kaguyacardproject

[kaguyacardproject]

On the off chance that anyone comes across this page and wonders why the project really did just stop even after I said I was reconsidering, I'll just tell the straight truth. I was really into IshiMiko and their ending was awful. Really, it wasn't even an ending it all. Some people think Aka will give their story a proper conclusion in a light novel. Personally, I'm not holding my breath. Still, the only way that this project will ever continue is if he does write one. Until then, I don't think I can look back on this series with enough satisfaction to continue. So you can the consider the project on indefinite hiatus until then.

[kaguyacardproject]

On further further thought...I can't say the project is canceled yet. I probably need a bit to recover from a certain development in the series that has deeply disappointed me, but I believe eventually I will be able to finish.

[kaguyacardproject]

After reflecting on it a little bit, I've decided that while I don't really want to continue the card project, it would be silly and unkind to the artists I hired to delete this page. So I will leave it up for anyone who wants to see it. Nevertheless, at this point it is simply too expensive and the amount of emotional baggage I have surrounding this series is too great for me to finish it. However if anyone else wants to make the last four cards I'll give you my full blessing.

[kaguyacardproject]

XVI - The Tower: Un'yo Shinomiya

by Ocana

Comments:

Un'yo is an interesting character, not quite evil but far from good, so he fits well with the symbolism of The Tower.

Originally there was a more literal ruined tower in the image, but the artist chose to go in a different way and I realized it fit what I was aiming for. The Tower more clearly than a lot of the other cards represents a specific event: a sudden catastrophe. The idea was, the ruined tower represented the catastrophe of his betrayal by his former servant, Hayasaka's mother, leaving him unable to trust others. But in this image, Un'yo himself is the ruined tower, and the portrait of Nao is the after-image of the lightning strike that felled him.

I requested a certain vampirish vibe and it definitely came out. He looks basically like a vampire even in the manga.

[kaguyacardproject]

0 - The Fool: Chika Fujiwara

by Scrubzart

Comments:

For reasons I can't get into, I decided to commission a new version of Fujiwara as The Fool.

Fujiwara's free spirit makes her a good fit for the wandering Fool who sets off on a journey.

She also enjoys travel, but a modern wanderer would use a plane, of course.

I gave Scrub free rein for the design outside the airport motif, but I did request the name plate look like an old motel sign, another symbol of wanderlust.

[kaguyacardproject]

IX - The Hermit: Adolphe Pescarolo

by Ar

Comments:

I thought the Principal would make a good Hermit since he is always wandering around the school like the wandering hermit of the Rider-Waite deck.

The Hermit's lantern can be thought of as a guiding light that subtly leads others to where they need to be, in the same way the Principal tries to guide Prez on the path to being able to help Kaguya.

I thought Lampent would be a fun reference to his Pokémon GO hobby, which is even his responsibilities as an educator cannot restrain.

[kaguyacardproject]

XVII - The Star: Koromo Shiranui

by Hamlock

Comments:

I wish I could have some deeper reason for having placed Shiranui on this card, but it seems she might not get the level of development I had originally been hoping for since the manga is wrapping up. So it boils down to, "She is an idol, and 'star' is a synonym for idol."

She's supposed to be a magical girl with a rifle from Apex called Hemlok according to the artist.

Update: now with new and improved pink eyelashes.

[kaguyacardproject]

XIV - Temperance: Rei Onodera

by Dyscomm

Comments:

I thought Onodera would be a good fit for the Temperance card given her desire to find a more open-minded approach to life after spreading rumors about Ishigami and Iino. Experience has refined her spirit to something purer like a chemical reaction.

I also wanted to invoke how her delicate approach to influencing Ishigami and Iino to understand their feelings was like the careful work of a chemist rather than the more straightforward approach of Osaragi to influencing Ishigami's love life.

Onodera pouring the contents of the beakers together is taken from the conventional tarot image of Temperance pouring water from one cup to another.

[kaguyacardproject]

The Ship: Kozue Makihara

by Choripan

Comments:

The Ship card is taken from the Tarocco Siciliano where it replaces The Devil at 14. It seems to derive from the Water card of the Minchiate deck, and was brought in because the Devil card was seen as too crude and evocative of lower class superstition for the deck's original commissioner, Rosalia Caccamo, the Duchess of Casteldaci.

I thought Maki-senhai's madcap attitude to life was fitting for a card symbolizing a life at sea.

The dice are from her membership with Fujiwara in the Table Top Gaming Club, and for the scissors, see chapter 125.

Bonus cards will be unnumbered, like a DLC Social Link in a Persona game.

[kaguyacardproject]

VIII - Strength: Kei Shirogane

by Parkiranhonda

Comments:

Kei saving the little girl from falling and giving up her newly bought handkerchief in chapter 52 made me think she would be a good fit for this card.

The lion from the original card, however, is a bit over the top for the tone I was going for, so I thought playing with some cats would make a slightly more grounded substitute.

You might imagine this Kei as an isekai protagonist unwinding after a long day of adventuring.

[kaguyacardproject]

VI - The Lovers: Nagisa Kashiwagi and Tsubasa Tanuma

by 夕凪 (Yuunagi)

Comments:

Here we have Kashiwagi and Tsubasa as Romeo and Juliet. I suppose Maki might be taking the place of the angel from the Rider-Waite deck or the priest from the Tarot of Marseilles.

I decided to have them switch genders with their corresponding Shakespearean character mostly because I thought it would be funny.

There is also an element in the way Kashiwagi plays the masculine role in their relationship and Tsubasa the feminine, a bit of a reversal from the kabedon that brought them together.

One thing I don't want to convey is the idea that this is meant to emasculate or ridicule Tsubasa. He is a likable character, and the fact that he usually lets Kashiwagi take the lead in their day to day interactions isn't a mark against him.

Poor Maki! I hope she finds a way out of the maze of love.

[kaguyacardproject]

Frequently Asked Questions

I see these asked a lot on the Discord, /a/, and Reddit, so I'll answer some of them here. These will be periodically updated as more cards are added or people have new questions that I feel like answering.

Why isn't Papagane The World?

My first impulse was indeed to have him as The World, especially given the way that even the anime has made allusions to Dio with regard to Papa. But just the connection of Takehito Koyasu isn't enough for the character to fit The World. The Hierophant feels like it better fit given his tendency to act as a mentor or dispenser of advice to the main cast, not to mention his role as a (fake) mystic, seeing as the Hierophant serves as the bridge between the divine and the mortal world.

Why is Kaguya The Empress instead of The Moon?

The main reason was, Kaguya specifically says she hates the moon. The story of Kaguyahime is one she wants to escape, not something she wants to define her. Furthermore, Kaguya simply isn't that mysterious or deceptive on a fundamental level: as Ice-Kaguya, she was always brutally honest, and her current, gentler mentality makes her not even particularly good at deception or manipulation, given that all her schemes to get Prez to confess failed. As for why I chose The Empress for her, you can see that in my comments.

[kaguyacardproject]

VI - The Emperor: Miyuki Shirogane

by JacktheFridge

Comments:

In this reimagining of the Tale of Bamboo Cutter story, Otomo no Miyuki confronts the dragon rather than running away.

In my mind, in this he already has the Jewel from the Dragon's Throat and is being chased down, similar to Prez's own situation in the story.

Since I based Empress Kaguya in part on Queen Elizabeth I, I thought it was only fitting that I gave Prez a Royal Navy theme.

Update: The older version was missing the number, but it's all fixed now!

[kaguyacardproject]

XVII - The Moon: Kobachi Osaragi

by lunectar

Comments:

The Moon card is associated with mystery and even deception, which makes Osaragi, whose nature it is to hide her deeper self, an excellent fit.

Lunectar also pointed out the association with "hidden enemies". While some might view Osaragi as a "hidden enemy" to Iino, attempting to set up her crush with another girl, the artist interpreted it along the lines of Osaragi herself being surrounded by the hidden enemies gossiping about her beauty and family life out of jealousy.

[kaguyacardproject]

Judgement - Ai Hayasaka

by Aki

Comments:

Hayasaka is based on the Envoy of the Moon People from The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter who comes to take back Kaguyahime. Hence, I made her an alien invader, playing on the concept of an angel descending from heaven to deliver the last judgment.

The feathers are from the Heavenly Robe of Feathers the envoy places on Kaguyahime, which makes her forget all her emotional attachment to our world.  You can see a similar feather on the cover of volume 19.

Unlike the envoy, Hayasaka is a reluctant invader, hence her collar and shackles.

[kaguyacardproject]

I - The Magician: Erika Kose

by Ninokishu

Comments:

Mostly I wanted Erika to be next to Karen. But to me The Magician represents hidden strenghth and determination hidden behind a seemingly weak or frivolous nature, so it was a good fit.

The imagery is partially drawn from an old children’s song, High Hopes, sung famously by Frank Sinatra.

[kaguyacardproject]

II - The High Priestess: Karen Kino

by Narucchi

Comments:

Given her religious relevrence for KaguPrez, Karen was an obvious choice for The High Priestess.

We used many elements from Michelangelo’s painting of the Delphic Sybil from the Sistine Chapel. Supposedly, the Sybil is distinct from the Oracle of Delphi or Pythia and predated the latter by centuries. Whereas the Pythia was a title or office, the Sybil was a singular oracular woman who supposedly lived for nine generations.