Set in the Edo period of feudal Japan, Trek to Yomi is one of many games in recent times to focus on Japanese, and particularly samurai, culture. As a part of this, it is no surprise that the game will heavily feature elements of the popular Shinto Japanese religion, and more specifically, aspects of Shinto mythology.
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The Basics of Trek to Yomi
Trek to Yomi is an upcoming side-scrolling action-adventure game published by Devolver Digital and releasing on May 5. The game will see players take control of a samurai protagonist named Hiroki, who will stop at nothing to enact vengeance against those who destroyed his village.
The game appears to have basic but refined combat, with its high level of stylization and constant black and white color scheme clearly nodding toward its inspiration from the older iconic samurai film genre of Chanbara. Set to release as a day one title for the popular Xbox Game Pass, Trek to Yomi has also taken significant inspiration from Shinto mythology.
The Shinto Meaning Behind Yomi
To gain an idea of just how heavy of an influence that the Shinto religion has had on Trek to Yomi, fans need only look to the term Yomi itself. Within the Shinto religion and mythology, Yomi is the term for what is essentially the underworld, a land for the dead that is impossible to return from.
Yomi acts as a kind of purgatory, being a morally gray realm without purpose or reason. With the title of the game suggesting that Yomi may be the final destination for Hiroki, it is clear to see just how honor-bound and unwavering the protagonist will be in enacting his revenge. With the aesthetic connotations of this kind of “limbo” often being gray scale, it is additionally interesting to think of the aforementioned black and white tone of the game as a potential metaphor for the impending embrace of the afterlife.
The Role of Kami in Trek to Yomi
One of the main facets of the popular Shinto religion in Japan and its mythology is the belief in the existence of “kami.” Kami are spirits or holy powers that are of high reverence within Shinto, and can come in the form of multiple things. These kami can be embodied as forces of nature, physical parts of a landscape, or in the case of Trek to Yomi, the spirits of venerated ancestors.
Despite what little is still known about the story of Trek to Yomi despite its imminent release date, fans are aware that the kami spirits of Hiroki’s ancestors will feature prominently in the game’s story. While guiding Hiroki through his journey, the player will periodically live through the final moments of these ancestor kami in the form of short stories, giving context to their tumultuous existence in Yomi.
With the Shinto religion being dominantly popular within the Edo period in which Trek to Yomi is set, it is clear to see why its mythology has had such an overarching influence over the title. With Trek to Yomi set to join the growing lineup of samurai games, this delicate yet sustained approach to cultural accuracy is sure to sit well with fans of the genre.
Trek to Yomi will release on May 5 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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