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THE HISTORICAL BACKDROP BEHIND DAI GYAKUTEN SAIBAN
A heavily condensed rundown of Japanese history relevant to understanding DGS, which I very strongly urge you to read if you donât have basic passing knowledge of the Meiji era
(banner by @/grandreturn)
DGS incorporates its historical setting strongly into the story. Itâs playable without knowing the history, but that easily causes misinterpretation and misunderstanding. Most western fans donât know that history, and I donât expect anyone to.
This thread is intended to be a very brief rundown of the historical background for DGS. Iâve included Wikipedia links as some further reading. If youâre interested in learning more, Iâd highly suggest looking up scholarly resources.
Japan signed several unequal treaties with Western powers in the mid-19th century. This was to avoid military aggression from Western powers, which had happened to Qing China. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unequal_treaty#Japan
Japan began to Westernize. Government, industry, education, economy, and more took on Western systems (including colonization). Japanese students studied in Britain and the US, and Western scholars were invited to Japan to teach. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meiji_(era)
âDe-Asianificationâ was a concept that was pushed, distancing Japan from China and Korea. Proponents claimed that Japan needed to be more like the West and less like itâs Asian neighbors, who were being colonized because of their supposed âbackwards-nessâ. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meiji_(era)#Society
Japan would later win the First Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese Wars. This increased Japanâs territories and proved Japanâs position as an imperial power in the eyes of the West.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Sino-Japanese_War https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Japanese_War
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Sino-Japanese_War https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Japanese_War
Japan was expanding prior to the Meiji era, but it increased significantly in this time. The Ryukyuan Kingdom (1879), Taiwan (1895), Korea (1910), and many others became colonies of Japan. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_relations_of_Meiji_Japan#Overseas_expansion
Taiwan and Korea remained colonies of Japan until 1945, surrendered as a result of losing WWII. The Ryukyuan Kingdom was organized into Okinawa prefecture and part of Kagoshima prefecture upon its official annexation, as it still is today.
To wrap all of that up, two important points emerge: Britain and other Western powers had interest in exploiting Japan through imperialism, and Japan reacted to that threat by also becoming a Western-style imperial power and exploiting others.
Regarding the Rising Sun design: While historically accurate for DGS, it is heavily linked to Japanâs imperialism and violence in WWII by its victims, direct and indirect. Donât make or retweet fanart with the Rising Sun in it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rising_Sun_Flag#Controversy
One more point worth mentioning: Natsume Souseki was a) a real person, b) Japanâs first Japanese scholar of English literature, c) very influential on Japanese literature, and d) actually very unhappy during his time in London. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natsume_S%C5%8Dseki
Also, "Wagahai Wa Neko Dearu", which Wagahai is named after, is a series of satire short stories on Western culture and Japanese society during the Meiji era. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Am_a_Cat
For those questioning why I wrote this: Iâm a mixed Japanese/indigenous Uchinanchu (Okinawan) American. I take it very seriously as both a Yamato Japanese and indigenous Uchinanchu person to make sure that this history isnât misunderstood and/or misconstrued.
OKAY so this thread has gotten LOTS of attention and Iâm incredibly thankful to everyone who rtâd it! Unfortunately itâs also made my notifs impossible to navigate so Iâll be muting this thread. If you have comments or questions feel free to dm me!
I usually have a âplease donât dm me if youâre under 16â rule but Iâm ok with getting messages as long as theyâre questions related to this thread
(Iâm also a curious bastard so Iâll probably come check this thread from time to time for comments lol, it just might take some time for me to get back to you if thatâs the case!)
HASTY ADDITION ABT CHUUNOSUKE:
- rats/mice/other vermin were associated with JP people in US WWII propaganda
- there is nothing inherently wrong with Chuunosuke since Nuri designed him but BE MINDFUL WHEN DEPICTING HIM
- do NOT show him caught in mouse traps
- that is VERY racist
- rats/mice/other vermin were associated with JP people in US WWII propaganda
- there is nothing inherently wrong with Chuunosuke since Nuri designed him but BE MINDFUL WHEN DEPICTING HIM
- do NOT show him caught in mouse traps
- that is VERY racist
Caveat to the above: NO, this does NOT apply the same way to Japanese artists, do not go accusing them of being racist against themselves for imagery they might not know even existed
One more addition: quit making jokes about characters being racist if youâre white. Itâs not funny to constantly joke about how funny it is that someone is a cringe racist or something. POC express their frustration using humor, but you sound like you think racism is a joke
Also if I see one more tweet about how [spoiler character] is a cop (theyâre not) and joking about them committing police brutality, Iâm going to fucking snap
[unrelated to the thread topic, but the artist for the threadâs art changed @âs and is now at @/snomnium]
