Notes:
The prominence of marginality in Final Fantasy X can be explained in several ways. First, marginality is different and exciting, and since video games are primarily a source of entertainment, these differences help make the game more fun. Nojima Kazushige, the scenario writer for Final Fantasy X, states that, “the story is a mixture of everything – it reflects the way I was . . . born and brought up in Japan” (Final Fantasy lives on). Perhaps minorities and marginality are becoming a more prominent part of life in Japan, and their inclusion in the game parallels this growing influence. Because the minority groups and setting of the game are fictional, these example s of overcoming prejudice and efforts to pass could be an attempt to look at the issues of discrimination and stereotypes in a non-threatening way. Even if these efforts are unintentional, they still reflect the fact that dealing with marginality is a contemporary issue in Japan, and although old stereotypes are still alive, current efforts tend more towards a desire for unification and acceptance of diversity.