Comments on: Mother to Us All http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2006/10/10/mother-to-us-all/ Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:49:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Lion Kimbro http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2006/10/10/mother-to-us-all/#comment-109048 Lion Kimbro Sun, 11 May 2008 23:16:08 +0000 http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2006/10/10/mother-to-us-all/#comment-109048 My shinto priest was quite surprised (to put it lightly) that Amaterasu omikami would be conceived of as existing in the form of an animal. "This is not Shinto," was basically his message. Paraphrasing further, he basically said: "Animals are sacred life, but the hands and feet have different purpose; Amaterasu Omikami cannot be confused with an animal." She is explicitly female, and, yes, mother to us all. (Happy mother's day, Amaterasu Omikami!) My shinto priest was quite surprised (to put it lightly) that Amaterasu omikami would be conceived of as existing in the form of an animal. “This is not Shinto,” was basically his message. Paraphrasing further, he basically said: “Animals are sacred life, but the hands and feet have different purpose; Amaterasu Omikami cannot be confused with an animal.” She is explicitly female, and, yes, mother to us all.

(Happy mother’s day, Amaterasu Omikami!)

]]> By: dkh http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2006/10/10/mother-to-us-all/#comment-20959 dkh Thu, 26 Oct 2006 04:03:47 +0000 http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2006/10/10/mother-to-us-all/#comment-20959 For what it's worth, I do agree that it's refreshing to play as a female character (who is supposed to be beautiful, according to the blind dead priest and according to Shinto legend) who isn't a sex object, but the sexism in the game still irked me. Not like with Kaguya (who came from Japanese folklore, believe it or not) but with Sakuya's scantily clad form (even her original kimono for some reason exposed her ass completely) or Rao's heaving chest. It felt completely unnecessary. Personally, I'm a huge fan of Beyond Good and Evil's Jade, who's definitely sexy and the like but not in an exploitive fashion. For what it’s worth, I do agree that it’s refreshing to play as a female character (who is supposed to be beautiful, according to the blind dead priest and according to Shinto legend) who isn’t a sex object, but the sexism in the game still irked me. Not like with Kaguya (who came from Japanese folklore, believe it or not) but with Sakuya’s scantily clad form (even her original kimono for some reason exposed her ass completely) or Rao’s heaving chest. It felt completely unnecessary. Personally, I’m a huge fan of Beyond Good and Evil’s Jade, who’s definitely sexy and the like but not in an exploitive fashion.

]]> By: FerrousBuller http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2006/10/10/mother-to-us-all/#comment-20334 FerrousBuller Thu, 19 Oct 2006 20:57:29 +0000 http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2006/10/10/mother-to-us-all/#comment-20334 <i>Now I have to stop that paranoid part of me thinking my teacher had an agenda.</i> Maybe your teacher didn't realize Akihiro Miwa is a he either! :-) Oh, and Akihiro Miwa was also the voice of the Witch of the Waste in Howl's Moving Castle, so I think it's fair to say he gets cast in female speaking parts. There are also a number of times where women play male parts - and not just of young boys - so turnabout seems fair. :-) Now I have to stop that paranoid part of me thinking my teacher had an agenda.

Maybe your teacher didn’t realize Akihiro Miwa is a he either! :-)

Oh, and Akihiro Miwa was also the voice of the Witch of the Waste in Howl’s Moving Castle, so I think it’s fair to say he gets cast in female speaking parts. There are also a number of times where women play male parts - and not just of young boys - so turnabout seems fair. :-)

]]> By: Bonnie http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2006/10/10/mother-to-us-all/#comment-20325 Bonnie Thu, 19 Oct 2006 19:24:37 +0000 http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2006/10/10/mother-to-us-all/#comment-20325 <b>I've only seen the Japanese version of Mononoke hime, but I'm sure that Moro (wolf god) was dubbed with a woman's voice.</b> Just a bad call on my part? Maybe I'm thinking of the boars? I definitely remember some surprisingly gender-related voice acting casting when I watched the Japanese...? I've only seen the Japanese version of Mononoke hime, but I'm sure that Moro (wolf god) was dubbed with a woman's voice.
Just a bad call on my part? Maybe I’m thinking of the boars? I definitely remember some surprisingly gender-related voice acting casting when I watched the Japanese…?

]]> By: Mitch http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2006/10/10/mother-to-us-all/#comment-20320 Mitch Thu, 19 Oct 2006 18:44:25 +0000 http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2006/10/10/mother-to-us-all/#comment-20320 I found it interesting that, although female, Amaterasu was as transfixed by cleavage as Issun was. Maybe that's a whole new can of worms. I found it interesting that, although female, Amaterasu was as transfixed by cleavage as Issun was. Maybe that’s a whole new can of worms.

]]> By: MD² http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2006/10/10/mother-to-us-all/#comment-20117 MD² Tue, 17 Oct 2006 19:10:44 +0000 http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2006/10/10/mother-to-us-all/#comment-20117 I stand corrected. :) Though I'm shocked: my teacher had introduced Miwa to me as an elderly "chanteuse" so in my head he <i>was</i> a woman. Now I have to stop that paranoid part of me thinking my teacher had an agenda. @_@" I stand corrected. :)

Though I’m shocked: my teacher had introduced Miwa to me as an elderly “chanteuse” so in my head he was a woman. Now I have to stop that paranoid part of me thinking my teacher had an agenda. @_@”

]]> By: FerrousBuller http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2006/10/10/mother-to-us-all/#comment-20108 FerrousBuller Tue, 17 Oct 2006 17:57:31 +0000 http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2006/10/10/mother-to-us-all/#comment-20108 The original Moro was voiced by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akihiro_Miwa" rel="nofollow">Akihiro Miwa</a>, who is a drag queen. Make of that what you will. :-) That said, I'm pretty sure Moro is supposed to be a she-wolf. The original Moro was voiced by Akihiro Miwa, who is a drag queen. Make of that what you will. :-) That said, I’m pretty sure Moro is supposed to be a she-wolf.

]]> By: MD² http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2006/10/10/mother-to-us-all/#comment-20069 MD² Tue, 17 Oct 2006 01:43:33 +0000 http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2006/10/10/mother-to-us-all/#comment-20069 As pointed out in another comment (to another post, I just noticed) there <i>are</i> gender pronouns in japanese (even though we may have a long discussion about third person ones). <b>Foxes are associated with lustful/lecherous/witchy women tho.</b> Mostly but not always. I own several copies of japanese fairy tales in which foxes happen to be clearly sly devious males. They clearly are an exception (and I'd love to know if maybe a regional one) but still. This motivates partly my earlier comment about context... Moro was dubbed by an elderly woman in both japanese and french (Jeanne Moreau, amusingly). Can't remember about the english version. <b>A friend of mine compared the Slovenian to English translations of the Little Prince and was really spun out to read the Fox as a "he" - it's a feminine word in slovenian</b> We have the same problem with Discworld's Death in french, which seems to amuse Pratchett's translator to no end. :) As pointed out in another comment (to another post, I just noticed) there are gender pronouns in japanese (even though we may have a long discussion about third person ones).

Foxes are associated with lustful/lecherous/witchy women tho.

Mostly but not always. I own several copies of japanese fairy tales in which foxes happen to be clearly sly devious males. They clearly are an exception (and I’d love to know if maybe a regional one) but still. This motivates partly my earlier comment about context…

Moro was dubbed by an elderly woman in both japanese and french (Jeanne Moreau, amusingly). Can’t remember about the english version.

A friend of mine compared the Slovenian to English translations of the Little Prince and was really spun out to read the Fox as a "he" - it's a feminine word in slovenian

We have the same problem with Discworld’s Death in french, which seems to amuse Pratchett’s translator to no end. :)

]]> By: Krissy http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2006/10/10/mother-to-us-all/#comment-20067 Krissy Tue, 17 Oct 2006 01:01:21 +0000 http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2006/10/10/mother-to-us-all/#comment-20067 hello :) I've only seen the Japanese version of Mononoke hime, but I'm sure that Moro (wolf god) was dubbed with a woman's voice ... just a really strong, deep, growly woman's voice speaking in insanely archaic japanese. I think it's the same form that the wise woman spoke in at Ashitaka's village. Also, Okami sounds cool :) Does it work on Macs? (I was put off gaming in early highschool when I kept getting stuck as Princess Peach...) And re: gender pronouns for animals... I'm not sure. I can sortof speak Japanese and the thing that really bugs me is the lack of gender pronouns - I am lazy and would rather say s/he, rather than someone's name or "that person" *all the time* - so I don't know if there are animal-gender associations. (A friend of mine compared the Slovenian to English translations of the Little Prince and was really spun out to read the Fox as a "he" - it's a feminine word in slovenian). Sorry to waffle. Probably male is the default (?) but depends on context (?) Foxes are associated with lustful/lecherous/witchy women tho. Cheers, K hello :)
I’ve only seen the Japanese version of Mononoke hime, but I’m sure that Moro (wolf god) was dubbed with a woman’s voice … just a really strong, deep, growly woman’s voice speaking in insanely archaic japanese. I think it’s the same form that the wise woman spoke in at Ashitaka’s village.
Also, Okami sounds cool :) Does it work on Macs? (I was put off gaming in early highschool when I kept getting stuck as Princess Peach…)
And re: gender pronouns for animals… I’m not sure. I can sortof speak Japanese and the thing that really bugs me is the lack of gender pronouns - I am lazy and would rather say s/he, rather than someone’s name or “that person” *all the time* - so I don’t know if there are animal-gender associations. (A friend of mine compared the Slovenian to English translations of the Little Prince and was really spun out to read the Fox as a “he” - it’s a feminine word in slovenian).
Sorry to waffle. Probably male is the default (?) but depends on context (?)
Foxes are associated with lustful/lecherous/witchy women tho.
Cheers, K

]]> By: Bonnie http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2006/10/10/mother-to-us-all/#comment-20025 Bonnie Mon, 16 Oct 2006 01:21:09 +0000 http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2006/10/10/mother-to-us-all/#comment-20025 <b>In french we have the word "japoniste"</b> Ooh, classy :). In french we have the word "japoniste"
Ooh, classy :).

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