Hello Internet. Welcome to Game Theory, the gaming show with
the most smartest viewers on all the Interwebz. Take for instance Izzy, a loyal theorist so
fueled by a mix of intense intellectual curiosity and incredible boredom that he solved one
of gaming s most hot-button topics. For those of you new to this rodeo, Jynx is Game Theory
s fourth-greatest arch-nemesis, just behind Ignorance, Yarn bombers, and Bobby Chips the
Game Overthinker. For two episodes, we covered everything from classical opera to 90 s Japanese
fashion trends to find an explanation for her appearance. I even wrote my own Christmas
poetry in an episode that would make Bill Shakespeare jealous. Consider this a shameless
plug to watch those episodes. To recap, in January of 2000, while everyone else celebrated
surviving the computer uprising known as Y2K, others rang in the birth of a new millennium
by dragging up the racial hatred of the past thousand years, claiming that Pokemon, a kids
game produced by squeaky clean Nintendo, featured offensive stereotypes in the black-faced,
big-lipped character of Jynx. But, despite all my research, I was unable to decide 100%
one way or the other about Jynx s inspiration. Enter Izzy, a veritable Fox Mulder of gaming
theorists, believing that the truth was indeed out there and then writing in to share his
discoveries. So, today s episode is brought to you almost entirely by this man, Izzy:
Olympic mascot, Digimon celebrity, carbonated fruit beverage as he provides the gaming world
with what I believe to be the definitive final answer on the infamous racist Pokemon. We
begin in Japanese folklore with the yama-uba, or mountain crone, a supernatural monster
who cannibalistically feeds on unsuspecting travelers, with a specific craving for children.
Yeah, that sounds like it really fits in a game whose mascot is cuter than a kitten in
a cup. But hold on there, Joe Skeptic because in most translations, she s described as having
long hair that is golden white. She s known to wear around a tattered red kimono. So that
fulfills two key elements to Jynx s appearance right off the bat. Of course, it s not a perfect
match. We re overlooking Yamauba s second demon mouth, the one she keeps hidden under
her hair on the back of her head. Don t really remembering that being a part of ajaynx s
design, but hey, no one s perfect except my wife Stephanie, of course. Sorry, as a newlywed
husband, I m required to say stuff like that. And just like a Ronco infomercial, just wait,
there s more so appearances aside, what other similarities are there? For that, we must
go to the theatre, specifically, Noh Theater, a form of classical Japanese musical drama
that dates back to the 14th century. So sit back as I transport you to ancient Japan to
tell the tale of Yamanba: A female dancer, called "Hyakuma Yamanba" embarks on a pilgrimage
accompanied by her attendants. (drums) While travelling north-east, they arrive at a river
boundary where the road diverges in three directions. They ask for directions from a
local (drums), who advises them that the mountain pass is far too steep as it is the path Buddah
himself takes as he descends to receive souls. (drums) The dancer decides that, as she is
a pilgrim, it is fitting that she proceed on foot to take that very path (big drums).
She has not gone far when the sun sets unexpectedly, and they are offered lodgings by a mysterious
old woman who demands that the dancer perform. They quickly realize the old crone is the
supernatural being Yama-uba. The dancer dares not refuse Yama-uba's request for fear of being eaten, but it is the Yama-uba
herself who performs the long dance which ends the play. So aside from showing off my
mildly impressive Photoshopping and motion graphics skills, how does this relate to Jynx?
I refer you now to Jynx s entries from the various Pokedexes, Pokedexi, Pokedexees, throughout
the franchise s history. Pokemon Red/Blue: It seductively wiggles its hips as it walks.
It can cause people to dance in unison with it. Pokemon Yellow: Appears to move to a rhythm
of its own, as if it were dancing. Pokemon Gold: It rocks its body rhythmically. It appears
to alter the rhythm depending on how it is feeling. Pokemon Silver: It speaks a language
similar to that of humans. However, it seems to use dancing to communicate. Pokemon Sapphire:
A JYNX sashays rhythmically as if it were dancing. Its motions are so bouncingly alluring,
people seeing it are compelled to shake their hips without noticing. Note the CONSTANT mention
of dancing, and little else, not its ice or psychic abilities, not even its female appearance,
and this is throughout the whole series. Yama-uba is also known for her seductive dance. Coincidence?
I think not. So now we have a connection to Jynx's appearance and behavior, what about
her type Ice type? In another Noh drama, Yamauba, Dame of the Mountain, the title character
is portrayed as a fairy ( Hey Listen ) who decks the mountains in snow during the winter
months. And while ice powers are fine and all, how could a cannibalistic demon possibly
be related to Christmas, like in that banned Pokemon episode, you ask? Throughout most
of her history, yes, the Mountain Crone was seen as a purely evil creature, but recently
she has taken on more positive aspects in the public eye, with modern representations
of the Yama-Uba as a sort of harvest deity. In fact, around Nagano the story goes that
Yama-Uba descends every 19th and 20th of December carrying a magical gourd to buy large amounts
of sake. Her very presence would temporarily cause the market value of the sake to rise.
Admittedly, a folk tale created by the sake industry to sell more alcohol in December
is not the same as a holiday hyped up by toy stores to sell more Tamogotchis and Pogs during
Christmas, but you gotta admit, if Jynx showed up in the anime carrying around a bag of booze,
Nintendo would have a whole other set of controversies on its hands. Which brings us back to the
initial question: What about the black face and exaggerated lips? Take a look at this.
It s the costume for a Noh performer in the role of Yama-Uba. Notice the heavy tanning
or black face? In addition, think back to our discussion of ganguro, where Japanese
girls darken their faces to look brown. Unlike some forms of ganguro which began as a rebellion
against tradition or a means of mimicking black celebrities, there is actually another
variety of ganguro known as yamamba, a name derived from Yama-uba which is, in fact, an
homage to the character of the Yama-uba. Is Jynx racist? I feel 100% confident saying
no. Like most other Pokemon, her origins harken back to Japanese folklore. The hair, the clothes,
the seductive wiggle and the ice powers, the Christmas special, and most importantly, the
black face with the big lips. In the end, the moral of the story is this: People can
make a fuss and then wait 12 years for an online web series to find the answers for
them, or they can just do a little research before flipping out. Ah who am I kidding?
Bring it on world! I m here to clean up the stupidity. But hey, it s just a theory. A