Irei

What is heavier: the thickest Kabuki paint or the secret it conceals? To the crowds in The Great Panda City, Irei is a celebrated storyteller. With a face of stark white and dramatic crimson, they perform tales of ancient heroes, their most beloved verses being those composed in honor of the great minstrel Shijin. The people see a guardian of tradition, a vibrant performer who brings the past to life beneath the bamboo-lined streets. They never see the Nexus Suit worn beneath the robes. They don't hear its low hum during the final bow. Each night, the paint is washed away, and Irei becomes someone else—a silent collector of whispers and shadows, a duty known to none. The bucket hat is for the moments in between, a disguise from both of their lives.