Why Japanese Fantasy has Dungeons... and sometimes Dragons

Summary

This video explores the fascinating journey of tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) in Japan, focusing on how Western fantasy elements, especially Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), influenced Japanese fantasy culture. It highlights the creation of iconic works like *Record of Lodoss War* and *Sword World RPG*, which adapted Western gaming concepts for a Japanese audience. The video delves into how these adaptations shaped modern anime, video games, and RPGs in Japan, blending Western influences with unique Japanese ideals, creating a distinct and enduring genre. The impact of these games on Japanese pop culture continues to be felt today.

Takeaways

• 😀 TTRPGs (Tabletop Role-Playing Games) were initially introduced to Japan through science fiction culture before fantasy became popular.
• 😀 Early Japanese fantasy was influenced by Western works like *Lord of the Rings*, but had translation challenges and cultural differences.
• 😀 Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) had a rough start in Japan, being expensive, hard to find, and only available in English until 1985.
• 😀 The first Japanese translation of D&D, the red box, sold about 100,000 copies in its first year, but the transition to Advanced Dungeons & Dragons in 1991 was a financial failure.
• 😀 The *Record of Lodoss War* was a breakthrough, originating from actual-play transcripts in a computer magazine, and became a huge success in Japan.
• 😀 *Record of Lodoss War* was adapted into novels, manga, and anime, influencing the way Japanese fantasy was portrayed in media.
• 😀 *Sword World RPG* was created by Group SNE as a Japanese alternative to D&D, with unique features like six-sided dice and the concept of ‘fellows’ (NPCs for other players' games).
• 😀 Japanese values like collaboration, respect for adventurers, and helping fellow players were embedded in *Sword World RPG* and influenced future Japanese fantasy media.
• 😀 The mistranslation of kobolds and orcs in Japanese versions of D&D led to iconic designs, such as the dog-like kobolds and pig-like orcs in Japanese media.
• 😀 Japanese fantasy grew into its own distinct genre, combining Western influences with Japanese gameplay mechanics and cultural sensibilities, especially in JRPGs and anime.
• 😀 The legacy of TTRPGs in Japan continues to shape fantasy media, with games like *Dragon Quest* and *Final Fantasy* adopting RPG mechanics, party systems, and class structures.

Q & A

Why does Japanese fantasy often appear more European than Japanese in style?

Japanese fantasy often appears more European due to its strong influences from Western fantasy, particularly from works like *Lord of the Rings* and *Dungeons & Dragons*. These Western elements shaped the aesthetic and tropes of Japanese fantasy, even though it was adapted to fit Japanese culture.

How did Japanese geek culture initially differ from Western geek culture in terms of genre focus?

Japanese geek culture initially focused more on science fiction rather than fantasy. Popular science fiction works like *Godzilla* and *Astro Boy* were key to the development of the genre, whereas fantasy, particularly in the form of tabletop RPGs like Dungeons & Dragons, took a later role in Japan.

What challenges did Dungeons & Dragons face when trying to enter the Japanese market?

Dungeons & Dragons faced several challenges in Japan, including language barriers, high cost, and differences in book formats. The original English version was large, hardcover, and expensive, and D&D was initially only available in English, making it less accessible to the general public.

What was the significance of *Record of Lodoss War* in the development of Japanese fantasy?

*Record of Lodoss War* became significant because it introduced a Japanese audience to the concept of tabletop RPGs through serialized 'actual play' sessions. These sessions were adapted into a successful novel and anime, laying the foundation for modern Japanese fantasy and RPG culture.

How did the Japanese adaptation of *Dungeons & Dragons* differ from the original Western version?

The Japanese adaptation of *Dungeons & Dragons* differed in several ways, including the translation of the rules into smaller paperback 'bunko' editions, the use of manga-style illustrations, and a shift in the format to make the game more accessible to Japanese players, even those unfamiliar with the original D&D system.

What was the cultural impact of *Record of Lodoss War* in Japan?

*Record of Lodoss War* had a massive cultural impact in Japan, becoming one of the first major fantasy franchises. It popularized RPG concepts such as adventurer guilds, party-based quests, and dungeon exploration, which later influenced Japanese video games, anime, and light novels.

What unique feature of the *Sword World RPG* set it apart from other RPG systems?

A unique feature of *Sword World RPG* was the introduction of 'fellows'—non-playable characters (NPCs) created by players to assist others in their games. These fellows could not die and were designed to enrich the gameplay experience while reflecting Japanese cultural values of cooperation and mutual respect among players.

How did Japanese values influence the design of *Sword World RPG*?

Japanese values like cooperation, respect for fellow adventurers, and helping others in need were deeply embedded in the design of *Sword World RPG*. For example, fighting between adventurers was taboo, and players were encouraged to help fallen adventurers by bringing their bodies back home, reflecting a collective mindset.

What impact did *Sword World RPG* have on Japanese fantasy games and media?

*Sword World RPG* had a lasting impact on Japanese fantasy games and media by helping to establish a culturally specific approach to RPG mechanics. Its influence can be seen in many subsequent Japanese fantasy games, where the focus is often on teamwork, moral decisions, and supportive gameplay rather than just combat.

How did mistranslations in early Japanese RPGs affect the depiction of creatures like kobolds and orcs?

Mistranslations in early Japanese RPGs led to significant changes in the design of creatures like kobolds and orcs. For example, kobolds were mistakenly described as 'dog persons,' which led to their iconic dog-like design in Japanese media. Similarly, orcs were translated as pig-like creatures, which became the standard depiction in Japanese fantasy.