History Main / JapaneseSpirit

* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' zig-zags between whether it wants to follow this trope or not. On the one hand, teamwork is a major focus of Konohagure and they way the construct teams. But on the other, virtually everything comes down to a one-on-one battle anyway, with [[CombatByChampion the best warrior of one side inevitably facing the best of the opposition]]. Also, the eponymous protagonist at first begins the story with only persistence as his major trait, but he later discovers his unique talent is being CursedWithAwesome, and gains resolve in his desire to become Hokage despite having little to no practical ability. [[spoiler:And later chapters reveal that he was always ''exceedingly'' talented even without the above curse, though in ways that were not readily noticeable.]]

** However, at the same time, Toriyama also codified {{Ki}}. According to him, ki is determined by courage and vigor and "being in one's true mind", which is flat out the basis of this trope. In addition, he also introduced PowerLevels, which were essentially a sort of scientific measurement of a person's overall ki and battle capabilities. Toriyama stated he ''specifically'' introduced Power Levels to show how pointless and unreliable they were. In other words, guts and courage ultimately overruled academic limits. Toriyama did take several steps to try and subvert this trope, but a combination of ExecutiveMeddling and PanderingToTheBase shot those attempts down.

At its most basic, Yamato-damashii implies pure merit, worthiness or simply being or becoming "better". It is the process by which any living being can achieve its maximum potential [[TimeToUnlockMoreTruePotential or even higher]]. It can be described as a plethora of virtues, in words that may not translate directly into English well, but here we'll organize them into [[RuleOfThree three forms]]: talent, insight, and persistence.

* '''Koyū''' (or Talent) is any [[InTheBlood trait]], [[TheGift gift]] or [[OrphansPlotTrinket possession]] that makes someone a BornWinner. In stronger forms, they're a [[StoryBreakerPower story-breaker]], [[GodModeSue capable of bending]], [[NewPowersAsThePlotDemands changing]], or [[BeyondTheImpossible outright breaking the rules]]. In milder forms, "talent" is simply [[AnthropicPrinciple something which makes a character stand out]], and be [[TheChosenOne worthy of having their story told]], with a quality which rubs against the StatusQuo. Often, the character's main "talent" is having an overabundance of the next two qualities below. In short, it's something you've always had deep inside, whether or not you were aware of it.
* '''Chie''' (or Insight/Resolve) can be described as an [[TheFettered unshakable belief or faith]], but it's also HeroicResolve combined with [[BookDumb instinctual common sense]]. Those three things combine into a form of advanced SimpleMindedWisdom that [[TheMcCoy soundly defeats restrictions, academia, logic and science]] if they get in its way. It is born from [[WorthyOpponent facing powerful adversity]], and relies on how [[RightMakesMight correct your insight is.]] [[NotQuiteTheRightThing Incorrect or obsolete]] [[MoreHeroThanThou ideals may go far]], [[DefeatMeansFriendship but they will either]] [[VillainsDyingGrace lose out to the superior]], or the [[DoomedMoralVictor superior believer would rather die.]]

Thus, Akira doesn't necessarily show much Koyū, but his Chie and Kakan are enough to make him the strongest player of his generation.
* WorldWarII was a RealLife deconstruction. Japan's rulers seemed to think that this was a substitute for firepower, not to mention a justification for war crimes against Korea and other Asian nations.

* '''Koyū''' (or Talent) is any trait, gift or possession that makes someone a BornWinner. In stronger forms, they're a [[StoryBreakerPower story-breaker]], [[GodModeSue capable of bending]], [[NewPowersAsThePlotDemands changing]], or [[BeyondTheImpossible outright breaking the rules]]. In milder forms, "talent" is simply [[AnthropicPrinciple something which makes a character stand out]], and be [[TheChosenOne worthy of having their story told]], with a quality which rubs against the StatusQuo. Often, the character's main "talent" is having an overabundance of the next two qualities below. In short, it's something you've always had deep inside, whether or not you were aware of it.

If you've ever read, seen or heard of a Japanese story with even a hint of a ToBeAMaster or DefeatingTheUndefeatable plot, each of these three traits probably sound familiar to you. Most successful or powerful characters will have at least one and elements of others, but you can spot the {{Protagonist}} as the shining example (a "genius"). In the off chance that (s)he ''doesn't'' have all three, '''resolve''' will be the most likely of the three, followed by '''persistence''', and they'll probably find out that [[SuetifulAllAlong they actually had a talent all along that was easily overlooked.]] This is because Yamato-Damashii is fueled by the belief that everyone who tries their best and finds their resolve will [[DieOrFly unlock their true potential when the time is right.]] Villains, rivals and antagonists, on the other hand, will be lacking in at least one in comparison to the protagonist. Even an antagonist that starts out as seemingly invincible will wind up defeated when this flaw is eventually exposed.

* WorldWarII was a RealLife deconstruction. Japan's rulers seemed to think that this was a substitute for firepower.

* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' plays it absolutely straight with Ichigo as the poster boy. Gifted with ungodly high reiatsu, guided by a superb moral compass, and persistent to never give up and risk everything to succeed. Further, he's not only gone into [[LeeroyJenkins sure-death scenarios]] with abandon, but he's ''actually DIED'' twice!

* '''Chie''' (or Insight/Resolve) can be described as an [[TheFettered unshakable belief or faith]], but it's also HeroicResolve combined with [[BookDumb instinctual common sense]]. Those three things combine into a form of advanced SimpleMindedWisdom that [[TheMcCoy soundly defeats restrictions, academia, logic and science]] if they get in its way. It is born from [[WorthyOpponent facing powerful adversity]], and relies on how [[MoreHeroThanThou correct your insight is.]] [[NotQuiteTheRightThing Incorrect or obsolete]] ideals may go far, [[DefeatMeansFriendship but they will either]] [[VillainsDyingGrace lose out to the superior]], or the [[DoomedMoralVictor superior believer would rather die.]]

* ''Manga/HajimeNoIppo'' not only follows this trope, but specifically calls it out by name more than once.

*** '''Chie''': Ideals are thrown back and forth between various characters, each of whom has their own ideas about life. [[EstablishingCharacterMoment In the very first chapter]], Kenshin states that Kaoru's father's ideology of "the sword that protects life" is a utopian, impractical ideal, but one that he would rather believe in instead of the true nature of ''kenjutsu'' as a killing art. Other characters have their own ideologies, (e.g. Saitou's "Aku. Soku. Zan.", or "Swift Death to Evil"), and the entire focus of the Kyoto Arc pits Kenshin's principles of the strong protecting the weak versus Shishio's "The strong are food for the weak". Soujirou even asks if [[MightMakesRight winning the fight proves that the victor's ideals are right]] (a concept which Kenshin rejects). At the end of the arc, it's even stated that time (or "the age") was the one that decided the winner. [[spoiler: And subverted in the epilogue to the arc, where Japan's real-world rise to militarism prior to WorldWarII is described, suggesting that Kenshin's fight may have been in vain.]]

Compare how well the concept fits into TheHerosJourney. Also compare with stories that follow a ThudAndBlunder plot. The main character can also very easily categorized as an {{Ubermensch}}, with their nemesis being representative of [[StrawNihilist the "Last Man"]].

* '''Kakan''' (or Persistence) is [[HeroicWillpower the willpower that makes the impossible possible]]. It's the [[TheDeterminator willingness to never give up]], to [[ShonenUpgrade push yourself higher than before]], and [[TrainingFromHell to work your hardest.]] It's become codified as the "training arc" between battles or [[MadeOfIron the ability to survive fatal damage]] through sheer will alone. At its core, it's the belief that any problem can be overcome just by trying harder.

If you've ever read, seen or heard of a Japanese story with even a hint of a ToBeAMaster or DefeatingTheUndefeatable plot, each of these three traits probably sound familiar to you. Most successful or powerful characters will have at least one and elements of others, but you can spot the {{Protagonist}} as the shining example (a ''seishin'' or "genius"). In the off chance that (s)he ''doesn't'' have all three, '''resolve''' will be the most likely of the three, followed by '''persistence''', and they'll probably find out that [[SuetifulAllAlong they actually had a talent all along that was easily overlooked.]] This is because Yamato-Damashii is fueled by the belief that everyone who tries their best and finds their resolve will [[DieOrFly unlock their true potential when the time is right.]] Villains, rivals and antagonists, on the other hand, will be lacking in at least one in comparison to the protagonist. Even an antagonist that starts out as seemingly invincible will wind up defeated when this flaw is eventually exposed.

* '''Chie''' (or Insight/Resolve) can be described as an [[TheFettered unshakable belief or faith]], but it's also HeroicResolve combined with [[BookDumb instinctual common sense]]. Those three things combine into a form of advanced SimpleMindedWisdom that [[TheMcCoy soundly defeats restrictions, academia, logic and science]] if they get in its way. It is born from [[WorthyOpponent facing powerful adversity]], and relies on how [[MoreHeroThanThou correct your insight is.]] [[NotQuiteTheRightThing Incorrect or obsolete]] ideals may go far, [[DefeatMeansFriendship but they will either]] [[VillainsDyingGrace lose out to the superior]], or the [[MartyrdomCulture superior believer would rather die.]]

It's highly likely that the entire story concept is derived off of {{Wuxia}} (''Manga/DragonBall'', the codifer of modern {{Shounen}}, was heavily inspired by wuxia).

In America, the closest this concept approaches is the {{Superhero}} and HollywoodActionHero. {{Western}}s also have a similar feeling, but vastly different story structure.

* ''Manga/HajimeNoIppo'' not only follows this trope, but specifically calls it out by name more than once. It's flat out stated to be the most common and powerful trait of every Japanese boxer (though other nationalities are capable of it). The virtues of Talent, Resolve, and Persistence are thus personified by the characters of Takamura, Coach Kamagawa, and Ippo himself, respectively.

* '''Koyū''' (or Talent) is any trait, gift or possession that makes someone a BornWinner. In stronger forms, they're a [[StoryBreakerPower story-breaker]], [[GodModeSue capable of bending]], [[NewPowersAsThePlotDemands changing]], or [[BeyondTheImpossible outright breaking the rules]]. In milder forms, "talent" is simply [[AnthropicPrinciple something which makes a character stand out]], and be [[TheChosenOne worthy of having their story told]], with a quality which rubs against the StatusQuo. Often, the character's main "talent" is having an overabundance of the next two qualities below.
* '''Chie''' (or Insight/Resolve) can be described as an [[TheFettered unshakable belief or faith]], but it's also HeroicResolve combined with [[BookDumb instinctual common sense]]. Those three things combine into a form of advanced SimpleMindedWisdom that [[TheMcCoy soundly defeats restrictions, academia, logic and science]] if they get in its way. It is born from [[WorthyOpponent facing powerful adversity]], and relies on how [[MoreHeroThanThou correct your insight is.]] [[NotQuiteTheRightThing Incorrect or obsolete]] ideals may go far, [[DefeatMeansFriendship but they will either]] [[VillainsDyingGrace lose out to the superior]], or the [[MartyrdomCulture superior believer would rather die.]]

* '''Chie''' (or Insight/Resolve) can be described as an [[TheFettered unshakable belief or faith]], but it's also HeroicResolve combined with [[BookDumb instinctual common sense]]. Those three things combine into a form of advanced SimpleMindedWisdom that [[TheMcCoy soundly defeat academia, logic and science]] if it gets in their way. It is born from [[WorthyOpponent powerful adversity]], and relies on how [[MoreHeroThanThou correct your insight is.]] [[NotQuiteTheRightThing Incorrect or obsolete]] ideals may go far, [[DefeatMeansFriendship but they will either]] [[VillainsDyingGrace lose out to the superior]], or the [[MartyrdomCulture superior believer would rather die.]]

* Played absolutely straight in ''Manga/OnePiece''. Firstly, even with the rather intricate ElementalRockPaperScissors system, HeroicResolve tends to be the factor that decides the fights in the favor of the heroes. Secondly, [[ThePiratesWhoDontDoAnything considering that they are criminals and all]], the Straw Hat Pirates end up doing the morally right thing a lot more often than the marines sided with [[TheGovernment the corrupt]] [[OneWorldOrder World Government]]. And thirdly, there exists a force known as Haki which actually means "ambition". [[TheHero Luffy]] is gifted with the rare Conqueror's Haki with which you can literally knock out WeakWilled opponents ''with sheer spirit alone''.

* Ash Ketchum of ''Anime/{{Pokémon}}'' fits each of these tropes above. At first, it seems "Talent" is his exception, but Ash is stated several times to have an unusual ability to create deep bonds with Pokémon due to his extremely good heart and persistence. For example, Pikachu started out hating him, but quickly grew to love him when he faced a flock of Pidgeys to protect her, and Charizard warmed up to him after he burned his hands taking care of it while injured.

* '''Koyū''' (or Talent) is any trait, gift or possession that makes someone a BornWinner. In stronger forms, they're a [[StoryBreakerPower story-breaker]], [[GodModeSue capable of bending]], [[NewPowersAsThePlotDemands changing]], or [[BeyondTheImpossible outright breaking the rules]]. In milder forms, "talent" is simply [[AnthropicPrinciple something which makes a character stand out]], and be [[TheChosenOne worthy of having their story told]], with a quality which rubs against the StatusQuo.

"Yamato-damashii" is loosely translated into "the spirit/soul of Japan", and defined as anything and everything which makes Japan (and the Japanese) unique, distinct, and great. Of course, this creates the logical question: "What is Japanese?"

At its most basic, Yamato-damashii implies pure merit, worthiness or simply becoming a "better" person. It is the process by which any living being can achieve its maximum potential [[TimeToUnlockMoreTruePotential or even higher]]. It can be described as a plethora of virtues, in words that may not translate directly into English well, but here we'll organize them into [[RuleOfThree three forms]]: talent, insight, and persistence.

* '''Koyū''' (or Talent) is any trait, gift or possession that makes someone a BornWinner. In stronger forms, they're a [[StoryBreakerPower story-breaker]], [[GodModeSue capable of bending]], [[NewPowersAsThePlotDemands changing]], or [[BeyondTheImpossible outright breaking the rules]]. In milder forms, "talent" is simply [[AnthropicPrinciple something which makes a character stand out]], and be [[TheChosenOne worthy of having their story told]], with a quality which rubs against the StatusQuo.
* '''Chie''' (or Insight/Resolve) can be described as an [[TheFettered unshakable belief or faith]], but it's actually deeper than that, because it also implies HeroicResolve combined with [[BookDumb instinctual common sense]]; all of which combine into a form of advanced SimpleMindedWisdom that [[TheMcCoy soundly defeat academia, logic and science]]. It must be challenged and proven not only by [[WorthyOpponent adversity]], but how [[MoreHeroThanThou correct your insight is.]] [[NotQuiteTheRightThing Incorrect or obsolete]] ideals may go far, [[DefeatMeansFriendship but they will either]] [[VillainsDyingGrace lose out to the superior]], or the [[MartyrdomCulture superior believer would rather die.]]

If you've ever read, seen or heard of a Japanese story with even a hint of a ToBeAMaster or DefeatingTheUndefeatable plot, each of these three traits probably sound familiar to you. Most successful or powerful characters will have at least one and elements of others, but you can spot the {{Protagonist}} as the shining example (a ''seishin'' or "genius"). In the off chance that (s)he ''doesn't'' have all three, '''resolve''' will be the most likely of the three, followed by '''persistence''', and they'll probably find out that [[SuetifulAllAlong they actually had a talent all along that was easily overlooked.]] This is because Yamato-Damashii is fueled by the belief that everyone who tries their best and finds their resolve will unlock their true potential when the time is right. Villains, rivals and antagonists, on the other hand, will be lacking in at least one in comparison to the protagonist. Even an antagonist that starts out as seemingly invincible will wind up defeated when this flaw is eventually exposed.

* ''Anime/GurrenLagann'' gives us this advice: "Go BeyondTheImpossible and kick reason to the curb!" Furthermore, you have things like Spiral Power, constant {{Shonen Upgrade}}s and constant references to confidence, spirit, and resolve. It's safe to say that Gurren Lagann is this trope in its purest form.

** And last, when Gin and Aizen are walking through the Precipice World back to Soul Society, a Cleaner (a giant spiritual bullet train that destroys anything it touches) is seconds away from hitting them. When Aizen (in the first stage of his OneWingedAngel form) steps up to challenge the thing, Gin states that the Cleaner "belongs to the world of reason" and that [[{{Ki}} spirit energy is useless to defeat it]]. Aizen calmly walks up to the Cleaner, states that "Reason is only for those who must rely on it to survive", and destroys the Cleaner effortlessly.

* '''Chie''' (or Insight/Resolve) can be described as an [[TheFettered unshakable belief or faith]], but it's actually deeper than that, because it also implies HeroicResolve combined with instinctual [[BookDumb wisdom and common sense]], which [[TheMcCoy soundly defeat academia, logic and science]]. It must be challenged and proven not only by [[WorthyOpponent adversity]], but how [[MoreHeroThanThou correct your insight is.]] [[NotQuiteTheRightThing Incorrect or obsolete]] ideals may go far, [[DefeatMeansFriendship but they will either]] [[VillainsDyingGrace lose out to the superior]], or the [[MartyrdomCulture superior believer would rather die.]]

If you've ever read, seen or heard of a Japanese story with even a hint of a ToBeAMaster or DefeatingTheUndefeatable plot, each of these three traits probably sound familiar to you. Most successful or powerful characters will have at least one and elements of others, but you can spot the {{Protagonist}} as the shining example (a ''seishin'' or "genius"). In the off chance that (s)he ''doesn't'' have all three, '''resolve''' will be the most likely of the three, followed by '''persistence''', and they'll probably find out that [[SuetifulAllAlong they actually had a talent all along that was easily overlooked.]] This is because Yamato-Damashii is fueled by the belief that everyone who tries their best and finds their resolve will unlock their true potential when the time is right.

See TheOtherWiki for more information on [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamato-damashii yamato-damashii.]]

'''NOTE: Putting everything in this section within the "Analysis" tab, as the article is quite long as it is.'''

Yamato-damashii has existed in some form for centuries. Japan has a long history of [[PatrioticFervor national and ethnic pride]], partially codified in the [[JapaneseMythology Shinto belief]] that the Japanese islands themselves were divine. In the past, when [[ImperialChina China was the cultural center of the Asian world]], Yamato-damashii was used to [[BrainsEvilBrawnGood draw distinction between the academic and scholarly Chinese values]] and the [[SimpleMindedWisdom simpler Japanese common sense.]][[note]]There was a parable of a Chinese scholar who is murdered by a burglar. For all his intellect and reason, it didn't save him from such a simple and childish death.[[/note]] Aside from scholars like Motoori Norinaga, the concept was barely mentioned throughout the centuries afterward, but reached its peak once [[ImperialJapan Japan began to modernize itself]]. With the entire country desperate to copy, and catch up to, the more advanced West, it became important once again to define what being "Japanese" meant.

Positively, Yamato-Damashii is a rejection of [[TheSpock emotionless logic]] and the failure to try because something is difficult or seems impossible. In this sense, it follows the simple creed of "the only way to fail is not to try your best". On the pragmatic level, Yamato-Damshii is ''intended'' to refer to "RealLife" ingenuity, and not blind optimism. It inspires people to constantly be better, to focus more on uncharted paths than roads already paved, and to retain hope even at the DarkestHour. One way of looking at how this differs from the west is that, unlike Shintoism, Christianity has a clear disconnect between mortals and the divine; humans should try to be ''like God'', but can never BE divine. On the other hand, Shintoism believed that every human was born with a ''musubi'', or a divine spark [[EnlightenmentSuperpower just waiting to be unlocked.]] In this philosophy, every person is born with everything they ever need to become great in their own way. In short, people who have talent should not be [[IndividualityIsIllegal held back to accomodate for the less-talented]], and the less-talented should acknowledge their limitations and perhaps [[NormalFishInATinyPond try to succeed in other respects.]]

However, this can be a problem if "talent" is dictated by societal conformity and elitism, and if those without it are outright discarded or shunned. (After all, if someone is talentless, and thus unworthy of having their story told, why should anyone care?) Negatively, Yamato-Damashii can be compared to {{Social Darwinis|t}}m, and has also been compared to the western concepts of the "WhiteMansBurden" and "[[{{Eagleland}} American Exceptionalism]]" in that it assigns a specific ethnic group with an immeasurably valuable trait. Yamato-damashii is about all the things that makes Japan and her people good, and by proxy, what the rest of the world lacks. Furthermore, it is ''specifically'' a [[StrawVulcan condemnation of academia in favor of common sense, adaptive thinking, and individual merit]]--in other words, if scholarly wisdom indicates that there is a MillionToOneChance, yamato-damashii demands that those odds not only be challenged, but beaten. Furthermore, stemming from the code of bushido, [[NoTrueScotsman a true follower of yamato-damashii]] will have risked sure-death for their cause at least once. This led to the [[SuicideAttack glorification of kamikaze tactics]] in WorldWarII, which ([[RealityEnsues contrary to use of this trope in fiction]]) [[TropeBreaker did not work out so well]]. And finally, this trope is also partly responsible for the phenomenon of "karoshi", which translates to "death from overwork" in Japanese. In recent decades, Japanese culture has cultivated the existence of the {{Salaryman}} and the {{Otaku}}, who pursue their respective interests with obsessive tenacity.

Naturally, there are still traces of this in Japanese culture and media--a minor means of spotting it is with the phrase "Ganbatte! (Do your best!)" in place of the Western "Good luck!"--although some scholars predict it will die out fairly soon. The concept of {{Kawaisa}} has been adopted as its chief replacement, although it can be argued that it still promotes a powerful emotional ideal (in this case, cuteness and delicacy) over a logical or unpleasant one. Another possible result of this trope is that Japan at large still has a [[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10543126 mistrust of technology]] in favor of the GoodOldWays.
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A story setting doesn't actually ''need'' to have a Japan to possess this trope. This is more about the general tone and logic that the story employs, which is more reflective of the setting it was created in than the one it takes place in.

Compare the PillarsOfMoralCharacter, a separate but overlapping Japanese values system that more than likely defines what virtues the character's resolve springs from. Also compare {{Kawaisa}}, which is a later attempt at an idealized Japanese culture.

It's highly likely that the entire story concept is derived off of {{Wuxia}} (''Manga/DragonBall'', the codifer of modern {{Shounen}}, was heavily inspired by wuxia).

In America, the closest this concept approaches is the {{Superhero}} and HollywoodActionHero. {{Western}}s also have a similar feeling, but vastly different story structure.

Compare how well the concept fits into TheHerosJourney. Also compare with stories that follow a ThudAndBlunder plot. The main character can also very easily categorized as an {{Ubermensch}}, with their nemesis being representative of [[StrawNihilist the "Last Man"]].

See TheOtherWiki for more information on [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamato-damashii yamato-damashii.]]
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