/jp/ - Otaku Culture

>>20341512
I'm not too sure about other creators but ZUN said himself that he loves gothic Western literature. Especially the works of Agatha Christie. The Japanese are generally more well educated than the rest of the world.
>>20332976
Let me correct something on my old post, Eiki's Rod of Remorse only has one character on it (it seems). 罪 (which means crime). This makes sense because yama right notes on their shaku about what crimes/sins a person has committed in their lifetime. The other symbols seems to be nonsense or, maybe, hyper stylized kanji that I can't identify. Also, her theme begins very similar to "The Legend of KAGE" from HRtP (possibly because Sariel is an angel of death, connecting her to shinigami and thus yama). The title of that track from HRtP references "The Legend of Kage (影の伝説)", and old game by Taito. While making PoFV ZUN was still working at Taito, so it's probably more than likely a reference to the game. What's even more is that another music track from The Legend of Kage seems to be referenced in Eiki's theme. And Touhou's main theme as a whole ("Theme of Eastern Story") seems to come from the The Legend of Kage as well.
>Legend of Kage Opening vs. Theme of Eastern Story
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irQP1DG0N3w
(and literally any Touhou title screen theme from EoSD onwards)
>The Legend of KAGE vs. Fate of Sixty Years
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lteQTEAUO8E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Csv5j92woHk
>Legend of Kage Rescue Attempt vs. Fate of Sixty Years
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXXgaXk-B9g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Csv5j92woHk (0:50 mark)
It seems ZUN really loved that game or had fond memories of it. He probably associates it with Japanese culture on a deep level. After all, on his comments in Eiki's theme he says he had "Japan + Rebirth + Country of Cherry Blossoms" in mind when creating the theme. Rebirth obviously refers to samsara (the cycle of reincarnation) that occurs when you die and are either reborn into hell or another realm. The yama oversee this cycle. Japan because, remember, the theme references WWII (as I explained in a previous post) and because I suppose ZUN wanted a very eastern feel to it ("Touhou" is literally in the title). "Country of Cherry Blossoms (桜の国)" was a manga released between 2003 and 2004. It told the story of a family who survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. On another note "Shiki", as you may remember, literally means "four seasons". In The Legend of Kage, the stages switch between the various seasons. Also, something I forgot to mention about the sixty year cycle was that the ancient Chinese/Japanese thought it was important because it's the product of 3x4x5 (=60). 3 stands for the three lights (sun, moon, stars), 4 stands for the four seasons (winter, spring, summer, autumn), and 5 stands for the five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, water). In the end, ZUN probably has some special soft spot for The Legend of Kage and he probably thinks it's the game with the most quintessential "eastern (touhou)" feel. ZUN says in the Seasonal Dream Vision CD that Fate of Sixty years is his most "Touhou-like" song. He also says that it's "...a song that is fitting for a one-year gap. The story is like that too". 3x4 (=12) in 3x4x5 (=60) represents the 12 months (one year). Since flowers of every season are blooming during PoFV it could be said that the game (and by extension, Eiki Shiki because Shiki means four seasons) is a celebration of the whole year. Which makes sense since PoFV, as I've said earlier, was 60 years after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Surrender of Japan (which led to the Tokyo Tribunal, which is referenced in Sixty Year's Title as I've analyzed previously). All of this coincides with the sixty year cycle the ancient Chinese and Japanese held in such high regards. ZUN is brilliant.