Forums » RP Discussion » I need help making a japanese character

I could use some advice on making japanese characters. I don't really know all that much about japan or it's people. I don't know any of the language or the couture both old or pop. And sure I known some of the stereotypes, some of the ancient history and anime. But I'm afraid if I made my character purely based on that I would seem like an idiot/racist.

so here's the idea I'm trying to make a japanese girl who struggles between the old horrible ways of her family and the fun loving new age ways of her friends at school.
between this life
and this life
any advice?

An interesting conundrum. You are admitting to knowing nothing about actual Japanese culture, but the concept for your character involves a teenager rebelling against the "horrible" ways of that very culture? I'm certain there are some parts of the old culture that could be seen as "horrible," but I'm certain that's true of just about every culture. There are probably also some parts that are extremely worthy and honorable, even when viewed through the lens of our own cultural bias. It seems like you're starting off on shaky footing and running the risk of insult right off the bat.

Don't get me wrong, teenage rebellion happens in all cultures, in all places, throughout time. Sometimes it's completely justified and sometimes it isn't. However, to accurately portray that rebellion without simply beating up on a stereotype, you might want to do a LOT of research, or let this concept drop.

The image you've chosen for the "old traditions" is itself rife with stereotypes, and I doubt it is particularly accurate to what a teenage Japanese girl would truly find herself being pressured to be like by her family. The image of the schoolgirls also doesn't strike me as necessarily super duper accurate. I'm not really convinced modern Japanese life is all carefree fun and games, even for children and teens!

There are a ton of American old style traditions that a teen girl could rebel against. Why do you not want to play something you are more familiar with, so you run less risk of accidentally insulting, demeaning or just generally inaccurately exoticizing a culture you admit to not understanding?

By the by, I commend you for being sensitive enough to even ask this question and acknowledge that it is appropriate to gain understanding before trying to portray a culture.

Traditionally speaking, women were put in the background. They were responsible for the homes, cleaning, etc. Daughters when they came to age were expected to know how to be wives and mothers, then to be just married off. Abuse could be common as it wasn't seen as abuse in Old Japan. Again though, it depends what era of Japanese history you're wanting to go with. Japanese women often found jobs in restaurants, bars, brothels, and as geisha or other performing roles. This was for those who weren't taken care of by a man of the leading clan/family. Clans and families are important, but different. Your family was often ruled by an over arching clan that made decision. Similar to how the US government runs currently.. Cities =Family, Clan=County Domain=State, and then the Country= Shogunate/Empire (depending on the era.) Each Clan would have a ruling family, and the clans would be under a Daimyo or lord. This Daimyo ruled over the Domain and his clan and family were very powerful. Then if there was a Shogun, or Shoguns there would be different "countries" or shogunates. That is until an emperor is established for unification. Even still there are periods where there is a shogun who opposes the emperor and such.


But basically it boils down to this

Women rarely fought in Japanese culture. There are samurai(bushi) who were women. There were even Empresses. However, as the Edo Period neared women's roles in positions like that started to fade. Everyone tried to do the honorable thing and serve their clan and family. They also wanted to serve the emepeor/shogun/daiymo. Whoever was the highest in power. Its all about climbing ladders of success, but its not individual its based around clans and families.

So, if you were making a character who is rebellious she might try and give away family or clan secrets. Try and change the world around her by being an influence in society. Maybe get courted by a more powerful clan and take over her family's old one. So on and so forth. Again keep in mind, Family and Clan are very very important and you should be fine.

l5R is a tabletop game that's based around fantasy Japan. It can help. Also samurai themed anime's will help.


I don't really know much about modern Japan. Sorry.

Hope this helps.

What time period is your character set in? Becuase I don't think woman back in the old days could even go to school. I think...

Google search is the best place to find links on this stuff!^^'

Some daughters of powerful lords were educated. Especially in the ways of the court. Also women were expected to know how to write in order to write what their husbands/lords wanted down. Men could write also, but most women could too unless you're poor. The poorer people have a bit rougher life. So thats really a class thing and not a gender thing. ^^

Traditionally, samurai women used to handle family finances. It was too lowly/mundane for men to do. So they had to be educated, in many things, not just reading and writing.

Ohh:0...thanks!

I think you'd be surprised by the many ways in which Japanese society used to be (and is) very different from any western ones If you like a good book, Shōgun is a great novel that will give you a great feel of the society in Japan around 1600, as well as keep you entertained

If you'd like to read through some resources on women in the Edo era (which started in 1603 and lasted into the 19th century), here's an interesting-looking paper and here's a much shorter Wikipedia article.

If you don't feel like doing too much research and still want to RP, perhaps if you find a like-minded partner it would be a good idea to consider making a fantasy world loosely based on what you like about Japan, without actually claiming it's Japan.

I'd start with, if going from a setting that is more aligned to that of Earth's history rather than a fantasy setting (Furcadia has Taigoria, World of Warcraft has Pandaria; broadly speaking, for Oriental-flavour settings), to pick a time period in which to set it and go from there. In some time periods, upheavals could be used as a catalyst for her displeasure, perhaps.

thank you all I have already made the character.