Japan is a country that can conjure up many images in the mind. From parks full of cherry blossoms to samurais drawing their swords, from high skyscrapers of futuristic cities to traditional tea ceremonies. As a resident, even my own thoughts are often filled with these clichés and often come back to sushi (especially if it’s lunch time).
However, with recent world events that have made outdoor activities less appealing, many people (myself included) are playing video games more and more. This recent reconnection with gaming has highlighted how many of the virtual worlds we inhabit in our living rooms can be traced all the way back to Japan.
From the first incarnations of video games to today’s cinematic masterpieces, many games have their roots in the spiritual home of gaming. Sometimes it’s an obvious link, but other times the games we play provide more subtle clues.
These are some of the most memorable games that draw their roots (both subtly and not so subtly) from the Land of the Rising Sun.
Tenchu (1998)
‘Live honorably, kill secretly’ shouts the slogan of this ninja story from the late 90s. The game, first released on the PlayStation, was a gleefully violent chase through medieval Japan. Read also : New on Netflix: The Best Movies and TV Shows Coming in July 2022. The player can choose to play as the serious and somewhat preachy Rikimaru or the sassy Ayame as they fight and destroy all kinds of enemies.
What is interesting is how much it is based on the chaotic period of Japanese history known as ‘Sengoku jidai’ where various clans fought for control of the islands. It was a time of violence and mystery, an atmosphere that the game perfectly captures even after replaying.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (2019)
As the spiritual successor to the Tenchu series, this game is like playing through Tenchu if it took place in an upside-down Stranger Things version of medieval Japan. This means that the enemies are scarier, more surreal and scary.
Many of the monsters in the game are drawn from her Japanese lineage. See the article : 10 video games that will improve your games. The vengeful spirits of the world are drawn directly from the stories of Japanese folklore.
Tekken and Street Fighter series (1992 – present)
Ok, this is a big one (technically two). Fewer game series and more genre-defining movements. The Street Fighter and Tekken games are so ingrained in the culture today that they hardly need any introduction. This may interest you : Netflix added 43 new movies and shows this week. They are so popular that regular professional tournaments are held in esports arenas where top players can battle it out.
Technically speaking, both games take place worldwide as players travel the world in search of their next challenger. All fighters have their own fighting styles and special moves. This is another feature where Japan pioneered the beat-’em-up genre.
However, what makes them both uniquely Japanese isn’t just the martial arts aspects, but the unusual attention to detail and beautifully rendered battle arenas. Even in Street Fighter 2, the bathroom arena where the characters fight in front of two large ‘sento’ baths complete with a Ukiyo-e style mosaic on the wall behind is an example of very accurate reality, even with the technological limitations of time.
With the Tekken series, players have the opportunity to fight again with friends and enemies in a number of different countries. Like the Street Fighter series, the incredible attention to detail for each of the fighting arenas is astounding and has only improved with technological advancements as the series has progressed. But the soundtrack also has the ability to conjure up Japan from the ether. From the earliest incarnations of the series, the rhythms and tempos have a unique synth and futuristic feel that gives the games a strong Japanese pop culture.
Final Fantasy series (1987 – present)
Japan has a great tradition of making some of the most time-consuming fantasy RPGs in the gaming world (so much so that they even have their own acronym – JRPG).
Nowhere is this more evident than in the gold standard of Japanese RPGs, the Final Fantasy series. Many of these games have links to Japan and Japanese life, from the Ghibli-esque splendor of Final Fantasy IX to the corporate morality of Final Fantasy VII and even the coming-of-age adventures of Final Fantasy XV.
For me, however, Final Fantasy VIII resonated the most. Having moved to Japan since I first played the game as a teenager, I realized how much the game takes from the Japanese high school experience (albeit with fewer monsters). Everything from the clothes the characters wear in the game to the way the game’s protagonists relate to their school as they go through their journey the way many high school students do in real life today. The connection that Japanese students have with their high school is something of great importance, and it continues long after they leave it.
Yakuza 0 (2015)
As a long-time resident of Tokyo, the Yakuza series is absolutely stunning in the precision it takes to portray the Japanese capital. A walk through Tokyo’s Shinjuku district has the same crowded streets, restaurants and food vendors, and rowdy paychecks coming out of late-night bars, all under the same neon lights (although unlike the game, there are usually fewer gang fights).
However, it’s not just the stunningly rendered streets of Kamurocho (a thinly veiled version of the real neighborhood Kabukicho), but also some of the fantastic mini-games and side quests the player can experience.
The mini-games that the player can enjoy vary from hitting baseballs into batting cages, hitting golf balls, playing darts or even disco dancing. There are some that are so unique to Japan that Yakuza authenticity is truly unparalleled. Karaoke is always a favorite, but the minigame where you run a hostess club is something that could only have been developed for the Yakuza series of games.
Ghost of Tsushima (2020)
Last but not least is a game actually developed by a non-Japanese studio, Sucker Punch. The developer clearly has a deep understanding of Japan, its landscape and culture.
Ghost of Tsushima is a love letter to the country in which it is located. The island of Tsushima is made with love, and every detail looks like it could be a frame from a Kurosawa film. It’s no surprise that Sucker Punch also recently released a ‘Director’s Cut’ version of the game.
The game tells the story of a samurai who fights against the Mongol occupation of the island of Tsushima during the Mongol invasion. While this is exciting in itself, the world it plays in is truly breathtaking. Taming meadows, rugged coastlines and dense, serene forests give you a backdrop that is as true to the real Tsushima as possible.
In 2019, Japan welcomed a record number of tourists to its shores. Unfortunately, we then faced a pandemic and many countries closed their borders to international travel. Although many have now reopened, Japan has not yet fully returned to its pre-pandemic openness.
These games were then an amazing portal back to the Land of the Rising Sun for those who couldn’t travel on their own and what better way to enjoy some of the weird and wonderful aspects of this fascinating land than sitting at home with a controller in your hand.
Written by James Krick on behalf of the GLHF.
