Japan is a country that can conjure many images in the mind. From cherry blossom-filled parks to Samurai drawing their swords, from towering skyscrapers of futuristic cities to traditional tea ceremonies. As a resident, even my own thoughts are often filled with these cliches, and they often stray back to sushi (especially if it’s lunchtime).
However, with recent world events making outdoor activities slightly less appealing, many people (myself included) have been playing more video games. This recent reconnection with gaming has emphasized how many of the virtual worlds we inhabit in our living rooms can be traced back to Japan.
From the very first incarnations of video games to today’s cinematic masterpieces, so many games have their roots in the spiritual home of gaming. Sometimes this is an obvious link, but on other occasions, the games we play give more subtle clues.
These are some of the most memorable games to have their roots (both subtly and unsubtly) in the Land of the Rising Sun.
Tenchu (1998)
‘Live by honor, kill by stealth’ exclaims the tagline of this late ‘90s ninja tale. The game, first released on the PlayStation, was a gleefully violent romp through medieval Japan. The player can choose whether to play as the earnest and slightly preachy Rikimaru or the sassy Ayame as they take on and cut down all manner of enemies.
What is interesting about it is how much is based on the chaotic period of Japanese history known as the ‘Sengoku jidai’ where various clans fought for control over the islands. It was a time of violence and mystery, an atmosphere that the game does an excellent job of capturing even upon replaying.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (2019)
Very much a spiritual successor to the Tenchu series, this game is like playing through Tenchu if it was happening in an upside-down Stranger Things version of medieval Japan. What this means is that the enemies are more fearsome, surreal, and scary.
So many of the game’s monsters trace back to its Japanese lineage. The world’s vengeful spirits are directly lifted from tales of Japanese folklore.
Tekken and Street Fighter series (1992 – present)
Ok, so this is a big one (technically two). Less game series and more genre-defining movements. Street Fighter and Tekken games are so entrenched in culture today that they barely need any kind of introduction. So popular are they that there are regular professional tournaments held in esports arenas where the top players can do battle.
Technically, both games take place across the world as players globe trot in search of their next challenger. The fighters all have their own fighting styles and special moves. This is another hallmark of where Japan has been a trailblazer in the beat-’em-up genre.
However, what makes them both uniquely Japanese is not just the martial arts aspects but the quirky attention to detail and beautifully rendered combat arenas. Even as far back as Street Fighter 2, the bathhouse arena where the characters do battle in front of two big ‘sento’ baths complete with an Ukiyo-e style tile mosaic on the wall behind is an example of being very accurate to reality, even with the technological limitations of the time.
With the Tekken series, players have the chance to do battle with friend and foe once again across a variety of different countries. Like the Street Fighter series, the incredible attention to detail for each of the fighting arenas is staggering and has only improved with the technological advances as the series has progressed. However, the soundtrack also has the ability to conjure up Japan from the ether. Right from the earliest incarnations of the series, the beats and tempo have a uniquely synthy and futuristic feel that gives the games a strong Japanese pop culture vibe.
Final Fantasy series (1987 – present)
Japan has a great tradition of making some of the most immersive and time-draining fantasy RPGs in the gaming world (so much so that these even have their own acronym – JRPGs).
Nowhere is this seen more than with the gold standard of Japanese RPGs, the Final Fantasy series. Many of these games have links to Japan and Japanese life, from the Ghibli-esque splendor of Final Fantasy IX to the morality of big corporations in Final Fantasy VII and even the coming-of-age style adventures of Final Fantasy XV.
For me, however, it was Final Fantasy VIII that resonated most. Having relocated to Japan since first playing the game as a teenager, I have come to realize how much the game takes from the Japanese experience of high school (although with fewer monsters). Right from the clothes characters wear in the game to the way the game’s protagonists relate to their school as they go through their journey in a way that many real-life high schoolers do today. The bond that Japanese students have with their high school is something of great importance, and that continues long after they have left.
Yakuza 0 (2015)
As a long-term resident of Tokyo, the Yakuza series has been absolutely jaw-dropping in the accuracy it takes in portraying the Japanese capital. A walk through Tokyo’s Shinjuku district has the same crowded streets, restaurants and food vendors, and rowdy salarymen pouting out of late-night bars, all set underneath the same retina-burning neon lights (although unlike the game there are usually fewer gang brawls).
However, it is not just the stunningly rendered streets of Kamurocho (a wafer-thinly veiled version of the real neighborhood of Kabukicho) but it is also some of the fantastic mini-games and side quests that the player can experience.
The mini-games that the player can enjoy vary from hitting some baseballs at the batting cages, hitting golf balls, playing darts, or even disco dancing. There are some that are so unique to Japan that Yakuza’s authenticity really is second to none. Karaoke is always a favorite, but the mini-game where you run a hostess club is something that could only have been developed for the Yakuza game series.
Ghost of Tsushima (2020)
Last but not least is a game that was in fact developed by a non-Japanese studio, Sucker Punch. The developer clearly has a deep understanding of Japan, its landscape, and its culture.
Ghost of Tsushima is a love letter to the country it is based in. The island of Tsushima lovingly crafted with each detail looking as though it could be a frame from a Kurosawa movie. It is no surprise that Sucker Punch recently also released a ‘Director’s Cut’ version of the game.
The game tells the story of a samurai fighting against the Mongol occupation of Tsushima Island during the time of the Mongol invasions. Whilst this is exciting itself, the world the game inhabits is truly breathtaking. Gentle meadows, rugged coasts, and dense, serene forests give you a backdrop that is as true to real-life Tsushima as possible.
In 2019, Japan welcomed a record number of tourists to her shores. Unfortunately, we then faced the pandemic and many counties closed their borders to international travel. Whilst many have now reopened, Japan is still not quite back to pre-pandemic openness.
These games have then been an amazing portal back to the Land of the Rising Sun for those who have been unable to travel themselves and what better way to enjoy some of the weird and wonderful aspects of this fascinating country than sitting at home with a controller in your hand.
Written by James Krick on beahlf of GLHF.
