Game Theory: Pokemon Racism, Jynx Justified

Jynx is Game Theory's fourth-greatest arch-nemesis. In January 2000, Pokemon was accused of featuring racist stereotypes through the black-faced, big-lipped character of Jynx.

• Game Theory covered classical opera, 90s Japanese fashion trends, and Christmas poetry to explain Jynx's appearance • Despite extensive research, the host was unable to decide definitively about Jynx's inspiration

Izzy, a loyal theorist, conducted independent research and provided discoveries that would serve as the definitive answer to the racist Pokemon controversy.

This episode presents Izzy's findings on the true origins and cultural inspiration behind Jynx's design and characteristics.

The yama-uba, or mountain crone, is a supernatural monster from Japanese folklore who cannibalistically feeds on unsuspecting travelers, with a specific craving for children.

• Long hair that is golden white • Wears a tattered red kimono • Has a second demon mouth hidden under her hair on the back of her head

The golden-white hair and red kimono directly match two key elements of Jynx's design and appearance.

The yama-uba represents a well-established monster from traditional Japanese culture that predates modern interpretations.

Noh Theater is a form of classical Japanese musical drama that dates back to the 14th century, featuring traditional storytelling through performance.

• A female dancer called Hyakuma Yamanba embarks on a pilgrimage with attendants • At a river boundary, they are warned the mountain pass is too steep • They are offered lodgings by a mysterious old woman who is revealed to be the supernatural Yama-uba

The Yama-uba herself performs the long dance which ends the play, making dancing the central element of the character.

The constant emphasis on dance in the Noh drama directly parallels Jynx's defining characteristic of seductive dancing and hip movements.

• Red/Blue: Seductively wiggles its hips as it walks and can cause people to dance in unison • Yellow: Appears to move to a rhythm of its own, as if dancing • Gold: Rocks its body rhythmically and alters rhythm depending on how it feels • Silver: Uses dancing to communicate

Dancing is the constant mention throughout all Pokedex entries, emphasized far more than ice or psychic abilities, or even its female appearance.

Yama-uba is also known for her seductive dance, creating a direct parallel to Jynx's primary characteristic.

This connection strongly suggests that Jynx's dancing behavior is intentionally based on the Yama-uba character from Noh theater.

In another Noh drama called Yamauba Dame of the Mountain, the title character is portrayed as a fairy who decks the mountains in snow during winter months.

Jynx's ice type and powers directly correspond to the Yama-uba's association with winter and snow in traditional Noh theater.

The Yama-uba's winter association provides explanation for Jynx's appearance in a banned Pokemon Christmas episode.

The ice type is not arbitrary but deeply rooted in the original Japanese folklore and Noh theater traditions.

Throughout most of history, the Mountain Crone was seen as purely evil, but in recent times she has taken on more positive aspects in the public eye.

Contemporary representations of the Yama-uba portray her as a sort of harvest deity rather than a cannibalistic demon.

Around Nagano, the story goes that Yama-uba descends every 19th and 20th of December carrying a magical gourd to buy large amounts of sake, temporarily raising market value.

This transformation from evil creature to positive figure reflects how folklore evolves and how Jynx can be understood as a positive character despite historical darkness in the source myth.

Noh performers in the role of Yama-uba wear heavy tanning or black face as part of the traditional costume and makeup.

Ganguro is a Japanese fashion trend where girls darken their faces to look brown, with origins either as rebellion against tradition or as mimicry of black celebrities.

There is a variety of ganguro called yamamba, a name derived directly from Yama-uba, which represents an homage to the folklore character.

Jynx's black face and exaggerated lips derive from Noh theater costume traditions and Japanese cultural fashion trends, not from racist mockery.

Jynx is not racist. Like most other Pokemon, her origins harken back to Japanese folklore.

• Hair and clothes match Yama-uba imagery • Seductive wiggle derives from Noh theater dance • Ice powers connect to winter mythology • Black face with big lips originates from Noh performer makeup and ganguro fashion

People can make a fuss and wait years for answers, or they can conduct research before reacting to accusations.

The series exists to clean up misunderstandings through thorough research and cultural education.