Lifestyle And Culture: Japan

On Velvet Room MUSH, we all have to be mindful of the fact that the majority of us live within contemporary Western cultures. Thus, when we play JRPGs from the Persona series, we have to understand that despite it being localized, we are not the game's target demographic. This section is meant to offer more information about the history, lifestyle, and culture of Japan for us to consider while we're writing about the day-to-day lives of our characters.

When we're trying to emulate the culture by writing it in roleplay, it becomes more challenging, because we're also writing from that Western perspective. No one is expected to perfectly understand the culture when playing here, but our goals in writing it should include not only fun and verisimilitude but also respect.

There are going to be many elements of the story that fall flat for us, but are deeply meaningful to Japanese gamers. There will be moments that are deeply moving to us, but controversial to an extreme for them. Our favorite characters may not be well received there, and our least favorite may be incredibly popular. There's just going to be context we miss because we're not immersed in their culture. This is okay! We enjoy what we enjoy, and that Western lens is our viewpoint for how we engage with that narrative.

Disclaimer: The author of this section is not written by a historian nor a member of any involved ethnic groups, and by necessity the section is heavily simplified. The staff of Velvet Room MUSH is not attempting to pass judgment, only to acknowledge the below for information purposes.

• Honorifics - A brief guide to why calling Kirijo-senpai simply "Mitsuru" might just get you executed.

• A Very Brief History - Take better notes than these if you want to impress a man wearing a kabuto helmet.

• Native Cultures - Information on the Ainu and Ryukyuan people.

• Cultural Attitudes - Values and issues that shape the daily lives of our characters in Japan.

• Family Registry - On the koseki system, its place in Japanese society, and the criticisms thereof.

• Foreigners - Before the culture shock reduces you to a sad barker befriending stray cats on Central Street, read here!

• Gender Roles And Norms - When being a man, woman, or neither does factor into it.

• LGBTQIA+ Issues - When everyone has hammers, why some characters might look like a nail.

• Religion - When you need to teach your bearie good friend how to behave at a shrine.

• School Life - Information about juggling an intensive school schedule when you just want to be close.

• Law and Order - I think I heard about these issues in Ace Attorney once.

• Holidays - Do we get Golden Week off from school? And other less important questions.