Hoshizora no Memoria and the Value of Tradition

While video games have many capacities for both entertainment and supplying the gamer with new perspectives, the ability of video games to depict tradition is especially compelling.  One famous example is Okami, which tracks the Shinto goddess Amaterasu. Another game rising in prominence is Never Alone, which displays Inuit culture. The game I am writing about, Hoshizora no Memoria, does not focus on tradition explicitly but shows its role in modern life. In particular, Hoshizora frames tradition through a few of its characters who are intimately tied with traditional life – in particular these characters are tied to the Seitenguu shrine near Hibaragasaki, the town that is the setting for most of the game. These themes regarding tradition are best depicted by Komomo Hisakaki’s Shinto performance (as shown below). Specifically, Hoshizora no Memoria displays the importance tradition can play in lives in addition to its role in a modernized world.

Figure 1. Komomo Hisakaki performing the Kagura Dance with a naginata.

Clad in elaborate dancing costume and with her eyes closed, Hisakaki dances elegantly with a spear, called a naginata, which symbolizes cloth to be weaved. This act is called the Kagura Dance, reflecting local ancient tradition – its purpose: to exercise insidious spirits through bodily expression.Throughout, she has a serene expression, creating a mystical atmosphere, Given Komomo’s role in drawing in spirits and appeasing them before their release, her attitude is appropriate. She must maintain this state of mind to tackle these spirits; otherwise, they would be far too evasive. Her movements vary from violent to calm, reflecting her engaging these spirits. Traditional music plays in parallel to the stirring performance, adding to the feel of authenticity.

Asides from being cool, the performance conveys Japanese tradition succinctly and in a very visual manner. At the same time, Komomo is enhanced as a character from beyond textbook tsunderedom. This performance transforms Shinto tradition into a powerful feat of nature deserving awe, which is well-equated with how ancient cultures usually regard nature. 

Despite holding a heavy weapon, Komomo deftly maneuvers – in this instance, she seems powerful and dexterous to a degree surpassing most other humans. Her level of preparation, combined with the aforementioned strength and capability, suggest the importance tradition plays in her life. A duality exists between the expectation that Komomo is ready for her role following years of practice and the reality that she exists outside of this traditional world; after all, she is not a shrine maiden when she goes to school. That other identity still plays a role in her life, especially based on the game’s musing that perhaps she has keen supernatural powers even outside of the shrine. Through showing a Shinto shrine maiden exorcising spirits, Hoshizora demonstrates both the value and shifted role of tradition in modern times. In the process, Japanese tradition is both praised and questioned in a nuanced manner. Similar to the Eskimo game mentioned earlier, this game serves to preserve cultural tradition in a unique manner. These cultures long predate recorded media and their inclusion in games must involve some form of transformation. Then, the goal is not simply preserving tradition from the forces of modernization and globalization but also displaying its unique value through manipulation of various media. In particular, ancient culture is instructive in manners separate but linked to modern culture, so its importance should be emphasized. One important theme that comes from the cultures of the Inuits, Native Americans, the Japanese, and other groups (especially non-white ones) is the value of coinciding with nature. Again, Komomo’s shrine maiden performance highlights this fact. Furthermore, such endeavors are worthwhile because studying other cultures is on its own quite cool. As a result, introducing traditional culture into video games is quite far from blasphemy if performed well. That is why, in part, Okami resonated with me.