I've been keeping my eye on Ghost of Yōtei seeing as it's set in (or based on?) a historical time period in Hokkaido (then called Ezo). Though so far from the marketing it seems they're going down the same colonial Wajin narrative of "dangerous, untamed and barren". Still no sign of anything Ainu. - ThreadSky

kaihat.su • 1 day ago

I've been keeping my eye on Ghost of Yōtei seeing as it's set in (or based on?) a historical time period in Hokkaido (then called Ezo).
Though so far from the marketing it seems they're going down the same colonial Wajin narrative of "dangerous, untamed and barren".
Still no sign of anything Ainu.

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kaihat.su•1 day ago

The recognition that Yōtei was indeed outside of Wajin control at the time is something that I wasn't sure I'd see to begin with.
Of course people did go north to disappear into the Ezochi (Ainu lands). Many people were also forced north by conflict, or were sent there as punishment.

kaihat.su•1 day ago

Though focus is often put on the period following the Meiji restoration when colonization of Hokkaido was systematized with Western influences, a quote from a play written around the time of the Muromachi Period illustrates how Wajin views of Hokkaido had been developing long before:

kaihat.su•1 day ago

Also I'm sure this looks pretty in-game but it's also completely unrealistic. The aurora never appears like this in Hokkaido (only ever as a faint glow in very rare circumstances).
And as far as I know the Ainu language has no word for aurora which is an indicator that they never saw it like this.

kaihat.su•1 day ago

I ran out of characters so here have an image instead with some more thoughts.

I've already written about Ainu in media with a focus on games, but that was before this game was even announced. Maybe I need to write something about this too when it releases.

inoshishiudon.bsky.social•1 day ago

I think a large part of its popularity is due to it's extreme revisionism

kaihat.su•1 day ago

I don't know if most have been following it that closely, but certainly the fact it's heavily leaning into romanticised notions of "feudal Japan" is something which may lead to issues.
Yet to hear if they're going to claim historical accuracy/authenticity or that it's "historical fiction"

inoshishiudon.bsky.social•1 day ago

I mean they also claimed to draw from Kurosawa films but did nothing but honor the "noble samurai" uncritically. It seems they appeal is the flattening romanticizing

kaihat.su•1 day ago

I don't think they were ever going to take any sort of critical position. When a game such as Tsūshima talks about being a "love letter" then it usually is uncritical in its portrayal of the subject matter. I assume Yōtei will be similar.

kaihat.su•1 day ago

As it's developed by non-Japanese for a primarily non-Japanese audience the way they approach this will be more uncritical because of the lens though which foreigners consume Japanese culture.
Japanese creators also have a habit of not being able to reflect on Hokkaido's history for other reasons.

inoshishiudon.bsky.social•1 day ago

I dont really agree with the first part. I think that's an excuse that is used but in my experience I think many foreigners exam japanese culture deeper than many Japanese people. Unburded by expectation and all that.

inoshishiudon.bsky.social•1 day ago

Which leads us to Ainu erasure. They talked about a lot of things with Ghost but the love letter gave us a rather embarrassing near propaganda piece

kaihat.su•1 day ago

We'll have to see if they completely omit any Ainu presence or if they will take a route similar to other Japanese media where they're present but portrayed as passive actors with little agency.
A propaganda piece, which will regardless be critically acclaimed and viewed positively by the majority.

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