![\"\"](\"https:\/\/r2.ygorganization.com\/2024\/01\/1833_20231215034511_img_1_DwpeAQtSEa4QX6wHJBRch0D9PjVBRwAVipzg4iw86pMRl8Yv7oLdcOcpxwqEipXF.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe Level 1 monster \u6bec\u9996 (\u30de\u30ea\u30b3\u30a6\u30d9) Marikoube is a play on two things, it appears. The first is the Kanji chosen is suspiciously close to \u6bec\u8349 (Igakusa), the Japanese name for the Rhynchospora Rubra, a type of sedge (a type of plant), that ends in a spikelet that somewhat resembles a chestnut.<\/p>\n
The second part is that its forced reading sounds similar to \u9ad1\u9acf (Sharekoube), a bleached white skull.<\/p>\n
The Level 3 monster \u77e2\u7b48\u5929\u725b (\u30e4\u30cf\u30ba\u30ab\u30df\u30ad\u30ea) Yahazukamakiri is another double wordplay. The first is the obvious reference to Kamikiri, the Japanese name of the long-horned beetle. But as Satch noted, the other half of the name reference is Yahazukiri, a lightning fast sword swing, hence the monster being a soldier drawing his sword. It means to essentially strike one down before they can ready their bow.<\/p>\n The Level 4 is pretty much just Armored Rock Lizard for the Kanji but \u30e8\u30ed\u30a4\u30c8\u30ab\u30b2 is literally the Japanese name for the Cordylidae family, that includes Girdled Lizards and Spinytail Lizards.<\/p>\n The Link 2 is pretty much just Musha (Warrior or Samurai) combined with Gashadokuro (A giant skeleton Yokai). The likely lack of a more complex name is that it’s a more expanded form of Marikoube.<\/p>\n The Link 3 is \u5fa1\u62dd\u795e\u4e3b Oogaminushi, which seems to be a tri-part reference. First is to \u30ab\u30de\u30ad\u30ea, the Japanese name of the Praying Mantis, referenced by its general design and double headed scythe. The name wording and the Kanji seems to infer its name is based on \u5927\u795e\u4e3b, a powerful or great Shinto Priest.<\/p>\n However, Eva notes this card is likely also referencing Ookuninushi, an important god in the myth cycle written down in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, the two classic and most cited sources of Japanese history. Namely, Ookuninushi is considered to be one of the primary Kunitsukami, the gods of the Earth, namely of what would come to be known as Japan.<\/p>\n Namely he is also heavily associated with the ancient province of Izumi (now Shimane) in Western Japan, and may reflect the region’s subjugation by the Yamato Court.<\/p>\n The Link 4 is \u9396\u86c7\u5df3, Kusarigami, is as noted, written as “Chained Snake Serpent”, but is a play on the Kusarigama (Sickle and Chain weapon) and \u30af\u30b5\u30ea\u30d8\u30d3, the Japanese name for the Viper (especially Pitless Vipers)<\/p>\n The Link 5 is \u5927\u738b\u9b3c\u7259, literally Great King Ogre Fang, but is a play on Daioh \u5927\u738b, someone of great authority, and Ogre. Visually the monster seems to be based on the Daioh Hirata Kuwagata, better known in the west as “Dorcus bucephalus”. The Kuwagata is specifically the Stag Beetle group, who are known as the Onimushi in Japan, i.e. Demonic Insects, due to their horns and ill temperment.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n