Mikoto Kayano as a Character Design.🧵
This is just one of many parts of my comprehensive analysis of Mikoto Kayano.
Mikoto Kayano is what I would call a high-concept character. What does high-concept mean?
✦ High-concept works tend to be attention-grabbing and appeal to a broad audience, often because they can be easily understood and appreciated on a surface level.
✦ The idea behind the character design may be simple or generic on the surface, but upon closer examination, it reveals intricate details and nuances that add to its complexity and depth. This can make the character design stand out and be memorable to audiences, even if the character's appearance is initially unremarkable or conventional.
Examples of high-concept: (For the inexperienced)
✦ In terms of illustration, Composition (Golden Ratio, Rule of Thirds, etc.) is like a puzzle that the artist puts together, with each piece adding to the overall picture. The main focus is usually in the center of the image or off-center to create visual interest, and other elements are arranged around it in a way that enhances the story being told to reward the inquisitive.
✦ In video games, Platinum’s Hideki Kamiya (Bayonetta, Devil May Cry, etc.) is known for this exact concept. You can finish the game by just casually engaging with mechanics, but if you look deeper into the systems, you are able to execute flawless stylish moves that are very rewarding to execute.
Whenever designing characters, Japan tends to place a strong emphasis on the following:
✦ Name Symbolism - The names are usually a great clue to what a character is about. This includes potential wordplay.
✦ Blood Type - Determines the type of personality they have and their chemistry with the rest of the cast. Think of it as the equivalent of Zodiac signs.
✦Mikoto Kayano Name Breakdown
✦ Kanji - 【榧野 尊】
✦ Katakana - 【カヤノ ミコト】
✦ To get the definitions for the kanji used in this document, I used Goo and Jisho.
【榧】Kaya
✦ Japanese nutmeg tree (Torreya Nucifera)
✦ Flowers bloom around April, and elliptical fruits are produced in the following autumn. The fruit is used for edible oil and hair oil, as well as for food. The wood is hard and used for construction materials, furniture, Go and Shogi boards, and as a carving material.
✦ The flower language for Kaya is “effort”
✦ In Go, the concept of "building a house" refers to creating a territory on the board by enclosing a certain area with your stones. This can be seen as analogous to building a house, where you create a defined space for yourself to live in. The process of building a territory requires strategic thinking, and players must balance offensive and defensive moves to secure the most advantageous positions on the board.
✦ In Shogi, there is a similar concept called "castle." Where certain pieces are used to create a fortress-like structure around the king, making it difficult for the opponent to attack and capture it.
‼️ I feel like anyone with DID/OSDD understands what it feels like. I hope this could be a good allegory for you to use? Although I have shown this example to people with systems, feel free to leave your own thoughts too.
"Kaya no soto" (茅の外) is a Japanese idiom that literally translates to "outside the fence made of kaya grass". The phrase is used to describe someone who is uninformed or ignorant of a situation, or who is excluded from a group or organization.
The kaya grass referred to in the idiom is a type of sedge grass that grows in Japan and other parts of Asia. Historically, it was used to make fences and walls, and was seen as a symbol of exclusion or separation.
The idiom "kaya no soto" is often used in situations where someone is unaware of important information or events, or is not involved in a particular group or community. It can also be used in a humorous or self-deprecating way to indicate one's own ignorance or exclusion.
【野】 No
✦ Field or plain. "野営 (yaei)" means camping, and "原野 (genya)" means wilderness.
✦Field, cultivated land. "野菜 (yasai)" means vegetables, and "田野 (denya)" means rice field.
✦ Folk, civilian. "野党 (yato)" means opposition party, and "在野 (zaiya)" means out of office. [Antonym] Morning.
✦ Natural, wild. "野生 (yasei)" means wild, and "野鳥 (yachou)" means wild birds.
✦ Rough, uncivilized. "野蛮 (yaban)" means barbaric, and "粗野 (soya)" means uncivilized.
✦ Ambitious, exceeding one's status. "野心 (yashin)" means ambition, and "野��� (yabou)" means aspiration.
✦ Classified area. "視野 (shiya)" means field of vision, and "分野 (bunya)" means field of study.
✦ Abbreviation of "下野の国 (Shimotsuke no Kuni)". "野州 (Yashuu)" means Shimotsuke Province. 【Kanji 2】Sho Countryside villa, summer house.
✦ The kanji ���野】 means "field" or "wilderness" in Japanese. It can also refer to "rough" or "uncivilized" behavior or nature. In some cases, it is used to indicate that a plant or animal is in its natural, wild state. It can be combined with other kanji to create words such as 野菜 (yasai) meaning "vegetables," 野生 (yasei) meaning "wild" or "untamed," and 野球 (yakyuu) meaning "baseball."
✦ Added to nouns representing people to express contempt for their uncivilized behavior. "野幇�� (daiko)" means wild street performer, and "野育ち (no sodachi)" means someone who grew up in a rough or uncivilized environment.
✦ It can also be used to combine with words like spacious farm or field to create an expression. "朝早くから野に出て働く (asa hayaku kara no ni dete hataraku)" means going out to work in the fields early in the morning.
✦【尊】Son (Wu) (Han) [Kun] Tattoui, Toutoi, Tattobu, Toutobu, Mikoto
✦ High value or rank; noble. "尊厳" (dignity), "尊属" (noble family), "尊大" (majestic), "尊卑" (social status), "独尊" (supremacy).
✦ To respect and cherish. "尊敬" (respect), "尊崇" (reverence), "尊重" (esteem), "追尊" (posthumous honor), "自尊心" (self-esteem).
✦ A word expressing respect for the other person's matters. "尊翰" (esteemed writing), "尊顔" (honorable face), "尊兄" (esteemed elder brother), "尊体" (respected body), "尊父" (honorable father), "尊慮" (thoughtful consideration).
✦ A word used to express reverence for Buddha or noble people. "三尊" (three pure ones), "至尊" (supreme honor), "釈尊" (Shakyamuni Buddha), "世尊" (World Honored One), "本尊" (principal image of worship).
✦ One very interesting to note is Mikoto’s name and its association with deities. To be specific, the Three Pure Ones. They are often portrayed as elderly deities robed in the three basic colors from which all colors originated: Red, Blue and Yellow (or Green) depending on personal interpretation of color origins by additive or subtractive means.
✦ The impression Mikoto’s name gives is, “Someone who has a strong sense of hard work and dedication.”
But here are also possible interpretations of his name:
✦ Noble of the Torreya Fields.
In this interpretation, the name can be seen as suggesting a person who is noble and respected in the fields where Torreya trees grow.
✦ Revered One from the Kaya Field
In this interpretation, the name emphasizes the noble or revered status of the individual who comes from a place where Kaya trees grow (Kaya Fields).
✦ Honorable Torreya Tree Guardian
If we consider 尊 (Mikoto) as representing honor and reverence, it could be interpreted as someone who is an honorable guardian or protector of the Torreya trees or the fields they grow in.
✦ Divine of the Torreya Fields
In this interpretation, Mikoto as "divine" signifies someone who possesses divine or sacred qualities, and is connected to the fields where Torreya trees grow.
✦ Divine One from the Kaya Fields
This interpretation suggests a person with sacred attributes originating from the Kaya fields.
✦ Divine Torreya Tree Guardian
The name could be interpreted as someone who is a divine or sacred guardian or protector of the Torreya trees or the fields they grow in.
✦ A lot of Mikoto's name meanings is about PROTECTION.
Goroawase (ごあわらせ) is a Japanese wordplay technique that uses the first kana character of each word to create a new word or phrase. For Mikoto’s name (カヤノ ミコト) these would be the meaning:
✦ カミ (KAMI): "kami" (神) can mean "god" or "deity."
✦ ヤミ (YAMI): "Yami" (闇) means "darkness" or "shadow."
✦ ヤコ (YAKO): "Yako" (夜光) means "night light" or "luminescence."
Mikoto also has symbols that connect him to the Polaris Binary Star (if I am remembering this correctly). Let me show you a visual about Mikoto as a character.
✦Mikoto Kayano's Blood Type: AB
Mikoto Kayano's is Blood Type AB. The only one. It already represents him as an outcast and someone highly unique.
In Japan, the concept of blood type personality theory, known as ketsueki-gata, has gained significant popularity since its introduction in the 1920s. Although the theory has no scientific basis, many people in Japan believe that an individual's blood type can determine their personality traits, temperament, compatibility with others, and even influence their career and romantic prospects. The idea is not dissimilar to the way some people in Western cultures view astrological signs.
Blood type AB is one of the four primary blood types in the ABO blood group system, along with A, B, and O. According to Japanese beliefs, people with blood type AB possess unique characteristics due to the combination of both type A and type B antigens. These traits can be both positive and negative, and individuals with this blood type are often perceived as:
✦ Creative and artistic: Type AB individuals are thought to be highly imaginative, innovative, and capable of thinking outside the box. They may excel in fields that require original ideas and creative problem-solving.
✦ Rational and analytical: People with blood type AB are often seen as intellectually curious, possessing strong analytical abilities and a keen interest in understanding complex subjects.
✦ Calm and composed: Type AB individuals are believed to maintain a sense of emotional balance and are not easily swayed by external events or circumstances.
✦ Ambiguous or mysterious: Due to the mix of traits from both type A and type B blood groups, individuals with blood type AB may be seen as enigmatic and difficult to predict.
✦ Diplomatic and adaptable: As type AB individuals carry characteristics of both A and B blood types, they are thought to be adept at navigating social situations and building bridges between conflicting perspectives.
✦ Aloof and detached: On the negative side, people with blood type AB might be perceived as emotionally distant or reserved, which could make it challenging for them to form close relationships.
✦ Indecisive and disorganized: The blending of type A and type B traits may lead to difficulty in making decisions, a lack of focus, or trouble maintaining an organized lifestyle.
✦Mikoto's Character Design and DID
Mikoto is often described as someone who is "Mass produced" and an "Everyday Man."
But despite this, Mikoto's hair is a great way to describe his complexity. Based on what we know, here's how I would break it down.
You must be wondering why the Ahoge is seen as a separate identity. With character design, they are considered as a character by themselves. When you register them for ownership, the Ahoge or "Character Mark" would be the one registered. The rest is considered generic.
This is Mikoto in a nutshell. Try removing the ahoge, he is almost unrecognizable.
In short, this is genius character design. More explanation about the RGBY colors later on.
✦ We will end this analysis here for now. Please look forward for the next part!
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[ENG] Profile: No. 9 Mikoto Kayano
CV: Natsuki Hanae
“Ahh, I really don't get it, you know. What kinda sin could I have commited?”
Sex: Male
Height: 176cm
DOB: 6th October
Age: 23
Blood type: AB
Profile:
An average guy with a medium build. He is an ‘everyman’, confused by the strong characteristics of those in Milgram. As such, he always tries to adapt accordingly to any given situation. Unlike the other inmates, who are aware of the crimes that they have committed, he has no knowledge of what he has done and for what he is imprisoned. Without a doubt, he believes there has been a mistake, some sort of mix up.
Even in the dead of night, one can still hear noise coming from Mikoto's cell, and as a result, this has become something of a conversational topic among the prisoners, who remain uncertain as to when he sleeps.
Voice Clips:
Um, I'm Mikoto Kayano, 23 years old. Well, more importantly, I don't think what you're doing is any good. You should stop before something like the police come.
No, no. There's no way I could've done something like murder. Wait, everyone else here has killed someone? Oh fuck.
Ahh, I really don't get it, you know. What kinda sin could I have commited? Prison guard, do you know?
Ah, I've got it. Is this some kind of reality show programme? It'd be impossible to broadcast this on TV, so maybe an internet series?
Hey, um. Why am I here? Aren't you mistaking me for someone else? Hmm, well, being free from work isn't a bad feeling though. [cute laugh] If I lose my job because of this, you better take responsibility, prison guard.
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