Yamato Soul

[Aliza Pointon]

Yamato-damashii (大和魂, "Yamato/Japanese spirit") or Yamato-gokoro (大和心, "Japanese heart/mind") is a Japanese language term for the cultural values and characteristics of the Japanese people. The phrase was coined in the Heian period to describe the indigenous Japanese 'spirit' or cultural values as opposed to cultural values of foreign nations such as those identified through contact with Tang dynasty China. Later, a qualitative contrast between Japanese and Chinese spirit was elicited from the term. Edo period writers and samurai used it to augment and support the Bushido concept of honor and valor. English translations of Yamato-damashii include the "Japanese spirit", "Japanese soul", "Yamato spirit", and "The Soul of Old Japan". Lafcadio Hearn mentions the latter in connection with Shinto.

Originally Yamato-damashii did not bear the bellicose weight or ideological timbre that it later assumed in pre-war modern Japan. It first occurs in the Otome (乙女) section of The Tale of Genji (Chapter 21), as a native virtue that flourishes best, not as a contrast to foreign civilization but, rather precisely, when it is grounded on a solid basis in Chinese learning. Thus we read:

Each man, according to Motoori Norinaga (who wrote a Commentary of The Tale of Genji ), has at his birth a "true heart" a "magokoro" (the term magokokoro is itself almost an onomatopoeia since kokoro, the heart, expresses these "beats of the heart") whose ancient Japanese literature is the most faithful expression. This sentiment expresses the Yamato gokoro (大和心, "Japanese heart") as opposed to the Kara gokoro ("superficial level of consciousness cluttered with masculine things, intellectually astute but full of pretension").[1]

Still, he had the personality of (his uncle) Fujiwara no Kinzane (藤原公実) characterized by Chinese learning and followed in the footsteps of (his ancestor) Sugawara no Michizane, but Toba had even more Japanese spirit than either of them. (adapted from Carr 1994:283)

Following the Japanese victories in the First Sino-Japanese War and Russo-Japanese War, nationalists made Wakon-yōsai into a catchphrase for modernization and militarization, and developed Yamato-damashii into what Miller (1982:13) calls "the official rallying cry for the Japanese armed forces in World War II."

In the present day, Yamato-damashii is historically associated with Japanese nationalism, but is commonly used in Nihonjinron discussions and sports media. It is the motto for the international Purebred mixed martial arts school headed by Japanese-American Enson Inoue. Professor David Pollack predicts that Yamato-damashii will become extinct.

Racially and ethnically offensive words are problematic for dictionaries. Lexicographers and publishers have editorial policies for treating ethnic slurs and insults. For example, The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (4th ed., 2000) defines Jap as "Offensive Slang. Used as a disparaging term for a person of Japanese birth or descent."

Literally, "Japanese spirit"; Yamato damashii is also written 大和魂. This term is often contrasted with "Chinese Learning" (karasae), that is, knowledge and scholarship imported into Japan from China. Yamato damashii refers to an inherent faculty of common-sense wisdom, resourcefulness, and prudent judgment that is characteristic of, and unique to, the Japanese people. It also refers to a practical, "real life" ability and intelligence that is in contrast with scholarship and knowledge acquired through formal education. It is a term used to express such ideas as the essential purity and resolute spirit of the Japanese people, the wish for the peace and security of the nation, and the possession of a strong spirit and emotion that will meet any challenge, even at the expense of one's own life. Yamato damashii is synonymous with Yamato gokoro (lit. "Japanese heart").

ask the required mod authors, if u want to use the files in this mods
for mco_attackXX.hkx - ask ap05 since all of the files are his.
for other hkx file in yamato folder - ask me
for other hkx file for caenarvon folder - ask caenarvon

Takeru Yamato, originally known as Kousu no Mikoto, is the younger brother of Oousu no Mikoto, and second prince of the Yamato court. He is the main underlying antagonist throughout the Maken-ki! manga. Prior to the start of the series, he attacked the Himegami family, leading to the death of Oousu and Yatsuno, before being defeated by his nephew, Yabiko. However, he maintained his existence by possessing people via his special Maken. He managed to possess one of his descendants when they eventually found and opened a jar containing Takeru Yamato's lingering soul.

He originally created the Kamigari for the purpose of killing the ancients gods in order to obtain their powers. It was also during this time that he first began to refer to himself as Takeru Yamato rather than his birth name.

After physically dying in the battle with Yabiko, his spirit fled and possessed a nearby human. He then spent that human's life ensuring the continuation of the Yamato bloodline by immersing himself with his concubines, and then sealed himself in a jar, planning to possess whichever of his descendants opened it. Since no one opened it and the jar could not be destroyed, it remained buried for two millennia, until it was rediscovered and opened by Ouken Yamato.

Takeru Yamato has no consideration for his fellow humans, seeing all others as trash below him. He regularly killed retainers within his father's palace, even in front of the emperor himself. This was likely due to him having such power that no one but his brother could stop him.

Soul Game - Allows him to see souls of others [ch.121], he can also eat the souls of others to replenish his power and health be it human or not, he can also manipulate souls, allowing him to change people's Memories, Personality, their Entire Being [ch.42] it's not just the souls of others he can manipulate but also his own, he can use this ability to place his soul into other's bodies [ch.54], by Manipulating his soul should his body be reduced to nothing, he will be capable of bringing himself back to life over and over again [ch.55], he can also absorb the soul of others to empower himself and increase his lifespan [ch.56], when absorbing the soul of others it allows him to also absorb their abilities/powers [ch.117, 118 & 119]

Yamato-damashii is loosely translated into "the spirit/soul of Japan", and defined as anything and everything which makes Japan (and the Japanese) unique, distinct, and great. Of course, this creates the logical question: What is "Japanese"?

At its most basic, Yamato-damashii implies pure merit and being or becoming "better". Japanese culture is rooted in a clan (or in-group)-based hierarchy system. Every person has a rank within their family, community, organization, and class the same way that some characters are more powerful or gifted than others. Each family, organization, and class has, in turn, a rank in society as a whole, reflected by Power Levels. By following Yamato-damashii, any person can increase their potential, and thus status, climbing to a higher rank in society while their True Companions help.

If you've ever read, seen or heard of a Japanese story with even a hint of a To Be a Master or Defeating the Undefeatable plot, this probably sounds familiar. The strongest characters in the work will demonstrate some of the tropes, but The Protagonist(s) will eventually become the epitome of it. The order and safety of our society is based on "rules". But what do you do if a threat comes along that completely disregards those "rules"? The answer is the Japanese Spirit. Japanese Spirit eschews certainty; it's why villains appear unbeatable at first and why more confident attacks rarely work.

In traditional Japanese philosophy, Persistence (hard work, hope, and spirit) was considered the most important and desirable of the three virtues, but takes time to develop. Resolve (moral rectitude and honor) appears once the hero finds something to fight for. Of the three, Talent is the most powerful, but least virtuous or important; with enough Presistence and Resolve, most heroes find that they actually had it all along. Yamato-Damashii believes that everyone will Die or Fly in their Darkest Hour, so even a weak-but-persistent person will prove themselves useful in the long run.

Rivals and antagonists, on the other hand, will be lacking in at least one virtue in comparison to the protagonist. Even an antagonist that starts out invincible will wind up defeated when this flaw is exposed. Sometimes, the Hero will reach their peak only via an 11th-Hour Superpower against the Big Bad. note Which is lifted directly from the concept of musubi (or, the power of creation), which is the divine spark that all souls have, but is only unlocked by the truly prosperous.

Ki, or some other equivalent Force, is often the manifestation of Yamato-Damashii and is almost all-powerful. Ki mastery will let you ignore injuries or No-Sell attacks entirely. There is usually a way to sense Ki or treat it like a measurable quantity that one person can have "more" or "less" of in a hierarchy of power.

As stated above, this trope defines what is good about Japanese culture. Thus, in the finale, Japanese Media will almost always need to demonstrate that it's superior. The Big Bad will typically achieve their One-Winged Angel form or have acquired the almighty MacGuffin so that when the hero finally succeeds, it is always with the knowledge that the villain was completely crushed despite every cheap trick. For this reason, heroes will duel the villain alone, or only with indirect support. After all, if Yamato-Damashii has transformed the hero into a "better" person, then proving it is more important than simply winning. Others in a Five-Man Band may help the hero reach their destination, deal with specific threats or fight the Co-Dragons, but they will barely do anything more than buy time or distract the villain for the Final Battle.

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