より多くのビデオゲームの沖縄 (Okinawa In More Video Games)
Click to viewOkinawa has had an influence on Japanese pop culture, with a half Okinawan character featured in a major, long running manga series (Bleach) and a handful of video games being set on the island itself. But I had no idea Okinawan culture had an impact on another one of my favorite game series of all time: Final Fantasy.
From the original Final Fantasy release in 1987, to the ninth Final Fantasy released in 2000, the series has always mixed Western high fantasy concepts with a dash of steampunk and futuristic technology. Knights ride on airships. Half human, half magical creatures ride around in giant robots that shoot out laser beams. Final Fantasy VII in particular showcased the mix of old and new particularly well, with the first part of the game taking place in a very modern looking city before opening up into a more traditional fantasy world. However, for the tenth game in the series, the designers of the project decided they wanted to head into a different direction. They looked to East Asia for inspiration, with much of the game taking place in various tropical looking locations with names that sound like they came right out of Sanskrit. The character designs, too, have a more East Asian tilt to them than in previous games. That is where Okinawa comes in to the picture.
The main protagonist of the game is named Tidus. In the Japanese version his name is Tiida. This is the Okinawan word for sun.
The other main protagonist of the game and Tidus' eventual love interest is Yuna. Her name means night in Okinawan. Her kimono also features a flower pattern typically seen on the kimonos worn by Okinawans during festivals.
Who knew?