Talk:Horkeu Kamui

Yeah, looks like you got this. I was hesitant to change it because it was already ingrained with a bunch of Rossciaco secondaries, but LW's official English translation pushed my hand.

--Mrquiggles (talk) 02:34, 27 March 2018 (UTC)

Wasn't really sure where to put this, so I figured I'd make an account to talk about it. I know it's difficult to tell without any official spellings in-game, but the name used on here is incorrect! The name "Horkeukamui" is actually properly spelled Horkew Kamuy in English. This is due to the fact his name isn't written in standard Japanese, but rather in Ainu, which is written in katakana but romanized differently in English to more accurately capture the original pronunciation.

From Wikipedia: The Ainu revered the wolf as the deity Horkew Kamuy ("howling god"), in recognition of the animal's similar hunting habits. Wolves were sacrificed in "sending-away" iomante ceremonies, and some Ainu communities, such as those in Tokachi and Hidaka, held origin myths linking the birth of the Ainu to a coupling between a white wolf and a goddess. (link).

The paragraph cites The Lost Wolves of Japan, a book by Brett L. Walker, that I've actually read - I can confirm the citation is, in fact, correct. The Ainu people of Hokkaido did have a wolf god by the name of Horkew Kamuy, and I am relatively sure this is what the name refers to.

From the equivalent Japanese Wikipedia article: 古来からアイヌの人々とは共存しており、「狩する神（ホロケウカムイ）」、「吠える神（ウォセカムイ）」、｢鹿を獲る神(ユクコイキカムイ)｣と呼ばれ崇められていた。 (link)

"From ancient times, it lived with the Ainu people, and was revered, called 'Horkew Kamuy' (Hunting God), 'Wo-se Kamuy' (Howling God), and 'Yukukoy Kamuy' (Deer-Hunting God)." (my translation - there isn't an established romanization for the third one so I gave it my best shot)

Notice how Horkew Kamuy is spelled in the Japanese Wikipedia article - identical to the one in the game! There's also the fact that the patterns on his clothes suggest traditional Ainu garb, as they employ Ainu patterns that are quite different than native Japanese ones. A quick Google search for 'ainu patterns' should give you what you need to know on the subject, and I don't really wanna clog up this post with a ton of pictures.

Hope this is all helpful.

--Aflockofseagulls (talk) 08:24, 4 March 2017 (UTC)

--Mrquiggles (talk) 13:08, 4 March 2017 (UTC)

Haha nevermind

--Mrquiggles (talk) 19:46, 30 March 2018 (CDT)