History Main / JapaneseSpirit

* For a good Western example, the ''Franchise/{{Rocky}}'' films stand out quite well, as do the many [[SportsStories sports movies]] that follow their formula. The finer details of Rocky Balboa's resolve vary between films, but it usually comes down to a desire to prove and defend his honor after another fighter underestimates and dismisses him, often ignoring the people around him who warn him that he might get himself killed or crippled in the process. His persistence... well, there's a reason why the TrainingMontage is such an iconic part of the series, as he prepares to fight foes with far more resources behind them. Rocky's talent, finally, is that he's a hell of a fighter who can [[MightyGlacier withstand a lot of punishment]] and [[GradualGrinder slowly beat down his foes]] (the latter also going back to persistence). On the flip side, Apollo Creed, the villain of the first two films, was ultimately brought down in the second by his own hubris despite his superior fighting skill, and in the third, [[DefeatMeansFriendship he becomes Rocky's trainer and friend]].

{{Ki}}, or some other equivalent [[TheForce Force]], is the manifestation of Yamato-Damashii and is almost all-powerful. Physical limitations, such as handicaps or injuries, are usually superficial; Ki mastery will let you [[NormallyIWouldBeDeadNow ignore injuries]] or NoSell attacks entirely. There is usually a way to [[TheForceIsStrongWithThisOne sense Ki]] or [[AbstractScale treat it like an academic ranking or measurement]] that one person can have "more" or "less" of in a hierarchy of power.

** Another example of AntiIntellectualism, where spirit overcomes logic, happens 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 replies with "Reason is only for those who must rely on it to survive", and destroys the Cleaner effortlessly.

** 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 as a quick method of establishing base strength to the audience, but that the numbers were intentionally not reliable. In other words, guts and courage ultimately overruled academic limits.

* ''Webcomic/OnePunchMan'' is a comedic take on the concept, but mostly plays it straight. Saitama wanted to become a hero through diligence, and did so; except the TrainingFromHell he underwent turns out to have been mundane, less than what a real-life athlete would go through, yet somehow it gave him god-like power. Apparently he really just has [[SuperpowerLottery excessive talent]], and when superheroism becomes pathetically easy for him, he becomes lackadaisical (but still manages to save the day over and over without really trying). He does still have a strong sense of heroic morality, though this only comes out in the rare occasions where he faces someone who puts up a bit of a fight.

* In the ''Anime/IronMan'' manga, Tony Stark works hard to curtail his American sensibilities (especially his womanizing) while in Japan, knowing it won't win him any points with the locals. His behavior, however, more closely resembles what a [[WeAllLiveInAmerica Japanese writer would GUESS an American hotshot would act like.]] For example, at one point, he is sparring with a Japanese fighter and compliments the man on his JapaneseSpirit...before [[TryingToCatchMeFightingDirty cheating]] and then proclaiming that as an American, he instead has "Pioneer Spirit". Not only is JapaneseSpirit something most Americans have ''vaguely'' heard of, at best, but no American would ever use the term "Pioneer Spirit". The "American Way", maybe, but in this context, even that's a stretch.

[[folder:Fist of the North Star]]
* In ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'', Kenshiro, like all masters of the North Star and South Star martial arts schools, has powers and abilities which make him extremely special and talented. Further, the IncitingIncident which caused the series (his first duel and loss to Shin) has Shin specifically state that Kenshiro lost because he lacked resolve. The desire for both [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge revenge]] and to [[RoaringRampageOfRescue rescue]] his fiancée are what push Ken to his peak. Even later, when Ken needs to unlock his ultimate technique, it turns out that he can only do it by embracing "the true nature of sorrow", demonstrating that the "Insight" and RightMakesMight parts of this trope are intact. Lastly, Kenshiro at first glance appears to avert the Persistence side of the trope because he's [[InvincibleHero so invincible that he never needs to do any training and rarely struggles against an opponent]]. However, it's revealed that all of the battles, lost friends and allies, and psychological trauma he's endured throughout the series has allowed him to perfect his abilities, thus fulfilling the Persistence angle after all.

[[folder: Hajime No Ippo]]
* ''Manga/HajimeNoIppo'' not only follows this trope, but was localized in the West as "Fighting Spirit". The story specifically calls out Japanese Spirit 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 Kamogawa, and Ippo himself, respectively.
** It's also deconstructed in this series through the characters of Aoki Masaru and Kimura Tetsuya. They've been boxing for many, many years and worked hard in the process. [[HardWorkHardlyWorks However, neither has ever had a championship belt, and they tend to suffer crushing losing streaks.]] When comparing themselves to Ippo, they state that Ippo is a "Hard Work Genius"--able to gain geometric leaps in skill through training, while most others will only gain a marginal difference.
-->'''Coach Kamogawa:''' "Not everyone who works hard will succeed. But everyone who succeeds has worked hard."

[[folder: One Piece]]
* ''Manga/OnePiece'' plays it absolutely straight.
** 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''.

[[folder: Naruto]]
* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' zig-zags between whether it wants to follow this trope or not.
** On the one hand, teamwork is a major focus of the ninja villages. 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]]. Just as relevant is that there ''are'' so many epic battles and so much post-school training is preparation for these, given how little ninja work supposedly comes with the goal of seeking out a worthy opponent and epically battling them. While this is explainable both for historical reasons (wars between early chakra users, their descending clans, and eventually villages have made this the dominant factor in the development of ninja skills from the start) and technical ones (the current state of skills means you can't expect to avoid a fight with anybody you can't beat in one), but it's clear all of this is set up just to ensure plot arcs must be resolved with "moral victories" as per this trope.
** Konoha village, the central setting of the series, has a belief called the "Will of Fire" which basically insists that RightMakesMight and that love is the secret to strength and peace. This belief best manifests in [[SuperiorSuccessor in each successive generation becoming more powerful than the previous]].
** The eponymous protagonist at first begins the story with being having nothing more but persistence in proving himself (being orphaned as a child and more or less having raised himself while the majority of the village feared and hated him for having the Demon Fox sealed in him.) He gains true HeroicResolve in his first real mission and begins to show his skills. While he was CursedWithAwesome, he was unaware for the first 12 years of his life and it took a while for him to be able to use the power. Also, his lack of actual technical skill or aptitude is constantly a plot point. [[spoiler:And later chapters reveal that he was always ''exceedingly'' talented even without the above curse, though not in the obvious ways or just went unobserved]]. By the end of the series, Naruto's hard work has made him one of the single most talented shinobi in the series.

[[folder: Bleach]]
* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' plays it absolutely straight with Ichigo as the poster boy.
** Ichgo is a BornWinner gifted with ungodly high reiatsu, guided by a superb moral compass, and persistent enough to never give up and risk everything by rushing into [[LeeroyJenkins sure-death scenarios]] with abandon.
** The AntiIntellectualism and SimpleMindedWisdom elements abound in the series as well. One blatant example when this trope is used is during Ichigo's fight with Renji. He and Renji are evenly-matched physically, although Renji has the edge on him in experience. Then, Ichigo has a flashback to his training with Urahara, in which Urahara talks extensively about Resolve, and how you simply need to ''know'' your resolve will work. Instead of dodging and thinking "I don't want to be cut", when you dodge, you think "I '''will not''' be cut!" After Ichigo finds his Resolve, he defeats Renji with one strike.
** Another example is during a training session against his [[EnemyWithin Inner Hollow]]. The hollow berates Ichigo for trying to rely on ''logic'' to defeat his enemies and says that doesn't work.
** Yet another example is when Yoruichi is training Ichigo to use Bankai (notice a pattern yet?). She tells us the quote above, which succinctly tells us what Japanese Spirit is, in a nutshell.
** Another example of AntiIntellectualism, where spirit overcomes logic, happens 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 replies with "Reason is only for those who must rely on it to survive", and destroys the Cleaner effortlessly.

[[folder: Dragon Ball]]
* Interestingly, ''Manga/DragonBall'' [[UnBuiltTrope did not follow this trope at first.]] In fact, Creator/AkiraToriyama intentionally subverted it several times. In particular, though Goku definitely possesses the traits of Yamato-Damashii, Toriyama would never allow Goku to win a TournamentArc ([[DoubleSubversion until the King Piccolo arc, which is the only time the world was actually at stake]]), despite fans demanding it. Secondly, the victories against Raditz and Vegeta were both done with true teamwork (as opposed to a single main fighter with token support). However, from the Namek Saga onward, ''Dragon Ball'' slowly helped codify this trope in {{Shounen}}. A later example is when fans were dissatisfied with the Android villains (partially because there was more than one, and because they did not appear to be {{Worthy Opponent}}s), forcing him to make Cell the main antagonist.
** 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 as a quick method of establishing base strength to the audience, but that the numbers were intentionally not reliable. In other words, guts and courage ultimately overruled academic limits.
** ''Anime/DragonBallSuper'' is returning to subverting this trope with the Universe Survival Arc. It begins with Goku's simpleminded Persistence and Resolve causing [[spoiler:him to become the main villain for everyone else's point of view]]. Its also clear that teamwork and tactics will be just as important as effort, talent, and brute force.
*** Probably the strongest subversion though, is in the "Future Trunks" arc. The heroes fight valiantly to defend what they believe in against an arrogant villain who feels he has a right to kill whomever he wishes simply due to his station and in the end [[spoiler: [[TheBadGuyWins the villain is proven to be completely right]] as [[ShootTheShaggyDog everything the heroes do ends up being totally pointless]] as a last minute AssPull allows the villain to instantly merge with the universe, become the embodiment of justice (Which was his goal from the start) and kill all the humans the heroes had been fighting to protect. Only divine intervention stops the villain, at the cost of the entire universe.]] While previous arcs subverted Japanese virtues like hard work, determination, courage, honour and self improvement. The [[DownerEnding final episode]] of the Future Trunks arc seems to go out of it's way to show that [[SillyRabbitIdealismIsForKids all of these virtues are absolutely worthless]] in the face of [[CosmicHorrorStory divine power]].

[[folder: Madoka Magica]]
* The girls in ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' are personifications of individual aspects. [[spoiler:In many respects, the normal interpretations are subverted or deconstructed, though it's mostly played straight in the ending, where Madoka sacrifices herself to become a deity of hope and persistence.]]
** Sayaka has strong convictions and is willing to sacrifice her life for them, but she lacks talent. [[spoiler:This leads to her downfall, because her limited talent cannot support her overzealous ideals.]]
** Kyoko, Sayaka's antithesis, is talented but has lost her faith and ambition; though she is (unwittingly) inspired by Sayaka's determination. [[spoiler:After Sayaka becomes a witch, Kyouko attempts the supposedly impossible task of turning her human again. But that turns out to be truly impossible, so she [[TogetherInDeath joins Sayaka in death]] instead.]]
** Homura is persistence-incarnate, [[spoiler:relieving the same tragic month over and over until she achieves her goal. Subverted in that she ultimately fails to "protect Madoka" as she intended, but, see below]].
** Madoka is extremely talented but she needs to find her one wish that is worth fighting for and the persistence to fulfill it [[spoiler:by spending eternity rescuing other magical girls. Her talent, it turns out, comes mostly from Homura's perseverance, making it appropriately noble]].
** ''[[TheMovie Rebellion]]'' [[spoiler:turns the trope on its head, as Homura uses her persistent spirit to become even more powerful than Madoka... [[AmbitionIsEvil and evil]].]]

[[folder: Future Diary]]
* Deconstructed in ''Manga/FutureDiary''. In a ThereCanBeOnlyOne plot involving ScryVsScry, the protagonist is not talented (at least, no more so than the other characters), does not have resolve, and can barely be considered to have anything resolving willpower. But his good heart is what causes the female lead, Yuno, to develop a MadLove for him, and Yuno ''certainly'' everything this trope dictates. She's exceptionally talented, insightful, and determined. [[spoiler:But the zigs and zags keep coming throughout the story--Yuno is only TheAce because of her AbusiveParents, and is actually an empty broken person inside who needs Yuki to validate herself. And later on, when Yuki's parents are murdered, he finally gets the resolve he needed...but it starts to slowly erode his willpower and push him into madness to the point that he would rather die than kill Yuno. In the end, Yuno betrays him because of this and it's revealed that she's actually the BigBad, having manipulated everything to this conclusion. Since Yuki won't kill her and become God, then it wouldn't make sense for them to commit a lovers' suicide; she can travel back in time and be with his past self all over again (as she did last time after SHE became God). In the end, Yuki and Yuno become horribly broken people, and it's only through the intervention of others that the story even manages to avoid an outright DownerEnding.]]

[[folder: Rurouni Kenshin]]
* As a manga about [[JidaiGeki swordsmen during the Meiji Restoration]], it's no surprise that ''Manga/RurouniKenshin'' uses and discusses aspects of this trope extensively.
** The three traits:
*** '''Koyuu''': The main character, most of his supporting cast, and the majority of antagonists in the series all have some gift or trait that makes them stand out as fighters. Kenshin, by far, shows himself to be the most talented of all in skill, and starts off the series having attained the title of "the strongest". [[spoiler: This is subsequently deconstructed as the series shows the toll that his style of swordsmanship takes on his body, in spite of his talent.]]
*** '''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 weak are food for the strong". 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 UsefulNotes/WorldWarII is described, suggesting that Kenshin's fight may have been in vain.]]
*** '''Kakan''': Starting from the second half of the manga, Kenshin's pivotal fights are decided by two things: the [[DangerousForbiddenTechnique Succession Technique]], and the inability to die thanks to sheer force of will. Sanosuke has his own TrainingArc, and Yahiko spends most of the manga pushing his limits in order to become stronger. The Succession Technique is even explicitly stated to be affected by the user's will to live and resolve.
** Japanese Nationalism: Played with.
*** Subverted on the surface. Kenshin doesn't fight for Japan, but for his own ideals and to protect the weak, having learnt the cost of getting politically involved during his career in the Bakumatsu. Shishio, ''the villain'' of the Kyoto Arc, seeks the rise of Japan as a great power and intends to shape it in his own ideals.
*** However, subtext suggests a straighter interpretation. A large number of of Kenshin's opponents adopt non-Japanese technology (A Gatling gun, Shishio's battleship [[spoiler: which he purchased from Enishi]], an arm-mounted Armstrong cannon), forms of dress (e.g. Soujirou's and Houji's clothing), and other mannerisms and influences (e.g. Enishi's dealings in China). Kenshin and his supporting cast are more traditional in garb and style, and occasionally described as belonging to the previous era (e.g. the phasing out of traditional swordsmanship, even Kenshin's own insistence that the ''hitokiri'' should've been left behind with the Bakumatsu), and Houji explicitly compares defeating Kenshin to taking over Japan.
** Patterns: Kenshin's gantlets in the Kyoto and Jinchuu Arcs plays this completely straight - while Kenshin's supporting cast helps deal with the BigBad's henchmen (and may interfere in the final fight to little benefit), it's always up to Kenshin to take on the BigBad himself with minimal aid, and the fight always boils down to pitting his use of the Succession Technique (as mentioned, a symbol of his resolve) against his opponent's strongest move - following which the opponent is both physically and psychologically defeated.

[[folder: Pokemon]]
* Ash Ketchum of ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'' 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 Ash when Ash faced a flock of Spearow to protect him,and Charizard warmed up to him after he burned his hands taking care of it while injured.
** In most [[BigDamnMovie feature-length movies]], Ash is either TheChosenOne or somehow important to saving a city, country, or even the entire world.
** There's even an instance in the first season of the series where Ash is facing an opponent who's turned Pokémon battles into a "science", relying upon data and statistics to win. His attitude upsets his family, and offends Ash, who states that fighting spirit and instinct are the only true things that determine the outcome of a Pokémon battle.

[[folder: Disgaea]]
* Played almost totally straight in ''Videogame/DisgaeaHourOfDarkness''.
** ThePowerOfLove and ThePowerOfFriendship are {{Anvilicious}}ly repeated throughout the story, and is what unites and eventually motivates the protagonists (even if [[{{Tsundere}} Laharl doesn't want to believe it]].
** However, demons have their own expression of it. Laharl and Etna are steadfastly against any form of complacency or taking an easy path to success. They [[BoisterousBruiser gladly pick a fight a fight]] with opponents even if the fight seems hopeless, value any {{Worthy Opponent}}s for their strength, and will recruit (read:"vassalize") any strong persons they defeat.
** Nowhere is it demonstrated better than in the battle against Kurtis, where the characters [[LampshadeHanging specifically wait for Kurtis to give his life story]] so that they can compare how their ideals match up to his. Captain Gordon ('''Defender of Earth!''') even states that Kurtis was fighting for what he believed was right, but that it was NotQuiteTheRightThing. Upon being defeated, Kurtis says he feels the [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything "Defender Spirit"]] within Gordon and makes a HeelFaceTurn, [[spoiler:followed by a HeroicSacrifice]].
** Also demonstrated in the last battle the party has against [[spoiler:Mid-Boss, who is [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness uncharacteristically serious]] during this battle]] and specifically fights them to "test their resolve". After losing, he [[GracefulLoser gracefully bows out]], but not before reminding them of everything they learned on their journey.
** The DefeatMeansFriendship and NotQuiteTheRightThing aspects are subverted against [[spoiler:Vulcanus]]. Vulcanus is convinced that his goals are selfless and benevolent, but he really just wants to TakeOverTheWorld. The party tries to convince him that he's wrong and to see it their way, but he absolutely refuses.

[[folder: Attack On Titan]]
* Each of the three main characters of ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'' exhibit strong examples of all three virtues, although with their own failings in some ways. [[spoiler: Their {{Evil Counterpart}}s, the three Titan Shifter spies, also represent these but are ultimately dark examples that falter along the way]].
** Eren is flat out stated in the story to be more '''Persistent''' than anyone. Unfortunately, [[FearlessFool his ego writes checks that his body can't cash]]. He's an example of a character who has strong willpower but not the raw talent or insight to go with it, and as a result, he repeatedly suffers injury, failure and setback, which makes even ''his'' strong willpower constantly falter. True to the Japanese Spirit archetype, he has a number of hidden "talents/powers" which ''only'' work if he holds on to his persistence even in the face of death. [[spoiler: His EvilCounterpart, Reiner, is similarly stated to be a soldier with incredible willpower. He teaches Eren the importance of using his strength of will for a greater purpose.....and is ultimately defeated by Eren when his own resolve wavers.]]
** Mikasa is described as one of the most '''Talented''' soldiers of all time. But she's somewhat lacking in the resolve and persistence departments. While, yes, she will do anything to save Eren from danger, this is due more to him being a LivingEmotionalCrutch and not because she has any particular goals of her own. If nothing else, she's the epitome of what women traditionally used Japanese Spirit for (helping the man they most treasured above all else). [[spoiler: EvilCounterpart Bertolt is also noted to be an exceptionally talented individual, with great potential to master anything he's taught. However, his lack of confidence greatly hinders his ability to live up to his potential and he spends much of his time crippled by insecurity.]]
** Armin's '''Insight''' is pretty much the ray of hope that our protagonist holds onto. He's physically weak, but he's called one of the most brilliant soldiers, and his strong idealism to see the outside world still motivates his friends. [[spoiler: EvilCounterpart Annie also possesses incredible insight, providing insight to others on human nature as well as the potential of those "Special" people that hold on to their ideals. It is when she falters, hesitating to kill Armin and later allowing him to emotionally manipulate her, that leads to her downfall.]]

[[folder: Saint Seiya]]
* ''Manga/SaintSeiya'' often uses this. In the ''Saint Seiya'' universe, the Cosmo is the BackgroundMagicField that Saints manipulate. Some people are born naturally Cosmo aware ("Koyuu"). In order to use the Cosmo, you must use what can basically be summed up as a combination of "Chie" and "Kakan".
** In the original series' early arcs, Seiya, would often make pretty clever strategies to defeat enemies. However, Seiya's determination to win (Kakan) is practically a plot point and Seiya`s fighting spirit (Chie) is the sole reason why the Sagittarius Cloth keeps protecting him.
** In ''Omega'', the first half of the series involves the heroes running away from villains that are just too strong. On the other hand, it was through Kouga`s resolve to protect Saori that the Pegasus Cloth recognized him as a worthy bearer, and it was through his determination to not give up during his fight with Spear that allowed him to use the Pegasus Ryu Sei Ken at will. There is also the fact that Kouga has the extremely rare Light Cosmo [[spoiler: and later Darkness Cosmo]]. "Koyuu" is also exhibited in the character of Dragon Ryuho who is the son of Shiryu from the original series, and is regarded as a genius.
** ''Episode G'' is probably the Saga that best exemplifies this; a big deal is made out of the fact that Aioria is the brother of the most powerful Gold Saint of his time, Aioria often talks at length about his resolve to never let the Titans win, and many of his enemies often comment on his stubbornness. It can best be summed up by a quote from the man himself.
--> '''Aioria:''' "No matter how many times I fall... I will always get up with my two legs."

[[folder:The Legend of Zelda]]
* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' codifies the three virtues as Power (''Chikara''), Wisdom (''Chie'') and Courage (''Yuuki''). The [[CosmicKeystone Triforce]], embodying all three, can grant wishes to "one whose heart is in balance". The series also plays with the Triforce and its relation to these virtues in the following ways:
** In most games Link starts out as the weakest of the three central characters, but the most strongly associated with Courage.[[note]]It's possible that these play on themes mentioned in the Code of the Samurai, which explains that even the weakest and dumbest idiot can achieve greatness if he has enough courage.[[/note]] However, he [[OnlyTheWorthyMayPass must pass trials themed after each of these virtues]] (or more abstractly, [[ElementalPowers their corresponding elements]][[note]][[FireIsRed Fire/Earth]] for Power, [[WaterIsBlue Water/Ice]] for Wisdom, [[WindIsGreen Forest/Wind]] for Courage[[/note]]) before he can achieve victory. Starting with ''[[Videogame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast A Link to the Past]]'', Link usually must gather three {{Plot Coupon}}s which symbolize these virtues before he can wield [[SwordOfPlotAdvancement The Master Sword]]. Also note that in ''[[Videogame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ocarina of Time]]'', the Master Sword was the final key to receiving the Triforce, which symbolizes all three used together to create {{Omnipotence}}.
** The other two major recurring represent the other virtues for the trope, but also symbolize their flaws. Princess Zelda, although wise and possessing powerful magic, usually cannot solve the conflict of the plot or find the Triforce herself. The main antagonist, Ganon, is a BornWinner who embodies only Power, which (directly or indirectly) always prevents him from gaining full control of the Triforce.

[[folder:Kill La Kill]]
* Anime/KillLaKill follows this trope to a T.
** Ryuuko Matoi is a textbook example of a JapaneseSpirit hero:
*** She is unbelievably determined, even at the start of the show. She's driven by a desire to find the person who killed her father, and believes that Satsuki Kiryuin is either that person or knows who is. However, at the beginning, she is no match at all for [[ClothesMakeTheSuperman Goku Uniforms]], even with the enchanted scissor she wields, and winds up retreating or needing to be saved multiple times in the beginning.
*** But when Ryuuko gains access to Senketsu, her superpowered sailor uniform, her true hidden powers and talents come to light. At that point, she is more than a match for Two-Star Uniforms, and she even gains new abilities/skills as she fights the Three-Star Uniforms and stronger opponents. Satsuki herself expresses admiration for her Ryuuko's spirit.
*** Much, much later in the show, we learn that. [[spoiler:Ryuuko is a BornWinner, with a body that is infused with Life Fibers that allow her to handle a Kamui (essentially the equivalent of a Ten-Star Uniform), where 50% is enough to drive most people insane. However, [[TomatoInTheMirror finding this out]] sends her into a massive HeroicBlueScreenOfDeath.]]
** This is to say nothing of Lady Satsuki herself.
*** She is not only willing to take risks, but believes that the power of sheer badassery will allow her to overcome any challenge (and it ''does''). [[spoiler:This is despite the fact that she is not as infused with Life Fibers as Ryuuko is, because she was too old to accept them at the time of the experiment while Ryuuko was experimented on from the moment she left the womb.]]
*** She fits the archetype of the Japanese Spirit villain[=/=][[TheRival Rival]] like a glove. She generally believes in a very cynical and harsh world view, and looks down on anyone who doesn't fit her ideals. [[spoiler:However, it's revealed that her LongGame involves waiting for the perfect moment to betray her mother, the [[TheManBehindTheMan Woman Behind The Woman]]. Further, her worldview isn't completely unjustified; she needs soldiers with enough spirit and resolve to resist being controlled by Life Fibers, and doesn't have time to waste on "half-baked allies".]]

[[folder: Guilty Gear]]
* In ''VideoGame/GuiltyGear'', though Japan and its culture remain only in fragments thanks to its destruction by the Gears, its virtues still exist, as shown through the three main characters, which personify its individual aspects.
** Sol Badguy represents Talent. Being a Gear, he has a large amount of power. However, he lacks the persistence and insight due to his BrilliantButLazy attitude and his general personality.
** Ky Kiske represents Persistence, since he has contributed greatly to mankind’s victory against the Gears and is the driving force behind humanity's recovery, but is somewhat lacking in the Insight department, as shown in the drama CD where Ky falls prey to I-No's manipulation, leading to his death and a future where humanity is losing soon afterwards.
** Dizzy represents Insight. She tries to have the Humans and Gears peacefully coexist and easily is among the most idealistic in the cast, but lacks the Persistence thanks to being hunted down as a Gear and living in a secluded life.

[[folder: Blazblue]]
* Being a SpiritualSuccessor to the aforementioned Guilty Gear, ''VideoGame/{{Blazblue}}'' also displays these traits among its characters. Its arguably more prominent as Blazblue is definitely more eastern inspired than its predecessor.
** Ragna the Bloodedge is persistence incarnate. Despite how many times he gets knocked down, he's quick to get back up and continue trying until he succeeds. But he lacks insight as he's mostly motivated by anger than a true righteous cause.
** His younger brother Jin Kisaragi embodies Talent. An exceptionally skilled fighter who single handily ended a war, graduated top of his class, and became the youngest major within his military. Staying true to his status as TheRival though, he lacks any sort of drive to succeed or improve mostly due to a combination of apathy and arrogance.
** Noel Vermilion definitely has Insight. She has a steadfast belief in her friends and family and are her primary motivation to succeed. However, since she's a ShrinkingViolet, she doesn't have much stubbornness to keep pushing.
** What's interesting is that all three characters undergo CharacterDevelopment that helps them develop other parts of the trope and become much better individuals: Ragna gains a nobler cause to fight for, Jin finally has some conviction to succeed, and Noel develops much stronger abilities to help her.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Hunter X Hunter]]
* The general structure of the trope appears a lot in ''Manga/HunterXHunter''.
** The most prominent example of the trope comes along with "Nen", the "ki" archetype of this story. Gon and Killua are explained by their master, Wing, to be one-in-a-million geniuses at using Nen, and they possess exceptional physical talents as well, such as being able to run for dozens of miles without getting tired. There are geniuses beyond even the two of them as well, although it's constantly demonstrated that hard work, training, and determination can overcome this natural disadvantage.
** Furthermore, Nen itself actually ''incorporates'' Resolve into its mechanics. There are two modifiers ("Vow" and "Restriction") which can increase an ability somewhere between slightly and ''exponentially'' depending on how resolute the vow is. For example, a vow that places a severely limiting restriction on an ability, along with a devastating consequence for breaking it, can make one's power ''immensely'' improve.

[[folder: My Hero Academia]]
* The prime example in ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'' is its main character, Izuku Midoriya. In his world and time, all humans are born with special abilities, so-called ''Quirks'', and those who train their abilities can become licensed heroes and combat the evil and villains in the world. Izuku however is one of the rare people who are not born with a Quirk, which shattered his dreams to become a hero like his idol, All Might, the No. 1 hero in the world. Izuku is basically not born with any ''Talent'', but still can enter the hero academy and pursue his dream, because All Might passes his Quirk on to Izuku, after the latter trained his body to inherit it and showed that he did not want to become a hero for money or fame, like other licensed heroes, but because he wants to save people, no matter how powerless he is. Izuku's ''Resolve'' and ''Persistence'' earn him the respect of his idol and even ArcVillain Stain, [[WellIntentionedExtremist the Hero Killer]], who deems Izuku worthy of becoming a hero and ends up saving him from another villain.
[[/folder]]

* ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' gives us this advice: "Go BeyondTheImpossible and kick reason to the curb!" Furthermore, you have things like Spiral Power, constant {{Next Tier Power Up}}s and constant references to confidence, spirit, and resolve. It's safe to say that Gurren Lagann is this trope in its purest form.
* In ''Franchise/LyricalNanoha'', the eponymous main character combines all aspects of this trope and can be said to be an unique case. She already begins extremely powerful, being a [[PowerLevels AAA mage]] right off the bat, proceeding towards [[RankInflation S rank]] at ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikers'' and having acquired the nickname [[RedBaron Ace of Aces]], as she is by that time one of the most powerful mages in the universe. She is also an undefeated {{Main/Determinator}} who will not lose to anyone; career ending injuries will only take her out of the action for a year at most and things like having a hand stuck through her chest will not stop her from casting her most powerful spell. However, the TrainingFromHell she endured to become that powerful did come to [[HeroicRROD bite her]] during the TimeSkip. Her case is relatively unique because this trope normally applies only to males, and she is a girl who fights in a white dress and twin ponytails, while firing pink rays of doom; she even won one round in the SaiGar 2007 tournament, where the manliest character of anime would be chosen. Her FanNickname of White Devil is not an understament

* ''VideoGame/{{Hakuouki}}'' examines the concept, and Shiranui even uses the phrase "yamato-damashii" when he quotes his friend [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takasugi_Shinsaku Takasugi Shinsaku]]. It's very much viewed in the context of the EndOfAnAge, and to some extent deconstructed: when the Boshin War breaks out, Hijikata grimly acknowledges that the day is long past when "fighting spirit" was enough to overcome the vast disadvantage in numbers, equipment, and training that they face compared to their enemies. Kondou's failure to come to the same realization leads to a crushing defeat at the battle of Koufu-Katsunuma and causes Harada and Nagakura to break ties with the group. Nevertheless, resolve and persistence in particular are virtues to which Hijikata and the Shinsengumi remain utterly devoted.

* [[Manga/KenichiTheMightiestDisciple Kenichi]] is noted to have unparalleled persistence but his resolve for training sometimes wavers. This is because he reserves his resolve for protecting his friends and innocents. This is usually the key to his many DieOrFly moments where Kenichi defies his [[CowardlyLion usual cowardice]] and goes all badass on an enemy. However his own masters note that his talent is practically nil; even with ''six'' excellent if eccentric mentors, Kenichi takes quite a while to improve to the point where he can reliably protect Miu who is his own age. His youngest master, Shigure, is less than ten years older than him.
* This shows up a number of times in ''Manga/{{Eyeshield 21}}'', especially in the Fall Tournament arc. The Amino Cyborgs' clinical approach to football is no match for the teamwork and enthusiasm of the Devil Bats, leading to them getting stomped in the first round of the fall tournament. Meanwhile, JerkJock Agon Kongo is seemingly untouchable with Talent out the wazoo, but he ultimately loses to Sena because he doesn't have the latter's Resolve and Persistence.
* ''LightNovel/LogHorizon'': Japanese Spirit is subjected to a DeconReconSwitch in this series. Atypical of most anime, the main character is not an IdiotHero or BookDumb, and thus the story does not bend over backward to make sheer Determination the highest virtue possible. In fact, the Training Camp arc goes out of its way to demonstrate how fighting spirit and TrainingFromHell alone are a recipe for disaster. At the same time, however, it's still shown that Resolve has its purpose, and that although strategy is absolutely necessary, there are times when you need to act. At one point, they even paraphrase a {{Samurai}} mantra which states that failure to act when necessary makes one no better than those already dead. Thus far, the Japanese Spirit trope is kept in delicate balance with actual pragmatism.
* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'', oddly enough, applies the virtues to the Swords of the Cross, which are ''Christian'' in origin (albeit one of the swords is a katana [[spoiler:which is actually {{Kusanagi}}, meaning that [[CrossoverCosmology it was created for the use of Shinto gods and their descendants]]]]). Each of the Swords corresponds to a virtue and can "level the playing field" against supernatural enemies for a wielder who embodies that virtue.
** Amoracchius/[[spoiler:{{Excalibur}}]] is the Sword of Love, a greatsword corresponding to ''Koyū''. Michael Carpenter is an IdealHero from a wholesome family background, who is so devout that even without his sword's help he can burn evil beings by touching them. Prior to the events of the story it was used by [[spoiler:King Arthur]], who was likewise born to do so.
** Fidelacchius/[[spoiler:{{Kusanagi}}]] is the Sword of Faith, a katana corresponding to ''Chie''. It can be powered by different kinds of faith, religious or non-religious, but is at its strongest when fueled by the belief that [[RightMakesMight a weak but just man can defeat even the strongest evil]].
** Esperacchius/[[spoiler:Durandal]] is the Sword of Hope, a saber corresponding to ''Kakan''. Its only known wielder is [[TheAtoner a former villain fighting to redeem himself]], and it is weakened by giving up.

* In ''Manga/{{Claymore}}:'' Made explicitly clear during [[spoiler:Teresa's]] KirkSummation in Chapter 154. Her own raw talent and phenomenal power becomes combined with [[spoiler:Clare's heart]], forged with pure determination to form a power that dwarfs everything else seen thus far in the setting.
* In the ''Anime/IronMan'' manga, Tony Stark works hard to curtail his American sensibilities (especially his womanizing) while in Japan, knowing it won't win him any points with the locals. His behavior, however, more closely resembles what a [[WeAllLiveInAmerica Japanese writer would GUESS an American hotshot would act like.]] For example, at one point, he is sparring with a Japanese fighter and compliments the man on his JapaneseSpirit...before [[TryingToCatchMeFightingDirty cheating]] and then proclaiming that as an American, he instead has "Pioneer Spirit". Not only is JapaneseSpirit something most Americans have ''vaguely'' heard of, at best, but no American would ever use the term "Pioneer Spirit". The "American Way", maybe, but in this context, even that's a stretch.
* Aang, Katara, and Zuko in ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' exhibit talent, insight, and persistence respectively, and each of them gain more of the other two virtues. Aang is born a prodigy, and is the last of a lost people, but his lack of insight caused him to run away from his responsibilities. Katara helps guide Aang with her own insight, and through him and a little of her own persistence is able to find a waterbending master, and becomes a master herself. Zuko was not a firebending prodigy like his relatives, but this helped to fuel his persistence later in his quest to capture Aang, and through his own journey gains the insight on the world he had been lacking, as well as finding talents he had aside from firebending, such as swordsmanship and eventually leadership. Toph, Sokka, and Suki could even be seen to represent Talent, Insight, and Persistence, with Toph as the most powerful Earthbender before she was even a teenager, Sokka possessing a clever mind and ideas, and Suki being brave and courageous and taking great risks to help her friends.
* ''Manga/BakiTheGrappler:'' Baki is another FightingSeries about a martial artist named [[ProtagonistTitle Baki]] who wants to defeat his father, Yujiro Hanma, the WorldsBestWarrior. The show follows this trope implicitly in most battles, with many fights coming down to whose martial arts style is superior, and whose spirit is stronger. Unlike most others on this list, Baki follows one point raised under the Talent section in the description. That is to say, even during the final battle, Baki never defeats Yujiro (and in fact, gets curbstomped). Instead, Yujiro simply concedes to Baki after witnessing Baki's [[{{Determinator}} indomitable spirit]] and resolve. Baki's greatest Talent, in the end, was an overabundance of Resolve and Persistence.
* ''Manga/SengokuYouko'': The three greatest members of the Dangaishuu are said to be [[KnightTemplar Jinun]] who has [[WorldsStrongestMan the greatest power]], [[EvilutionaryBiologist Yazen]] with [[EvilGenius the greatest wisdom]], and [[BoisterousBruiser Douren]] with [[WorldsBestWarrior the greatest technique]].
* ''VideoGame/{{Civilization}}:'' In Civilization 5, one of the two unique abilities of the Japanese is based on Seishin. Japanese military units will continue to deal full damage to enemies no matter how damaged they themselves are (as opposed to all other countries units, which deal less damage the lower their health is).
* ''Webcomic/OnePunchMan'' is a comedic take on the concept, but mostly plays it straight. Saitama wanted to become a hero through diligence, and did so; except the TrainingFromHell he underwent turns out to have been mundane, less than what a real-life athlete would go through, yet somehow it gave him god-like power. Apparently he really just has [[SuperpowerLottery excessive talent]], and when superheroism becomes pathetically easy for him, he becomes lackadaisical (but still manages to save the day over and over without really trying). He does still have a strong sense of heroic morality, though this only comes out in the rare occasions where he faces someone who puts up a bit of a fight.

** On the one hand, teamwork is a major focus of the ninja villages. 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]].

* In ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'', the eponymous main character combines all aspects of this trope and can be said to be an unique case. She already begins extremely powerful, being a [[PowerLevels AAA mage ]] right off the bat, proceeding towards [[RankInflation S rank]] at ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikers'' and having acquired the nickname [[RedBaron Ace of Aces]], as she is by that time one of the most powerful mages in the universe. She is also an undefeated {{Main/Determinator}} who will not lose to anyone; career ending injuries will only take her out of the action for a year at most and things like having a hand stuck through her chest will not stop her from casting her most powerful spell. However, the TrainingFromHell she endured to become that powerful did come to [[HeroicRROD bite her]] during the TimeSkip. Her case is relatively unique because this trope normally applies only to males, and she is a girl who fights in a white dress and twin ponytails, while firing pink rays of doom; she even won one round in the SaiGar 2007 tournament, where the manliest character of anime would be chosen. Her FanNickname of White Devil is not an understament

** The other two protagonists represent the other virtues for the trope, but also symbolize their flaws. Princess Zelda, although wise and possessing powerful magic, usually cannot solve the conflict of the plot or find the Triforce herself. The main antagonist, Ganon, is a BornWinner who embodies only Power, which (directly or indirectly) always prevents him from gaining full control of the Triforce.

** To create unquestioning loyalty in its troops, Japan turned around from bestowing the nation's highest honors to returning [=POWs=] by returning to a warrior culture which stated that death was preferable to surrender, which at best was a case of NostalgiaGoggles. Soldiers were expected to DieOrFly, and to cause as much damage as possible to the enemy if it looked as though there was no hope for victory. This strategy, while devastating early on, turned out to be unsustainable in the long term, as Japan began losing expensive manpower and weaponry faster than they could replace them--but the more bleak things turned, the more doggedly the virtue was pursued. That stubborn determination was quickly becoming its military's undoing.

* American Occupation during TheForties and [[TheFifties Fifties]], in a way, then became a {{Reconstruction}}.

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.

** DragonBallSuper is returning to subverting this trope with the Universe Survival Arc. It begins with Goku's simpleminded Persistence and Resolve causing [[spoiler:him to become the main villain for everyone else's point of view]]. Its also clear that teamwork and tactics will be just as important as effort, talent, and brute force.

See TheOtherWiki for more information on [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamato-damashii yamato-damashii.]] Also read our own [[Analysis/JapaneseSpirit Analysis page]] for how the trope overlaps with [[Myth/JapaneseMythology Shintoism]] and other media.

* The girls in ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' are personifications of individual aspects:
** Sayaka has strong convictions and is willing to sacrifice her life for them but she lacks talent.
** Kyoko, Sayaka's antithesis, is very talented but has lost her faith.
** Homura is persistence-incarnate, [[spoiler:relieving the same tragic month over and over until she achieves her goal]].
** Madoka is extremely talented but she needs to find her one wish that is worth fighting for and the persistence to fulfill it [[spoiler: through eternity]].

** 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.

* '''Koyū''' [[note]]'''"技"'''[[/note]] (or Skill/Talent) is any [[InTheBlood trait]], [[TheGift gift]] or [[OrphansPlotTrinket possession]] that makes someone a BornWinner, whether they're aware of it or not. [[note]]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]]. Often, the character's main "talent" is having an overabundance of the next two qualities below.[[/note]]
* '''Chie''' [[note]]'''"智"'''[[/note]](or Insight/Resolve) is a [[HeroicResolve belief or faith]] that [[TheFettered remains correct and unshakable]], and has more value [[DoomedMoralVictor even than the believer's life]]. [[note]]This is called "insight" because it's combined with SimpleMindedWisdom and [[TheKirk ignores logic, common knowledge, or caution]]. It's also called "resolve" since it invokes RightMakesMight and thus [[NotQuiteTheRightThing incorrect or obsolete ideals]] [[MoreHeroThanThou will be defeated]]. Traditionally, the defeated party will [[DefeatMeansFriendship be converted to]] [[VillainsDyingGrace the superior way.]][[/note]]

** 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.

For its rough American counterpart, see UsefulNotes/TheAmericanDream.

* [[Manga/KenichiTheMightiestDisciple Kenichi]] is noted to have unparalleled persistence but his resolve for training sometimes wavers. This is because he reserves his resolve for protecting his friends and innocents. This is usually the key to his many DieOrFly moments where Kenichi defies his [[CowardlyLion usual cowardice]] and goes all {{Badass}} on an enemy. However his own masters note that his talent is practically nil; even with ''six'' excellent if eccentric mentors, Kenichi takes quite a while to improve to the point where he can reliably protect Miu who is his own age. His youngest master, Shigure, is less than ten years older than him.

*** She is not only willing to take risks, but believes that the power of sheer {{Badass}}ery will allow her to overcome any challenge (and it ''does''). [[spoiler:This is despite the fact that she is not as infused with Life Fibers as Ryuuko is, because she was too old to accept them at the time of the experiment while Ryuuko was experimented on from the moment she left the womb.]]

** To create unquestioning loyalty in its troops, Japan turned around from bestowing the nation's highest honors to returning [=POWs=] by returning to a warrior culture which stated that death was preferable to surrender. This was questionable at best, since this was loosely appropriated after a few decades since a civil war that decided to be rid of their warrior caste that were disciplined properly thanks to centuries of knowing battle in and out. Soldiers were expected to DieOrFly, and to cause as much damage as possible to the enemy if it looked as though there was no hope for victory. This strategy, while devastating early on, turned out to be unsustainable in the long term, as Japan began losing expensive manpower and weaponry faster than they could replace them--but the more bleak things turned, the more doggedly the virtue was pursued. That stubborn determination was quickly becoming its military's undoing.
** To the Japanese, the American war machine was an unstoppable monster that threatened the very survival of their small island.[[note]]A sentiment which would become allegorical in later ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'' media.[[/note]] Furthermore, America wouldn't settle for anything less than ''absolute'' surrender, which would not only have been a massive loss of face but also an engraved invitation for the militarists to stage a coup [[note]] Which in fact did end up happening. [[/note]]. Thus, surrender was not only disgraceful, but suicide. The last time the Japanese had faced [[UsefulNotes/{{Mongolia}} an enemy this powerful]], [[DeusExMachina two hurricanes as if sent by the gods appeared to stop them]]. They were convinced that as long as they continued to fight valiantly, [[Myth/JapaneseMythology the spirits of Japan]] would protect them again and call up another divine force of nature to intervene. [[CallItKarma That didn't happen.]] Instead, the Americans, thanks to hearing of atrocities of war crimes by the Empire and being forced into war by said Empire [[NukeEm brought their own "Act of God"]].

[[folder: Mirai Nikki]]
* Deconstructed in ''Manga/MiraiNikki''. In a ThereCanBeOnlyOne plot involving ScryVsScry, the protagonist is not talented (at least, no more so than the other characters), does not have resolve, and can barely be considered to have anything resolving willpower. But his good heart is what causes the female lead, Yuno, to develop a MadLove for him, and Yuno ''certainly'' everything this trope dictates. She's exceptionally talented, insightful, and determined. [[spoiler:But the zigs and zags keep coming throughout the story--Yuno is only TheAce because of her AbusiveParents, and is actually an empty broken person inside who needs Yuki to validate herself. And later on, when Yuki's parents are murdered, he finally gets the resolve he needed...but it starts to slowly erode his willpower and push him into madness to the point that he would rather die than kill Yuno. In the end, Yuno betrays him because of this and it's revealed that she's actually the BigBad, having manipulated everything to this conclusion. Since Yuki won't kill her and become God, then it wouldn't make sense for them to commit a lovers' suicide; she can travel back in time and be with his past self all over again (as she did last time after SHE became God). In the end, Yuki and Yuno become horribly broken people, and it's only through the intervention of others that the story even manages to avoid an outright DownerEnding.]]

* ''VideoGame/Civilization'': In Civilization 5, one of the two unique abilities of the Japanese is based on Seishin. Japanese military units will continue to deal full damage to enemies no matter how damaged they themselves are (as opposed to all other countries units, which deal less damage the lower their health is).