56611


In a lot of isekai manga, the main character comes across someone or something
( _e.g._ a slime monster) that has no name, and must give a name to
him/her/it. Every time, the one who is given a name accepts it, is happy, etc.

For example:

  * In _Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken_ , Rimuru names all his villagers
  * In _Tondemo Skill de Isekai Hourou Meshi_ , ch. 10, the main character has to give a name to a newly tamed slime
  * In _The New Gate_ , Shin (ch. 10) and Schnee (ch. 26) give names to newly tamed beasts

Since isekai manga kind of aim to make true all the dreams/fantasies of the
reader ( _e.g._ the main character is super strong and has successful
romance), why is there such a focus on giving names?


CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-24T14:57:02.067
56609
2020-01-25T09:31:11.217
2020-01-24T23:03:18.200
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manga-production
Is naming things a fantasy in Japan?


I think it all comes done to hegemonic masculinity in the end. It's something
that a lots of artworks tends to go for, not only in Japan. It's been like
this for decades. There are lots of values attached to this concept. One of
them is the conqueror man. Finding new lands, discovering the unknown, is seen
as something valuable for a man.


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2020-01-24T15:06:54.230
56610
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I think you meant to say "fetish" rather than "fantasy"?

Not that I'm aware of, but in many cultures, naming is of great significance,
there are often attitudes that being given a name or title is perceived as a
great honour.

Catholics does this, for example, when they receive their [baptized
name](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_name); as well as Buddhists,
when they receive their [dharma
name](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharma_name).

Many monarchies have a tradition of the monarchs taking on a new [regnal
name](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regnal_name) when the new monarch
ascended to the throne.

It's also common trope for feudal servants/subordinates serving a new master
to take a new name, it's a sign of throwing away their past and therefore
subservience to the new master.

Another common trope is a new pet being drawn to feel happy when they're first
named. Often the trope goes that the pet feels unhappy/angry/uncomfortable
while the owner scrolled through a few names that then got rejected before
they ended with the one that the pet seems to respond well to (IRL, this is
likely just reflection of the owner being happy for having finally picked a
name, because chances are the pet doesn't care or understand).

This is definitely not unique to Isekai genre.


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2020-01-24T19:22:55.147
56611
2020-01-25T09:31:11.217
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I suspect that this is, rather than a fetish or a power fantasy, a reference
to one of the core things _isekai_ stories are based on -- JRPG video games.
As soon as there was memory on the cartridge to do so, these games have made
it so when you meet a new party member, or capture a monster, or anything of
that nature, you (the player) are given an opportunity to name them. You're
often given a default, or a set of options, but the names are in the end up to
you.

(Pokemon nicknames are probably the most well-known example of this to Western
audiences, and there have been a few -- I think early Dragon Quest games among
them? -- that don't provide default names at all, so fan discussion of the
characters can get a little tricky when it's just "that one cleric" or
whatever.)


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2020-01-25T04:51:10.497
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