First album from Nekogakure

1. Hollyhock: An Introduction

Our story follows Buke no Kitsune, or simply Fox, as he sets out on a journey of self-reflection across the island nation. With many decades of war now behind the people, the role of a warrior seems rather uncertain, and an existential struggle has been building up within Fox. The land unified and long-term peace on the horizon, Fox decides to leave his home domain to cross the land, to learn and to meditate on his life and what it means to be a warrior. The temple of his family's patron deity is far to the east and Fox intends to rest there for a time.

"Fox walked over a mountain
and entered a valley wide
-
He'd just left his domain
but he didn't want to hide
-
With war now at its end
things are tough for those who serve
-
With peace on the horizon
what role for the warrior?
-
Fox now meant to cross the land
As rōnin, man of the waves
-
On his way to a temple in the east
While contemplating how a true warrior behaves"

Spoken word written by Nekogakure

2. Monogatari

After descending the mountains between his home domain and the rest of the land, Fox began walking through the wide valley on the other side but stopped momentarily. He looked back at the mountain range behind him, though only briefly, before continuing on his way. As he set out on his journey, Fox thought of old stories passed down through the ages, the fall of an old and powerful warrior house because of pride and arrogance, and he reflected on these tales.

Spoken word pieces were read from a translation of Heike Monogatari

3. Tsuki no Kami

One night, Fox decided to set camp off the side of the road. As darkness fell, Fox sat at his campfire watching the flames dance in the night. Feeling his eyelids getting heavier, he looked up to the moon above, studying its features, before soon drifting off to sleep. Through the night, Fox had restless dreams of dark figures dancing in the moonlight.

4. Among Men, the Warrior

The next day, Fox continued his journey and came to a small village holding some kind of festival. At the center of the village was a wooden stage with performers dressed as warrior heroes. They were putting on a show about famous battles past, narrated by an elderly storyteller standing next to the stage. Fox decided to stay for a while to listen.

Spoken word pieces were read from a translation of Taiheiki

5. Shinkage Shinobi

Some time later, while walking through a small forest, Fox sensed something watching him but he continued on his way. After a while of this, Fox stopped in his tracks and called out for whoever was following him to show themselves. Following a quiet chuckle, a rabbit dressed in black hopped down from a nearby tree. As two travelers on the road of contemplation, Fox and Rabbit, Kage no Usagi, shared a bowl of rice and cups of sake together. Fox explained the purpose of his journey and Rabbit offered up some insight of his own, espousing the virtue of stealth and trickery to avoid unnecessary conflict. The two soon parted ways and wished each other well on their journeys, and Fox continued his long walk to the east.

"I'm Kage no Usagi,
the Shinkage Shinobi
-
If I don't want you to know me
then you'll never know me
-
Because if I use stealth, you'd never know I was here
You wouldn't see me or my big rabbit ears
-
And when I hide, you know it's not out of fear
No, the real reason why is much more clear
-
I skip over the body and jump straight to the head
Because when I cut that off, the whole body's dead
-
Avoiding needless fights using my stealth
Cutting right to the chase helps maintain my health
-
The shinobi style may not jive with your warrior way
But by avoiding some battles, you'll live to fight another day"

Lyrics written by Nekogakure

6. Meifumadō

One day it began to rain and thunder could be heard in the distance. Walking through a wide open farming area, there was not much shelter to be found along the way, but the kind greetings of those he passed warmed Fox's heart nonetheless. However, he soon came to a funeral procession. As he watched their approach, Fox stepped aside to make way for the group to pass and he began to wonder what will happen to him when his time comes. Will the lives he has taken in the past weigh down his soul? For a brief moment, Fox shuddered at the thought of such a thing.

7. Sengoku Dawn

As the funeral procession passed by, Fox asked a nearby farmer if he knew the family and, if so, how the person had died. The farmer explained the young man in question went off to war not long ago, one of the last to be fought. Fox contemplated what the previous generations of war truly brought to the people. His own internal crisis of identity also seeped into his thoughts again and Fox wondered how others will be judged now, in a time of peace devoid of glorious warrior feats. The thoughts swirling through his head were contrary and this was not lost on Fox. He continued on his way, though how much time passed before Fox snapped out of his mentally-consuming cycle of conflicting sentiments not even he knew.

Spoken word pieces were read from a translation of Bushidō Shoshinshu

8. Blazing Grass

Eventually, Fox arrived at the new capital city, bustling with many types of animals from across the land. With so many sights to see and such crowds all around him, Fox soon grew anxious and sought the relatively quiet refuge of a small cafe. He entered the dimly lit wooden building which appeared to be filled with a strangely pleasant-smelling smoke unfamiliar to Fox. Sitting in a small booth in a back corner, Fox noticed various people in the cafe smoking a leafy substance from objects made of glass. A server walked to his table and, out of curiosity, Fox decided to order some of the leafy substance with his cup of warm sake. When his order was brought to the table, Fox took a sip of his sake and used a small flint device the server had set before him to create a small flame for burning the leaves in the glass object. Fox drew in the smoke. He did this again and coughed then fell back into his seat with a relieved sigh. Then he sat...for a while.

9. Sakura Falling

After leaving the capital well-rested, Fox realized that it was now cherry blossom season and found a large group of trees not far from the outskirts of town. He decided to stay and enjoy the blossoms while practicing his sword work under the trees. As he went through the movements with his blade, Fox compared the falling blossoms to fallen warriors, living only briefly but spending all their effort and energy in a brilliant final display of beauty and valor.

10. Under a Torii (ft. Silvertongue)

Walking along the main road, now closer to the eastern edge of the main island, Fox came across a small pond at the base of a mountain. Sitting under a torii gate beside the pond was a goat sage. Fox, recognizing the sage by his clothing, approached him in greeting. The sage asked Fox the purpose of his journey and, after receiving a response, offered up some words of his own. Fox sat beside the river, under the torii, and the sage spoke about the importance of wisdom.

"Take a page from the book of the sage and enter a new age in this game of life we all gotta play
What you think and you say can determine your way, bones may fall apart and flesh may decay, but never stray from the path until you find the way
-
I'm the G.O.A.T., kid, but not trying to get my throat slit
-
I move with precision plus razor sharp focus, so take notice, open your mind like a lotus...flower
-
Divine heavenly power channeled through an animal, a warrior, a general, a conqueror of kingdoms
Pursue a path of wisdom, I see enlightened animals in a futuristic vision, so try to listen to the lessons that are given
-
Whether businessmen, militiamen, clergy men, fishermen, or citizen, the mind is a medicine
Be vigilant and separate the artificial truth from the genuine"

Lyrics written by Silvertongue (Max Merrifield)

11. Hidden Nostalgia

After parting ways with the goat sage, Fox continued for quite some time, seeing new places, meeting new people, and contemplating his life both past and future. One day it began to rain quite heavily and Fox found shelter in a nearby cave. He sat to wait out the rain and his thoughts drifted to words of an old master from back home that spoke of nostalgia for the old days and what it means to be a warrior whether in war or peace.

Spoken word pieces were read from a translation of Hagakure

12. Moistened Sleeves

Later, Fox came to a small city where he decided to find a restaurant for a more substantial meal. Finding an appropriate establishment, Fox entered and sat at a table in the back room, next to an open window. The bamboo wood chimes in the window began to dance in the light breeze and the sound sent Fox's thoughts back home. Thinking of those left behind, Fox moistened his sleeves. As he quietly wept, he resolved to better himself in the days ahead and forge a new path. A refreshed sense of purpose now with him, Fox ordered a light meal and carried on with his journey.

13. Of the Waves

Much later, Fox came to a cliffside overlooking the great sea. Realizing how far east he had come, Fox knew this chapter of his journey would soon end. Watching the waves crash back and forth below, Fox decided to remain rōnin and continue his travels after spending time at the family temple. The way of the warrior is multifaceted and Fox could do much good by being among the people. A smile crept across his lips and Fox soon turned north toward his destination.

Spoken word pieces were read from a translation of Go Rin no Sho

14. Kitsune-ji: Farewell for Now

Walking through a forest path sloping upward into the mountains high above, Fox soon heard the chanting of monks in the distance. He walked alongside the river he knew flowed through his family temple with a sense of relief coursing through his muscles. A young monk, walking along the same path in the opposite direction, passed by Fox and greeted him with a smile. Fox continued along the path high up into the forested mountain and came to the temple at last. After offering the appropriate greetings and making his purpose known, Fox was allowed into the garden where he silently meditated.

"Fox walked up the mountain
Now far from home, to the east
-
To seek his people's temple
And meditate on this newfound peace
-
He walked up through the mighty forest
As the river beside him carried on
-
He soon came to the fox temple
And the scenery below was gone
-
Now high above the clouds
The temple he beheld
-
Soon relaxing in the monks' garden
And contemplating how he felt
-
About words of times gone by
About those on his travels new
-
But this chapter ends here
And, oh, how the time flew"

Spoken word written by Nekogakure



Written and recorded by Nekogakure
Under a Torii written and recorded by Nekogakure and Silvertongue (Max Merrifield)

Album cover artwork commissioned from kenkrekeler (www.fiverr.com/kenkrekeler)
Album cover lettering by V//Tomo (twitter.com/veetomo)