Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4: Nice Watermelons

Persona 4 is a game deeply steeped in Japanese culture. I was surprised to see that Atlus left the game alone in this regard, expecting that their fans would appreciate the game straying as little as possible from the original.  By playing the game I have become a bit nostalgic for my time in Japan and thought I would explain some of the elements of the game’s cultural references.

Kotatsu:  The other heat

When winter in Persona 4 sets in, Nanako demands that the kotatsu be pulled out.  The protagonist obliges only to find it non-operational.  Why is this enough to make a high school boy cry?

In Japan, most homes are not heated the way they are in America.  In the absence of burning fossil fuels, many electric alternatives are utilized.  They generally affect a small area rather than an entire home and are only used when necessary–if no one is home, heating devices are turned off.  This system is primarily for the purpose of conserving energy.

The kotatsu is a very common form of the type of heating I just described.  A small electric heater is placed under a folding table and a blanket then placed over the table.  Chilly individuals may lift up a portion of the blanket and sit with the blanket in their lap, keeping the lower portion of the body quite toasty.  It is also common for a basket of mikan (kind of like a mandarin orange) to be placed on the surface of the table and consumed by anyone who gathers ’round.

Watermelon: Fire and Ice

NG5 actually asked me about this one.  When the protagonist and his friends share a watermelon, Yosuke mentions that he wishes they could be eating it on the beach.

Summer in Japan is all about the beach.  But similar to kotatsu, a fruit companion is a must for this season activity: ice cold watermelon.  Nothing beats the heat like crisp, cold watermelon consumed in the sun by the roaring ocean.  If a trip to the ocean isn’t possible, watermelon consumption on its own is acceptable as a Summer tradition.

Seasonal imagery is important to Japan when it comes to evoking emotions or nostalgia.  This can be seen in the use of kigo in haiku, or something more simple like video game characters enjoying watermelon.

Culture Festivals:  More fun than detention

About halfway through the school year, the protagonist’s homeroom votes on what they should do for their cultural festival.

In both high school and college, students may be required to partake in a school-wide cultural fair.  While the fair itself may last for only 1-2 days, the preparation leading up to is considerably longer and very apparent.  The school itself is transformed into a festival of individual booths which sell festival foodstuffs, offer games, or highlight a clubs accomplishments.  The fair is also a chance for students to meet others with similar interests who may not be in their homerooms.

Junes: Everyday young life

Everyone’s favorite place to work, shop and vacation in Persona 4 has got to be Junes.

In Japan there are two kinds of businesses:  small, locally run shops, and gargantuan all-inclusive depaato, or department stores.  When I say all inclusive, I mean you can purchase a sack of fruit, a big screen TV and a pair of jeans.  Junes, while a fictional depaato, is definitely based off actual department stores throughout the country.  As these business move into rural areas like fictional Inaba, smaller family run businesses such as Konishi liquors  feel the effects.

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