#chikai means oath vow

[yeonjune]

2024.07.03 Japan 4th single 誓い (CHIKAI)

Preorder starts from April 30th (Tuesday) 11:00

[ephaporia]

What if Anime Characters (Especially Japanese) have Chinese, Korean, and English names - Sarazanmai ver.

Those kanji names can be translated into Hanzi (Chinese) and Hangeul (Korean) based on en.wiktionary.org

1. Kazuki Yasaka (矢逆 一稀)

Etymology: Kazuki's Kanji name (一稀) = 一 means "one"; 稀 means "rare/sparse/unique/thin" * Chinese Name: 矢逆 一稀 (Shǐnì Yīxī) → If he has a Chinese name, I'll name him 石一稀 (Shí Yīxī). * Korean Name: 시역일희 (Shiyeok Ilhee) → If he has a Korean name, I'll name him 석일희 (Seok Ilhee). Such a rare Korean surname due to match his Chinese/Hanja name) * English Name: Based on one of his kanji names meaning, I'll name him Ace because Ace in Latin word means "one" (just like Kazu "一") or "unity". It’s often associated with intelligence or being the best since he is the protagonist of this anime. So, his English name is Ace Yasaka

2. Toi Kuji (久慈 悠)

Etymology: Toi's Kanji name (悠) = 悠 means "leisurely/ distant/ permanence/ eternity" * Chinese Name: 久慈 悠 (Jiǔcí  Yōu) → If he has a Chinese name, I'll name him 邱悠 (Qīu Yōu) (I can't find a Chinese surname that sounds like Jiǔ or Cí. I just have to find some surnames that sound almost the same as them (even though not very similar). But, reverse with Kazuki's, I want to match his Korean name 구 with a common Chinese surname that in Korean is read as 구). * Korean Name: 구자 유 (Kuja Yoo) → If he has a Korean name, I'll name him 구유 (Goo Yoo). * English Name: I'll name him Kian/Cian based on his kanji name meaning. Idk what kind of 1st alphabet I should use to name him? K or C? Just like the same case of Krystal/Crystal. Kian or Cian in Gaelic Irish given name means "ancient" but they also mean "distant", even "Grace of God". So, his English name is Kian Kuji/Cian Kuji.

3. Enta Jinnai (陣内 燕太)

Etymology: Enta's Kanji name (陣内 燕太) = 燕 means "Swallow"; 太 means "great" * Chinese Name: 阵内 燕太 (Zhènnèi  Yàntài) → If he has a Chinese name, I'll name him 陈燕太 (Chén Yàntài) * Korean Name: 진내 연태 (Jinnae Yeontae) → If he has a Korean name, I'll name him 진연태 (Jin Yeontae) * English Name: Based on one of his kanji names, I'll name him Howin in Chinese origin which means "a loyal swallow". So, his English name is Howin Jinnai

4. Reo Niiboshi (新星 玲央)

Etymology: Reo's Kanji name (玲央) = 玲 means "tinkling of gem-pendants"; 央means "Central" * Chinese Name: 新星 玲央 (Xīnxīng Língyāng) → If he has a Chinese name, I'll name him 辛玲央 (Xīn Língyāng) * Korean Name: 신성령앙 (Shinseong Ryeong-ang) → If he has a Korean name, I'll name him 신령앙 (Shin Ryeong-ang) * English Name: Since his kanji names are already in English but with some Japanese pronounciation (which 'L' is read as 'R'), So, his name is definitely Leo Niiboshi (also, his zodiac is Leo, right?)

Updated:

Sonething was wrong with the hangeul for 央. It must be 앙 (ang), not 영 (young). But... Yeah... It's too late, huh?

5. Mabu Akutsu (阿久津 真武)

Mabu's Kanji name (真武) = 真 means "true, real"; 武 means "samurai, warrior, soldier" * Chinese Name: 阿久津 真武 (Ājiǔjīn Zhēnwǔ) → If he has a Chinese name, I'll name him 金真武 (Jīn Zhēnwǔ) * Korean Name: 아자�� 진무 (Ajajin Jinmu) → If he has a Korean name, I'll name him 김진무 (Kim Jinmu) (Same case as Kazuki's, but this time, Kim 김 is the most common Korean surname). * English Name: Based on one of his kanji names, I'll name him Miles because in Latin origin it means "soldier" but in English origin means "merciful". So, his English name is Miles Akutsu (Coincidentally, his 1st letter name is the same "M" as Mabu).

6. Sara Azuma (吾妻 サラ)

Sara doesn't have Kanji name because her name is in Katakana name. But, Sara (サラ/皿) means "dish". * Chinese Name: 吾妻 沙罗 (Wúqī Shāluó) → If she has a Chinese name, I'll name her 吴沙罗 (Wú Shāluó) * Korean Name: 오처사라 (Ocheo Sara) → If she has a Korean name, I'll name her 오사라 (Oh Sara) * English Name: Don't ask it, it's definitely Sara Azuma. It's already English name.

7. Chikai Kuji  (久慈 誓)

Chikai's Kanji name (誓) = 誓 means "oath/vow" * Chinese Name: 久慈 誓 (Jiǔcí Shì) → If he has a Chinese name, I'll name him 邱誓 (Qīu Shì) * Korean Name: 구자 서 (Kuja Seo) → If he has a Korean name, I'll name him 구서 (Goo Seo). * English Name: Based on his kanji name meaning, I'll name him Arlan. The same origin as Toi's Kian/Cian, Arlan in Gaelic and Celtic (even in Hebrew) origin means "pledge or oath". So, his English name is Arlan Kuji.

8. Haruka Yasaka (矢逆 春河)

Haruka's Kanji name (春河) = 春 means "spring (season)"; 河 means "river" * Chinese Name: 矢逆 春河 (Shǐnì Chūnhé) → If he has a Chinese name, I'll name him 石春河 (Shí Chūnhé). * Korean Name: 시역춘하 (Shiyeok Choonha) → If he has a Korean name, I'll name him 석춘하 (Seok Choonha). * English Name: Based on one of his kanji names, I'll name him Euell/Ewell (it is pronounced as [YOO-eh l] just like 'Yule Log' maybe). The meaning of Euell or Ewell in Old English origin is "Spring; source of a river". Same case with Toi, idk which letter should I choose to name? 'u' or 'w' for his English name? So, his English name is Euell Yasaka/Ewell Yasaka.

9. Otone Jinnai (陣内 音寧)

Otone's Kanji name (音寧) = 音 means "sound/voice/tone/timbre"; 寧 means "peaceful/tranquil/serene/rather" * Chinese Name: 阵内 音宁 (Zhènnèi Yīnníng) → If she has a Chinese name, I'll name her 陈音宁 (Chén Yīnníng) * Korean Name: 진내음영 (Jinnae Eumyoung) → If she has a Korean name, I'll name her 진음영 (Jin Eumyoung) * English Name: Based on one of her kanji names, I'll name her Irene. Irene is a feminine name of Greek origin that means "peace", derived from the Greek word eirēnē of the same meaning. So, her English name is Irene Jinnai.

[embraceyourdestiny]

Wait a fucking minute bc I’m about to lose it.

So the word “ちかい”. Chikai. It has many meanings. One most of us would recognize immediately as “oath”, as that’s how it’s used in kingdom hearts.

But I’m about to go insane because it also has other meanings.

Near. Close. Vow. Boundary. Being enlightened by virtue of knowledge. And now my favorite, bounds of the earth

Examples of the phrase “bounds of the earth” ;

[…] are not within the bounds of social acceptability

[...] that transcend the bounds of conventional wisdom

But it can also be used like

[...] natural environment of the Earth

[…] concentrating all its technological strength for the sake of the Earth

Of the Earth. Sounds a little familiar. What else in kingdom hearts is Of The Earth?

Riku

Land

The song Chikai can in a way be read to be about Riku, alongside Oath

[overdevelopedglasses]

Tojoctober Day 29 - Haven

(Naa Tonight, chikai no)

Alt title is from Tonight -restart from this night-

Ichiban has a strange vision…

(Kiwami and LaD spoilers)

—------------------------------

Ichiban’s senses come into focus. The immediate sensation that hits him is his body swaying slightly, like he’s on a boat resting in calm waters.

As his vision fully comes into focus, he realizes he is on a boat. The hardwood deck is illuminated in a soft glow, but the string lights and lamps that dot the area are all turned off. Ichiban looks up into the clear night sky, and the source of the light reveals itself as a full moon. 

Ichiban gazes back to eye level, and sees a figure standing before him, leaning against the deck railing. As he approaches, he makes out more details of this person. A white-on-black suit, white tie, loose shoulder-length black hair and eyes that reflect what Ichiban could only read as a soft regret.

“So we finally meet, Ichiban Kasuga of the Tojo’s Arakawa Family.”

Ichiban cocks an eyebrow. “You’re…?”

The man thinks for a second, before giving him a slight bow, “Akira Nishikiyama. Former patriarch of the Tojo Clan.”

“Nishikiyama…?” Ichiban shuts his eyes to think for a second. The name sounds familiar, but he can’t place when or where he heard of it.

He hears Nishikiyama chuckle, “It’s probably for the better that you haven’t heard of me, Kasuga-san.”

“How do you know me?” Ichiban opens his eyes, and starts to walk towards him.

Nishikiyama turns his back to Ichiban, resting his arms on the railing. “Let’s just say… I’ve been watching over you.”

“Okay…” Ichiban feels like questioning it, but his instinct tells him to take this at face value for once.

Nishikiyama looks over his shoulder at the dragonfish. “You’re in a haven. You’re safe here, I’ll make sure of it.”

Ichiban lets out a breath he wasn’t aware he was holding. He joins Nishikiyama by the railing, leaning over it and peering into the deep blue water. His mind somewhat notes the lack of reflections in the water before turning his attention to this mysterious person.

“I haven’t just been watching you, Kasuga-san. I’ve been watching the whole of the clan, and those inextricably intertwined with it.” “The whole clan?”

“Well,” Nishikiyama muses, “parts of it. I’d see many members get sworn in as patriarchs of families. I’ve seen oath brothers aplenty take vows together. I’ve seen the clan almost crumble, and then finally falling. I’ve seen figures of Tojo legend grow, shape the future, and disappear.”

Nishikiyama’s expression turns grim. “I’ve seen some members clash with a dragon, and meet fates similar to my own.”

“Did you clash with a dragon?”

Nishikiyama looks down at the water. “For people like me, it’s inevitable for that battle to happen. But what comes from our defeat is up to us.”

He turns to face Ichiban again, “Your brother was the closest out of all of us to redemption.”

Ichiban’s heart seizes, “Young master… is he-” Ichiban’s train of thought is interrupted by Nishikiyama’s hand on his shoulder.

He gives Ichiban a soft smile. “That, I cannot tell you. Some things are best left to the wind, Kasuga-san.”

“What about you?” Ichiban asks.

“Well, compared to what happened to some other people, look at me. I’m a part of this haven as well.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Well, think about it. I’ve been able to watch the clan for so long. I’ve seen history repeat itself at this rate. From the looks of things, the cycle’s been delayed, at least.”

“Wait, does that mean you-”

Ichiban feels the world lurch. He blinks, and sees the moon sitting on the horizon in front of them.

“Shit. We’re out of time, Kasuga-san.”

“Huh?” Ichiban says, stumbling forward, chest slamming into the railing, and feeling very lethargic. 

“Just… I probably shouldn’t ask for this, but can you do me a favor?”

“What is it?” Ichiban barely replies, as he feels everything slipping away. His vision goes white, his body starts to float, and the last thing he registers is Nishikiyama’s request:

“Take care of my brother.”

[star-sworn]

me when I hear the word ‘Chikai’ in Utada’s song Chikai, the only Japanese word I know

[whyarewecalledtheshipname]

okay but the fact that WEDDINGS—are this repeated theme??? or maybe just twice or three times but STILL—

oaths/vows, wedding dress, rings, (the fucking entirety of chikai—) just—

this whole concept of “the final step” or something—crossing the line—

like HMMM wHAT coUld iT mEAN??

LIKE THEY DIDN’T HAVE TO GO THAT FAR BRO THEY REALLY DIDN’T. the assumption is that we’re gonna get another “riku saves sora” game but —THEY JUST KEEP USING THESE WEDDING AND MARRIAGE MOTIFS AND JUST THE WORDING AND THEMES ARE SO STRONG AND LEAN SO HEAVILY INTO LIKE. A MOMENTOUS MOMENT. AND STRONG ASS FEELINGS. LIKE. DID THEY HAVE TO MAKE IT THAT DEEP. I don’t even know how to explain it i just — just straight up marriage. just STRAIGHT. UP.

WHY

FULL ON MARRIAGE. WHY.

[kyzakkk]

KANJANI∞ - 稲妻ブルース Inazuma Blues

Lyrics, Music: Peach

Translated by: kyzakkk     QC: mytsujun

Bang!! Bang!! Bang!!

どこまでが嘘だかわからなくて doko made ga uso da ka wakaranakute No idea how much of it is a lie

口に出した言葉はすべてが真実だ kuchi ni dashita kotoba wa subete ga shinjitsu da Every word said is the truth

おまえと語りあった時間も　この街の歪んだ景色さえも omae to katariatta toki mo    kono machi no hizunda keshiki sae mo Those times we spent talking    and even the crazy sight of this town

愛すべきこの「クダラナイ」全て　壊れないように、無くさないように aisubeki kono "kudaranai" subete    kowarenai you ni, nakusanai you ni All of the precious "worthless" things    Don't let them break, don't let them disappear

ガラクタな俺たちに何が出来るというのだろう?? garakuta na oretachi ni nani ga dekiru to iu no darou?? I mean, what can scums like us do??

無謀だと知ってても　願って、願って、ただ唄って… mubou da to shittetemo    negatte, negatte, tada utatte... Knowing it's reckless but    Still hoping, wanting, and just singing...

ド派手にかますぜ　祭りだぜ　“The 稲妻ブルース”ぶっ放して dohade ni kamasuze    matsuridaze    "The Inazuma Buruusu" buppanashite Let’s beat ‘em up in style 'cause it's a festival   Blasting "The Lightning Blues"

打ち上げろ　ドンドンドンバンバンババン　闇夜に高く花咲かせ uchiagero    don don don ban ban ba ban    yamiyo ni takaku hana sakase Off it goes    don don don bang bang ba bang    Bloomin' up high in the pitch-black night

ギラギラ燃えるような愛情　“The 稲妻ソウル”だ　この友情 giragira moeru you na aijou    "The Inazuma Souru" da    kono yuujyou A love that's glaringly burning    This camaraderie    It's "The Lightning Soul"

突き進め　ガンガンガンバンバンババン　誰にも止められやしない tsukisusume    gan gan gan ban ban ba ban    dare ni mo tomerareya shinai Press on    gan gan gan bang bang ba bang    No one can stop us

流した涙の数、数えられやしねぇ nagashita namida no kazu, kazoerareya shinee The number of tears we've shed can't even be counted

輝ける明日に向かって Bang!! Bang!! Bang!!... kagayakeru asu ni mukatte Bang!! Bang!! Bang!!... Heading towards a brighter tomorrow Bang!! Bang!! Bang!!...

愛する野郎どもの夢のため aisuru yaroudomo no yume no tame For the dreams of the bastards I care for

口に出した言葉は絶対飲み込まねぇ kuchi ni dashita kotoba wa zettai nomi komanee Won't swallow down whatever's been said

大��なものに守り守られ��生きて行くから taisetsu na mono ni mamori mamorarete ikite iku kara I'm going to live my life protecting and being protected by those I treasure

一人には絶対しねぇ　ずっと、ずっと、俺信じて… hitori ni wa zettai shinee    zutto, zutto, ore shinjite... I'll never leave you on your own    Forever, and ever, believe in me

ド真ん中にある熱い思い　燃やしてみせるぜ　全て今宵 domannaka ni aru atsu omoi    moyashite miseruze    subete koyoi Passion lies right deep within me    Gonna set everything ablaze tonight

響かせろ　ドンドンドンバンバンババン　この世界中に轟かせ hibikasero    don don don ban ban ba ban    kono sekaijyuu ni todorokase Bring it on    don don don bang bang ba bang    Let it rumble all over the world

俺とお前と情と夢　消えることのないあの誓い ore to omae to jyou to yume    kieru koto no nai ano chikai You and I and emotions and dreams    That oath we swore won't cease to exist

2人なら　ガンガンガンバンバンババン　絶対背中は見せやしない futari nara    gan gan gan ban ban ba ban    zettai senaka wa miseyashinai Together    gan gan gan bang bang ba bang    We won't ever turn around and run away

交わした言葉ひとつだって無駄にはしねぇ kawashita kotoba hitotsu datte muda ni wa shinee None of the vows we've exchanged are worthless

栄光の明日に向かって Bang!! Bang!! Bang!!... eikou no asu ni mukatte Bang!! Bang!! Bang!!... On to a glorious tomorrow Bang!! Bang!! Bang!!...

夢は見るんじゃなく叶えろ　愛は語るんじゃなく伝えろ yume wa mirunjyanaku kanaero    ai wa katarunjyanaku tsutaero Don't just dream, make it happen    Don't just talk about love, pass it on

俺とお前が出会えた“キセキ”　最高で最強のこのキズナ ore to omae ga deaeta "kiseki"    saikou de saikyou no kono kizuna It's a "miracle" you and I met    This bond we share is the greatest and the strongest

バカでもいいから熱くなれ　笑われること恐れんじゃねぇ baka demo ii kara atsukunare    warawareru koto osorenjyanee Doesn't matter if you're foolish, get fired up    Don't be afraid to get laughed at

お前はオマエ思うままに　信じた道をひた走れ omae wa omae omou mama ni    shinjita michi wo hitahashire Be like how you see yourself    Run towards the path you believe in

ド派手にかますぜ　祭りだぜ　“The 稲妻ブルース”ぶっ放して dohade ni kamasuze    matsuridaze    "The Inazuma Buruusu" buppanashite Let’s beat ‘em up in style 'cause it's a festival   Blasting "The Lightning Blues"

打ち上げろ　ドンドンドンバンバンババン　闇夜に高く花咲かせ uchiagero    don don don ban ban ba ban    yamiyo ni takaku hana sakase Off it goes    don don don bang bang ba bang    Bloomin' up high in the pitch-black night

ギラギラ燃えるような愛情　“The 稲妻ソウル”だ　この友情 giragira moeru you na aijou    "The Inazuma Souru" da    kono yuujyou A love that's glaringly burning    This camaraderie    It's "The Lightning Soul"

突き進め　ガンガンガンバンバンババン　誰にも止められやしない tsukisusume    gan gan gan ban ban ba ban    dare ni mo tomerareya shinai Press on    gan gan gan bang bang ba bang    No one can stop us

流した涙の数、数えられやしねぇ nagashita namida no kazu, kazoerareya shinee The number of tears we've shed can't even be counted

輝ける明日に向かって　まだ見ぬ世界歩んでいこう kagayakeru asu ni mukatte    mada minu sekai ayunde ikou Heading towards a brighter tomorrow    Onwards to a world yet unknown

オマエとならいけるから Bang!! Bang!! Bang!!... omae to nara ikeru kara Bang!! Bang!! Bang!!... If I'm with you, I can make it Bang!! Bang!! Bang!!...

[masteraqua]

For practice, I tried translating Chikai for myself. There’s some really shaky parts (the second verse in particular pretty much eluded me entirely tbh):

I don’t know what fate holds in store But now I can’t ignore its existence

As I truly am, am I good? Well, am I? I want few expectations Today’s the kind of day for no falsehoods A day to know of eternal oaths No pretty flowers, no witnesses Let’s have matching rings It’s regrettable and it’s no use It’s a bit unfashionable and such But that’s how I found it I want to sleep every day I won’t make promises anymore Just for the sake of pleasing someone Now, not saying things secondhand Not a promise, but an oath I can’t go back to being a liar Let’s have rings the color of the morning sun The tremors in my chest dance once more Let’s celebrate being alive right now Occasionally, there will be tears when things become unbearable There’s no particular deep meaning to this However, suddenly remember the old days Light will flow from the open door From now on I always want to be by your side There are no more choices Today’s the sort of day without any past examples A day to know our oath No pretty flowers, no witnesses Let’s have matching rings Kiss me once, kiss me twice One time is not enough Kiss me once, kiss me twice Can I have you, please Kiss me once, kiss me twice Kiss me three times, please Kiss me once, kiss me twice Can I have you, please Let’s listen to the day’s rising sound Side by side Let’s make a vow to live together

[npnihongaku]

kanji: 誓い hiragana: ちかい romaji: chikai meaning: vow, pledge, oath

[blowingoffsteam2]

Riku’s Sacrifice | The Final World

They say once is chance, twice is coincidence, three times is a pattern... and I think we’ve found one hell of a pattern that links Riku directly with the Final World and reinforces the significance of his sacrifice.

Previously @databoy-reekoo had noticed some striking similarities between Riku’s sacrifice scene, and the logo animation for the Final World (If you haven’t seen that post, please take a look at it before reading this one: x)

The sound effects are nearly identical, save for the metallic sound of the keyblade strike and some surface sounds (compare the logo sounds: x -to the original audio of the sacrifice scene: x ). 

The visuals also hit the same beats- the blast of light that resembles the light coming out of Riku’s keyblade as he protects Sora from the demon tide, and the clouds rushing towards the viewer in a way that creates a tunnel-like effect very similar to the heartless rushing past. 

But maybe you aren’t convinced yet that the logo animation is meant to be a reference to Riku’s sacrifice.  What if I told you there’s more...that the logo animation is actually Riku’s sacrifice from beginning to end from Sora’s perspective, translated into a more symbolic replay of it.

And there’s one big, huge giveaway that makes me certain of this.

The pace of the footsteps, the pause before the blast of light and then the clouds rushing towards the camera as in a time-lapse...it all lines up perfectly.  And to demonstrate even further that it’s from Sora’s perspective, compare the angle of the camera in relation to the ground and horizon line:

A near perfect match.

So we have the footsteps- Riku’s footsteps- and the blast of light- Riku’s light- that match.  But there’s even more reason to believe that the clouds are also part of the replay, beyond just the visual similarities.

Normally in KH openings, water/the ocean is always used to symbolize darkness.  Characters that fall to darkness are shown submerged- like Riku in KH1 or Aqua in Fragmentary Passage.  But in KH3′s opening, that symbolism was nowhere to be seen.  Instead, smoke/clouds were used extensively to symbolize the darkness.

At the end of the OP Sora stands alone under a dark and stormy looking sky.  Then his friends start appearing and this stormy sky is transformed into a cloudy, but bright sky...and finally at the end, there are no more clouds at all.

So, in the logo animation that was already a symbolic representation of Riku’s sacrifice, it makes perfect sense to use the symbol for darkness established at the beginning of the game to represent the waves of heartless rushing past Sora and Riku. (I mentioned this on Databoy-Reekoo’s post too, but the clouds might also be in a reverse time-lapse, a reference to the fact that time is rewound after Riku’s sacrifice, showing that he was also instrumental in making that possible in the first place)

During this symbolic replay of Riku’s sacrifice, we also see these white structures growing out of the water:

Since everything else in this animation has had some underlying meaning, this shouldn’t be disregarded as just a reference to the structures we collect the pieces of Sora on a little later.  As it turns out, the entire structure just so happens to be made of a very symbolically significant material; salt.

More about salt, Covenants of Salt, promises, eternal oaths and wedding ceremonies under the cut ;)

If you know what salt/halite crystals look like, it’s recognizable almost immediately. They are cube shaped, sometimes growing in more orderly cube shapes (called “hopper crystals”) and other times more haphazardly. We see both in the Final World.

There are even some small cube shaped platforms that look exactly like salt crystals under a microscope:

They could have chosen any number of materials and achieved a similar aesthetic.  So, why salt?  Generally speaking, salt has been a common symbol for purity, permanence (due to its preservation qualities), loyalty, and fidelity.  But it goes...deeper than that (you might wanna sit down for this haha).  Keep in mind that in the logo animation, the structures of salt are growing during Riku’s sacrifice.

Friendship:

“Salt was widely and variably used as a symbol and sacred sign in ancient Israel Numbers 18:19 and 2 Chronicles 13:5 illustrate salt as a covenant of friendship”.- x

“The Arabic expression, “There is salt between us” and “He has eaten of my salt,” both represent the cementing of a friendship.” - x

Promises and Oaths:

In ancient times the Covenant of Salt was a common way of sealing an agreement or promise between two people or parties.  Because of this, salt and promises are very closely associated.

“Once you gave your word on a deal, you secured it by taking some salt out of your little salt pouch and putting it into the pouch of the person you were making the deal with. You could break your word whenever you wanted–you simply had to remove your exact grains of salt from his bag of salt. Impossible. Your word was your Word. A vow was a vow. No breaking it.”

“To some, the salt covenant was much more than a covenant of friendship. It is an irrevocable pledge and promise of fidelity. Those who have taken salt together would rather die before they would break their covenant.”

“Today in many Arab cultures, if two men partake of salt together they are sworn to protect one another.”

The Covenant of Salt also has roots in the Bible, as God is said to have made a “covenant of salt” with the Aaronic priesthood and the Davidic kings of Israel:

“According to the New Oxford Annotated Bible, "of salt" most likely means that the covenant is "a perpetual covenant, because of the use of salt as a preservative" x

A perpetual covenant...and eternal oath.

Marriage:

With such deep roots in the idea of eternal oaths it’s no surprise then that the Covenant of Salt is also fairly common in wedding ceremonies, as a permanent sealing of commitment to one another. 

“This is a bond that can not be broken and is a symbol of an unbreakable promise of love.” x

Remember how Chikai is a song about marriage and an eternal oath?  Funny how that works, huh.

Alright, so bringing this back around, why would Nomura use something so symbolically loaded and associate it with Riku’s sacrifice?  His sacrifice demonstrated his incredible love for Sora, but...what if it’s more than that?  Maybe...just maybe, Riku fulfilled a forgotten promise he had made long ago- a promise to protect Sora (Theory Link: x) - or is “remaking” it.  Remember this poem from the end of Riku’s story in Chain of Memories?

GBA CoM version:

Walking this road without you to remake forgotten promises and meet you at road’s end.

Re:CoM version:

Beyond the path without you is a forgotten promise to keep.

We may have walked side by side, but now we go on back to back.

And though our paths may not cross, all paths are connected somewhere.

When I arrive at where you are, we may not appear to be as we were…

But we’ll make another promise to keep

The “road” or “path” refers to the road to dawn that Riku chose at the end of CoM.  In KH3, Riku’s Way to Dawn keyblade breaks, signifying that he has reached the end of that path, reached dawn (literally, the break of dawn hah).  And according to these poems, at road’s end another promise is to be made.  A promise for what, exactly, I don’t know.  But if the symbolism of salt is any indication, it’s an oath of love and devotion that can’t be broken.

Edit:

Connections to Scala ad Caelum: x