The Culture Challenge, Japan Edition. What the heck Rin-Rin is probably what ya’ll are thinking (I am not southern, I just use lots of abbreviations). First off, the title is kind of self-explanatory. It’s about culture, particularly Japanese in this instance. Second off, I think bring some culture to the stories on Dokuga would be nice. I love history and foreign countries but it’s either Japan or America that most stories on this site are set in, and unless it’s not set in a historical period, basically whatever the anime/manga showed you is the setting of stories (I’m not knocking people who do this, I’m guilty here too) and whatever culture with maybe some pocky thrown in. So, let’s bring a little more background to our settings and in future incarnations, take things international. Though for now, I’ll start with Japan since that is the setting in canon.
So with the lengthy intro out of the way, rules and a little more explanation is in order.
I already explained where the idea came from, but you really don’t know what to expect do you? Well it’s simple. Each week, I’ll upload a ton of prompts based around a theme. I’m starting with art but there are eras, food, religion, festivals, etc. I have an entire section for things related to geisha for Christ’s sake! So, with that said, there are a lot of prompts. Culture is a huge concept and contains a lot of topics. So, can you complete the challenge? You don’t have too, even I’m like how on earth would someone be able to do that but hey, it’s in the realm of possibilities.
So, onto rules.
• Any rating goes. K-M, all is loved.
• Your use of the theme can be vague or very blatant. As long as I can tell that you used it, I’m fine.
• Drabbles, one-shots, chapter stories, etc., are all welcome. Karma for chapter stories but either way, any entry is loved. No word count.
• You can combine prompts as long as both are clearly used. Anime and manga can be combined in one entry. Please though, just limit to two per thousand words. If your entry doesn’t top a thousand, please no more than just two. If it doesn’t top two thousand, please limit it to four. That’s my only catch with this one.
• No bashing culture! Please, if you make it out to be stupid because it’s your own belief, just stop. Now, if it was a tradition of the past people nowadays laugh at in their own country, that’s okay. If you’re writing a foreigner who thinks their culture is stupid but the characters have no reason to themselves, that’s fine. If that is something that the character is in the minority about even though the rest of their culture loves it, that’s fine. Just don’t hate to hate, kay?
• Some topics may lean more towards a MA rating and if so, I’ll warn. If you’re a minor, you don’t have to do those ones. And some topics can be triggering such as Comfort Women (MA to the extreme!!!). All things that can trigger or really can’t be even researched without MA material, I will warn out the buttocks.
• For those poor saps that do complete all the prompts, there is a banner. Go ahead grab it and then celebrate.
• There is no time limit and the story can be new or existing.
• Prompts can be done out of order. If Ukiyo-e strikes you before Haniwa, go right on ahead.
• Anything else, just ask.
All research will have to be done by you. Sorry, I’ve had to do so much for this challenge that surmising it would be a nightmare for me. Even if you use a quick scan of a Wikipedia article, I’ll be happy. Just do a little research before you attempt writing about the prompt. It’s not a rule but I’m going to roll me eyes and correct you in a review.
Arts:
Eras:
Food Part 1: