Read on TwitterA heavily condensed rundown of Japanese history relevant to understanding DGS, which I very strongly urge you to read if you donāt have basic passing knowledge of the Meiji era
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THE HISTORICAL BACKDROP BEHIND DAI GYAKUTEN SAIBANhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="š¬š§" title="Flagge des Vereinigten Kƶnigreiches" aria-label="Emoji: Flagge des Vereinigten Kƶnigreiches">A heavily condensed rundown of Japanese history relevant to understanding DGS, which I very strongly urge you to read if you donāt have basic passing knowledge of the Meiji era(banner by @/grandreturn)" title="https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="šÆšµ" title="Flagge von Japan" aria-label="Emoji: Flagge von Japan">THE HISTORICAL BACKDROP BEHIND DAI GYAKUTEN SAIBANhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="š¬š§" title="Flagge des Vereinigten Kƶnigreiches" aria-label="Emoji: Flagge des Vereinigten Kƶnigreiches">A heavily condensed rundown of Japanese history relevant to understanding DGS, which I very strongly urge you to read if you donāt have basic passing knowledge of the Meiji era(banner by @/grandreturn)" class="img-responsive" style="max-width:100%;"/>
DGS incorporates its historical setting strongly into the story. Itās playable without knowing the history, but that easily causes misinterpretation and misunderstanding. Most western fans donāt know that history, and I donāt expect anyone to.
This thread is intended to be a very brief rundown of the historical background for DGS. Iāve included Wikipedia links as some further reading. If youāre interested in learning more, Iād 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. #Japan">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unequal_treaty #Japan">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uneq...
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)">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meij...
āDe-Asianificationā 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 itās Asian neighbors, who were being colonized because of their supposed ābackwards-nessā. #Society">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meiji_(era) #Society">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meij...
Japan would later win the First Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese Wars. This increased Japanās territories and proved Japanās 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/Firs... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Japanese_War">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Sino-Japanese_War">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firs... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Japanese_War">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russ...
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. #Overseas_expansion">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_relations_of_Meiji_Japan #Overseas_expansion">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fore...
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 Japanās imperialism and violence in WWII by its victims, direct and indirect. Donāt make or retweet fanart with the Rising Sun in it. #Controversy">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rising_Sun_Flag #Controversy">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risi...
One more point worth mentioning: Natsume Souseki was a) a real person, b) Japanās 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">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nats...
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 ">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Am...
For those questioning why I wrote this: Iām 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 isnāt misunderstood and/or misconstrued.
OKAY so this thread has gotten LOTS of attention and Iām incredibly thankful to everyone who rtād it! Unfortunately itās also made my notifs impossible to navigate so Iāll be muting this thread. If you have comments or questions feel free to dm me!
I usually have a āplease donāt dm me if youāre under 16ā rule but Iām ok with getting messages as long as theyāre questions related to this thread
(Iām also a curious bastard so Iāll 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 thatās 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 youāre white. Itās 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 (theyāre not) and joking about them committing police brutality, Iām going to fucking snap
[unrelated to the thread topic, but the artist for the threadās art changed @ās and is now at @/snomnium]
