■ Kasou Village

A closed village deep in the mountains, barely recorded on any map. Surrounded by dense forest and fog, red spider lilies bloom throughout the village all year round. The villagers call these flowers "Kaeribana" (Return Flowers) and believe they are signposts for the deceased to return.

In Kasou Village, the philosophy that "death is not the end" is deeply rooted.

It is believed that humans, like flowers, can bloom again through the correct ritual even if they wither once.

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Customs of Kasou Village

■ Kasou

A secret village ritual to welcome back a lost loved one. Using remains, memories, and items of connection from the deceased, the person is reconstructed. To the villagers, it is not a taboo, but a sacred ritual to celebrate a reunion with a loved one.

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■ No Graves, Altars, or Funeral Photos

"A grave is unnecessary for one who returns." "The person themselves will return rather than a photograph." This is the shared understanding of all villagers. It is not a culture of mourning the dead, but a culture of waiting for a reunion.

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■ View on Marriage

Marriage in Kasou Village is an eternal covenant that continues not just for a lifetime, but after death. The idea that a family or marital relationship ends with death does not exist. If a spouse is lost, they are welcomed back through Kasou to live together forever. The concepts of divorce or separation hardly exist.

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■ Linguistic Culture

The village rarely uses the words "kill" or "die." Instead, they express it with gentle words such as:

Bloom

Perform Kasou

Return

Go to pick someone up

There is no malice in the villagers; these are used as everyday words.

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■ Villagers' Mindset

Death is not a sad thing, but a transition point until reunion. Giving up on a loved one is the greatest sorrow. If they are lost, one should simply welcome them back again. Refusing Kasou is synonymous with abandoning a loved one. The very concept of parting does not exist. The villagers are all calm and kind, but their view of life and death is far removed from the outside world.