Johto: Difference between revisions

|image=HGSS Johto.jpg

[[Junichi Masuda]] has stated in his director's column that the kanji that inspired the name mean "castle palace" (城都) or "lattice-shaped palace" (条都)<ref>http://www.gamefreak.co.jp/blog/dir/?p=218 2009/5/27</ref>; this meaning is connected to the city of {{wp|Nara, Nara|Nara}}, which was the basis for [[Violet City]].

Regardless of their proximity, the people of Johto and those of Kanto are set apart by many cultural differences. Johto is based on the real {{wp|Kansai region}} in Japan. This trait is most noticeable in its geography; however, the Kansai influence also defines the culture in Johto. Kansai residents are known for their attitudes against typical Japanese standards, mostly due to the historical rivalry between the region, once the major seat of political power, and the real {{wp|Kantō region}} where Tokyo, the current capital, is located. The soil of the Kansai region is rich, unlike the volcanic Kantō region, and this is perhaps referenced by the in-game Kanto region's inability to maintain a [[Berry]] crop in [[Generation III]]. People from Kansai are considered to be more relaxed. Kansai and Kantō, however different, are the two most important areas of Honshū, the largest island in Japan, and, much like Johto and Kanto, represent a harmony of contrasting cultures living together. The cultural divide is most noticeable in the games, as the player talks to and learns about the denizens of both regions.

At some point later, outsiders began to gather near the ruins. As the Unown were timid creatures, they rejected contact with anyone but the clan that protected them. To ensure the Unown's well being, the Ruins of Alph's inhabitants decided to leave the region, but not without devising complicated puzzles so that one day the Unown could be summoned again. As for the clan, their quest led them to a mountain far to the north, where they met another group of people who had hailed from the [[Spear Pillar]]. Together, the two groups built a temple in honor of {{p|Arceus}}, which incorporated elements from both the Ruins of Alph and the Spear Pillar; this collaboration probably has to do with the underlying relationship between Arceus and the Unown. The temple, too, has since been left in ruins and its lowest floor is now known as the [[Sinjoh Ruins]]; however, the ritual of honoring [[legendary Pokémon]] through dance circulated back to Johto, specifically to [[Ecruteak City]].

But Ethan/Kris/Lyra's most notable effect on Johto lies in their ability to encounter all three of the [[legendary beasts]], as well as summon the Unown, Lugia and Ho-Oh after their long absence. A new chapter in the region's history begins.

| A city that even now bears the marks of its history. Located here are [[Bell Tower]], a tower that's said to have a [[legendary Pokémon]] that lands there, and [[Burned Tower]], a tower that was hit by lightning, and subsequently caught fire and burned.

Johto features some unique and scenic landmarks, whether they be natural or man-made. It prides itself towards mythology and tradition features, with most of the buildings, towers, caves, and locations holding a historical background. Some of the oldest places in Johto, even the Pokémon world, include the [[Ruins of Alph]], [[Sprout Tower]], [[Bell Tower]], [[Burned Tower]], and the [[Slowpoke Well]]. The Ruin of Alph, located in central Johto, is the threshold to an ancient civilization that first contacted the Unown, and became the base of which the first system for writing was formed. The Ruins of Alph have said to have been around for at least 1500 year before modern times which makes it one of the first known structures built in the history of Pokémon. As of today, the ruins are being researched by scientists and are able to be visited as a tourist attraction by visitors. The two towers of Ecruteak City which include the [[Bell Tower]] and the [[Burned Tower]] are oldest towers in the Pokémon world, dating back to 700 years ago. The two nine-tier towers were built to foster friendship and hope between Pokémon and people and the view from the top of the towers was said to be magnificent. The towers attracted many people to the city, until about 150 years ago, a lightning bolt struck the western tower, engulfing it in flames, burning the tower down. The towers are surrounded in mystery, and are said to be home to [[legendary Pokémon]], however, at this present point, only the ruins of the Burned Tower can be explored by Trainers, and the Bell Tower is off limits to most people.

Although the Johto region prides itself on the beach and some of its sea-side towns, the region has very few aquatic landmarks. The [[Lake of Rage]] is the region's most prominent water attraction, said to have been a smoking crater until it filled with rainwater. The lake is home to the world famous [[red Gyarados]]. Because of this irritable Pokémon, the lake was marked a dangerous place to go, since the Gyarados started tipping over boats and scaring swimmers. Another famous water landmark is the [[Whirl Islands]]. Named after the dangerous whirlpools that surround them, the Whirl Islands are four islands between Olivine and Cianwood City that are connected by a maze-like cavernous structure under the water's surface. It is said that at the heart of the caves a legendary Pokémon can be found.

| style="text-align:left;" |  Kasado City is located on [[Silver Rock Isle]] of the [[Whirl Islands]]. Almost everything in it is shaped like the {{DL|Legendary artifacts|Silver Wing}}.

| style="text-align:left;" |  Megi City is located on the southern end of [[Yellow Rock Isle]] in the [[Whirl Islands]]. The whole city is created upon {{p|Corsola}} nests, and most of the shops there sell jewelery made from shed Corsola horns.

| style="text-align:left;" |  Pudgey Pidgey Island is a small island located off the coast of [[Blue Point Isle]] in the [[Whirl Islands]] where extremely large {{p|Pidgey}} live. It is a mostly forested island. The island is connected to land only by a small rope bridge. The sole human that made his abode there is named [[Wilbur]].

| style="text-align:left;" |  The Secret Garden is a secret location on the island city of [[Alto Mare]]. Secret Garden is the home of the legendary Pokémon {{p|Latias}} and {{p|Latios}}. It is an incredibly large place surrounded by a stone wall, and has many fountains made of brick and contains grassy fields, all sorts of flowers, ponds, trees varying in size and essentially looks like a Venetian garden.

| style="text-align:left;" |  Silver Rock Isle is one of the four main islands in the [[Whirl Islands]] archipelago. It has a strong connection to the {{DL|Legendary artifacts|Silver Wing}} and to the [[Legendary Pokémon]] {{p|Lugia}}

| From 城都 (성도), ''seongdo''.

| Chinese ({{tt|Mandarin|Taiwan and mainland China}})

| From 城都. Can mean "walled capital". May also be a reference to 都城 ''dūchéng'', "capital city".

| Джото ''Djoto''

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