Cironnup, also called Chironnup or Chironnupu in Japan, in the Ainu tongue translates to "those whom we kill many of." It can be used to describe foxes in general, but also refers to a type of Kamuy. It was revered and present in the culture of the Ainu people, the native people of the island of Hokkaido in the Japanese archipelago.
The Kamuy are divine spirits, supernatural entities or gods of the Ainu culture. This title can be attributed to many creatures and objects, and come from the idea that everyone and everything can have a soul. There are Kamuy for diseases, earthquakes, fauna, flora, and more. They can be good, bad, are many in numbers, they have families and lives, their own personalities and interests, just like humans. There are not only naturally-occurring Kamuy, but also the ones that arise from man-made objects, like spears or boats.[1]
Cironnup-Kamuy is a fox deity in this context. Foxes by themselves were called upon many names in the Ainu culture including Cironnup, but it could also be Kemakosnekur[a] which means ''light footed god'' according to the Foundation for Ainu Culture.[2] Cironnup was applied both as the sacred name and as the regular name for foxes among the Ainu.
Cironnup appear in many tales and are generally known to be a Kamuy that listens to people's requests, brings food, and can protect against illness and foreign enemies. They can appear in premonitory dreams to warn about calamities. However, there are some instances of Cironnup doing mischief and evil deeds, such as possessing people or transforming into others as disguises.[2][3]
The premonitory nature of the Cironnup can also be seen at some regions, where people frequently used fox skulls as divination tools. They could also be used as guardians in boats that sailed for fishing.[2]
Design
Cironnup's design in the Shin Megami Tensei series is of a creature with a small, pale humanoid body with no visible features. It holds a bow in its left hand and an arrow in its right. Its head is a fox-like mask, with a wooden texture and unmoving, expressionless face. It has large, pupilless brown eyes. Its tongue permanently hangs out the front of its maw. In recent games, Cironnup will dance and do little tricks when attacking or idle, demonstrating its cheerful personality.[4]
Cironnup has a released beta design which went unused in the final game. This design depicts the demon as a regular fox wearing traditional Ainu clothing.
According to Masayuki Doi, the designer for Cironnup, the idea of the design for this demon came as he believed Shin Megami Tensei IV Apocalypse needed a mascot-like character. Doi wanted something having the 'Megaten Cuteness', and so he compiled key words of the Cironnup myth, concluding with a youthful spirit wearing a wooden fox mask.[5]
"Fox" in the Ainu tongue. Though "Sumari" is another word for "fox," chironnupu refers to "those who we kill"--which is to say, the various small-to-medium-sized Canidae. It is also a divine beast that alerts people to forthcoming disasters by howling loudly from the mountains.
"Fox" in the Ainu tongue. Though "Sumari" is another word for "fox," chironnupu refers to "those who we kill"—which is to say, the various small-to-medium-sized Canidae.
It is also a divine beast that alerts people to forthcoming disasters by howling loudly from the mountains.
"Fox" in the Ainu language. Though "Sumari" is another word for "fox," chironnupu refers to "those who we kill," and is said to be the general word for small-to-medium-sized animals.
In Ainu culture, it is also a divine beast that alerts people to forthcoming disasters by howling loudly from the mountains.
"Fox" in the Ainu tongue. Though "Sumari" is another word for "fox," chironnupu refers to "those who we kill"—which is to say, the various small-to-medium-sized Canidae. It is also a divine beast that alerts people to forthcoming disasters by howling loudly from the mountains.
Cironnup is Hallelujah's partner demon whom he affectionately refers to as "Chiro". Hallelujah will summon Chiro to cast support skills that assist Nanashi in battle.
Cironnup is only unlockable for fusion in New Game+.
A Cironnup can be found in each of the four wards explorable in Da'at. He will offer the player the location of the Mimans in the respective ward in exchange for Macca. The fee varies depending on the ward he is found in.
Chiro is briefly mentioned in Hallelujah's mother's journal entries as a friend the boy makes around the age of 10. She later expresses her shock in finding out Chiro is actually a demon.
Appearances in Non-Megami Tensei Media
Brave Frontier
Chiro is featured in Hallelujah's 7★ unit artwork.
Nomenclature
From Ainu チロンヌㇷ゚ (Cironnup), literally "the thing that people kill".[6]
Names in Other Languages
Language
Name
Meaning
Japanese
チロンヌプChiron'nupu
Cironnup
Gallery
Concept Art of Cironnup
Chiro accompanying Hallelujah in his Brave Frontier 7★ unit artwork.
↑"Character File:チロンヌプ (チロンヌプは悪魔デザイン最初期に、 マスコット的な悪魔を出したいという要望の声から作画しました。 デザインは、ストレートに可 愛いゆるキャラ的なものではなく、 「メガテン」 的な可愛さを追求し しています。 チロンヌプにまつわる伝承はとても少ないため、アイヌ、 キツネ、神霊、 狩猟といったキーワードから発想し、キツネそのままを描くのではなく、木彫りのお面をかぶった幼い神霊にしました。)" 真・女神転生IV FINAL 公式設定資料集+神話世界への旅. Published by Ichijinsha. Japanese. (1st ed.) 18. ISBN-13: 978-4758014953.
↑An Ainu-English-Japanese dictionary (including a grammar of the Ainu language) (1905), John Batchelor. Published by Methodist Publishing House; Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner Company. p. 77.
Japanese
