General Japanese Culture Thread

What's interesting is how he points out that Western media is starting to see very Japanese themes of godslaying due to the social issues and problems that led to that trend becoming more obvious: broken social contracts and anger at an uncaring system.

Also, nice of him to include an image of Going Under when he mentions that point. It's a fun and very relatable indie game that I highly recommend.

Edited by dragonfire5000 on Jun 8th 2023 at 10:10:34 AM

Nice to see a nod to the Spirit Cultivation Genre, probably one of my new favorite Genre's of fiction in recent years, and how it's also interlinked with Shintoism and Buddhism.

Various ranking systems in a lot of Fighting Series have their roots in the genre too, right down the Rank Inflation and Serial Escalation, for better or worse, depending on how much you like those (I personally like them).

Edited by Demongodofchaos2 on Jun 9th 2023 at 2:22:18 PM

Personally, I find more annoying that the author of the video has to put a warning about him touching philosophical themes that he thinks could offend other people, like he is touching a taboo topic or something like that.

Blame fundies, I guess. those people don';t seem the type that would take criticism of their gods, even by proxy, well.

The 90s had a lot of Moral Guardians who would get very offended if a video game had overt references to Christianity of any kind, even positively, and the Youtuber seems old enough to remember those days.

I remember reading a LOT about that sort of thing on Wikipedia back when I was a kid.

Really fascinating video, I'm using it as a background noise for a speech I'm working on.

I did skip ahead a bit and the observation of Video Game devs is interesting.

Some of it IS legit heavy though like an exploration of Nihilism and certain social ills, so I can get why he felt the need to give people a warning to at least get mentally prepared.

Edited by RedHunter543 on Jun 9th 2023 at 7:34:24 PM

Not to mention, there are a lot of things that will fly over most Westerners' heads.

@Alley Oop: I've said it many times before, but if Shin Megami Tensei 1 and 2 were localized in the 90's at the height of the Satanic Panic intact, Fundie people would actually be angry at a game that they thought Pokemon was actually existing.

Edited by Demongodofchaos2 on Jun 11th 2023 at 9:49:08 AM

I'd have to imagine that popularity played a part. SMT was made and localized by companies that aren't Nintendo, didn't have a fledgling media empire behind them and were on devices that kids prolly couldn't take to school. Pokemon meanwhile was brought westward by Nintendo, which not only ended the VG Crash but remains a household name to this day, and is on their portable game boy games while having both an anime and several manga spinoffs and tons of plushies and cards.

I the roles were reversed...well I'd imagine the government might had been more likely to consider an embargo on media imports from Japan for a while.

Reminds me of how my friend circle jokes that if the fundies actually tried Doom they would have loved it; after all, what's more Christian than a lone man blowing demons into chunky salsa?

It's never about the actual game content though, it's just the attitude of New Media Are Evil.

Edited by PhiSat on Jun 13th 2023 at 10:16:07 AM

@luisedgarf

He's a lawyer who's other videos I've posted in the Videogame Industry thread. He's most likely giving an early disclaimer to avoid issues of demonitization or any potential legal issues(do check those videos out since they also go into aspects of Japanese culture in terms of business).

I could understand if the guy was touching taboo topics like graphic depictions of suicide, death or something like that, but I find overkill to put a warning just for discussing plain old philosophy.

Going to Japan in two days maximum (can't divulge travel details at this point). As a contrast to the Kansai region (which was where I went six years ago), my family and I will be going to Tokyo.

The one thing I want to do this time is going to a maid cafe. Anyone familiar with maid cafes because I'm trying to figure out if I should make a reservation upon arriving in Tokyo or wing it by being lured to one when my family and I explore Akibahara?

I've never been myself, but the employees are eager enough to advertise in Akihabara. Shouldn't be hard to find one to visit unless you have your heart set on a specific one.

I really wish I could go but I have no money and no manners.

Last time I visited Japan was...what, 15 years ago or something?

Strangely, or perhaps not really, Tokyo Disneyland is the first Disneyland/World I ever visited.

@Droy: As someone who's from South Korea, how do you feel about Solo Leveling's Controversial portrayal of Japanese characters from the Jeiju Island arc to the Japanese portal invasion arc?

That seems more pertinent to the Politics in Media thread, doesn't it?

First of all, I don't appreciate you just name dropping my nationality in the OTC (I don't mind in the media subforums).

Secondly, it's one of those sensitive topics that I don't feel comfortable discussing.

Third and lastly, what Red Savant said.

Edited by dRoy on Jun 20th 2023 at 10:46:38 PM

Sorry, didn't mean to offend.

Currently in Tokyo. Arrived two dys ago but didn't get to do anything until yesterday.

For anyone curious, my family and I are staying in the Toshima Ward where our Air Bn B lodging is near East Ikebukuro's Sunshine City.

Yesterday was a trip to Yoyogi Park, Meiji Shrine included. Followed by traversing Harujuku; all in Shibuya Ward.

Something I noticed yesterday: there are two maid cafes near my lodging. I might just go either of those. Other than a maid cafe, the rest of my family are thinking of the following for what else to do in Tokyo (we're returning to the Philippines next Monday):

1. Tokyo Disneyland/Disney Sea

2. Ghibli Museum

3. Shopping at Don Quijote

We could have gone to either the Imperial Palace in Chiyoda Ward or either of the fish markets (Tsukiji or Toyosu) but everyone else woke up late because of late-night drinking.

Be careful not to run into Kazuma Kiryu at Don Quijote.

Edited by Demongodofchaos2 on Jun 23rd 2023 at 8:56:06 AM

Why? Kiryu is a nice guy and you'd likely have a life changing adventure with him.

Well you're an innocent bystander so there's no risk of him beating you up. You will be moved to tears by him serenading you in a bar though.

God, the next time I visit Japan, I should really check out Ghibili Museum.