#inspired by japanese yokai stories

[jcryptid]

Some concept art for an assignment and current pet project: Spirit of the Red, story pitch under the cut:

"After a mysterious explosion that wiped out the city of Nirashi, the race is on to find the secret behind ‘The Red’, the unimaginably destructive force that was somehow able to break one of the most foundational rules of spiritualism, and destroy life energy itself.

10 years later, one of the survivors, Sen, discovers he holds the secret to unlocking the mystery, and fearing its misuse, is now on a mission to destroy it within himself. Hopefully, before anyone else finds out it could happen again if he isn’t careful, and maybe take the world out with him."

[dicipher]

F it we ball here have my character studies of the homicipher boys bc my ass has been knee deep in this game for making the mod and i need to place my notes somewhere anyway. Call me homicipher matpat...

SPOILERS. Obviously..

Crawling

Goal: stay with Adami

Abilities: intelligence, knowledge of the layout of the other world, knowledge of how to survive encounters with aggressive entities, physical strength [strong upper body, able to kill Stitch with no weapons],speed [can go as fast as a person running while crawling]

Crawling works as Adami's primary tutorial trough the otherworld. It's not clear what exactly caused his infatuation with her since it's near instant after seeing her for the first time. He has an understanding of many locations and people, as well as how the world works and what Adami wants to ask of him. He's playful, defaulting to a smile as his neutral state, and he's amidst the few characters to produce sound in-game. Usually giggles or cries. He's also acting as the male lead, and most of his endings and interactions can be read as romantic, being one of the only characters to say he likes Adami. (Other being Scarletella)

Extra: Crawling is able to stand but he refers to being bad at using his legs. When he does stand, he walks slowly and sluggishly as compared to his ability to nearly sprint while on all fours. Confirming this.

Extra: Yatsunagi said in a tweet that if you choose to exit the otherworld whitout Crawling, he will remain waiting there forever waiting for Adami to return., which is reminescent of the story of Hachiko the dog, who waited at the station for his owner to return forever.

Extra: in some concept art, Crawling is shown to be a similar height to Silvair when standing up

Scarletella

Goal: obtain Adami's name

Abilities: projection, reality warping of some sort, illusions, telepathy, teleportation, creating and controlling sub spaces or larger illusions [blood dimension, ghost apartments], free roam between worlds [his projected body only]

Scarletella works as the main antagonist of the game. He is the reason Adami happened across the otherworld, scaring her towards an entrance. He was an urban legend that haunted the ghost apartments, a location that only appears on rainy days, where Adami was presumedly dumping bodies or leading people there to kill them. This causes Scarlet to grow an infatuation with Adami, as he would feed on the corpses she left there, and for him to mistakenly assume she was courting him by feeding him corpses. Scarletella mostly affects Adami through afflicting her mind, trying to break her into giving him her name.

Extra: he's possibly inspired by a Kasa-obake, a type of yokai that's thought to be a tsukumogami, an object that if left abandonned long enough, will gain life. The Kasa-Obake is a living red umbrella, though those umbrellas are usually traditional umbrellas and take the shape of an umbrella with a single leg and an eye.

Extra: Yatsunagi said she wanted to draw a woman with a red umbrella but ended up making a guy after all.

Extra: Yatsunagi said that Scarletella knows the realworld language despite being born a monster, and that he possibly learns other languages trough reading minds and absorbing that knowledge. She also says that knowing a language and communicating are different, and that Scarletella only thinks for himself.

Extra: Scarletella is inspired by the idea of japanese urban legends (like Kuchisake-onna, Hanako-san, Hasshaku-sama, The red room, Gozu, Aka manto, etc).

Extra: Gap reffers to the ghost appartments as 'his world'. This is also taking place in what seems to be a dream sequence or an alternate location since Adami will either wake back with crawling or in another otherworld location, and not in the real world. So it's much more likely gap reffers strictly to the alternate plane of the Ghost appartments and the blood water domain as Scarlet's world and not the overall otherworld, since it continues to exist independently from Scarlet after he is defeated, and most characters don't seem to be aware of his existence at all.

Extra: In the videogame Ghostwire tokyo you can encounter a quest that will lead you to meet a variation of the Kuchisake-Onna that is completely red and in a red trenchcoat which is reminescent of Scarletella's design. There are also locations of infinite shallow water simmilar to the location you fight him in.

Silvair

Goal: research and study the unknown (primarily how realworld beings are affected by the otherworld)

Abilities: intelligence, medical knowledge on other species [unlike nurse], knowledge of explosives, physical strength [lifts a heavy weapon easily], regeneration

Silvair works as Adami's main source of information in the otherworld. His knowledge of everything including language as well as how to effectively teach things results in him being one of the better sources for finding words early game. While he's shown as curteous and polite, he also shows no remorse in brutalizing others for his own morbid curiosity or research. He treats others in reaction to what helps him moreso than out of kindness.

Extra: when prompted wether he likes Adami, Silvair responds with 'not understand like', this could point to the idea that Silvair doesn't feel or at least understand the feeling of liking/loving something/someone. His lack of empathy or compassion regarding brutalizing Chopped and Adami seems to reinforce this idea, as he's confused as to why Adami is angry at him breaking her body. Simmilar in how some humans cannot or struggle to feel empathy or love and will see relationships moreso as transactions, though that can be typically learned and worked on.

Extra: The cut hand seems to be another entity that Silvair brutalized, while it's first met with Chopped, it does not leave Silvair's home and is the one to lead you there, it also is not Chopped hand's since he notes it to be a different entity.

Extra: when questionned regarding his knowledge, Silvair responds that someone taught him. This could point to Silvair having been on at least good terms with a human wiht medical knowledge in the past. Or it could point to him being a human pre-game and having done medical studies in his past.

Chopped

Goal: to be in a safe environment (with safe people or in a safe place)

Abilities: none [he uh.. he can roll around if he tries real hard maybe?]

Chopped mainly works as one of Adami's friends, unlike other characters he stands out as needing to be protected instead of being a protector. His incredible vulnerability means he's often picked on in some way. He's usually shown with Silvair, though he also often seems to get lost on his own somehow.

Extra: Chopped enjoys being clean and put together, he seems to know the hairdresser on a basis simmilar to Silvair.

Extra: Chopped recovers not by eating human flesh but by sleeping (supported by his dialogue when leaving Silvair's apartment and how often he sleeps). Chopped dislikes being handled against his will, and his vulnerability at being essentially completely disabled makes him easy prey for other residents to pick on.

Extra: Chopped is implied to have been a human like Adami pre-main story. Silvair's treatment of us is reminescent of him and Chopped is amongst the most expressive and human-like of the cast.

Hood

Goal: to help Adami be safe

Abilities: strength [carries a heavy weapon], proficiency in executing ennemies, intelligence

Hood works as Adami's first proper introduction to the game and it's mechanics. He also works as some sort of passive protector to humans who enter the otherworld. Though he isn't interested in keeping them safe long term and would rather be on his own most of the time.

Extra: Hood allegedly has no head, but his body is.. squishy.. ish? He's seen handling weapons with a hand, so it's unclear what of his body exists and what does not.

Gap

Goal: to obtain various human body parts trough trade or request

Abilities: teleportation, manifesting trough any space so long as it is dark enough and is being observed [schrodinger's gap], free roam between worlds, intelligence, 4th wall breaking

Gap is the first real threat encountered by Adami. He also works as the main source of lore and progression of the main storyline. He also works to actively help Adami break free from Scarletella. Though this doesn't seem to be out of kindness but out of boredom, as if he has nothing better to do.

Extra: Gap says he has no reason for wanting body parts. Gap says he has no heart, or most things for that matter. He's only shown having hands/arms and a head/face.

Extra: though gap says he has no particular reason for wanting body parts, he only seems interested in human parts, and his specie presumedly eats flesh. Gap is never explicitly implied to eat the body parts he's given, though, and the idea that he lacks a heart could mean he lacks a digestive tract, like Chopped, and recovers energy in a different way, like him.

Extra: Gap is much more aggressive in chap 1/beta than he is in the rest of the game. This could be due to a light change in the writing of his character later down the line, as he's much more simplistic and actively hunts Adami trough gaps, while full release gap appears ever so often in holes Adami looks trough to poke fun, show off his collection or ask permission to take body parts.

Hugeface

Goal: to capture smaller living beings to use them as dolls/pets

Abilities: strength, size, ability to exist 'outside' the bounds of the otherworld [ in the void above/outside rooms]

Hugeface is a looming threat encountered troughout the otherworld. He treats any character smaller than him as some sort of pet, handling them clumsily and roughly like an infant would a new pet hamster. He also is implied to collect ones he finds cute as pets, placing them in little fake environments.

Extra: Hugeface is implied to exist in a space simmilar to what would be 'out of bounds' in a videogame, the space only seems to appear in rooms with missing walls, ceilings, or windows in some way. Such as the door in chap 1, the giant ravine in Machete's story, and in locations without ceilings.

Machete

Goal: to do whatever he wants with no one in his way

Abilities: strength, speed, fighting proficiency

Machete is an extremely aggressive entity, he will fight Adami unprovoked, though he seems much more interested in the actual fight than in killing or eating her. He thinks her and any who fail at defeating him as weaklings.

Extra: Machete's aggression might stem from him misinterpreting someone others do as someone trying to pick a fight. He's also overconfident in winning every fight, so he isn't afraid to fight, unlike Stitch who does not fight even when attacked directly.

Extra: Machete's skin and overall affliction could be similar to Adami's [red blotches on skin], this could also be dry and fresh blood stains though..

Telephone

Goal: to help Adami to avoid death

The telephone is an entity that will call any available phone to transfer information to Adami. This is usually advice on how to avoid upcoming monsters (scarletella, Hugeface) or navigate areas (maze), making it one of the few beings to actively be good, having no known of ulterior motive.

Extra: Telephone seems to be able to speak trough any sort of telephone, unclear where the line is drawn. (Would two cans and a string work??)

Stitch

Goal: to entertain himself

Abilities: intelligence (quick to learn how new things work, knowledgeable of a variety of things and locations including things from the real world, one of the few to recognize us as human)

Stitch acts as a mild antagonist due to his habit of forcefully showing Adami things he finds interesting or dragging her to places to amuse himself. When he has nothing to do, he mopes around depressingly until he comes across something new. He's upbeat and playful, not bad intentioned but he doesn't consider others much.

Extra: Even when threatened or attacked (Adami or Crawling), Stitch doesn't fight back.

Wheelchair

Goal: to heal from his injuries

Wheelchair is encountered twice, he's a rude, aggressive and demanding entity that will demand Adami fixes him. If Adami outright refuses to help him, he will kill her.

Extra: it's unclear what exactly he suffers from. He points to his eye being missing as well as his mouth being split. His skin appears to be corroding in some way, and he seems completely unable to use his legs to move. His affliction is not like Chopped or Adami's, and Silvair either has not met him or did not find him interesting or cooperative enough to care for him. It could be that his disease is unique in some way, or that it's incurable. It could also be that it's resulted from a fight, since his mouth was cut open, presumedly by someone else.

Masque

Goal: to entertain others

Abilities: teleportation [of himself and others/other objects]

Masque is a peaceful entity, he will appear and offer to show Adami a magic trick, either way leads to him leaving.

Extra: Masque is not aggressive even if you refuse to watch his magic tricks.

Human

Goal: to escape the otherworld

Human is a human met near the end of the game. He's scared of Adami, presumably because she's nearly fully a monster at that point, or because her own urban legend is circulating now. Or maybe it's the blood and crowbar. Either way he doesn't fully trust her, and he's nervous of her. He's killed off screen shortly after meeting Adami.

Extra: in the original Jpn version of the game, he's an english speaker, in the eng ver this is reversed to him speaking jpn while adami speaks english.

Extra: the only way of falling to the otherworld that we are shown is the elevator, or falling into it [backrooms style]. Ot could be that the Human fell out from another, english speaking country, or it could be that he was a foreigner in Japan when he fell.

Extra: Human speaks some otherworld, pointing to the idea that he was taught by some benevolent characters like Silvair or Hood pre-meeting Adami.

Adami Adashino

Goal: escape the other world/ break Scarletella's curse

Abilities: strenght, changing size (temporary), regeneration

Adami is a human japanese woman, while she appears as a more shy and ditsy amnesiac girl, it's revealed she's a murderer who had been dumping bodies at the ghost appartments, attracting Scarletella's attention

Extra: one of the symbols in Adami's name is the same used for 'monster', foreshadowing.

Extra: in Blissful love life end, Adami is shown to live alone, presumably without parents or family. She also does not mention missing her family or worrying about her friends and family looking for her. So it's unlikely she has any.

Extra: Adami Adashino is the 'default'/'canon' mc name, as it is the name already in the field you need to fill out when you remember your name.

Extra: Adami goes trough various appearance changes trough out the story:

She starts in a japanese sailor school uniform (hinting to the fact she was most likely a high school student) and had longer hair

This is changed to a white dress (given by bride),

Then her iconic white raincoat (given by bride).

Her hair is cut shorter and it turns white/grey by the end of the story. (Cut by gap, turns white from exposure to the other world)

Her face gets covered in bandages by nurse, her eyes presumably turn red at some point that is never specifically mentionned

General stuff

Extra: lots of characters are seen using their left hands (Silvair is often drawing holding his syringe+weapon in his left hand, but occasionally his right) (Crawling points to things with his left hand) (Scarlet holds his umbrella in his left hand) (Hood holds his weapon in his left hand as well as his right). This could be a continuity error in how they are drawn, or it could be that they're ambidextrous (it's more common for lefties to become ambidextrous). This is not the case for Gap though who is mostly shown using his right hand.

Extra: some characters are not able to recognize Adami as human (Chopped, wheelchair) , while others immediately do (Hood, Silvair, Stitch)

Extra: Yatsunagi said the otherworld language comes from birth to monsters (not humans turned to monster)

If you have any corrections or thoughts feel free to comment them so i can fix anything accordingly, reblogs are harder to answer to

[possiblylando]

Trying to dissect all the stuff from the Akira Cross audiolog.

Okay so I'm gonna go over all the stuff I feel is notable even if it's fairly obvious. Also I'm bound to miss stuff so if you saw anything I didn't (or have a different interpretation) feel free to chime in with that. ALSO SPOILERS EVIDENTLY THEY WILL BE HERE WATCH THE AUDIOLOG FIRST IF YOU WANT TO AVOID THOSE YEAH OKAY COOL Alot of Akira Cross is a mix of stuff drawn directly from Boy's experience and whatever media he's consumed so picking apart the two will be important in figuring everything out. Akira is an evident stand in for Boy but I'll go over the more interesting stuff with him later because there might genuinely be some foreshadowing in here with all the insane shit that goes on later in the story.

Cross Family is clearly a reference to the D Clan I doubt there's too much foreshadowing on this one so Boy is probably just filling in any gaps with his own stuff here.

Slab is Door. Just like Door, very straight forward. His military rank might be off a bit but this one doesn't require a lot of analysis.

NOW HERES WHERE WE GET TO THE REAL SHIT On my first watch I didn't really think much of all the Yokai/Japan stuff since it seemed like normal weeb kid stuff especially since Markus has evidently been showing Boy alot of anime. However we know the D Family has been to Japan since Markus brings up being there in the Bar Audiolog. I had always assumed Boy's hair was from D's side of the family but thinking about it more, It's entirely possible that Boy's mom is actually Japanese and met Door during that trip to Japan. It's also possible she was a Hunter which is why Boy has ties to the OG hunters (which I'll talk about way later during that segment with Hina's awakening chariot in the- getting off topic). D makes a point of talking about how Yokai are real and they shouldn't bring civilians into their world (unless they see potential in them). Seemingly Boy has been raised entirely in the Hunter Sphere so his mother being a hunter actually does align since Door is such a stickler for the 'rules'. But the Priestess thing is probably just a Boy-ism.

Ryu is probably another Boy-Ism since I doubt he has a secret twin brother. This could potentially be a reference to another member of the D family however. But I don't feel there's enough evidence to suggest that beyond Warhammer parallel which I don't really want to use as primary evidence. We know that at least one of the D Clan has been killed by Vampires and probably several more so Ryu could also be an unintended Boy reference to a member who became a vampire. It's probably not to foreshadow a Markus turn to the dark side since there's another character that is very directly Markus. So I'm just going to mark down Ryu as; Boy-ism that might parallel another D Clan member but probably not.

Another direct reference with his time training with slab is obviously inspired by the time he spends at the gun range with Door. But the experimental weapons line is probably just a Boy-Ism since it's just the Halo gun.

I genuinely have no fucking clue what Gilgamesh represents here and I can't help but bust my ass laughing every time I rewatch his reveal. This feels more directly related to D which I'll go over.

So this whole section is- fucky to the say the least. D is ALWAYS confident in everything he says so I don't know if he's saying this because "I WAS THERE AND I MET GILGAMESH" or "THE SCHOLARS ARE WRONG GILGAMESH WAS CLEARLY-" and it could go either way with him. But since he talks about Gilgamesh like "I knew he was a vile fiend but this is a new low" makes it seem like he probably doesn't know Gilgamesh directly.

Door death flags continue to slowly mount. I don't think he'll die anytime soon but theres likely gonna be some major conflict between him and the other members of the D Clan. Akira's family's deaths and D's reaction to them is again, notable. When I was first watching my first thought was "Oh he's having this reaction because it happened to him". But then the reveal that D is just genuinely invested in the story to the point of tears is very funny.

So Akira's heritage is again something to bring up. Half-American, Half-Japanese, Half-Nephilim, Half-Yokai. I feel we can knock off the Yokai as a Boy-Ism. I doubt he's Half-Nephilim directly but it's such an interesting thing to call out since they're a weird reference to make here. The WoD Lore I could find on them is pretty scarce but they're essentially the children of humans and fallen angels, fairly similar to early Abrahamic texts referencing their existence. In classic WoD Hunter lore they were humans who were chosen by angels which turned them into the imbued. I feel like this is notable since Boy seems to be becoming an imbued. (Again, Later) Okay so here's a bit of a hard thing to decipher. Ironically Akira's School could be drawn from experience or purely a Boy-Ism because it's never really all that clear if Boy actually goes to school. This episode in particular talks about D taking on alot of Boy's schooling but I vaguely remember comments from another Audiolog about some british kids calling Boy "Meat" and Door not really understanding the insult. It does show however that Boy has been effected by the hunter life since he's made a world where anyone could be a hidden enemy. It shows that D's (rightful) paranoia has rubbed off on him.

I think Hina is just a pure Boy-Ism. Her being a secret angel might play into his imbued potential and later stuff. But yeah I don't think Hina represents anything here. and Combat Boots.

Alright so Mars is clearly Markus also why does he look like Gogeta as a final fantasy villain. I feel like this is one of those moments that was missing from the story cause it genuinely gives Markus a moment where he feels appreciated. When the time comes that Markus is given the opportunity to do some fuckshit I have the feeling this will be the moment that stops him.

My gut feeling tells me that this lineup for the Gilgamesh goons is foreshadowing the major antagonists of each arc (maybe). Jack the ripper visually resembles Pyotr with the teeth, ears, and long black hair. The fact he gets fought multiple times also relates back since they fought Pyotr in the cave then in their house. Florence could be implying that one of the maids is the ghoul in the current arcanum arc. No clue about Polluck and Andre the giant. And this kinda entirely depends on who the ghoul is since if it's anyone else this whole vague theory instantly falls apart.

I don't think the Chiroterrans themselves represent anything. Maybe the ancient vampires but I kinda doubt that, they seem like a Boy-Ism to explain why vampires exist since he probably wouldn't know about Caine. However the fact they team up with Akira at the end to fight the war against HORSE does show the shift in Boy's mental state. We know he already has a more 3 dimensional view of vampires based on the times he gets weirdly deep 'Do you think this is what happens when one throws away their humanity and embraces their inner monster' as it directly shows he now sees HORSE as the main threat and the vampires just as another group.

The Merkabah is another thing that points towards Boy becoming an imbued since he would have no reference for a dream like this. I've already gone over the surface level of the imbued so no point repeating it.

Also Markus might also become Imbued (or a mage since thats a thing that I've heard vaguely of un-awakened mages getting but I don't have a source to back that up beyond "just trust me bro" so I could be totally wrong here) unless he's just being sarcastic here which is totally in character

I feel like this could be another accidental foreshadowing thing since there are some theories and suspicions about there being a werewolf in the chapterhouse right now. So we'll see what happens with this or if it's just another random Boy-Ism

Again, stuff like this is why I think this whole story is more important than just a random boy writing session. They literally do this at the start of every arc. Also IT SHOULD BE NEXT SAGA BOY BECAUSE HE FIGHTS THE FIVE GOONS THAT WOULD BE IT'S OWN ARC ITS CLEARLY MULTIPLE ARCS SO IT SHOULD BE THE GILGAMESH SAGA FIRST OKAY that was I was thinking about that okay I just had to say it

Theres probably a reference in the spartan spacemarines being called the crimson dragon blades but I know nothing about halo and my knowledge of 40k is also not great. and I don't know where to put this and it isnt important but Ryu's final form looks like Asmodeus from iruma kun and I can't unsee it

The final thing to consider is Horse himself. I've spent the last few days thinking about one main thing; Is horse actually evil or is he just really bad with kids?

And I don't know. I feel like they're using this to set up a swerve where since Horse is Horus we're expecting him to turn evil, but it's revealed he's just bad with kids. But he could just as easily be some sort of demon or other awful thing possessing horse.

[m1nd-r0t]

8551 Daitarabotchi … named after the Japanese Yokai colossal giant.

The asteroid represents the essence of massive, awe-inspiring, and ambivalent power—both creative and destructive—drawing from the Japanese folklore of a giant who shaped the landscape of Japan. Daitarabotchi symbolizes monumental, overwhelming forces beyond ordinary human comprehension, embodying traits of divine wisdom, uncontrollable might, and the simultaneous potential for harmony and chaos.

Traits, themes, characteristics;

The native has a “colossal” power/presence.. The overwhelming size and strength of Daitarabotchi define its mythos. It creates mountains and lakes effortlessly, representing forces capable of massive, lasting impact on the physical or metaphysical world.

Themes of creation and destruction (As a being who sculpts landscapes, Daitarabotchi bridges the duality of creation and ruin. Mountains rise, valleys sink, and entire ecosystems form or vanish at its touch.) The Daitarabotchi is a descendant of the God or Creation.. powerful, almost divine energies are at play here.

Traits of defiance and AWE.. The stories of humans trying to outwit or appease Daitarabotchi reveal its role as a symbol of the human struggle against overwhelming natural or cosmic forces. The rituals to drive it away reflect fear of what cannot be controlled or understood. These people also have the potential to leave an enormous footprint behind (metaphorically, obviously.)

—————

A prominent Daitarabotchi (conj, square, opposite. Etc.) can signify a native with an immense impact, a transformative presence, or a connection to monumental change. This asteroid speaks to themes of vast ambition, divine creativity, raw destructive energy, and encounters with overwhelming odds, etc.

Keywords include, but are not limited to; monumental creation and destruction, great passion, overwhelming strength and presence, enormity, a terrifying, yet awe-inspiring force, shaper of environments and destiny, duality of benevolence and hostility, colossal hunger for power, influence, and resources, ancient wisdom and primal instincts, impactful legacy and eternal footprints, fearsome defiance and unstoppable will.

——————

THROUGH THE SIGNS

Daitarabotchi in ARIES

Daitarabotchi in Aries represents the raw, explosive force of colossal energy infused with the fiery, pioneering, and impulsive nature of Aries. It is an embodiment of overwhelming power, relentless determination, and a drive to leave a permanent mark on the world. In someone’s life, this placement manifests as an uncontainable urge to conquer, create, and dominate, often in ways that feel monumental or larger-than-life to others. Aries thrives on action and initiation. With Daitarabotchi here, the individual becomes a figurative giant in their world, capable of reshaping their surroundings through forceful decisions and bold actions. They approach life with the mindset of a conqueror, needing to carve out their place by sheer willpower. This may play out through audacious career moves, dramatic personal transformations, or relentless pursuit of goals that others consider unattainable.

This placement speaks to ambitions that are not just big—they’re overwhelming. The person feels the need to act on a grand scale, often pursuing projects or goals that seem too large or daunting for others. They may build empires (literally or figuratively), striving for achievements that cement their legacy.

Aries is ruled by Mars, the planet of war and action. The combination with Daitarabotchi can make the individual incredibly assertive, even aggressive. They’re not afraid to fight for what they want, and they’ll often confront obstacles head-on, regardless of the consequences. However, the impulsive nature of Aries means their actions may sometimes lead to unintended destruction.

Like the mythological giant shaping the terrain, these individuals often influence or reshape the lives of those around them. Whether through leadership, confrontation, or inspiration, they become a towering figure in their community, profession, or personal relationships.

Daitarabotchi in Aries embodies the idea of clearing the old to make way for the new. In someone’s life, this can manifest as cycles of destruction and rebirth—burning bridges, leaving past situations behind and starting anew. These individuals often feel “bigger” than the world around them. They may struggle to find places where they can fully express their energy, leading them to seek environments where their larger-than-life personality is not just tolerated but celebrated.

Keywords; Monumental power. Pioneering spirit. Creation through destruction. Towering presence. Raw aggression. Unstoppable force. Chaotic energy. Passion. Monumental influence. Etc…

Daitarabotchi in TAURUS

Daitarabotchi in Taurus embodies a titanic force grounded in the physical and material world. It fuses the massive, terrain-shaping energy of the mythological giant with the steady, patient, and determined nature of Taurus. Daitarabotchi in Taurus reflects immense creative and destructive power toward building, stabilizing, and accumulating resources, wealth, or influence.

Taurus is the sign of persistence, with Daitarabotchi here, the native feels compelled to build something monumental that will withstand the test of time. Could manifest as constructing a literal empire, amassing wealth, or creating a powerful legacy rooted in actual tangible physical achievements. Approaching life like a mountain. I.e: immovable, enduring, and deeply rooted in their purpose.

Taurus ruling material possessions and earthly pleasures, having Daitarabotchi here magnifies exceedingly. Native may be deeply driven by the need to acquire wealth, land, or resources to secure stability and power. Or, they may feel overwhelmed by the weight of material responsibilities or a fear of scarcity, leading to an insatiable desire to stockpile and persevere.

Unlike the explosive, impulsive Aries, Taurus tames the great Daitarabotchi with patience and deliberation. This placement represents slow, but unstoppable growth. Said natives do not rush into action; instead, they cultivate their goals methodically, ensuring that every step builds on a solid foundation.

An absolute inability to quit. A cosmic-level ability of determination and resilience. Natives possess incredible endurance and will push through even the most insurmountable obstacles. Beware of this determination leading to stagnation and resistance to needed change.

Keywords; monumental stability, titanic patience, material mastery, earth shaker, immovable determination, sensual monolith, weight of responsibility, enduring legacy, constructive destruction, cosmic builder, luxury overdrive, enormous resourcefulness.

Daitarabotchi in GEMINI

Daitarabotchi in Gemini manifests as an immense, transformative force operating within the realms of communication, intellect, and duality. This placement symbolizes someone whose mental faculties and verbal expression are colossal, far-reaching, and capable of shaping the minds and environments of others. Just as the legendary giant Daidarabotchi left lasting marks on the landscape, this placement ensures that the individual leaves an indelible intellectual or social imprint on the world around them.

The mental titan

A mind that operates on an enormous scale, constantly seeking to gather, connect, and disseminate information. Their thoughts and ideas seem larger than life, often overwhelming to others. Reflecting Gemini’s duality, they can seamlessly adapt to different roles, shifting between conflicting identities or viewpoints with ease, much like the Daidarabotchi’s ability to change shape. Their ability to connect people, ideas, and information creates vast webs of influence that reshape their social and intellectual environments.

Endlessly curious and always moving, they find it difficult to remain in one place—physically, mentally, or emotionally—leaving behind profound changes wherever they go. Communication becomes a superpower. They can uplift, inspire, or utterly destroy through their words and ideas, wielding language with the force of a giant’s footsteps. While they may exhibit lightheartedness and wit, their humor and curiosity mask an intimidating depth of intellect and ambition.

Totally unparalleled communication

A masterful ability to express even the most complex concepts in a way that others understand. They can be persuasive, entertaining, and magnetic when speaking or writing. They thrive in environments that require quick thinking, adaptability, and creativity. These natives are able to bring together disparate ideas, people, or disciplines, they can create innovative solutions that others would never imagine. Their charisma and intellectual prowess make them natural leaders in social or academic circles. Their ability to manipulate and dominate conversations or social environments can intimidate others or create alienation.

They often become experts in their chosen fields, but their expertise spans multiple disciplines. They could be polymaths, inventors, or prolific writers. This placement can translate to mental mastery. Known for their speech or writing, they might publish groundbreaking works, deliver unforgettable speeches, or revolutionize how ideas are communicated. Much like Daidarabotchi’s footprints became lakes, their words and actions create lasting ripples in the collective psyche or societal structure.

Keywords; intellectual colossus, shape-shifting communicator, enormous curiosity, monumental ideas, hyper passionate communication, words that CUT.. DEEP.. social architect, mental chaos, cerebral dominance, etc..

Daitarabotchi in CANCER

Daitarabotchi in Cancer wields emotion like a giant reshaping the earth, capable of creating serene lakes of love and support or unleashing tsunamis of destructive force. This placement ensures that their emotional impact will resonate far beyond the bounds of their personal life, shaping not just individuals but entire emotional landscapes. Daitarabotchi in Cancer signifies a monumental presence in the realms of emotion, nurturing, and protection. This placement embodies the vast, almost primordial depths of feeling and connection, a cosmic interplay between the maternal and the monstrous. With Cancer’s lunar influence amplifying Daitarabotchi’s already overwhelming scale, this person operates as an emotional and protective giant, reshaping their inner and outer worlds through profound instincts and tidal waves of sentiment.

General themes

Their feelings are titanic, capable of carving landscapes within relationships, family, and community. They feel not just for themselves but for the world, channeling ancient, universal emotional currents. Like a divine protector, they are fiercely nurturing, defending those they love with an intensity that can be both awe-inspiring and fearsome. Their emotional care feels larger-than-life, but so too can their protective anger. Their intuition operates on a massive scale, sensing shifts in the emotional atmosphere like tectonic movements, often acting on these instincts with an unstoppable force.

These natives create and destroy emotional foundations, reshaping personal and family dynamics with their colossal influence. This can feel comforting or overwhelming to others. Their internal world is vast, complex, and oceanic, reflecting both the nurturing calm of a tranquil sea and the overwhelming power of tsunamis.

Unstoppable Nurturing Power: Their ability to support, heal, and care for others is profound. They often act as the emotional anchor for their family or community. They can access emotional depths that others barely understand, offering profound insights into the human condition. Just as Daidarabotchi’s footprints became lakes, their emotional contributions leave a lasting mark on the people and places they love.

Overwhelming Sensitivity: Their emotional currents can be so intense that they drown in their own feelings, struggling to find emotional balance. Their colossal feelings may lead to dramatic responses, creating chaos in situations that require calm. Their emotional depth may alienate them from those who cannot comprehend or match their intensity.

Emotionally Transformative Presence: Wherever they go, they profoundly influence the emotional atmosphere, reshaping how others feel and interact. They are drawn to roles or causes where they can shield and nurture, whether as caregivers, activists, or healers. Their relationships feel vast, intricate, and enduring, often resembling entire ecosystems of shared emotion and history. Their personal stories and emotional legacy often become larger-than-life narratives, influencing those around them for generations.

Keywords; emotional titan, cosmic nurturer, nurturing force, oceanic depths of feeling, cyclical emotional energy, overwhelming care, emotional anchor, creator of emotional ecosystems, etc

Daitarabotchi in LEO

Daitarabotchi in Leo is a towering figure of creativity and leadership, reshaping the world through their radiant presence and dramatic flair. Their life is a stage, their impact a legacy, and their heart a sun that burns with unrelenting passion. This placement ensures that they will never simply exist—they will leave an indelible mark on the landscape of life. Daitarabotchi in Leo represents a massive, awe-inspiring presence in the realms of self-expression, leadership, and creative power. This placement combines Leo’s solar brilliance and dramatic flair with the colossal, earth-shaping nature of Daitarabotchi, creating someone whose personality, creativity, and charisma radiate with overwhelming force. These individuals are natural-born leaders, performers, or creators, reshaping their environment with the intensity of their presence and vision.

General themes

Colossal ego & creativity; Their sense of self and creative drive are larger than life. They often see themselves as central figures, not out of arrogance, but because their presence naturally commands attention. They shine like a sun, exuding dramatic flair and the ability to captivate an audience, whether onstage or in daily life. Their energy is regal and dominating, like a giant who reshapes the world with their vision and passion. They possess an unshakable belief in their uniqueness and abilities, often inspiring or intimidating others with their sheer self-assuredness.

Transformational leadership & authority; Their leadership style is both grand and impactful, often changing the lives of those they guide or influence. They approach life with courage and passion, driven by an intense connection to what they love and care about.

They radiate warmth, confidence, and charisma, drawing others to them like moths to a flame. They effortlessly draw others into their orbit, using their charm and brilliance to influence or inspire. They are deeply driven to leave a lasting legacy, whether through their creations, leadership, or relationships. Their creative talents and self-expression are expansive, capable of reshaping cultural, social, or artistic landscapes.

Potential for an overbearing ego. Their confidence and sense of importance can tip into arrogance or a need to dominate. They may struggle with insecurity if their efforts go unnoticed, becoming overly reliant on external validation. They may demand to be the center of attention or insist on being in control, alienating others in the process. Their immense pride can make it difficult for them to admit mistakes or accept criticism.

Keywords; titanic & massive charisma, enormous self-expression, regal presence, monumental creativity, overwhelming pride, radiant self-belief, grand legacies, royalty, visionary builder, courageous creator and destroyer.

Daitarabotchi in VIRGO

Daitarabotchi in Virgo merges the boundless might of the cosmos with the small, exacting details of life. These individuals are humble yet powerful, unassuming yet transformative, capable of shaping the world through their unmatched dedication to perfection and service. Their lives are a testament to the beauty and impact of diligence, showing that even the tiniest details can create monumental change. Daitarabotchi in Virgo manifests as a monumental force focused on precision, service, and refinement. This placement merges Virgo’s analytical mind and meticulous nature with Daitarabotchi’s massive, terrain-shaping energy, creating individuals who see no task as too small and no detail as insignificant in their pursuit of excellence. Their lives are defined by a profound commitment to structure, order, and purpose, reshaping their world through acts of diligent service, relentless improvement, and transformative problem-solving.

General themes

These individuals amplify Virgo’s natural inclination toward precision, making their work and efforts feel immense in scope yet intricately refined. They have an overwhelming need to improve, heal, or optimize, tackling problems others would find too complex or overwhelming. They approach their goals with rigorous focus and organization, excelling in environments that demand careful analysis and execution. The natives have an a relentless desire to perfect themselves and their work. Endless self-improvement. Their work ethic borders on obsessive, driving them to extraordinary levels of achievement.

A massive analyst, their capacity for analysis and critical thinking is monumental, allowing them address problems others may overlook or dismiss. These natives are also incredibly intelligent, much their Gemini counterpart. They can also create very long lasting frameworks - be it in relationships, projects, their work, etc - that withstand and endure due to their painstaking attention to detail.

These people can also be overwhelming perfectionists. Their genuine obsession with getting everything so precise can lead to stress, burnout, and paralysis in the face of imperfection. Their attention to detail may become excessive and lead to them to also become exceedingly and over the top nitpicky. Also a capacity to become super critical over themselves and others. Extremely judgmental people.

On the plus side though these natives can be incredibly planners and have quite exceptional organizational skills. They can be very precise and have quite the impressive work ethic. Their work ethic and discipline can be absolutely indefatigable.

Keywords; monumental precision, colossal refinement, healing power, systematic mastery, tireless, indefatigable, relentless discipline, obsessive improvement.

This is my first post with this much detail and that’s this organized.. if it does well, I’ll release part 2, containing Daitarabotchi in Libra-Pisces…

[al-hekima-madara-blog]

Did Madara become a Tengu or a Susanoo?

Have you noticed that Madara possess the biggest susanoo even bigger than Sasuke?

The real Susanoo in shinto tradition is related to the God of typhoon and oceans. It's not really how it is portrayed in Naruto. They left the watery element of the mythological Susanoo except the excessive warlike character.

The real inspiration (especially for Madara and Sasuke) is the Tengu an other supernatural creature. In japanese folkore it's associated with the divinity protector of the forest and the mountain, skillful in martial art, swords, naginata. The Tengu is described as a an angry yokai, with a long nose, sometimes a bird-like appearance.

Something unique about Madara's perfect Susanoo is that it goes in two phases before he can settle his chakra.

Phase 1

Phase 2

It's never explained why he does that. There is an aesthetic effort on the first phase but I didn't know if it meant something symbolically. I know that Kishimoto never draw an important character like this by chance. For instance, the two-faced susanoo represents Madara's fear for backstabbing. So I did a little research and I came with this hypothesis:

The phase 1 seems to be a reference to the Yamabushis, an order of warrior monks. They seek enlightenment through rigorous physical and spiritual training in the natural environment, particularly in mountainous regions. Look at how those monks are depicted in their war gears :

They have strong linked to Tengus, some venerate them, other stories said that arrogant priests are turning into Tengu after their death. Or those creatures kidnap priests to turn them into Tengu.

Tengus are known for their supernatural abilities, including shape-shifting, flight, and martial prowess, which align with the mystical aura surrounding Yamabushi.

Whatever the version, I found that Madara's susanoo/Tengu with his two phases, is also a strong metaphor of his unique path as an Uchiha. Similarly to the yamaguchi, Madara is a powerful warrior who went into an ascetic lifestyle, cutting link with his clan, his friend, his village to retire from civilisation in order to gain occult potent powers and ended up transforming into this fearless god of war. The size of his Susanoo manifest the full scale of his destructive anger and arrogance. He seems to have spent more time underground that in the mountain however this is the region that has been Madara's hideout for the obscure 60 years of his life after he lost at the Valley of the End. This place is called the Mountain's graveyard.

So the mythology of a Yamaguchi monk turning into a Tengu can be a metaphor of his path as a rogue shinobi becoming this almost mythical warlord. Living by the sword, belligerent and excited by the battlefield.

A last thing to note about Tengu closer to shinto tradition like the Uchiha, there is also a lot of stories of them opposing Buddhism. trying to corrupt priests, disrupt temples ect... And the Senju have a lot of affinity with Buddhist culture.

[karinzany]

SPOILERS: Chapter 1094 of ONE PIECE

We've finally seen St. Jaygarcia Saturn's real form on chapter 1094, and it is absolutely diabolical. It seems to be inspired by a yōkai called Ushi-oni. So I went back to chapter 1085 and tried to connect the rest of the Gorosei with other yōkai. Here are my predictions:

Ushi-oni: In Wakayama Prefecture, ushi-oni are mountain-dwelling beasts. Legend says when a hiker or traveler makes eye contact with the ushi-oni, the person cannot avert his or her gaze. The person's soul or energy is drained and he or she dies. This is called “Kage wo kuu (影を食う)” or sometimes "Kage wo nomu (影を飲む)", which translates to “eating the shadow” or "drinking the soul".

Aosaginohi: Aosaginohi, or Aosagibi (青(あお)鷺(さぎ)火(び), "blue heron fire") is a phenomenon illustrated by Toriyama Sekien in his Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki. It depicts a night heron with a mysteriously illuminated body. Folklore built around the phenomenon tells a story of an old black-crowned night heron transforming into a yokai. The herons' feathers fuse into shining scales that give off an iridescent blue light in the dark of night. The yokai's breath is also said to release golden powder into the air that collects to form a heat-less fiery light, though this light eventually dissipates in the wind. The harmless creature is said to flee from human contact, retaining a normal heron's shyness. Legend also warns to not confuse the glimmering blue-white light with onibi lights.

Baku: Baku (獏 or 貘) are Japanese supernatural beings that are said to devour nightmares. According to legend, they were created by the spare pieces that were left over when the gods finished creating all other animals. They have a long history in Japanese folklore and art, and more recently have appeared in manga and anime. The Japanese term baku has two current meanings, referring to both the traditional dream-devouring creature and to the Malayan tapir. In recent years, there have been changes in how the baku is depicted.

Benzaiten: Benzaiten (shinjitai: 弁才天 or 弁財天; kyūjitai: 辯才天, 辨才天, or 辨財天, lit. "goddess of eloquence"), also simply known as Benten (shinjitai: 弁天; kyūjitai: 辯天 / 辨天), is a Japanese Buddhist goddess who originated mainly from Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of speech, the arts, and learning, with certain traits deriving from the warrior goddess Durga. Due to her status as a water deity, she was also linked with nāgas, dragons, and snakes. Apart from being a patron of music and the arts, she was eventually also worshiped as a bestower of monetary fortune and was reckoned as one of the Seven Lucky Gods (Shichifukujin).

Ōkubi: In Japanese folklore, Ōkubi (大首) are giant heads of either men or women. An Ōkubi appearing in the sky is a sign of impending disaster, which may be a typhoon, earthquake, tsunami, or fire. These disasters are often attributed to the Ōkubi. Ōkubi are otherwise harmless and will disappear soon after the first sighting. They are thought to be sky spirits who protect the sky's or people who died during a natural disaster. They are said to protect people from the natural disasters and protect the sky from demonic sky spirits. It is said if one does not pay respect for the Ōkubi, they will be turned into sky spirits and their face will appear in the sky immediately. Those who do pay respect are said to get good fortune and gifts.

PS.: This silhouette probably belongs to Imu themselves, but I can't figure out what yōkai or supernatural being it represents. What are your theories?

EDIT: Thank you @ozo-blog and @marimo-kyun for your suggestion!

On chapter 1069, Vegapunk said that Devil Fruits earned the ire of Mother Nature, which is the Sea itself. The name Imu can be read as Umi backwards, meaning "Sea" in Japanese. So, maybe Imu has a power that controls the sea? Umibozu would be on theme for them.

Umibōzu: Umibōzu (海坊主, "sea priest") is a paranormal phenomenon or yōkai from Japanese folklore. Other names include Umihōshi (海法師, "sea priest") or Uminyūdō (海入道, "sea priest"). Little is known of the origin of umibōzu but it is a sea-spirit and as such has multiple sightings throughout Japan. Normally, umibōzu appears to sailors on calm seas which quickly turn tumultuous. It either breaks the ship on emergence or demands a bucket or barrel from the sailors and proceeds to drown them. The only safe way to escape an umibōzu is to give it a bottomless barrel and sail away while it is confused.

Alternative: I've also seen another theory that says Imu could be Satan (from the Bible, yes) because he has a Red Dragon form that could relate to the Celestial Dragon's symbol, a red dragon hoof.

Red Dragon (Biblical Satan): The Red Dragon is a form of the Biblical Satan, otherwise known as Lucifer, the former Seraphim that rebelled against the Creator and became evil in Christianity and Hebrew religions. His alias, the Red Dragon, was described in the Bible to have seven heads, ten horns, seven crowns, and a massive tail that knocks one-third of the stars out of the sky. The Red Dragon is mentioned to have other names like the Serpent of Old and the Devil. It is said in the Bible that Satan will take the form of the Red Dragon and will along with the Antichrist, the False Prophet, and the Beast, deceive most of Humanity. After that the Red Dragon will be set free upon the world in which he will rule alongside demons for three long years. After that God will cast the Red Dragon, demons, and other dammed evil souls into Lake of Fire, thus finally destroying the evil of Satan forever.

During the time-skip, we've seen Brook being accidentally summoned by a Satanic cult, which implies the existence of Satan in the One Piece world. Now, on chapter 1094, we've seen again a summoning circle, this time for St. Jaygarcia Saturn. I think it's pretty obvious the connection between real world devils and the Gorosei and Imu.

It's all going to come to the ironic conclusion that the D. clan, the enemies of the Gods, are Gods themselves (like Nika) and the Celestial Dragons, the Gods of the world, are actual Devils.

[writingwithcolor]

Running Commentary: What is “ok to do” in Mixed-Culture Supernatural Fiction?

Dear readers: 

Today we are trying something new. To give you some insight into our process in the Japanese moderator section, we are presenting our response in the form of running commentary to show you how we dissect and answer long asks. We hope this makes clear what points are useful and not useful when sending us a query. As always, this is for learning purposes, not callouts. Be prepared: this is a long one. 

To summarize: the asker is looking to create a comic drawn in Japanese manga style, and has provided a long summary of the story and worldbuilding which involves a mix of “reimagined” Japanese yokai mythos and cultural symbols from many other sources. They have questions with respect to cultural appropriation, coding etiquette, and “what is and isn’t ok.” 

Opening Comments

I know a common advice when it comes to the thing I am about to ask is to talk to people involved in __, but I struggle with opening up to strangers for reasons I'm uncomfortable explaining. 

Marika (M): This is already a red flag. If you want to engage with another culture without talking to people from that culture, then research is going to be very challenging. You won’t have members of that culture to guide you towards sources and perspectives they feel most accurately represents public opinion. If I were in your shoes, I might start with tackling my discomfort when engaging with other people, if only to improve my work. If you aren’t ready to engage with a culture and its people directly, then I think you should wait until you are. 

I should note, reaching out to the Japanese mod team at WWC does count as engagement, but WWC should not and cannot be the only point of contact because there is no single, legitimate cultural perspective. 

Rina (R): Also, you don’t need to “open up” to strangers or talk to them in person to get perspectives. Asking specific research questions anonymously to a forum or on social media requires very little vulnerability. You managed to do it here on WWC. So give it a try! 

Anyway, my question basically amounts to the what is and isn't ok [sic] in terms of depicting fantasy creatures and concepts outside of their respective culture.

R: So, the reason why we turn away rubber stamp questions by that ask “is XYZ okay?” is because “okay” & “not okay” 1) is vague and 2) creates a dichotomy where there isn’t one. 

When we say something is “not okay,” do we mean:

It’s offensive to the general majority of XYZ group? 

It’s contentious among people who ID in the group? 

It has a potential to be interpreted in a certain negative way, but may not be a red flag to everyone?

Insetad try asking:

What are the reasons this subject is offensive? 

What makes cultural appropriation bad? 

When might it be “okay” to intentionally discuss a difficult or controversial topic?

What is your reason for including something that may be interpreted as offensive and can it be sufficiently justified? 

What stereotypes or tropes might it be consistently identified as or associated with, and why? 

When might it be justified to bring up these tropes?

With That In Mind...

Let’s get into the rest of the ask below. 

…a story I've been working on in recent times is largely inspired off the Japanese yokai, and the setting is basically Earth in the far future, as far as when the next supercontinent may form. These yokai, although portrayed differently here, do retain their main characteristics [...] Included in this world are two goddesses of my own creation, primarily representing the sun and the moon. [...] There will be thirteen nations, named and based after the Chinese Zodiac, and the life force found in the living things in this world, called qi, comes in two forms that are always opposing each other but can never fully overpower the other, this being based off yin and yang. They're even directly named this; yin qi and yang qi.

M: This reads more like using Japanese and Chinese culture for the “aesthetics”, not the cultures themselves, which I personally feel falls under cultural appropriation. From a world-building/ coding standpoint, the actual use of concepts is workable, and, dare I say, typical, given how Chinese cosmology influences Japanese culture. However, naming a concept “yin qi” or “yang qi” is the equivalent of naming something “- charge” or “+ charge”, respectively. That you don’t seem aware of this tells me you are pretty early in your research phase. In that vein, we’ve covered translating terms and names from foreign languages in fantasy before. See the following article linked here for our recommendation against using RL terms outright but instead encouraging people to create their own conlangs. 

R: Worldbuilding-wise, I think you would have to figure out the chicken-or-egg of the zodiac nations. Did the nations come first, and the zodiac later as an origin folk story (which you would have to rewrite to serve the nation-building narrative)? Did the zodiac come first, and the nations named (most likely re-named) by a political entity? What is the justification? Otherwise, again, it’s a shoehorning of aesthetics. 

There is also a third, lesser known god based off of fox spirits and trickery and I imagined he's the patron deity of a family that honors and worships him, but his influence on them has transformed them into Kitsune-tsuki, which I depict as fox-like anthros. 

M: Not related to this ask directly, but I have jokingly ranted about how often non-Japanese people prefer using imagery related to kitsune-tsuki in Japanese coded world-building (link). This makes me feel the same level of petty irritation. See my troll answer below for a similar experience.

R: Same. It’s boring tbh. 

M: Troll Answer: I get that kitsune-tsuki are very sexy furries, but Japanese folklore has other sexy furries too! These underrepresented demographics also deserve recognition and appreciation!!

The plot of the story is this; modernization has left the goddesses neglected of their worship and forgotten, something that is necessary in this world to stop them from fighting each other. The Moon Goddess awakens first, punishing the humans by unleashing the yokai. Then the Sun Goddess wakes up to fight in humanity's defense…

M: This could feel rather like Shinto-like coding (Ex. the myth of Amaterasu and the Cave, or Tsukuyomi slaying Ukemochi), but something about this scenario feels a bit too binary in terms of themes of good v. evil, light v. dark to be Shinto. The plot also feels more Gaelic/ Nordic in influence for me as a person raised in a Japanese Buddhist and Hindu household. I imagine this dissonance could have been fixed with better guided research. 

…but their fighting has caused a perma-eclipse and this world is in danger of ending. The yokai have run rampant; some are loyal to the Moon Goddess, and some aren't, and it lies to the main characters to bring balance back to Midgard. Yeah... the name of this future Earth is Midgard. I debate changing it since it and some other things I will mention sorta feel out of place.

R: Marika, looks like you were right on the Gaelic/Nordic influence /j 

Also, worldbuilding question: if the Earth is in the far geologic future, how long has it been since modernization (19th-20th century)? Centuries? Millennia? How long has this fighting gone on for? What triggered the perma-eclipse, and why now? Why is this time depth necessary? 

One of the main characters in question is a humanoid woman with wolf features named Ling, and she is a descendant of the dynasty that had first ruled the one of the nations, particularly the one based off the dragon zodiac. She accidentally summons the other main character to this world as she's praying at a shrine, a humanoid with dragon features--I call them drakon--named Angelynn.

[on the names of characters] is it appropriating by not having the world entirely based on [Chinese, Japanese, and Indian] influence? it's a little weird to me how worldwide the creatures are referred to as yokai, implying a strong Japanese influence not unlike how it is today with Western culture being so dominant, yet there are still names like Keith and Kiara.

M: I will give you credit for recognizing you have unconsciously veered towards white-washing/ race-bending: either presenting European cultural influences (drakons, Angelynn, Keith, Kiara, Midgard) as default or utilizing general E. Asian cultural influences and aesthetics for a Western-style story (Ling, qi, Chinese zodiac, yokai). I agree with you that this creates a sense of cultural dissonance. At this point, I’d say you have a clear choice: write a Western-style high fantasy using a background with which you have more familiarity, or get some better guidance on research with East Asian cultures so you can code the story more effectively. 

The focus of this story is centered around meeting all these yokai and showing that there's more nuance to them than Ling believes, all while saving the world. But I worry if I'm appropriating these concepts and creatures by 1, drawing from more than one culture--I initially imagined that there would be a mix of Chinese, Japanese and Indian influence because according to a website I am getting the info on yokai from, the yokai in question already draw inspiration from or have been based on something in Chinese mythology or Hinduism [...]

R: Sure, some yokai have Chinese or Hindu parallels as that tends to happen with folk tales. But not all–some are unique to Japan, and some are more modern. Sometimes it’s very political–some people consider the Ainu Korpokkur as being a “Yokai of Japan” despite it belonging to the indigenous culture. It’s up to you to research, untangle, and understand these influences. 

The fact that you bring up that the Asian continent has seen a lot of cultural exchange is not a sufficient reason to randomly combine influences for the sake of visual appeal or “coolness.” That is appropriation. These influences must be understood in their historical context so that you know how/why certain things combined or morphed into another, and what makes sense to combine/morph. 

M: This also indicates that the character views the yokai as evil/inherently bad, which I would argue is not a typical stance for much Japanese folklore. Again, this shows a deficit in research. 

2, reimagining these yokai in a new context even though I have done the research on them, because one thing I kept seeing in regards to cultural appropriation is that it's bad to do that […]

R: Refer above to my note on “okay” and “not okay.” The thing with folklore and fairy tales is that every–and I mean every–folk tale is reinterpreted with every new iteration of it. Reimagining in a new context is what people do every time they pass on a story or tell a story with the same plot or characters. Do not think of folklore as an “original” that is altered and rebooted, but rather a living document that gets added to. Reimagining is not the inherent issue. HOW you reimagine something matters. 

So I suppose my question is...if someone were to do research upon the creature they want to use, given they are allowed to use it, and gained an understanding of what the creature or concept stood for, are they allowed to pick it apart and reimagine it? Alternatively, is it ok if it's explicitly pointed out that it is derivative of the original?

It has actually become my biggest fear that I may have internalized something that could both continue to do harm long after the fact and attract the wrong people to me work. I don't wanna let people down!

M: As Rina has noted several times, I think the problem is in trying to ID a set of specific variables and circumstances that make a thing “okay” or “not okay.” I want to recommend that you read my joking response about writing in secret rooms while wearing a disguise (Linked here). Who can you hurt if no one knows what you are doing? There’s a difference between creating for oneself and creating to share. 

You have internalized a message incorrectly, but not the one you cite. The goal of many recommendations against cultural appropriation is to avoid causing direct harm to people who have seen their cultures demeaned, discredited and devalued, especially in shared spaces. Assessing cultural engagement, whether we are talking about appropriation, appreciation or exchange is not a measure of personal virtue or a collection of commandment style do’s and don’t’s. Rather, I believe engaging with other cultures is the state of mind of acknowledging that when using these cultures’ in one’s own work, there is value in consulting members of that culture and giving credit where credit is due. This will be challenging if you are only comfortable engaging with all of these cultures in a distanced, minimal capacity. 

FWIW, I’ve written stories that probably will offend people from other cultures and backgrounds, but I don’t show them off. I don’t think writing these makes me a bad person, but I also don’t see the need to give unnecessary offense, so those stories are just for me, to be written and read in my own secret room. However, I’m not ashamed of having written them, and I’m also comfortable to “let people down” provided that my own shared work reflects my personal principles of what I consider to be sufficient research and engagement with other cultures,  As a creator, my work wouldn’t be mine if I didn’t first please myself. I think the trick to the creator role is deciding what to keep private, what to share and what constitutes sufficient engagement. 

P.S. 

We’ve referenced the need for research multiple times in this ask, and in some of the other asks that have gone up this week, so we thought this would be a good place to plug a beginner’s guide to academic research created by the mod team.. Look for it soon under WWC’s pinned posts!

[sillygoblinantics]

So about the typhlosion leak

And some stuff about Lily you’ll want to spread the word on

As I’m sure everyone knows now there’s been a leak into gamefreak info. And after taking into mind of the game and source material. I thought I’d share what I found!

Friendly reminder:

Translations from Japanese to English aren’t always accurate and set in stone. And words like girls don’t refer to what many think would be minors. (So zip your pants Lily)

I love Pokémon, gamefreak has been know to pull a lot of inspiration from mythology, folklore, and stories from many cultures and countries so it’s no surprise that many of the Pokémon are based on these mythical creatures.

Taking this into mind, I began to narrow down my search into what could be the possible influence to the typhlosion story. (So if I got something wrong let me know in replies with your own findings and sources! ;3) let’s get into it!

Typhlosion and the cyndaquil line are rodents, for context into my search. So I had to leave out a lot of yokai and monsters to help filter out results:

Fox

Tanuki

Oni

Otters

Child spirits

Items

And any humanoid or human looking yokai

So this leaves us with a few but out of the three that were left I found only one that matched perfectly with our little typhlosion story! Meet:

Kyūso

If you want to read more about it make sure to click the highlighted name and it’ll lead you to a website that talks all about yokai!

Former rat or old rat

It has the ability to change sizes, and has been known to sneak into homes and beds to have adult time with the women. It’s also mentioned to have consumed lamp oil which considering the fire typing of our large fire mouse Pokémon, seemed more than likely to be our culprit!

So, yeah that’s it.

Before freaking out please do your own research into something especially when it comes to said thing being from a completely different culture or country before you apply harsh judgement that would more likely reveal your own intrusive thoughts, Lily Orchard.

Rich coming from Mrs Lily

“Makes a self insert “slice of life” Pokémon webcomic about how her gardevoir that was raised like her sister mindfucks or r🥫pes her comic self but gets away and further validation/vindication to be romantic with, later forcing a child made out of petty selfish want by said gardevoir”

Orchard

Wait who’s that kissing you Lily? That’s not Mikayla or any of your exes? Looks more like…

That’s not lolo? Oh right that’s your “source for good thoughts” friend Ren, right? Why would you have art of someone else kissing and making love to you instead of your wife? Isn’t this drawn by your wife? Why would you have art of being intimate with someone you call a friend? That’s not even “friends with benefits”

Notice the date on that post too?

March 1st, 2020 at 4:20pm

Can’t even excuse it as an April fools joke either especially since you posted it in the general chat which who does that in a dicord public chat infront of minors like… whooooo does that?!

I wonder :3

[shisui-week]

Prompt Discussions 𓅂

Festival 

A traditional Japanese Festival centered around a season: summer, fall, spring, or winter. A New Years Festival, or cherry blossoms. Does Shisui visit a shrine, dress up? How does he celebrate, food, music, dance games, Get his fortune read or watch the fireworks. Or is Shisui working the event, is he undercover, working guard duty. Or use this prompt (like any other) and have it set in another world, a college fair, a town carnival, the circus in a modern world, or a festival as an offering to the gods in a mythology au. Any and all Festivals welcome!  

Flicker

Shunshin no Shisui - Shisui of the body flicker. A flicker of light in the eye of his loved one, the flicker of a candle, or the flicker of a fire jutsu, a flicker of danger across his features.  Or does a dwindling flame flicker out.

𓅂𓅂

First Aid

Is Shisui in dire need of aid, a hospital, a medical jutsu? How does he react to someone taking care of him, or is he left to his own devices with a makeshift tourniquet. How does he recover? Or Is he the one dishing out some TLC? First aid can be as simple as a bandaid and a smooch over a skinned knee on the playground. Or Shisui picking up some medical skills in a class.

Cozy

There’s nothing like being curled up with a good book by the fireplace. Is Shisui enjoying the change of the seasons, a special holiday, or just nice weather? Is he bundled up with someone special, or taking some quiet time to himself. Is Shisui stranded on a mission with a comrade or an enemy, forced into close proximity to stay warm? Is there is only one bed!

𓅂𓅂

Memories

‘don’t forget me’ We received lots of memory based suggestions! It can be a fond memory, a sad one, a dark one. Is Shisui or someone close to him suffering from memory loss? How does he cope? Is Shisui worried about the memories he’ll leave behind, or the ones lost to time. How will Shisui be remembered? 

Kotoamatsukami 

literally meaning: Distinguished Heavenly Gods - Shisui’s dōjutsu that casts a powerful mind-controlling genjutsu on his target. Entering their mind and manipulating them with false experiences, acting through Shisui’s will leaving the victim entirely unaware. How does Shisui use this to his advantage? For his own use or the sake of the village? Does Shisui’s dojutsu get stolen, how does the thief use it, does their plan backfire, or does Shisui take revenge. Is his ultimate technique used for good or evil 

𓅂𓅂

Folklore

Yokai, Zodiacs, Angels, demons, myths and legends or anything to do with the supernatural. Explore the legends of chakra, the moon goddess Kaguya, stories of the sage of the sixth paths, jinchuriki, warriors long gone from the Uchiha Lineage; Madara, Kagami, or gods from above. The origins of the sharingan or legends of Izunami and Amatarasu. Is a yokai terrorizing the village, or is Shisui telling his teammates a scary story around a campfire. Or are the spirits kind and friendly? Is Shisui one of them? So long as Shisui is the focus, any folklore goes! Make up your own or pull inspiration from other cultures. 

Haunted

Is Shisui haunted by his choices, or regrets? A burden he must bear, or a mission he must complete? Is a ghost on his tail, creaking in the floorboards. Does Shisui visit a haunted house in a test of courage, or something more fun for Halloween with friends. 

𓅂𓅂

Clan Customs 

Traditions and customs of the mighty Uchiha Clan, how do they celebrate holidays, birthdays, funerals. Or is Shisui adapting to a new clans’ customs through marriage or a deep cover mission. Is Shisui bringing someone new into the family fold. 

Rites of Passage

Are there certain expectations growing up in the Uchiha Clan that Shisui must uphold? A ceremony to accept him into the family, or a special jutsu that marks the occasion. A test of courage, or marking a special age. Or is he being hazed before joining the police force, Anbu, graduating the Academy, or becoming a Jonin. Does Shisui take someone under his wing and help them through this new chapter?  

𓅂𓅂

Teammates

Shisui’s Genin team, Chunin team, how’d he do during the exam! Teammates for a mission, or his squad on the police force. What role does he play on his team, does he take the lead, trail behind, track, scout, work well with others or prefer to complete a mission on his own? Do you have an Oc, been waiting to show them off, are they a part of Shisui’s team, or do they have a rivalry with them?  

Secrets

Secrets, rumors, vows a promise. Can Shisui keep a secret or does he have one to share. Does a secret romance slowly unravel, or add to his desire, do rumors spread through town? Who’s Shisui keeping the secret from. Is it a secret organization, a secret clan jutsu or a planned coup d'etat? 

𓅂𓅂

Any au 

We got so many great au suggestions we’d need an event just for them all~ so instead have any au! Shisui lives, Fantasy, Mythology, College, Modern, Anbu, Yakuza, Historical, Coffee Shop, Founders, Western, from another show, canon divergence etc. The sky's the limit! 

Birthday 

It’s Shisui's birthday! How does he celebrate? Does a character give him a special present or plan an entire day of festivities? Does he spend it on his own? Or is Shisui celebrating someone else’s birthday, with a surprise up his sleeve.

Free Day

Exactly how it sounds! create to your heart's content. Use this day to mix and match prompts, extend an idea, or share whatever comes to mind.

Have any questions submit them to @shisui-week 𓅂

Prompt list𓅂Rules𓅂FAQ

[saturn7162]

Short answer: they just played pokemon yokai inspiration straight.

Long answer: in japanese myths, you have a bunch of shapeshifting animals disguising as humans to trick them. Alongside the more popular kitsune and tanuki, you also have the Mujina, which is a youkai badger. Typhlosion being based on one made him one of the best candidates for playing the role of a creature posing as a human to marry people and they went with him. These kinds of stories were used to warn people against foreigners or generally people who seemed untrustworthy and specifically the part about it not wanting to be seen when sleeping is in line with a lot of similar fables from around the world.

Also, these stories feel out of place for pokemon, yes, but thats because behind the scenes theres a popular practice in game dev environments to propose absurdly extreme concepts to circumvent censors, who are more likely to focus on the extreme parts and let the rest of the story pass. These stories are "like that" with the intent purpose of letting them be cut down to release a much tamer version. All the sinnoh myth entries are probably what these stories eventually were planned to become, and if they proposed the actually existing sinnoh entries, censors would have cut em straight up.

My typhlosions get to live another day

Ty for the info

[dnpanimationstudioclone]

Do u believe in or have any ideas about the whole Overlord Niffty theory?

Actually yeah! For my Niffty I’m going for that route!🐛

HUGE Spoiler alert!!!! Hazbin Hotel @the-burd-lord made these concept designs for me as a gift, I treasure them greatly💖 Their designs inspired from Centichoro from One Punch Man. The other character in the drawings is my take on Alastor!🦌📻

With the reveal of Husk being once an Overlord I like to believe the same with Niffty but rather than gained her power from souls(talked about this with @a-sterling-rose, she was an immensely powerful sinner like Alastor, but alas her form was far too big and scary for people to want to get close to and she was all alone…until Alastor came along and offered her a deal he’d provide a more approachable form in return for her eternal service).

One idea. I imagine she was once a regular sinner like everyone else but was still a centipede like demon so it wasn’t easy to gain peoples trust due to her scary appearance. But one day some overlord or jsut really strong demon or hellborn tried to attack her and in defense or just acting on first instinct…ate into them and ended up becoming stronger and scarier looking in the process, driving even more people to see her as a threat and try to attack only to well…think the Hungry Catepillar but more gruesome and scary.

I can imagine she used to live in the outskirts of the pentagram or underground somewhere as Centipedes can burrow. Occasionally some try to get close to gain power or try to kill her but failed. She was very lonely💔💔💔 Warning scary images.

A lot of her looks meant to be hiding what she is. Disguising her extra limbs as hair, her body’s color scheme based on a centipedes, poofy dress that could cover extra, even the bug design could be Interpreted as a long centipede. I was also going for a subtle sharp, mini legs for her apron ruffles, giving off her trying to look sweet and soft but could also be interpreted in another way…

I read and learned from a @lovesart23 redesign vid for her that, she was meant to be based on B-Alien Movies. LOVE that and I tried it myself(hardest part was figuring out what bug to make her and what themes to go with) but I ended up going for another Sci-Fi route. Kaiju/Giant Bug monsters. Creatures like Godzilla or those giant bugs creatures like “the Tingler” 1959(which was a centipede monster I read). I figure it’d connect well to both her struggles of fitting in but also her Japanese Roots.

Monsters are tragic beings. They are born too tall, too strong, too heavy. They are not evil by choice. That is their tragedy. They do not attack people because they want to, but because of their size and strength, mankind has no other choice but to defend himself. After several stories such as this, people end up having a kind of affection for the monsters. They end up caring about them."

— Ishir⁠ō Honda The Director of Godzilla

Plus some certain Kaijus could qualify as Aliens!.

There’s even a Yokai/demon based on the centipede known as the Ōkumade! I imagine Niffty’s true form is basically a giant monstrous looking centipede.

What do u think? Any ideas you have for overlord Niffty? I’d love to know💖

[yuri-is-online]

Sometimes the Wallpaper is Just Yellow: A Heartslabyul Color Analysis

This research was inspired by this post by @mothman-files! I am so sorry for @ing you please let me know if you want me to remove it and I will do so ASAP. Thank you for sending my head into a tail spin, I've learned a lot of stuff.

After reading mothman's musings, you might be thinking to yourself like I did: "hey, there is something familiar about red, blue, yellow, and green color coding." And it is, as mothman correctly points out in the notes of their post it is an extremely common trope in anime. The reason was both exactly and not not at all what I expected after I resurfaced from this little detour I took from fic writing.

How well do you know the colors of your oni? Because that's more important than card suits for this particular trope, but to make it all make sense I am going to go through each of the Heartslabyul boys one by one saving Cater for last. With that being said, pack your bags and grab some beans we are going to learn some meditation techniques.

Setsubun and the Beaning of Life

No seriously. It all relates back to beans. As a refresher for those unaware, Setsubun is a Japanese festival celebrated at the start February, the day before spring starts on the Japanese Lunar calendar. It is typically part of Lunar New Year celebrations today, and if you know anything about it from anime you probably know that it's that holiday where the Japanese throw beans at demons to chase them away so they can start the new year without their evil influences. What kind of evil influences? Well according to Buddhist belief there are five main ones that are referred to as the five hindrances: sensory desire (i.e. greed), ill-will (i.e. anger), disquietude (i.e. anxiety), sloth (i.e. unable to make decisions), and doubt (i.e. self explanatory).

Now why is this all relevant? Well I saw it repeated again and again, on some articles about Setsuban that the oni who appear during the festival are COLOR CODED and fucking finally thanks to this beautiful, beautiful person called Matthew Meyer (the Yokai Guy) on Patreon of all places! I found out why. Because a professor of History named Yagi Tōru said so and I am inclined to believe as he is the president of the World Oni Study Society! Which is a thing! And he has written textbooks?!?! I get that this might be a tangent but it is important to me you understand I am not pulling this out of my ass, there is scholarship on this I am not lying to you. So what are those colors?

Red Oni (Greed) Blue Oni (Anger)

The only reason I even tried looking at this angle was because of these two. Everyone say thank you to Aduece. You might have heard "the Red Oni Who Cried" folktale in an anime or two (My Love Story is the first that comes to mind for me) and it is thought to have spawned a sort of character trope in anime. There's a hot headed red coded character and their intellectual blue bestie, or maybe they're twins (FFXIV and Tokyo Rev jump to mind), one of them jumps first and the other asks all sorts of questions, both now and later. When I first saw Aduece I thought they were a clever twist on that trope because they're both trying to fit those color molds but... aren't really making it.

Ace wants to portray himself as an easygoing guy who doesn't think too much about things, but we know that's not true. He is extremely smart, he just refuses to put in maximum effort unless forced. I don't think it's too much of a stretch to classify him as greedy either, but when you are sharing the stage with Azul it can be easy to forget that greed isn't always accompanied by a great work ethic. Ace cheats at cards, makes a deal for a study guide he doesn't need, and sucks up to his senpai's all to make things easier on himself. What he actually needs to do is work bitch and when he does that and only then will he realize his true potential.

Deuce, poor ex-delinquent Deuce. He does think about things before he does them and constantly lectures Ace for just doing whatever he wants without thinking, but he is far from naturally intelligent and prone to outbursts of anger. As soon as he looses his temper, he also looses his rational thought, but he accepts that about himself. That's what allows him to discover his unique magic, he knows he has his own sort of intelligence and is determined to work on what he does not.

Green Oni (Sloth)

I don't really think it is revolutionary to say Trey is a bit of a slacker when it comes to addressing interpersonal issues. He finds it easier to try and keep the peace or manage the fallout than directly address the problem at hand, and he is resistant to doing additional work not assigned by his housewarden. Or required by the school, just look at how "excited" he was to be a starsender. If he was any more unhinged he would have started throwing hands. Sloth as a sin isn't strictly just about being lazy. Apathy, a lack of reaction towards something like say, your friend's control freak tendencies that is clearly him acting out his own trauma can qualify as sloth.

I would like to add, though, that I don't really think it was Trey's responsibility to tell Riddle he was going overboard. That should have been Crowley's job, but that's another post. For now just take green as a sign of dodging emotions and let's go.

Yellow Oni (Disquietude)

As pointed out by mothman-files, Cater is supposed to be yellow, but he is more often portrayed with reds and oranges, pinks even, than yellow. Like them, I don't think it is a coincidence he is associated with orange when that's what happens when you mix red and yellow together. Cater is taking on what he perceives to be the identity of his dorm, and he is extremely dissatisfied, disquieted, and anxious because of that.

Something I think should be considered, NRC freshmen are sixteen years old. Cater is a third year, he's spent around two and a half years at NRC, two and a half years that were relatively stable compared to what he tells us about his previous schooling. I think that he has some genuine dissonance in him that is getting harder for him to ignore because he has played this role longer than the ones he has played previously. Cater the Heartslabyul student, the NRC mage, that is who he is now, and I wonder if he knows how he got to this point or if he feels like he just woke up in someone else's body someday and doesn't know if he likes it.

What's worse is I think he does like his friends, and he is suddenly confronted with how little they actually know about him, what could be more anxiety inducing than that.

Black Oni? (Press X to Doubt)

I don't think Riddle is meant to be the black oni, but I do think it's interesting that the color black is associated with doubt and loss of ones convictions when that is essentially both the cause and color of an overblot. Idia and S.T.Y.X. seem to be focused on emotion + extreme magic use to be what's causing the blot... but the more I roll chapter 7 and all the reading I did for this post around in my head it seems to me that overblots like the ones at NRC seem to be tied to a loss of identity and the shattering of one's perceived reality.

I would also like to mention that I have no idea if any of the cited folklore has anything to do with Yana Toboso's mindset when she created these characters. She seems to be someone who does a lot of research and thinks deeply about symbolism, but this color coding and its associated vices can be found in a lot of anime. She could have just picked up on it from that.

I hope you found this descent into madness informative, and if not at least entertaining. Thank you for your time, I am going to go eat a cookie.

Semi Unrelated Fun Facts:

A lot of this brainrot was inspired by Amnesia, as I stated in a post I already made, but I also was thinking about the song YELLOW by Yoh Kamiyama which I don't fully understand the meaning of, but think it is supposedly about being trapped in a false reality from some of the things I've read.

Back to Amnesia, the yellow diamond in that Visual Novel (I haven't watched the anime adaptation because they did my man Kieth dirty) is the yandere route. Which made me start to think about how often yellow is used as a color for characters with identity issues, like Sailor Venus from Sailor Moon and Amu from Sugo Chara! and led to... this mess

According to this thing I found while trying to look for the professor Yagi Tōru he has a son who is a male voice actor???? I don't have time to look this up someone else do it please.

Please check out the Yokai Guy. You can join his patreon for free, his art is lovely and he saved my sanity. I cannot read Japanese so I almost didn't bother saying anything about this because I knew I wouldn't be able to provide an academic source for it, and that's important to me as someone who has a love of history. Also he has a kick-starter up for an illustrated book of folklore, did I mention his art is lovely?

And lastly a lovely hello to @somany-fandoms-solittle-time who kindly asked to be tagged in this post (つ≧▽≦)つ I hope you liked it.

[zac-salazar-01]

Hello my fellow Tumblrsapiens it's me again

now you will learn about my original Sentai

Yojutsu Sentai Obakeranger (Yokai arts squad ghost Rangers)

Motif: Yokais, Sorcerer/exorcists, magic

It is inspired by animes such as Shaman king Yokai Watch Jujutsu Kaisen and the concept of Onmyodo (Japanese exoteric magic), among other things.

The story revolves around a young man who, upon arriving in a new city, discovers that it is haunted by terrible spirits known as Onryo but the city is defended by yojutsu shamans. Soon after saving the life of a Nekomata (cat yokai) he awakens his yokai power and becomes Obake Red, joining the team and beginning his journey to become a shaman.

The rangers are:

Obake Red: a young man obsessed with the supernatural and the occult and even though he doesn't have shaman blood he can use yojutsu techniques, this is one of the mysteries of the series

His element is fire and his yokai partner is a Nekomata (Two-Tailed Cat)

Obake blue: A serious young man and strategist and was the former leader before Red's arrival and because of this, a rivalry ends up being created between the two, he wants to honor his clan of shamans at all costs. His element is wood and his yokai partner is a tengu (raven man)

Obake yellow: The youngest on the team. Imperative and playful but he hates when people treats him like a child, his element is earth and his yokai partner is a Tsuchinoko (snake yokai)

Obake Black: Before being called by her family to be a shaman she was a sukeban (juvenile delinquent) gang leader she is the typical tomboy and doesn't like too much feminine things she is tough but deep down she has a soft heart

Her element is water and her yokai partner is a kappa

Obake White: She didn't really want to be a shaman, she actually wanted to follow her dream of being a "cosplayer idol" but her family repressed her, but among her teammates she can be herself and that's why she appears almost always with a new cosplay when he arrives on the scene. Sweet and cheerful, she is the heart of the team

Her element is metal and her yokai partner is a jorogumo (spider woman yokai)

OniSlayer: a man who renounced his shaman side who made a pact with an oni in order to take revenge he does not use spells but rather martial arts with oni energy

His color is purple, his element is darkness and his yokai partner is Shuten Douji

(I imagine his ranger suit design to be very inspired by Gosei Knight, Gaisoulg and Rio from Gekiranger)

The collectibles are Yo-Fudas, cards inspired by Ofuda talismans that are responsible for the team's spells, weapons and zords

Each ranger has their own deck of Yo-Fudas based on different yokais of their respective elements

About the mechas, I think of something a bit similar Go-Onger, Go-Buster and Goseiger, zords that are half yokai and half vehicle

Red: Nekomata/ racing car

Blue: Tengu/ fighter jet

Yellow: Tsuchinoko/ Shovel

Black: Kappa/ submarine

White: Jorogumo/ Snowmobile

OniSlayer: Oni/Tank

The main five Rangers have a shared mecha (gashadokuro/ Dekotora) that serves as the mecha main body (similar to the Korean toku Legend Hero) and can make multiple combinations

The villains are the Onryo, vengeful spirits whose mission is to resurrect their leader (Tatarigami) so they can create "hell on Earth" and take revenge on the living.

Its method of creating monsters is very similar to that of Miraculous Ladybug

They choose a human with bad feelings such as grudge and malice and incorporate an evil spirit into their body that ends up creating a monster linked to something (an object in most cases) while the monster causes chaos the possessed victim begins to perform the ritual to send his soul to Tatarigami so that he can be reborn (the ritual ends with the victim 💀 themselves)so the Rangers have to defeat the monster through exorcism (the monster also attacks people with the aim of accumulating people's negative energies to help with the ritual)

So that's it, that's my idea. Again, anyone who wants to give ideas on how to improve this story (specially about the villains) it would be greatly appreciated.

[anhilliator1]

So I've finally come up with a name for the Japanese nation idea - I'm calling it "Yamatai" and the Yamatai AU.

Part 1

Part 2

This post will aim to cover some of Yamatai's history and culture.

First: history.

Solarians first arrived in the region some time before the Turbulent era - more specifically, they were actually an early Jie kingdom expedition that ended up wildly off-course and was eventually written off as lost.

The expedition eventually ended up on a distant island chain and spread from there.

Long story short, the region was not a nice place to live at the time, due to the presence of Yokai, mutated forms of local fauna that have abnormal abilities due to repeated and extended exposure to Fusang, and are generally considered a subspecies of their parent. This includes other Solarians if needed.

There was some suspicion and prejudice at first when Solarian Yokai began to appear, but they eventually put all that aside due to the fact that a lot of the local wildlife thought they looked like lunch.

Yamatai would spend the next several centuries isolated from the rest of Penglai, so when the other kingdoms made contact with them again, the cultures between the kingdoms and Yamatai had diverged so wildly that there was even a language barrier that hindered communication, although they eventually managed to solve that.

Jie eventually tried to declare Yamatai as their territory and tried to invade. Yamatai, having none of this, promptly told Jie to get bent and kicked them out. (A massive blow to the pride of Jie, it must be mentioned.)

The Fangshi guild would eventually offer to exchange information with Yamatai. This continued up until the disbanding of the Fangshi guild.

Second: Culture

Yamatai Solarians are fiercely independent; but at the same time are also concerned with honor and personal ability, one of the last remaining pieces they have of their Jie roots.

Their original religion was some basic Animism, the same as the Jie kingdom long before the Turbulent era. The long period of isolation from the other kingdoms led to this basic belief evolving into Shintoism, and when Lear started promoting Taoism, they would adopt some traits of it, but ultimately kept to their own thing.

When it comes to Yamatai Solarians, they generally fall into one of three categories - the standard Solarian, the Oni, and the Tengu. There are others, like the Obake, but usually it's one of these three. As a sidenote, most Yamatai would consider Ji an Obake.

The Solarian Oni is a Yokai subspecies of Solarian characterized by increased muscle density, a hardy constitution, and a large pair of horns on their heads. Your average Oni is highly opinionated and couldn't care less what anyone else thinks. They're friendly enough, but they can have a short fuse.

The Solarian Tengu is another Yokai subspecies, characterized by their wings and visible root-pattern markings on their face and body. This can be unsettling for other Solarians, especially those from outside Yamatai, so they tend to wear masks to hide them. All Tengu have a deep connection to the Fusang. Their noted similarity to the people of Yumin is a coincidence.

Once again, credit to @kai7kh for giving me the inspiration.

[raphsmuneca]

Monster pt. 2 - Azrielle

• 18+ • Tmnt AU • Tmnt Bayverse • Aged 30 + • Folklore, Romance, Violence • Inspired by ROTTMNT

((I just wanna let my tumblrinas/inos know, idk where I'm going with this story, but I'll be writing in small pieces & maybe by part 4 things will make more sense.)) :) ♥️🫶🏼

𝓜𝓞𝓝𝓢𝓣𝓔𝓡 (𝓟𝓽. 2) - 𝓐𝔃𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓵𝓵𝓮

-> 𝓟𝓽. 1 𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮! <- ⬅️ Part 1

✧༺♥༻✧ ✧༺♥༻✧ ✧༺♥༻✧ ✧༺♥༻✧

There was nothing subtle about Hell’s Deviant Point.

The yokai swam and flew throughout the expanse freely, like an overgrown swarm of creepy crawlers, with their wings and horns. Some of their faces made me want to crawl back into my shell, and others, were human-like and beautiful even. Like the mistress Azrielle Cyprus...

The Boss Master, Izael, was a fourteen-hundred year old, descendant of the sea monster yokai, and now the master of this demon realm. Izael had a twin brother, Izmael; known to the humans as Satan; who was spellbound by a beautiful sorceress, which is said to be responsible for his death. Izael swore in the name of his deceased brother to protect his wee one. The little girl ended up in her uncle’s loving palms and has been with him since. Izael, himself, fathered a daughter of his own, a sweet young yokai, Izamary; the reason for our alliance with the demons and Mikey’s broken heart.

I don’t know how much of the first part is true, but Mikey’s annoying weeping | can vouch for. He was a sucker for love and of all women to walk the earth, he fell for one that didn’t even share the same dimension. But, who was I to speak...

Although, he’d rescue the demon master’s daughter, Izamary nor Azrielle, were allowed to marry outside of their own kind. But somehow, Izael didn’t seem to mind so much our nearness around the young ladies...

Or so Donnie “noted.”

“Raphael-San? Is that you?”

An older, raspy and high pitched voice pulled me out of the deep trance. I looked down to meet the face of the ancient Boss Master, Izael. The short statured demon barely reached my knees. If power was rated by height, I’d say he was as strong as a flea. Hmm...

“That’s right. Unless there’s another wise ass around?”

The elder’s laughter hurt my internal ears.

“Well, well, my son! Please do enter! You bring me silly tales of the human world, I presume?”

The antiquated demon enjoyed stupid stories, mostly that of humans. He found the human species to be “brainless, idiotic, and amusing.”

“Sorry, not tonight. I came because I have some questions, and thought maybe you could help me by answering a few of them for me.”

Izael turned his neck slightly, eyeing me up and down as he did so. Suddenly, the atmosphere in the room changed, the air felt thick, and the servants close by stiffened in their positions. The master’s silence was disquieting, delaying me of my premature inquiries. He knew something, but from my opinion, it was best to let him keep doing the talking.

“I know what you’ve come for, Raphael. Why don’t you follow me to my dojo and we can continue talking there.” He eyed his servants in distaste. “Be gone! Now!” He shooed them, hitting a few of his men with his walking stick.

“You and dad sure do have a lot in common.” That earned me an ugly frown from the old man. He and Splinter were well acquainted, but just like dad, the demon master wasn’t fond of being compared to the other. Grumpy old men. Damn, I sure as hell hope to never end up like them...

Unlike our own, this dojo presented an impeccable atmosphere, with ancient Japanese calligraphy and art adorning the washi walls of the equilateral room. The furnishings showcased a palette of neutral colors, embodying pure zen. Notwithstanding it’s seemingly more confined nature compared to our lair, this space paradoxically felt more spacious and relaxing. For a human, this was hell. For me? Leoless heaven.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate my brother. Far from it. I just wished he understood me sometimes. Fuck! I gotta stop looking around and get back to what I came here for...

Answers.

The demon master must’ve read my face, because immediately after taking his seat at the chabudai, he motioned for me to sit across from him.

“Come, Raphael-San. I have much to discuss with you.”From the deep frown on his face, I assume it’s not going to be a tete a teté among a host and his visitor. This was serious and I had an inkling the Boss Master Izael had the answers to my questions long before I decided to come here.

✧༺♥༻✧

…….

“I know I was framed, Izael! But just how the fuck am I gonna find this jerk face if I don’t know his name?”

We were less than fifteen minutes into our conversation, when the demon master claimed to know exactly who the true murderer of that innocent girl was. The flashbacks kept intruding, infuriating me more as the demon lord went on. I remember every detail…Her hand reaching out to me, pleadingly. She wasn’t supposed to be there. The blood. She was just an innocent bystander…

“She was just an innocent girl! Another foolish teen! Why was she even there?! AHHHH!!”

I smashed my fists against the wood of the chabudai. Glad I didn’t break it.

“Easy, my son. All will fall into place in due time.”

“Izael, you know I wouldn’t disrespect you like this, especially after you knighting me and my brothers and welcoming us into your realm. But, please, in the name of fuckery, give me the name of the man who drafted me into his scheme!”

There was pain in his voice as he spoke to me. I could read through the calm of his tone, and from the looks of it, this mystery wasn’t only mine to solve. Izael needed me as much as I needed him.

"The man you seek lives among your kind, but he is a full bred yokai. He disguises himself as a man. Now, you know that I cannot reach your world without penalty or suffering. I’ve been chained to this plane for many a century. There is a night crawler much like yourself, but with ill intent, that has a lead according to one of my henchmen. I didn’t bother to reach you because I knew well that you’d eventually come to me.”

A yokai that lives among my kind? A night crawler? A lead?

“Why didn’t your henchman come to me?!”

“All wealth of news that comes to my attention by one of mine in this realm must be kept here, Raphael-San. You know this. You are a Deviant Knight in this world. You know my rules, and let that be the last time you question my actions.”

The old man was becoming irate with my demanding attitude. What else was new? Keep your mouth shut, dumbass!

“Okay, old man. Just don’t micro dose the information. I’m running out of patience.”

“Very well then. The night crawler I speak of is a vampire, who goes by the name of Nico De’ Jesus. He roams on your terrain as we speak. He is as greedy as he is bloodthirsty. He is the one who has told the story of the defeated terrapin in New York City. My henchman believes to recall the name of the maker of said terrapin’s misfortune after hearing Nico’s tale.”

“So there is someone else behind all this?! I fucking knew it! Agh!”

“There is. Vice.” The old man’s eyes twitched after speaking the name.

“Vice? And why would this “Vice” fella have it out for me? I’ve never heard of the guy before now.”

“Here’s the part you might find unpleasant. He wasn’t necessarily targeting you. To be more specific, he was seeking revenge on Michelangelo. You see, he is the brother of my daughter’s late fiancé, Joker. Or as his old crew liked to call him, Ace. Ace…Joker. Such ridiculous names. Anywho, I had placed an order for his execution. An order Michelangelo took upon himself to deliver, for the sake of my daughter’s safety.”

“Mikey?!”

My chest felt heavy, making it hard to breathe. The news was overwhelming. I had been trying to uncover the enemy who wanted to harm me, but Mikey’s sudden involvement was a shock. Throughout my life, I had been the one pursued, hated, and hunted. But my younger brother had never been in the line of fire. Not Mikey. Even with all the blood on his hands, Mikey never harmed anyone who was innocent. He was the least deserving of both punishment or cruelty of any kind. It all began to make sense…

“A brother for a brother.” My voice was hushed in disbelief. It was difficult to swallow. The only thing on my mind now was Mikey’s safety. Leo. Donnie. My brothers!

“My son, while I acknowledge your anger, I must make a most unpalatable request of you. I need the bold and audacious yokai…alive.”

This is no time for making requests. The old man must be losing his senses.

“Alive?! Forgive me, Izael, but have you gone mad?!”

Izael sighed now. He seemed agitated and at the same time, spent.

“Raphael, I need him here, do you understand? It is my judgement to make. He shall be punished under my court of law!”

I guess Izael had forgotten who I was. It was one thing to hunt disobedient yokai that brought harm to this world, but for a yokai to bring chaos into my world, to my life, to my brother’s life? No one was going to stop me from ridding both worlds of that demon! No, Izael. I'm sorry my friend, but this fuck face was mine to handle, and mine alone.

“Right.”

I got up to leave, but in less than a second, the demon master held a hand on my sai, stopping me from taking my leave.

“In order to make sure you follow my rules, Raphael, I’ll be sending someone with you. I do have eyes and ears in your world, but I need a voice of reason in my stead.”

Fuck! He’s onto me. Eh, who am I kidding? I’m a crappy liar.

“And just exactly who is this “voice of reason” that you speak of? And please don’t say it’s Silver Wing.”

A smirk formed on the demon’s face. In return, I gave him one of my shit eating ones. To think he could best me. Pfft!

“No, you belligerent beast! My niece, Azrielle, will be your guide.”

It felt like a frog had been lodged in my throat. I was so mouthy before and now I was tongue-tied! I had to take a moment before the air fought it’s way back into my lungs.

“Azrielle?”

“Yes. AZRIELLE!! Come child!” Izael called his beloved niece.

Her beautiful voice sung through the hallway just a few moments later. Azrielle, the princess mermaid yokai. Azrielle, the woman that haunted my dreams and kept me up at night. Azrielle....the reason I still had hope. Izael, you clever fuck. Silver Wing’s words rung true...

In this place, I really wasn’t the only monster.

✧༺♥༻✧ ✧༺♥༻✧ ✧༺♥༻✧ ✧༺♥༻✧

@the-cauldron-witch @ninnosaurus @iridescentflamingo @ferox-imagines @sophiacloud28 @milykins @adebauchedsloth @justalotoffanfiction @thepinkpanther83 @inspiredwriter @replicasey @akari180 @iheartchv @leosgirl82 @moonlightflower21 @imthegreenfairy86 @happymoonangel @thelaundrybitch @misty-angerose

• 𝓲𝓯 𝔂𝓸𝓾'𝓭 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝓫𝓮 𝓽𝓪𝓰𝓰𝓮𝓭/𝓾𝓷𝓽𝓪𝓰𝓰𝓮𝓭 𝓵𝓶𝓴! •

𝓡𝓮𝓫𝓵𝓸𝓰𝓼 𝓞𝓷𝓵𝔂! 𝓣𝓱𝓷𝔁𝔁 🫶🏼

[wingsofsong]

Cavendish and The Little Prince

In Chapter 784 "Gear Four" Oda forestalls the reveal of Luffy's new form to emphasize he and Law as the "eye of the storm" to follow Doffy's defeat through the words of Cavendish "The Pirate Prince."

But given the implicitness of that conclusion; the scene more so exists as character building for Cavendish.

Sitting criss-cross amongst the chaos grants him a very understated character moment for Cavendish and the reader to just "be" and soak in the beauty and adventure of Dressrosa; a feeling the anime expertly captures.

Displaying concern and appreciation outside of self from a character who's core gag/drive is self-absorbenent; putting his own place on the seas into perspective.

But there's more too it.

Cavendish's archetype is that of the White Knight/Knight Errant in European lit/mythos; his epithets being a verbalization of that fact.

Dressrosa is One Piece's analogue for Spain-

Cavendish's name is English in etymology and his real world namesake "Thomas Cavendish" the privateer is partly known for his raids of Spanish ships.

He's the former prince of the Borgeoise Kingdom, hailing from Rommel where himself as Hakuba became known as their slicing winds (a Kamitachi; a Yokai in Japanese mythos) alluding to Dr.Jekyl and Mr.Hyde and Jack The Ripper as you may know, both English refrences.

His former kingdoms name shares it's etymology with Mary Geoise in the French word Borgeosie and Cavendish's aesthetics/rapier are very Musketeer/French.

His weapon/attacks are all references to European mythos/lit/plays.

-Durandal a French blade of legend

-Round Table (King Arthur)

-Blue Bird

-Biken: Zan t-Exupéry

-Precious Metal Axe

The tontattas/fairies being another tie to literature and mythos.

Given that pastiche it's notable that Oda chose Cavendish to sit in a childlike manner and note one of the two most fantastical aspects of the arc in the "dwarves" (the other being the toys).

It taps into the feelings fantasy ferments in children and the inspirations behind Oda's writing, in a land where Doflamingo has cast a cruel veneer over the settings beauty.

A recent realization on my part is on the fourth attack listed above "Biken: Zant t-Exupéry" or

"Beautiful Sword: Stardust Prince."

The attack's name coming from French novel "The Little Prince-" and it's author; a childrens novel dealing with space, a loss of imagination in adulthood, love and loss and the human experience more broadly.

The titular character being the lonely, blonde "little prince" of an asteroid where he resides and tends to his love.

A thorny, vain, rose that "The Little Prince" knows not how to love properly until they've lost each other and he learns to see the uniqueness in those he values through their worth to one another vs outside validation/being a lone rose.

Cavendish is first seen with a red rose and his attacks often have rose petals swirling around him.

He's a blonde prince, exiled from his home with his animal companion Farul (The Little Prince tames/makes a companion of a fox on his journey).

From Oda's SBS we know that he also carried roses as a child and in a cover page we see him tending to a garden of roses with Farul, his vivre card lists roses as his favorite food, making it clear that Cavendish and roses is imagery Oda is intentionally/continuously associating him with.

Knowing this all; I propose that Cavendish's character is partly inspired by The Little Prince (the novel/character) in his design, own emotional makeup having aspects of various figures in the book, and the tapping into child-like wonder described above as the Little Prince's narrator is a man at risk of losing that imagination, as multiple adults seen through the stories pages already have.

Also:

-The stars on his pants are similar to the stars on the little princes coat which is also similar to Cavendish's coat

-They both use rapiers

It makes me wonder what Cavendish's childhood was like; if there was any lonliness, whether there's anything to be said abolut the potential of "taming" Hakuba and growing in self-love/past his obsession with uniquness.

Of course there's much more to his character than a single inspriation and differences to see between him and The Little Prince but I'll definitely keep the story in mind going forward.