Category Archives: Japan

Skipping Through Time

Posted on February 23, 2023 by Nathan

Live A Live – This game was originally released by Square in 1994, and was directed by Takashi Tokita, who was the lead designer on Final Fantasy IV and later directed Chrono Trigger. Like the latter game, this is an RPG … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, China, Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy, History, Humor, Japan, Language, Magic, Monsters, Music, Names, Relationships, Video Games | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Sins of Silver Island

Posted on June 23, 2021 by Nathan

The Royal Book of Oz, by Ruth Plumly Thompson – I’d gotten into the habit a few years ago of starting to reread the hundredth-anniversary Oz book around L. Frank Baum’s birthday, 15 May. Since the last one was published … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Book Reviews, Characters, Families, History, Humor, Japan, L. Frank Baum, Language, Magic, Magic Items, Oz, Oz Authors, Places, Prejudice, Ruth Plumly Thompson | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Satan vs. Godzilla

Posted on July 12, 2020 by Nathan

Hail Satan? – The decision to watch this on Friday wasn’t actually related to the fact that I recently wrote about Satanic panic and Satanic messages, although it was a fortuitous coincidence. Beth had been wanting to watch this for … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Christianity, History, Humor, Japan, Monsters, Politics, Prejudice, Religion, Satanism, Science, Technology, VoVat Goes to the Movies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Gotta Nuke Something

Posted on February 16, 2018 by Nathan

It seems that the Trump administration is determined to bring back the Cold War and its arms race, only this time they’re on the same side as Russia. Or are they? I’ve been trying to get through my old e-mail, … Continue reading →

Posted in Cartoons, Cold War, Current Events, History, Japan, Politics, Popeye, Prejudice | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Earth to Erdrick

Posted on March 18, 2015 by Nathan

I’ve mentioned before how the world of Dragon Quest III is modeled on our own Earth, although there are some strange differences. One of them is the lost continent of Aliahan, although that presumably refers to legends of Atlantis and … Continue reading →

Posted in Age of Exploration, Colonization of America, Dragon Quest, History, Japan, Roman Empire, Video Games | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Suck It, Gilgamesh!

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Nathan

I’ve written many times about the references in video games to classical mythology, but I don’t think I’ve yet given Gilgamesh, as he appears in the Final Fantasy series, his own post. The source of his name is obviously the … Continue reading →

Posted in Babylonian, Cartoons, Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy, Futurama, History, Humor, Japan, Japanese, Mythology, Semitic, Super Mario Bros. Super Show, Television, Video Games | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Marvels of the Modern Mushroom Age

Posted on December 12, 2014 by Nathan

I find the idea of Schizo Tech in fictional worlds to be pretty interesting. Of course, not all societies develop technology at the same rate. There could be a reason why a place has cars and not guns, or vice … Continue reading →

Posted in Authors, Cartoons, Dick Martin, Discworld, Dragon Quest, History, Japan, John R. Neill, L. Frank Baum, Magic, Magic Items, Mario, Oz, Oz Authors, Super Mario Bros. Super Show, Technology, Television, Terry Pratchett, Video Games | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Swords So Leisured

Posted on April 7, 2011 by Nathan

While the Final Fantasy games each have their own worlds and storylines, there are some common elements throughout the series, including the names of certain items. I believe every game in the series so far has a sword called the … Continue reading →

Posted in Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy, Historical Personages, History, Japan, Japanese, Mythology, Video Games | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments