How Japanese Religion Influenced Pokémon

Most people know that Pokémon is a Japanese video game, but did you know that many Pokémon designs were influenced by Japanese religion, mythology, and folklore? If you look closely, you can see Shintoism and Buddhism throughout the entire franchise.

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Bibliography:
Karen Ann Smyers (1999). The Fox and the Jewel: Shared and Private Meanings in Contemporary Japanese Inari Worship. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.

Michael Dylan Foster, "The Book of Yokai: Mysterious Creatures of Japanese Folklore, " 2015

Michael Dylan Foster, "Pandemonium and Parade: Japanese Monsters and the Culture of Yokai," 2009

Helen Hardacre, "Shinto: A History," 2017

[calibandrive]

Magikarp (a carp) which, after many trials and tribulations, evolves into Gyrados (a water dragon) references the traditional folklore that a carp will become a dragon if it manages to swim up a great waterfall. A carp swimming up a waterfall to become a dragon is used as a symbol of achieving greatness through diligence and perseverance. This tradition, like many others, originates in China. In East Asia dragons are (usually benevolent) water deities associated with rivers, waterfalls, storms and the sea.

[JaimeNyx]

“A world where humans and godlike beings intermingle” AND WE MAKE ‘EM WHOO!!!

[danstiver]

There is at least one Pokémon (and it’s evolution) that is based of Buddhism, Darumaka (and Darmanitan). Darumaka is based on Daruma dolls, which are good luck talismans that represent a stylized caricature of Boddhidharma, the founder of Zen Buddhism.

[robertstuckey]

Watch to the very end! You won't regret it

[jazzgod]

I remember taking a class in college, (race, ethnicity, and minority relations). The teacher lived in japan for a number of years. What i found most interesting was the almost picking and choosing of religion based on the need. Shinto was dominant, but Buddhism was popular for funerals, as shinto is all about purity and doesn't deal will with death. Christian style weddings becoming more popular due to the larger celebratory aspect. Might make a cool video

[DamienZshadow]

I was not expecting that ending! I am so glad I stuck it to the end! LOL

[Notorax]

Amazing video! Just a interesting thought regarding the difference between kami and youkai. Kunio Yanagita said yes, that youkai could be seen as lower or fallen kami, but not in the way of fallen angels or fallen gods like in western tradition. Folklorist Komatsu Kazuhiko has build on Yanagita's approach and written that youkai are fallen gods in the way that they are no longer worshipped as deities but still revered as supernatural beings. Which is quite interesting. Komatsu also writes that the main difference between Youkai and kami is worship. kami are worshipped, youkai are not.

[Lghtweaver]

I hate when I go to put on my sandals and there's a ghost inside.

[bradyryden]

Religion in general has always been interesting to me, as well as seeing religious hints in games. I love this channel

[dogmahacker]

My parents threw out all my pokemon cards, movies, games, etc.. when I was a teenager (back when there was only 150 pokemon) because of the demon scare that our church was preaching. Some of the cards were rarities and would have been worth alot today.
That was a sad day in my childhood.
Of course in Christian circles they translate mythical gods & demons to actual demons that want to prey on your children's souls.
They even went as far to say that the names of pokemon were the names of real fallen angels. (eyes roll)

Even when I was a Christian teenager I always figured some pokemon had to have some mythical influence, but so do most fictional things so it never bothered me and even when I was a fundamentalist Christian I always thought the church was over reacting and reading more into it than what it was.
Clearly most pokemon are random ideas of what new abilities a made up fictional animal might have.
With so many mythical figures though, it would be really hard to create any made up creature that doesn't already somewhat resemble or could be translated into a traditional mythical figure.

I wouldn't read mythical influence into every pokemon just because their abilities match up to a demi-gods or demon.
Certainly some of them are influenced since it's Japan and they're often inspired by their lore, especially in anime, but I'm also sure alot of it is coincidence since traditional mythical beings have practically filled every niche of abilities that a made up character could possible have.
Also there are a handful of pokemon are not only inspired by Japanese lore, but Greek mythology as well.

[jackkraken]

I want to be the very best...

religious explainer there ever was...

[williamreely]

People complained about Klefki's design being unoriginal, but keys are some of the most popular objects for tsukumogami to inhabit because keys are kept safe by their owners and are almost never thrown away or replaced.

[iga]

Another amazing video from an amazing channel - keep it up!

[Salsmachev]

Maybe the most interesting thing about Shinto is that it was essentially an ahistorical invention. People in the Meiji period looked around them and saw all these various traditions and then just decided to interpret them as a single coherent whole. Which is, of course, not to say that Shinto is "fake" or "illegitimate" or anything.

[Ethribil]

Am I the only one that is impressed by his style? You have amazing content and an excellent collection of sports coats. Keep it up!

[herewardfeldwick]

Also cf. Koopas from Mario, an almost direct facsimile of the Kappa of Japanese mythology, generally depicted as a sort of turtle-person.

[spongebobtheloudhousesidek]

Shows/Toys/Games that are influenced by my favorite anime, Pokemon:
- Bakugan
- Chaotic
- Digimon
- Dinosaur King
- Drawn Together (especially the character, Ling-Ling)
- Invizimals
- Kaijudo
- Matt's Monsters
- Mix Master
- Mix Master: Final Force
- Monsuno
- Slugterra
- Tai Chi Chasers
- Turning Mecard (Mecard)
- Yu-Gi-Oh!

[stephendowling]

The full beard & plaid dress jacket, look very good!!
Also, like always, very informative!!

[sarahharris]

Kami appear to be more specific to elemental spirits and nature orientated. There are loads of Pokémon inspired ones too. Snorlax is based on a totoro which simply translates into "troll" kami. Ghastly, haunter, gengar, misdreavous, banette and shuppet seem to be general ghost\demonic motifs among others. Similarly for all dragons. The kami are not just exclusively Japanese. Meowth (Chinese lore), golem (Jewish lore), magikarp and ho-oh (chinese lore), moltres (the phoenix\slavic and multi region lore) xatu and zapdos (native american lore), xerneas\yveltal\zygarde (Norse mythology), dunsparse (jaspasnese cryptozoology) jynx\froslass (yukinko Japanese)

[sethapex]

I was just talking to my co workers about this today.