#toki smt

[yarrayora]

getting to know your new teammate

[navarresimp]

Awesome lesbian couple vs. evil and intimidating horse

[skyflyinginaction]

Shin Megami Tensei IV FINAL Official Setting + Shinwa Sekai he no Tabi translations 

I don’t own the raw scans or the translations in this post all credit for the translation belongs to Miel who did a wonderful job on it. The Nanashi bio was already translated by Dijeh and the rest are translated by them.

Asahi

In the early scenarios, she was supposed to be a tomboyish character who often used foul language. As you can see, she ended up the complete opposite (lol). Asahi was designed as a child whose parents had lovingly raised, and had her life planned out for her to survive in this destroyed world. They were hoping that she would one day be able to see the light of dawn, hence she was named Asahi. We based her design off themes of the sky, hence the goggles, hat and the blue color scheme to make a pure, orthodox heroine.

Navarre

A harmonious, all-green presence… Actually I just came up with that after (lol). But I think the meaning of Navarre's scarf color was shown pretty well in the game. His ghost form and the fact that he would be a partner was decided from the very beginning. I wanted him to be able to run around the map following the MC, so I suggested a mascot-like design that could float alongside the MC. I'm glad he was able to re-appear as a likeable character (lol).

Nozomi

In the previous game, she was an event character with only pixel art, but in this game, we decided from the very beginning that she would be a partner along with Navarre. We tried to keep the same imagery she had from the previous game but designed elements unique to this game. After she became one with Danu, I wanted a change in both mind and body. Her hair and eye color, as well as her physique are all mixed with Western features, and when compared to the main characters who are all children, she looks like a mature adult lady.

Hallelujah

We had planned to create a mixed-race child who would show what kind of world setting it was in this game. His brown-colored skin was the only thing that still remained of his initial draft; every thing else about him was totally changed from the initial planned scenario. We gave him a Ashura-kai styled outfit, as well as a school jersey to make him look like a child delinquent. The pointy ears and black nails were to give him a demonic feel. When he transforms, he changes color, and I think it perfectly represents the devs’ ideal image of him.

Chironnupu

When Chironnupu was created as a demon, I was requested to make him a mascot-like character. They did not want a standard cutesy character, but rather something that had a “Megami Tensei" type of cuteness. There are very few legends about the Chironnupu, so I got ideas from keywords such as Ainu, fox, divine spirits, and hunting, and instead of simply drawing a fox, I made him a young spirit that wears a carved wooden mask.

Gaston

When I first heard that Navarre’s younger brother was going to be in the game, I laughed… and I was very surprised. Of course they must have the same hairstyle and facial expressions to live up to the family name (lol). Since he is an elite member of the newly established Samurai group, I put his Samurai uniform over his inner wear, so that he looked like a medieval musketeer but set in modern day. The cross symbol represents God and the four archangels. Michael's spear was originally meant to defeat Lucifer, so I based its design off Lucifer’s motif.

Toki

Out of all the characters, this character had the most changes and was the most difficult to design. In the early designs, she was made to look like a miko (TN: shrine maiden) who served Lilith, so I wanted her design to emphasize her young age when compared to Asahi and Nozomi. That design later evolved into a tall, ephemeral type of girl, and then later, finally settled into the design of an assassin. She’s designed as a member of the Ring of Gaea, and her unmasked face has the cuteness of a Japanese doll but also a beauty that exudes an exoticism. 

Nikkari

This is a character that appears right at the beginning of the game, but we did not originally plan to have an illustration for him. However, there was a request for a illustration to show the worldview of this hunter from Tokyo, and how the world and the people he cared for were being overrun by demons. Thus we created illustrations for the 3 of them: Nikkari, Manabu, and Master. The name Nikkari is based off a famous sword, but you’ll just have to find out whether or not his sword is the real deal by playing the game.

Manabu

As a more senior hunter, he has become a unique character. Like Nikkari, we had initially only planned to have pixel art for him, so we made sure to exaggerate that reggae-like feel to convey his love for reggae, even if it's a tiny pixel art. Compared to veteran hunters, he didn't have much experience yet, so we designed him to still look a little naive. Having designs for the sub-characters was not initially planned, so I only had a short amount of time to design them, but I was able to take a breather and had fun while drawing them.

Master

When I was making drafts of his design, I borrowed the design of the adult form of the protagonist (lol). Since the character is a former hunter of an inhabitable society and a master of the company, I gave him unshaven stubble and thick arm hair to give him that rugged feel, but also gave him the outfit of a bar waiter to give him a sense of tidiness. Anyway, it feels like a strange coincidence that the pilot-style outfit worn by the original adult protagonist ended up being worn by Asahi instead. I wanted to see how well he would do.

Swordsman Hunter

During the idea stage, there were many variations for a non-human hunter. This is a lightly armored female hunter whose main weapon is a sword. Her personality also seems outgoing.

Professor Matsuda

This was the initial idea draft for Matsuda. Back then he was planned to be a NPC that you can speak to but didn’t have a character portrait. His facial expressions can’t be seen clearly from the small portrait, but you can see his hunched-back posture.

Elite Hunter

An elite hunter who has a high rank and is well-dressed. It's the type you don't see very often in the underground world of Tokyo, but it seems there’s actually some hunters who are living a privileged life out there.

Punk Hunter

A female hunter that catches the eye with her standing hair and studded clothes. Strong female hunters who live by fighting with demons are all cool-looking. The same goes for Nozomi. It’s no wonder Asahi admires them.

Child Hunter

The boy with the spear is an NPC you can talk to. During the designing stage he was made to be a little child hunter but the final version of the NPC seems to be older in appearance.

Gaea Elder

An old man who was created as a member of the Gaea. Compared to the fierce male members and cold-looking female members, he’s more of a good-natured old man character.

Asurakai Member

Most of the Ashurakai members were thugs in suits, so we had the idea for a man who actually looked dangerous because he had a drawn knife in his hand. Might’ve been a change after Tayama’s death.

[thebladeblaster]

SMT IV/A cast Pokémon teams part 2

There’s a reason YHVH doesn’t have Arceus. I’ll explain it later.

[oozmium]

Toki Character Page Translation

Translator: VerdantGrove

ENG Proof/Typesetting: Elegy

Reposting is discouraged, but if you choose to do so, please keep the watermark in the image.

—

Toki Introduction

A young girl in the Ring of Gaea based in Tsukiji Konganji. Toki was raised as an assassin affiliated with the Yuriko Faction. After the former leader of the Ring of Gaea, Yuriko, was defeated by Flynn, the Maitreya Faction, once a dissident group, began to rise.  Although she has lived suppressing her emotions, fighting alongside Nanashi and the others had stirred her heart, and Inanna takes advantage of that when she possesses her.

Commentary by Masayuki Doi

Out of all of the characters, she’s the one who had the most changes and whose design we struggled with the most. In the early planning stages, we had the image of a shrine maiden who served Lilith, and we took the direction of highlighting her youth the most in comparison to Asahi and Nozomi. From there, we made the shift to an image of a tall, young girl with a sense of translucence, after which the image of an assassin was finally solidified. The design is a combination of the image of a she-devil associated with Gaean teachings, and the true face, which expresses an exotic atmosphere where beauty peeks through from within the Japanese-doll-like cuteness.

[yserebryakov]

Toki

[bananawaddledee]

happy death anniversary makoto

(NO I DEFINITELY DID NOT FORGET TO DRAW SOMETIHNG FOR HIM YESTERDAY. THATS INSANE WHO WOULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.)

edit: oops i made another mistake. also why do i keep posting art 1 day late? i will try to do better i swear 😔

[figurecollection]

Toki Garage Kit by Dairinsha, from Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse

[demon64]

So... thinking of another SMT/Marvel/DMC crossover. It's mostly the same as previous posts in some ways, but I kinda want to add Hellion. I like Hellion, I think he's cool. And I got some ideas, as I have been watching Sobata92's SMT IV Apocalypse livestreams. Mostly from Toki, what with her learning to be more "human" kinda reminds of Laura/X-23 in some ways. I also got the idea of Dagda, or probably some other demon, offering a close to dead Hellion a chance at returning. I almost feel like if given the chance, Hellion would take the offer, if just to save everyone he could. Kinda like Nanashi trying to save Asahi.

Just going back through some ideas, going for a mix of ideas semi-related to Nocturne, Apocalypse, and Vengeance. I would still have Laura Kinney and Robbie Reyes would run with Nero and the rest of the DMC crew. I still kinda want to go with the idea of Kyrie potentially being a Panagia, a Goddess of Creation. Hulk and Demi-Fiend I still want to meet and/or have a connection. I might still have Lucifer and Loki have a wager, over who's chosen Nahobino becomes the next Creator. I'm thinking a being a great power sorta followed Dagda, or had the same idea, and is looking to make a deal with the people of this other world. Zarathos could be a strong Fiend, maybe potentially the strongest, and is bonded to humans because to keep him under control. Thor becomes a Nahobino, his Knowledge being Eric Masterson. Adam Warlock maybe being more a person that is meant to help enforce the Mandala System.

I also had this idea: adding Wither/Kevin Ford, who has learned how to control his powers a bit more, alongside learning how to use magic. I will admit I did not completely come up with this idea myself. Think I saw it on someone else's blog, kinda forget who's at the moment. Really, really sorry about that. I don't feel like make Wither into a Nahobino for this crossover idea, even though the idea has crossed my mind. Something about the idea does not fully appeal to me.

[heta-magisch]

oni-masked toki

[koumori-1999]

apocalypse stuff

[furinana]

Analyzing each SMTIVA Goddess

As I discussed in this previous post, the Goddess shouldn't necessarily meant to be taken as Dagda ressurecting one of Nanashi's partners with their state of mind right before they died and/or under a 'brainwashed' state.

The difference between Dagda reviving Nanashi&Flynn compared to the partners is that the latter is being done from scratch rather than just healing wounds. And if Dagda is making a person from zero, a body alone won't suffice. He needs 'someone' to remember the soul and reshape as how they were. This is particularly useful to consider as reincarnation is a thing in the SMT4 duology, thus a soul could have infinite shapes.

The Goddesses in Massacre are stated in-game to be Nanashi's memories, in other words, 'ideas', 'interpretations', or 'impressions' that Nanashi had of them when alive.

This means that they could come from different periods from when Nanashi knew them. So many possibilities can be made.

Asahi is seen by many as the 'default Goddess' as she not only is the partner with the biggest emotional factor to be chosen by Nanashi, but she's also the one that you never fight against.

Childhood friend, sibling, lover, whatever it be, you knew and cared for each other the longest out of the cast.

If you side with Dagda in your very first run, it's noticeable that she'd be the only partner that won't have the Awakening Skill (which would strongly inhance her healing if she had it). In other words, her Mediarama would be lacking.

Even putting that aside, she still would be frustrating to be around if you're attempting to summon demons exclusive to fusion accidents due to her AI immediately casting Posumudi on your team (having you and your fodder material sick improves the chances for fusion accidents, remember?).

For these reasons mentioned, it can be stated that a Massacre run with Goddess Asahi would be the least helpful or resourceful one. Very characteristic of our little Asahi.

Anyway it doesn't take a genius to interpret this ending specially with the last particular line your partner gives you as something akin to gods giving birth through divine means.

But the real point behind this post is comparing the different flavors of what each union in this route produces.

Toki's vibe seems more of a possessive Goddess despite both girls meaning the same thing in their dialogue. Fair enough, we're talking about someone that attentively watches Nanashi when he takes a nap.

Fitting to her Cosmic Egg dialogue as she was possessed by Inanna, Toki was the partner that would represent this fertility element in the most explicit way.

As attentive fans might have felt, the Chaos alignment in SMT preach for 'one's return to its roots'. The Ring of Gaea wear ancient Japanese clothes and follows the might of the strong while praying for gods that came prior to the God of Law aka YHVH. Many of the Japanese Gods in the franchise originally belonged to the Chaos alignment for this reason.

It's important to have this in mind to understand the nuance of Toki calling Nanashi "Master". She is basically using an archaic way of a wife referring to her husband, and of course one will immediately put the last piece of the puzzle together: Flynn, the one with Samurai mannerisms, is also conveniently using an archaic way to refer to a Lord since he thinks of himself as Nanashi's subordinate in this ending.

If you pick a male partner for the Goddess role, this extra dialogue plays followed by the partner being particularly surprised by your choice.

Hal is usually not considered in the 'harem' as Asahi and Toki since the girl duo is explicit in several levels above him but... when you think about it, it still makes sense for Hallelujah's character. He blushes multiple times, allows Nanashi to vent alone with him, even goes far as showing annoyance at the prospect of Nanashi showing interest on girls and viceversa.

He is a shy boy whose only reference in his life have been hot-bloodied Ashura-kai he grew up around, so he is just more subtle about it. Don't take a Yakuza affectionately calling you 'bro' as nothing.

I decided to group Asahi, Toki and Hallelujah together because they are the trio with the most, let's say... closeness and emotions-resembling-romance in one-on-one interactions towards Nanashi.

With the most crucial evidence being their final phrase conveying their desire towards the act of childbirth itself for you.

OHHHHHHHHH HOLY MOTHER OF NTR

Regardless of your interpretation concerning how Flynn and Isabeau saw each other, she being Flynn's last living teammate and her devotion towards giving assistance to his savior role grouped with she being neutral at best and being secretly disgusted by Nanashi at worst produces a not very... wholesome picture of this scenario.

If anything, the main reason one would think for why Isabeau continued to place trust on Nanashi's party had more to do with Asahi's presence. Isabeau as a partner is highly valued for her good skills in early game but she interestingly doesn't have close interactions with Nanashi as she has with Asahi.

The messiest element of all is that while Isabeau refuses to let Flynn kill her if Flynn sides with Law or Chaos out of not wanting his hands to get dirty, she will give no dignity to Nanashi and lets the young Hunter do as he pleases with her.

To which one cannot help but think as they watch this ending: Nanashi's memories of Isabeau aren't of warmth or friendship as he'd have for any of his other partners. These memories of Isabeau are based on how he watched Isabeau act towards Flynn.

This Goddess choice was made purely out of spite.

Due to what? Her coldness? Her refusal to think for herself aside mostly working for Flynn's sake?

Or simply to twist her into becoming his own tool instead of Flynn's?

Now start noticing the difference regarding Isabeau and the adults compared to Nanashi's young teen peers.

In the case of the adults, as they were less emotionally involved with Nanashi, they use childbirth more as means towards the end.

While Nozomi's baggage can't be compared to Isabeau's, I think of her as a messy option likewise since siding with Nanashi is going against the alignment she originally stood for, specially considering this memory of Nozomi has Danu inside her (she only got to know Nanashi after becoming the Queen of Fairies after all).

Goddess Nozomi particularly gave me a strong impression due to her being the only partner boasting her final quote with a determined face compared to others looking content or prideful. Then you remember why one of her skills is named the way it is.

Nanashi and Nozomi's relationship could be seen as a mirror to the tense mother-son rivalry between Dagda and Danu (which are essentially the main sides you can choose from) but also, when you think about before they even met each other, both were weak characters needing Flynn's help initially. However, through forming a contract to become an 'extension' of a Celtic deity, they gradually became able to stand on their own.

So Nanashi and Nozomi thematically are foils to each other and would be at odds not even necessarily due to each's own sense of morality but because they literally owe how far they got to the blessings Dagda and Danu gave them, respectively. To this argument, Nanashi definitely would pick her with spite just like with Isabeau.

While moments related to his character growth are mostly directed to characters that aren't Nanashi per se in the main story, I deem Gaston as the 'least detached' from the adult group as his attitude shift to protect Nanashi in his endgame partner lines gives you an impression that he developed a bias for the boy he once deemed filthy nonetheless, alongside his intense heartbroken reaction if Nanashi sides with Dagda in contrast to Nozomi's and Isabeau's cold approaches.

You could theorize that Gaston possibly reached the point of placing his full trust in Nanashi once the fact that the boy was the reincarnation of Akira AKA the very first king of Mikado was out, which means Nanashi indeed felt like the blessed figurehead he was desiring to fight for after distancing himself from Merkabah.

The irony in Massacre is that it ended up being that Nanashi did not, in fact, want to follow Akira's steps.

The way I see Goddess Gaston in Massacre, his role strongly matches Flynn's. Both think of themselves as retainers for Nanashi.

Isabeau fought to serve Flynn, Nozomi fought to shield her fairy allies and Gaston fought to eliminate threats against his kingdom.

Nanashi redirected their loyalty towards himself.

I left Navarre for last and separated from the two groups I mentioned since he's, by all purposes, the intended comical exception:

He is the only Goddess where Nanashi still uses his help instead of manipulating the Energy Sword on his own. He is the oldest of the cast and yet he is probably one of the characters with most emotional moments alone with Nanashi (in fact, the very last message in your inbox regardless of your Goddess of choice is always him pleading you to not regret your actions). And most of all, even above Asahi or Toki themselves, he seems the most... in-character of all the Goddesses.

One could argue that perhaps since he never had a body and could potentially shift his attitude according to the circumstances, his ending could even just be interpreted as he being held in custody by Dagda and just being released later.

Navarre only followed Nanashi in the first place because he had nothing or nobody else to turn to. He betrayed his kingdom, refused to face his family and past teammates, died at the hands of a demon and on top of it all, was unable to go to the other side.

And then he saw Nanashi. A dead person trapped in the living world just like his own situation. Nanashi and Navarre's bond was entirely out of chance and yet it could be said it was one of the most genuine of them.

Navarre could simply wander off from Nanashi once he noticed something wrong was happening, as he had no social obligations or strong ties. Nanashi could simply use Dagda's power to destroy the Energy Barriers himself, as shown in the other Goddess routes. But they kept being the company of each other in their lonely state of neither-life-or-death.

If Nanashi would choose the first Goddess group out of emotional ties and the second group for their use as tools, Navarre would essentially be Nanashi finding solace with the one he not necessarily cared about or found useful but just was always the most similar to: a detached soul that no matter what, stubbornly refused death.

Navarre despite everything, was able to meet Nanashi. After all they went through together, he becomes sure he will be able to meet many more like him.

[navarresimp]

Your honor to her defense she had a rough couple of days

Also Team ghost lets fucking gooooooooooooooooo

[kuzunoha-xiv]

toki smt iva really is the epitome of the “i have the potential to be a cool interesting character but i’m a woman in an atlus game” problem. poor girl

[thebladeblaster]

A new reaction image just dropped

Me to people who unironically like the weird Inanna stuff in Toki storyline:

We need to make this a thing it’s so funny.

[oozmium]

SMTIVA Translation Compilation

Here is a masterlist of SMTIVA related translations that can be found online to ease searching. Translators will be credited appropriately.

Important note: I am NOT the translator for any of these works. I have been granted permission to link these translations by the translators themselves. Please direct your support to the following people instead: dijeh, VerdantGrove, takujiluvr, @twilightmalachite .

Character Pages / Design Notes

Nanashi | Asahi | Nozomi | Navarre | Hallelujah (+ Chiro) | Gaston | Toki

Side Stories

Nikkari | Asahi | Hallelujah | Krishna

Demon-related / Mythology Topics

Monotheism vs. Polytheism

Dagda and Celtic Mythology

Krishna and Indian Mythology

Mysticism and Satan

Medusa and Greek Mythology

Maitreya and the Concept of Salvation in Buddhism

Odin and Germanic Deities

Sukuna Hikona and the Mythology of Powers in Ancient Japan

Taotie and the Myths of China

Chironnup and Ainu Mythology

The Birth of Humans and the Birth of Gods

Napaea and Fairy Tales

Inanna and Myths of the Orient

Adramalech and Pagan Demons

Tenkai and the Edo Mandala

Shesha and Dragon Gods around the world

Siegfried and Tales of Heroes

Myth and History

Cleopatra and Egyptian Civilization

Mephisto and the Demon Summoning Sorcerer

Misc. demons + worldbuilding

MISC TRANSLATIONS

SMT IVF Post-Release Interview (04/13/16)

SMT IVF Collab Menu: PT. 1 | PT. 2

SMT IVF Seiyuu Commentary taken from blogposts on the jp website

SMT IV Seiyuu Interview taken from jp website