Nintendo’s latest IP, Splatoon, is chock-full of Japanese cultural references. A lot of them have already been reported on — here’s a fun video by The Game Theorists on the topic, and an article by Japan Info — but it’s hard to find a comprehensive list, given how many there are. So I’m going to be daring and try to make one. *gulp*

Inkopolis Plaza, the hub of Inkopolis, is full of Japanese goodies. Here are some you may have noticed, and a few you may have missed.

Inkopolis Tower

The iconic Inkopolis Tower has been widely reported to be based on the famous Tokyo Tower, once the tallest structure in the city. And I think that’s certainly part of it; the names are even patterned the same. But while the lower half is reminiscent of Tokyo Tower, I think the upper half looks more like Tokyo Skytree, currently the tallest structure in Japan.

Tokyo Tower Inkopolis Tower Tokyo Skytree

In fact, the Japanese name for Inkopolis Tower is イカスツリー (ikasu tsuri), a pun based on the name Sky Tree (スカイツリー，sukai tsuri).

But however you slice it, Inkopolis Tower definitely gives off Japanesey vibes.

Shibuya Crossing

One of the most famous crosswalks in the world, the scramble in Shibuya, Tokyo, is an unusual and spectacular place to visit. Often compared to Times Square in NYC, the Shibuya Scramble is directly in front of a busy train station, so it sees a lot of foot traffic, and that makes it a great place for the strategically placed monitors that tower overhead and blare endless advertisements. It’s also bears a striking resemblance to Inkopolis Plaza.

You can even watch a live stream of the Shibuya Crossing right now! How cool is that?

Watch it during rush hour, if you get the chance.

Kitsune and Tanuki

Beside Inkopolis Tower are statues of a Kitsune and a Tanuki, two prominent animal figures in Japanese folklore. What’re they all about, and why are they such huge centerpieces in Inkopolis? Honestly, if you really want to get into detail, one could write a whole article just on the significance of these two figures, but I’ll do a brief synopsis here.

Kitsune: The Kitsune is the famed fox of Japanese myths. While the fox plays many roles, perhaps it is most famously known for being the messenger of Inari, a principal deity in Shinto. Statues of Kitsune usually adorn Inari shrines, such as the famous Fushimi Inari shrine.

A Kitsune at the Fushimi Inari Shrine

You’ll notice the Kitsune from Inkopolis and the Fushimi Inari shrine, both pictured above, wear votive bibs (涎掛け, yodarekake). Apparently, these bibs are placed on Kitsune by worshippers as an act of devotion: the purpose of the bib is to keep the Kitsune from getting their coat messy while eating the fried tofu offerings left by devotees, according to this website. (Today I learned…)

So why is there a giant Kitsune towering over Inkopolis? No idea. But it does fit in with the city’s Japanese-y motif, wouldn’t you say? There’s a great, in-depth article about the role of the fox on Tofugu, which I recommend if you want more details.

Tanuki: Remember Raccoon Mario? Well he’s not a raccoon at all, he’s a Tanuki! The famous Japanese Raccoon Dog has a long history in the country’s legends and folklore, and is still commonly seen depicted today. He’s changed over the centuries from a deceptive and sometimes frightening character to a cute symbol of financial prosperity.

The Tanuki supposedly has 8 virtues, symbolized by his 1) Straw Hat, 2) Big Belly, 3) Tail, 4) Promissory Note, 5) Big Round Eyes, 6) Happy Smiling Face, 7) Sake Flask, and 8) Giant Scrotum (how delightful).You’ll notice the Inkopolis version is missing a few virtues, but it’s definitely the same guy. Tofugu has another in-depth article on Tanuki if you want to learn more, but it’s very, shall we say, anatomically focused in parts, so enter at your own risk.

Train Melodies

Train melodies are extremely popular in Japan, welcoming arriving trains and sending off departing ones. These catchy jingles are unique at each station (or group of stations) on a line, and they’ll definitely get stuck in your head as those stations become part of your regular commute. Some of these jingles are composed specifically for stations, but others are short variations of famous tunes.

The following videos showcase the song at Shinagawa/Tamachi/Hamamatsuchou stations, and the full set of JR Yamanote Line jingles, respectively. (Why those stations’ songs? Selfish reasons: they’re the most nostalgic for me!)

The train station at Inkopolis Plaza has its own jingle as well. You can hear it in the video below as the train pulls into the station. It’s the theme from the Squid Sisters’ hit song Calamari Inkantation.

If you just can’t get enough of Japanese train jingles, check out this article on them.

相合傘 (Heart Umbrellas)

The expression 相合傘 (aiaigasa) in Japanese means “sharing an umbrella” and has a romantic connotation. It’s a bit of a play on words: the first two characters mean join together, but are read the same as the word for love (愛, ai). 相合傘 is also the name for the doodle you may have noticed in Inkopolis Plaza (or maybe while you were in Japan); it’s the equivalent of writing the names of two people in a heart pierced by an arrow here in the USA. It’s an umbrella with a heart on top, and you write the names of two romantically involved people, one on each side of the umbrella handle.

The Inkling version looks a bit different though. The “umbrella” has two extra lines, making it look more like a heart squid than a heart umbrella.

Awwwww. (Then again, given that it’s been graffitied in such a public place, it’s possible that it’s been done as a prank on two fresh squids…)

Tactile Paving

Tactile paving is a system used in many countries — including here in the USA — to assist visually impaired persons navigate. But it is more prevalent in some places than others. For example, it’s everywhere in Japan. Well, maybe not everywhere. But on all the sidewalks and in all the train stations, at least.

Photo: Nippon.com on Twitter

Blocks with lines tell the user to keep walking, and blocks with raised domes indicate a stop or intersection. Study the tactile paving in Inkopolis and look for the differences!

Vending Machines

Vending machines are kind of a big deal in Japan. According to Wikipedia, Japan has the highest number of vending machines per capita, with about one machine for every twenty-three people! So it isn’t surprising at all that we find vending machines scattered throughout Inkopolis Plaza and even in the various battling stages.

I need a Boss coffee and I need it now, dang it!!!

Huge Ferris Wheels

So apparently, Japan really loves giant Ferris Wheels. I’ve had the pleasure of riding one, and it is sort of heart-stopping. Is it any wonder, then, that the most bustling, freshest metropolis of them all would have one nearby too?

Inkopolis Ferris Wheel Tempozan Ferris Wheel, Osaka, Japan

Looks sort of familiar…

Ikayaki

Ikayaki (イカ焼き), baked or grilled squid, is a popular fast food in Japan. It can be served whole, cut into rings, or whole or in pieces on a stick, drizzled with soy sauce. If you’re from America and haven’t had the pleasure of visiting Japan, you’ve probably never even seen what it looks like. BEHOLD!

As you can see, the test dummies clearly resemble ikayaki — which is sliced like that before cooking because the skin will constrict when heated, like a hotdog. The same slice pattern appears on Callie and Marie’s dresses.

And speaking of the Squid Sisters…

Pop Idols

Japan’s entertainment industry has a huge and rabid fanbase fueled by Japanese Idols. These pop idols are manufactured from a young age, with no prior experience and sometimes no real skill, and molded into huge media personalities followed fanatically by everyone. Snippet from Wikipedia:

Their songs typically do not require great singing skills; their popular appeal comes largely from the attractiveness of their public image. Idols are often not considered “serious” musicians or “serious” actors. Consequently, many young stars now reject the idol label in their desire to be seen as professionals rather than as objects of fanatical devotion.

They usually start as pop singers and then branch out into television, modeling, and so on. Maybe even news anchors, perhaps?

AKB48 Arashi Momoiro Clover Z Squid Sisters

My favorite of the groups above is 嵐 (Arashi), who have their own variety show, VS嵐, where they challenge celebrity guests to strange games and physical challenges while making fun of each other. And here’s an entire episode, with English subtitles! Please, feel free to watch it. I’ll wait.

Anyway, the point is, while letting Justin Bieber or Brittany Spears host their own TV show might sound strange to us, it really isn’t that much of a stretch from a Japanese Idol perspective. So, if you’ve ever wondered why the Squid Sisters are allowed to host the daily news, now you know.

The Rainmaker

Here’s a neat one. The weapon known as the Rainmaker is actually based on a figure known as 鯱鉾 (shachihoko), a mythological figure with the head of a tiger and the body of a carp that was believed to cause — wait for iiiiiit — rain to fall.

There’s usually two ornaments placed on a rooftop, a male on the left and a female on the right, to provide protection against fire with their rain-control powers.

“Squid Ink”

I don’t know if this counts as a Japanese reference, or as just Japanese. But while most of the writing in Inkopolis is a weird mesh of Japanese and English looking characters that aren’t really legible, there’s at least one instance of actual, readable Japanese in Booyah Base. It reads いかすみ (ikasumi), and means Squid Ink.

What does it all mean?! Do Inklings drink their own Ink as coffee? Or is it just a clever name, because coffee looks inky? Is that even a coffee cup? The world may never know.

カップラーメン (Cup Ramen)

The Japanese version tastes way better than ours, and are often available in — you guessed it — vending machines.

A little pre-Piranha Pit pick-me-up, perhaps?

Spicy Wasabi Beats

DJ Octavio’s allusion to “wasabi beats” isn’t purely metaphorical. He’s actually using stems of wasabi to mix his music. Check it out:

Even if you’re a fan of sushi, you’ve probably never tried the real thing. Most wasabi served in sushi restaurants — even sushi restaurants in Japan — is actually a substitute mixture made of horseradish and mustard. This is because wasabi is extremely difficult to cultivate and therefore very expensive — it goes for about $160 per kilo.

Anyway, real wasabi is made by grating the stems, which it looks like DJ Octavio is doing during the battle. Pretty amusing, but unless you happen to know what ungrated wasabi stems look like, it might have gone right over your head.

若葉マーク (Wakaba Mark)

You may have noticed the wakaba mark around Inkopolis, or while you were in Japan. In the real world, this yellow and green symbol is a mark that new drivers are required to have on their vehicles to indicate that they’re beginners, but it has been expanded to areas outside of driving to mean “for beginners.” Inkopolis has a Squiddy version:

This reference carries over into weapons as well. The name for the Splattershot Jr. in Japanese is the Wakaba Shooter, because it’s great for beginners. But wait, there’s more! The Custom Splattershot Jr. is named after a similar yellow and orange symbol that exists for elderly drivers, and which may look familiar to you:

So I guess if you’re using a Custom Splattershot Jr., you must be old.

That’s it for the references I found. Did I miss anything? Leave it in the comments!

(Note: I didn’t try to cover the gobs of puns that exist in the Japanese and English versions, because puns are hard to translate and explain and also because there’s just too many of them. But puns in and of themselves are an extremely Japanese-y form of humor, so it might be fun to cover in a separate article sometime!)

Thanks for reading.

This article is part of the Inkopolis 101 series. Read more below: