nocturnal YL Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 Yato no Kami are basically snakes that switch between getting revered as deities and repelled as pests depending on the era (and ruler). Besides having a cool-ish kanji name, I don't think this makes a good name for a weapon, let alone the main weapon of the story. I'm under the impression that its kanji name is why it's used, but as soon as I found out what it originally means, it lost its appeal to me. I guess the same can be said for the haraegushi. Those are random religious/cultural terms that only vaguely describe what they do. "By rescuing you, you're free of disaster"... I guess? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jedi Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 It sounds cool, simple as that. Games usually do that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryo Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 They probably chose that name because it has the word "night" in it XD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bookofholsety Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 considering we're talking about a series whose most iconic legendary weapon is named after a generic and relatively crude sword type, i'd say yato-no-kami is doing pretty okay for itself in this respect :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icarusu Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 I find Ama no Murakumo a more interesting name Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VincentASM Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 I think it's a multi-layered pun. Besides the mythology and the "night" connotation as mentioned, there's also the fact that "Kamui" and "Kami" are both ways to write "god". In any case, it seems not much is needed for a "good name", considering it's simply "Yato" in the English version : P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShadowKnight394 Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 From what I've read (I Googled it, so it may not be 100% correct), the Yato no Kami (which, according to Google, means 'Gods of the Night-Sword') are serpents that kill the family of whoever sees them. Considering what happens to the Avatar throughout the story, especially shortly before being chosen by the Yato, I find it a fitting name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shiningpikablu252 Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 ...Whoa, whoa, whoa. First off, last I checked, there's no sword by the name "Yato no kami" in this game. There's a weapon with a close name, known as "Yatōgami" in Japanese (and "Yato" internationally), but it's a katana, not a sword... (If you don't believe me, try looking up the wiki: http://www.fireemblemwiki.org/wiki/Name_chart/Fire_Emblem_Fates#Regalia_and_personal_weapons http://www.fireemblemwiki.org/wiki/Yato ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nocturnal YL Posted September 6, 2015 Author Share Posted September 6, 2015 (edited) From what I've read (I Googled it, so it may not be 100% correct), the Yato no Kami (which, according to Google, means 'Gods of the Night-Sword') are serpents that kill the family of whoever sees them. Considering what happens to the Avatar throughout the story, especially shortly before being chosen by the Yato, I find it a fitting name. Yato means valley, and "night sword" is just man'yogana for it. Yato no Kami are both feared and treated no different from household pests (because they are). Maybe you're right about the "kill the family" part. ...Whoa, whoa, whoa. First off, last I checked, there's no sword by the name "Yato no kami" in this game. There's a weapon with a close name, known as "Yatōgami" in Japanese (and "Yato" internationally), but it's a katana, not a sword... (If you don't believe me, try looking up the wiki: http://www.fireemblemwiki.org/wiki/Name_chart/Fire_Emblem_Fates#Regalia_and_personal_weapons http://www.fireemblemwiki.org/wiki/Yato ) The ethymological 夜刀神 is pronounced Yato no Kami or Yatsu no Kami. Some elements named after that, such as character names, may use Yatogami or a different pronunciation. Edited September 6, 2015 by nocturnal YL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zachmac Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 ...Whoa, whoa, whoa. First off, last I checked, there's no sword by the name "Yato no kami" in this game. There's a weapon with a close name, known as "Yatōgami" in Japanese (and "Yato" internationally), but it's a katana, not a sword... (If you don't believe me, try looking up the wiki: http://www.fireemblemwiki.org/wiki/Name_chart/Fire_Emblem_Fates#Regalia_and_personal_weapons http://www.fireemblemwiki.org/wiki/Yato ) Katanas are a type of sword. Just saying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AbsoluteZer0Nova Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 (edited) The fact that it's even called the Night God Blade (according to metoolazy) makes it sound like a Nohr path weapon... Edited September 6, 2015 by AbsoluteZer0Nova Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Cynthia- Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 I think the name might be kind of fitting based on the plot of the game actually. Big spoilers below. Hydra is a dragon(snake) that used to be revered as a deity but is now forgotten. Hydra is Kamui's father. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elieson Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 Good is a relative term Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bookofholsety Posted September 7, 2015 Share Posted September 7, 2015 (edited) ...Whoa, whoa, whoa. First off, last I checked, there's no sword by the name "Yato no kami" in this game. There's a weapon with a close name, known as "Yatōgami" in Japanese (and "Yato" internationally), but it's a katana, not a sword... (If you don't believe me, try looking up the wiki: http://www.fireemblemwiki.org/wiki/Name_chart/Fire_Emblem_Fates#Regalia_and_personal_weapons http://www.fireemblemwiki.org/wiki/Yato ) at the risk of generalising, it's common for names and titles in japanese mythology to include a "no" sound but not actually write it down; for instance, the yamata-no-orochi was historically written 八岐大蛇 instead of 八岐の大蛇, and the sword susanoo used to slay it is spelled 天羽々斬 instead of 天の羽々斬. yato-no-kami falls into the same deal; i've just been informed that the game actually clarifies its pronunciation right after it first turns up by having the avatar sort of echo it in hiragana: [speaking:]ユキムラ [Portrait:]怒, $SvpVOICE_YUKIMURA_EVT_05 そうです。 あれこそは、神刀『夜刀神』。▾ リョウマ様が王から受け継いだ『雷神刀』、 ミコト様がタクミ様に授けた『風神弓』が、▾ 闘いの神を宿す武具だとすれば…▾ その『夜刀神』は 資格持つ者だけが手にできる、▾ この世に救いをもたらす 唯一無二の刀なのです。▾ [speaking:]ユキムラ [exits] $WmKamui 3$w0 [speaking:]Kamui $SvpVOICE_PLAYER_M#_DAMAGE_00 [Portrait:]怒, 救いをもたらす刀…… やとの…かみ……▾ i like that wiki and all, but i'd be very careful taking it as a literal truth in matters like this. i mean, that kunai spiel thing is kind of embarrassing Edited September 7, 2015 by bookofholsety Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
posthumus77 Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 as a non native japanese speaker, i think we should try not to translate any word literaly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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