Ameno-sagiri is named after Ame no Sagiri no Kami, one of the various deities created by Izanagi and Izanami in the Kojiki. Its name means the fog from the skies or heavens, and its counterpart is its sibling Kuni no Sagiri no Kami whose name means the fog from the land or country. Some believe that the skies and land parts of their names are only titles to contrast the two, while others believe they refer to certain places.[1]
Design
On Ameno-sagiri's design, Shigenori Soejima mentions he used an eyeball design since its purpose is to watch over humans.[2]
After defeating Tohru Adachi in his boss battle, a being called Ameno-sagiri takes over Adachi's body. It introduces itself as the one who fulfills mankind's desires and ruler of the fog. Having seen that mankind has given up on the truth, it began expanding the TV World to swallow reality in order to fulfill desires of humanity and allowing them all to become Shadows. The Investigation Team fight back, saying that humans do not want that and that they will use their powers to defeat it instead. Ame reveals that it has been watching the Investigation Team and is the one who allowed them to receive those powers in the first place. The group being able to tame their Shadows and use them as power was unexpected, and it expresses curiosity in mankind's ability to do this. It takes on the form of a gigantic eyeball and fights the Investigation Team to test them. After being defeated, Ame recognizes the potential of the human heart that gave birth to the team's Personas and removes the fog from Inaba. But as it carries out mankind's desires, it mentions it can return should mankind ever want it to.
When confronting Izanami, she identifies Ame as an aspect of herself.[3] The protagonist realizes that he and his friends must defeat Izanami, else Ame really will return one day.[4]
If the player completes Marie's Social Link and pursues the true ending, then Kuni and Ame's identities are both revealed as facets of Izanami[5] with Ame being one that she hid within Adachi.[6]
Though Ameno-sagiri does not directly appear, it is revealed that months after Persona 4, Adachi has residual power from Ame within him which Sho Minazuki plans to weaponize against Hi-no-Kagutsuchi.
One of the small jackpots for the pachinko game leads to "Fog in Reality" mode where Ameno-sagiri appears and overruns Inaba with fog. During this, the character portraits on the slot machine change to their Shadows, and a remixed version of "The Fog" that is unique to the pachinko game plays in the background.
Trivia
In the Persona 4 Golden Premium Fan Book, it is explained that Adachi is specifically the one who wished for the world to be swallowed by the TV World due to him being discovered as the murderer.[7]
↑天之狭霧神. Retrieved 2024. The Kojiki Center at Kokugakuin University. Database.
↑"Chapter 3: Shadows", Persona 4 Official Design Works, Atlus. Published by Famitsu (2008). Japanese. p. 167. ISBN-13: 978-4757745087.
↑"Izanami: Ameno-sagiri, ruler of the fog, is merely an aspect of myself that I birthed long ago." Persona 4 (PlayStation 2). Developed by Atlus. Published by Atlus. English.
↑"If Izanami truly gave birth to Ameno-sagiri... Then as long as Izanami is left alone, the town will definitely fall into the fog again someday..." Persona 4 (PlayStation 2). Developed by Atlus. Published by Atlus. English.
↑"Marie: You just fought the "other me" that split from my personality. The two Sagiri, the other me, and the me that is speaking with you right now...They were all originally one within me. But...There was nothing I could have done, without my powers. If not for you, I would have disappeared along with the fog when the Hollow Forest vanished." Persona 4 Golden (PS Vita). Developed by Atlus. Published by Atlus. English.
↑"Izanami: Not only did you defeat the two Sagiri I snuck into Adachi and Namatame, but you even saved that stunted dwarf of a life." Persona 4 Golden (PS Vita). Developed by Atlus. Published by Atlus. English.
↑"その真相を突き止められ、自称特別捜査隊に追い詰められた足立は自らテレビの中に入り、現実世界がマヨナカテレビに飲み込まれる終末を願望する。マリーが人世の望みを聞く者ならば、足立はその強すぎる自己中心的な願いの実現を望んだ者ともいえるだろう。" "Special Investigation Files", Persona 4 Golden Premium Fan Book, Compiled by the Persona Magazine Editorial Department. Published by ASCII Media Works (2012). Japanese. p. 230. ISBN-13: 978-4048868150.
Japanese
