional depictions of kappa show a bald spot at the top of their heads, rumor has it that her hat is concealing that bald spot. However, ZUN discredited this rumor during a discussion on 2ch after Mountain of Faith was released.
- Some fan works depict her carrying a Pepsi Ice Cucumber in place of the reed she normally has. (In Japanese folklore, kappas love cucumbers. This is also referenced by Nitori's "Monster Cucumber" spell card.)
- She's also sometimes depicted wearing a school swimsuit under her dress.
- One of the earliest fan-made vocal arrangements of Nitori's theme music (にとりの唄(萌), Nitori's Song (Moe)) has lyrics that translate as "Kappappa kappappa Nitori, you get more than you pay for with Nitori." The latter part is from the slogan of the Nitori store chain, and several doujinshi have made it into something of an unofficial slogan for her as well. A reference to "kappappa kappappa" subsequently appeared in Subterranean Animism.
- It is speculated that Nitori is one of the kappa who helped Suwako in the construction of Hisoutensoku.
- Aside from Rinnosuke and Yukari, Nitori is considered to be the most technologically advanced in the Touhou universe, often showing her capability to construct modern/futuristic weapons and machinery in fan works.
- Even when Nitori does not appear in person, fanart often uses "NITORI" as a brand name on electronic equipment, such as Aya's camera.
Official Profiles
○3面ボス 超妖怪弾頭 河城 にとり(かわしろ にとり) 種族:河童 妖怪の山に住む河童である。ここ暫くの間、河童は滅多に人間の前に姿を現さなくなったが、河童は人間を隠れて観察していた為、人間とは仲が良いつもりでいる。 突然態度や口調を変えたり、ちょっと奇異な性格の持ち主だが、案外、人見知りする。人間をみるとすぐに逃げる。 コテコテのエンジニアで、人工物をみるとすぐにばらしては、元通りにする。その為の工具が、彼女の服にびっしり入っている。 今回は、山には入ろうとしていた霊夢達を追い返そうとしていたのだが、それだけ山が緊急事態だと判断したからである。 |
Stage 3 Boss Super Youkai Warhead
Species: Kappa A kappa that lives on Youkai Mountain. For a long time, kappa haven't let themselves be seen by humans, but since they usually hide to watch humans, they like to think that they are on good terms with humans. She may suddenly change her attitude or speech, and she possesses a rather odd personality, but she's unexpectedly shy. She runs away the moment she sees a human. Since she's an engineering nut, whenever she sees something man-made, she takes it apart and puts it back together. Because of this, her clothes are stuffed with tools. She wanted to turn away Reimu and the others who had entered the mountain, but this is only because she believed that there was some sort of emergency occurring on the mountain. |
○3面ボス 超妖怪弾頭 河城 にとり(かわしろ にとり) 種族:河童 妖怪の山に住む河童である。ここ暫くの間、河童は滅多に人間の前に 突然態度や口調を変えたり、ちょっと奇異な性格の持ち主だが、案外、 コテコテのエンジニアで、人工物をみるとすぐにばらしては、元通り 今回は、山に入ろうとしていた霊夢達を追い返そうとしていたのだが、 結局、霊夢達は警告を聞き入れようとしなかった為、にとりはこっそ すったもんだの騒動の結果、結局河童は新しく来た山の神を受け入れ |
Stage 3 Boss Super Youkai Warhead
Species: Kappa A kappa that lives on Youkai Mountain. For a long time, kappa haven't let themselves be seen by humans, but since they usually hide to watch humans, they like to think that they are on good terms with humans. She may suddenly change her attitude or speech, and she possesses a rather odd personality, but she's unexpectedly shy. She runs away the moment she sees a human. Since she's an engineering nut, whenever she sees something man-made, she takes it apart and puts it back together. Because of this, her clothes are stuffed with tools. She wanted to chase away Reimu and the others who had entered the mountain, but this is only because she believed that there was some sort of emergency occurring on the mountain, and she thought the humans would be in danger. In the end, since Reimu and company didn't take her advice, Nitori secretly decided to let them into the mountain. She thought it would be interesting to watch them interact with the mysterious new god. As a result of the ensuing battle, the kappa came to accept the new god of the mountain. |
○超妖怪弾頭 河城 にとり(かわしろ にとり) 種族:河童 山に住む河童。 そう考えたのだが、河童として鬼の住む地底には入りたくなかった。 先を越されてなる物かと、にとりは暇そうにしていた魔理沙に話を持ちかけ、地底に潜らせる事にした。 |
Super Youkai Warhead
Species: Kappa A kappa that lives on the mountain. However, the kappa didn't want to go underground where the oni lived. As they were wondering how they could investigate the underground, they heard a rumor that Reimu would be going there at the request of the other youkai. Ever taking the initiative, Nitori decided to go convince Marisa to explore underground, since Marisa didn't seem to have anything better to do. |
Official Sources
- 2007/07/26 Mountain of Faith Demo - Stage 3 dialogue (Marisa, Reimu); キャラ説明.txt (pre-official profile)
- 2007/08/17 Mountain of Faith - Stage 3 dialogue (Marisa, Reimu); Ending no.1, no.4; キャラ設定.txt (official profile)
- 2008/02/09 Silent Sinner in Blue - Chapter 9
- 2008/08/18 Subterranean Animism - Marisa and Nitori's Scenario and Extra Stage dialogue; キャラ設定.txt (official profile)
- 2009/07/28 The Grimoire of Marisa - Nitori Kawashiro's Spell Cards
- 2010/03/14 Double Spoiler - Stage 4 Spell Card comments
- 2010/09/25 Wild and Horned Hermit - Chapter 2
- 2010/11/25 Wild and Horned Hermit - Chapter 3
- 2010/12/25 Oriental Sacred Place - Chapter 12
- 2011/01/25 Wild and Horned Hermit - Chapter 4
- 2011/03/28 Wild and Horned Hermit - Chapter 5
- 2012/04/27 Symposium of Post-mysticism - Nitori Kawashiro
- 2013/05/26 - Hopeless Masquerade - Playable character
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