Father/Synopsis

Father
Father's name before becoming known as the Crafter is currently unknown. Around 1000 years ago, Father's family - mother, father, and an unnamed sibling - perished due to a series of natural disasters that destroyed his village, after which he became an orphan. He was found by a lone Buddhist missionary who rescued him from under rubble. Although a young Father became dependent on the monk, the missionary wanted to cast off his mortal body to meet the Buddha, implying reincarnation in the Pure Land. The monk attempted to throw himself off a steep cliff face along with the young orphan in order to save him (presumably by taking him to the Pure Land); however, the orphan fought back and the monk was pushed off instead, falling into the water below. Although he didn't believe in the Pure Land, Father took the appearance of a monk because it was useful in his travels. He recalls visiting villages and trying to hold funerals, repairing houses and bridges, killing, stealing, and even sleeping with monks - doing everything possible to survive because mere prayer wasn't enough.



At a later point in his life, Father died and came back from the Underworld through a loophole, being summoned to the surface with the sound of his name being called. This caused him to reincarnate again and again in other people's bodies over the centuries.

While in Yomi, he met the goddess Izanami who took the form of Kaya - a girl with a pockmarked face (の, abatadzura no musume), Father's loved one. They chat about Father's experiences with the monk and his earlier life while carving masks. Because the gods were the ones to make him suffer and simply watched, Father learned about the workings of the Immortal World - namely, shinki, ayakashi, and the Gods' Greatest Secret - because even gods who topple mountains and reverse the tides can be made to reincarnate. He becomes curious about Izanami's Words and their ability to control ayakashi; however, he muses that it might not be a technique he may be able to use. At one point, Father slips up and calls Izanami "Kaya" - this prompts Izanami to ask him to tell her about Kaya's story. Somehow, Father manages to obtain the first Word of Yomi (のの Yomi no Koto no Ha), allowing him to control ayakashi through the use of masks. These ayakashi, however, all had weaknesses, such as being unable to go out into the sun or dying after just one use. Ebisu noted that the oldest masks in his possession started appearing around 1100 years ago (around 900~ C.E, during the Heian period) on the island of Tamatsuki. He theorized that the island may have been the Crafter's birthplace and/or gravesite/place of enshrinement, as the oldest mask was found there. Ebisu also proposes that Father may be a goryōjin, a human who died with a powerful grudge.

In actuality, Tamatsuki is the site of the Sorcerer's grave. The grave itself is a pile of masks - both older designs and more recent ones - surrounded by candles. There have been 73 Grave-keepers (, hakamori) on Tamatsuki, with the most recent Grave-keeper being Satō.

Kaya died at an unspecified time, likely due to a natural disaster or conflict caused by gods. This event is heavily implied to be a major reason for Father's hatred against Heaven and humanity. Father is pictured standing before a scene of destruction - possibly a fire - with a tied corpse and disembodied hand seen in the background ; this event's relation (if any) to the death of Kaya are unknown.

An unspecified amount of time later, Father names the soul of an unborn child who has been touched by an ayakashi with the Word, giving it the name Mizuchi. Mizuchi takes the vessel form of a six-ringed staff called a shakujō and has the ability to "corrode" a shinki and reveal the memories of their past life sealed by their names, thus exposing them to the God's Greatest Secret. For a short time after, Father and Mizuchi kill gods together, likely through causing their shinki to become karma ayakashi. Father realizes that killing gods is pointless as long as the people's faith persists, however, and a tiny god named "Yaboku" (, lit. "night diviner") is born from Father's wish. Father chooses his name after seeing the tiny god catching a star falling from the constellation Kanoto to constellation Tori, saying that he will use him to "divine the fate of the world of men".



Father eventually prompts a young Yaboku to name Mizuchi as his own shinki, granting her the name Hiiro. He encourages them to "play" by killing humans and bringing back their ears in order to fulfill his wish to "cull the herd", stating that this wish is the "only wish [he's] been able to wish in [his] entire life." After he finds out that Yaboku has named a new shinki named Sakura, who discourages him from killing, he nudges Mizuchi to stir Sakura's curiosity about her past life. In doing so, Yaboku reveals Sakura's real name and exposes her to the God's Greatest Secret, turning her into an ayakashi and forcing Yaboku to kill her.

Father continued to cause havoc through Yaboku's nature as a god of calamity. However, the people's faith would grow deeper every time disaster struck, which wound up only making Heaven stronger; thus, Father started "playing around" by sowing discord. Mizuchi notes that Father never really enjoyed it.

At an unspecified point in time afterwards, Yaboku started rebelling against Father. He is shown using physical punishment for disobedience on both Yato and Mizuchi.

Kouto Fujisaki
Until his third year at high school, Kouto Fujisaki lived in the countryside with his family. At some point, his sister and triplet nieces moved in with them; feeling that there was no room left for him in the house, he ran away from home to live with his dad, who was allegedly living in Tokyo for work. However, Akira Yamashita later reveals that Kouto's parents are actually separated.

Volume 7 (24 - 25, 27)
Chapter 24: Kouto Fujisaki catches Hiyori Iki when she trips on an empty can and tells her to be careful, continuing on his way.

Chapter 25: Kouto is seen looking out of a window at Hiyori Iki, who is under the influence of Divine Possession by Yato. At the end of the chapter, a Masked Ayakashi in the form of a cat is seen looking at Hiyori.

Chapter 27: Father in his original black-haired body is seen from Yato's point of view several times during this chapter. In the first instance, he is seen leading a young Yato away from a small shrine, saying he "doesn't need one of those things." Toward the end of the chapter, Nora is questioning whether Yukine and Hiyori can really love Yato, and that she and Father will always love him - this dialogue is overlaid on panels of Father taking away Yato's shrine from his child self.

Volume 8 (28, 30 - 31)
Chapter 28: In the beginning of the chapter, Father and Mizuchi are seen from Yato's point of view, questioning whether Hiyori and Yukine can really love him.

At school, Hiyori approaches Kouto - who was sleeping on a school bench - and asks him for his name and email address on behalf of her friend, Akira Yamashita, who has a crush on him. He introduces himself as Kouto Fujisaki, a third year, simultaneously recognizing Hiyori as the "'stormy school' girl" and holding up the business card that Yato gave out while impersonating her through Divine Possession. Kouto asks for Hiyori's number but Hiyori rebuts that she's asking for a friend; he acts surprised, thinking that Hiyori was interested in him instead. Hiyori ultimately rejects him, saying she would never.

Back at their house in Takama-ga-hara, Father walks in on Yato fighting off his Masked Ayakashi and demanding to be let out. He remarks that Yato has never said something like that before and says he'll set him free after one more job he'd like him to do. Mizuchi asks about where he wants them to go, to which Father responds they'll be going to Yomi.

Chapter 30: Kouto, along with his friends Abe and Seki, meet up with Hiyori, Yama and Aimi Tabata for a triple date at Capyper Land. Although Kouto is supposed to be Yama's date, she notices Abe's Hyakki Yakko keychain (remarking that Kouto has a resemblance to the visual kei band's vocalist) and they instantly hit it off. Kouto apologizes to Hiyori for making her waste her day off, to which Hiyori responds that he shouldn't be because they were the ones who invited him. He says that he came with them because he heard Hiyori would be coming, to which Hiyori reacts with surprise. He quickly brushes past this and says this is his first time here, holding a Capyper Land Best Guide book filled with sticky notes.

The group seem to have a fun time at Capyper Land, visiting all sorts of attractions and rides. While sitting down to eat, Hiyori asks if he transferred to their school this spring. Kotuo affirms this and explains that his dad was living in Tokyo for work and he was living with the rest of his family out in the country. He goes on to explain that it was a nice, quiet place until his sister moved in with his triplet nieces and there wasn't any room for him anymore, prompting him to run away to live with his dad. Hiyori absentmindedly says that he has a sister, elaborating that she herself has a brother and Kouto asks if he's anything "like that." Hiyori retorts that her brother is nothing like that but Kouto responds that he thought she was pretty cool during the stormy school incident. The conversation is interrupted by the commotion of kids rushing to meet a nearby Capyper. Kouto asks if they're not going to take a picture with him, to which Abe says to go take a picture by himself. Having been subconsciously reminded of Yato by Kotuo's mannerisms, Hiyori asks if he wants to get in line since it's his first time and they take a picture together.

While Hiyori shops for keychains to take a souvenirs, Kouto is seen shopping for Capyper plushies for his nieces. Ami remarks that he's by himself, to which Yama responds he's probably having the most fun out of all of them. Seeing Hiyori's flustered face while thinking about "forgetting something really important", Kouto blushes.

The group heads to watch the Electric Parade. While Hiyori thinks of the person she wanted to be with longer, Kouto takes her hand and kisses her unexpectedly.

Chapter 31: Kouto and Hiyori see each other at school after the Capyper Land incident; Hiyori quickly flees the classroom. Although he calls out to her, she ignores him.

A brief glimpse of Father in his original form holding up a child Yato is seen while Yato confronts Ebisu about the reason for his existence.

Volume 9 (32)
Chapter 32: [TBA]

Volume 10 (36 - 37, 39)
Chapter 36: [TBA]

Chapter 37: [TBA]

Chapter 39: [TBA]

Volume 11 (40, 43)
Chapter 40: [TBA]

Chapter 43: [TBA]

Volume 12 (44 - 47)
Chapter 44: [TBA]

Chapter 45: [TBA]

Chapter 46: [TBA]

Chapter 47: [TBA]

Volume 13 (48)
Chapter 48: [TBA]

Volume 13 (49 - 51)
Chapter 49: [TBA]

Chapter 50: [TBA]

Chapter 51: [TBA]

Volume 15 (56)
Chapter 56: [TBA]

Volume 16 (60, 62 - 63)
Chapter 60: [TBA]

Chapter 62: [TBA]

Chapter 63: [TBA]

Volume 17 (64 - 65)
Chapter 64: [TBA]

Chapter 65: [TBA]

Volume 18 (68 - 70)
Chapter 68: [TBA]

Chapter 69: [TBA]

Chapter 70: [TBA]

Volume 19 (72, 74 - 75)
Chapter 72: Yato tells the people gathered at Kofuku's shop that the Crafter is a man with a monk's staff and that they should run away if they see him.

Chapter 74: Hiyori mentions in her diary that Kouto has been absent from school and that she hasn't seen him since the battle. His classmates also remark that he's been home from school.

Chapter 75: [TBA]

Volume 20 (76 - 79)
Chapter 76: [TBA]

Chapter 77: [TBA]

Chapter 78: [TBA]

Chapter 79: [TBA]

Ooharai Arc
[TBA]

Story (Anime)
[TBA]