Braille

Braille (Japanese: 点字 braille, lit. dot characters) is a method of communication that uses a series of three-by-two grids of raised dots to represent characters. In the Hoenn region and the Sevii Islands, it is considered an ancient script that is associated with the Legendary Pokémon Regirock, Regice, Registeel, and to a lesser extent, Regigigas.

The braille chart that was included with Australian copies of FireRed and LeafGreen
The braille chart posted on the Japanese site for Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire

In the games

Braille is present in the core series Pokémon games Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, FireRed, LeafGreen, Omega Ruby, and Alpha Sapphire, where it is used as a cipher consisting of strictly a visual collection of dots. Although English, French, and German Braille are usually written using contracted braille, Western-language games use uncontracted braille without any accented letters, apart from Ä, Ö, and Ü in German. Korean-language games do use contracted Korean Braille, however.

A chart to decode the braille was included as an insert with Japanese[1][2][3][4] and Australian copies[5][6] and in the instruction booklet of European copies[7][8][9] of Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, FireRed, and LeafGreen. The instruction booklet included with North American copies does not include a braille chart, instead including a Trainer Tip recommending that players contact Nintendo for help with braille[10][11][12]; the Nintendo Power and Prima Games guidebooks do include a braille chart, however.

A digital version of the original chart was posted on the Japanese official site for Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. Additionally, a braille chart is included in Pokémon Omega Ruby & Pokémon Alpha Sapphire: The Official Hoenn Region Strategy Guide.

The Japanese and Australian inserts and the European instruction booklets include a message from the Game Freak's Development Department, while the Japanese inserts and site additionally include a message from Tetsuji Tanaka, the chairman of the Japan Braille Library.

Message from Game Freak
Message from Tetsuji Tanaka

Inscriptions in Hoenn

The braille inscription on the entrance to the Sealed Chamber in Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald
The braille inscription on the entrance to the Sealed Chamber in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire

In Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Omega Ruby, and Alpha Sapphire, a strictly visual form of braille is used to encode the instructions for opening gates inside the three caves that contain the legendary giants.

In order to enter those caves in the first place, the player must find a chamber that depicts the entire alphabet encoded in braille. This chamber leads to another section narrating the tale of an ancient civilization, which is implied to be the one that closed all these doors, and ultimately giving instructions on how to open the three caves.

Sealed Chamber

Entrance
Braille English
⠛⠕⠀⠥⠏⠀⠓⠑⠗⠑⠲ GO UP HERE.
First chamber
Braille English
⠙⠊⠛⠀⠓⠑⠗⠑⠲ DIG HERE.
⠁⠃⠉
⠙⠑⠋

⠛⠓⠊
⠚⠅⠇

⠍⠝⠕
⠏⠟⠗⠎
⠞⠥⠧
⠺⠭⠽⠵
ABC
DEF
.
GHI
JKL
,
MNO
PQRS
TUV
WXYZ
Second chamber
Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald
Braille English
⠊⠝⠀⠞⠓⠊⠎⠀⠉⠁⠧⠑⠀⠺⠑⠀⠓⠁⠧⠑⠀⠇⠊⠧⠑⠙⠲
⠺⠑⠀⠕⠺⠑⠀⠁⠇⠇⠀⠞⠕⠀⠞⠓⠑⠀⠏⠕⠅⠑⠍⠕⠝⠲
⠃⠥⠞⠂⠀⠺⠑⠀⠎⠑⠁⠇⠑⠙⠀⠞⠓⠑⠀⠏⠕⠅⠑⠍⠕⠝⠀⠁⠺⠁⠽⠲
⠺⠑⠀⠋⠑⠁⠗⠑⠙⠀⠊⠞⠲
⠞⠓⠕⠎⠑⠀⠺⠊⠞⠓⠀⠉⠕⠥⠗⠁⠛⠑⠂⠀⠞⠓⠕⠎⠑⠀⠺⠊⠞⠓⠀⠓⠕⠏⠑⠲
⠕⠏⠑⠝⠀⠁⠀⠙⠕⠕⠗⠲⠀⠁⠝⠀⠑⠞⠑⠗⠝⠁⠇⠀⠏⠕⠅⠑⠍⠕⠝⠀⠺⠁⠊⠞⠎⠲
IN THIS CAVE WE HAVE LIVED.
WE OWE ALL TO THE POKEMON.
BUT, WE SEALED THE POKEMON AWAY.
WE FEARED IT.
THOSE WITH COURAGE, THOSE WITH HOPE.
OPEN A DOOR. AN ETERNAL POKEMON WAITS.
⠋⠊⠗⠎⠞⠀⠉⠕⠍⠑⠎⠀⠗⠑⠇⠊⠉⠁⠝⠞⠓⠲⠀⠇⠁⠎⠞⠀⠉⠕⠍⠑⠎⠀⠺⠁⠊⠇⠕⠗⠙⠲RS
⠋⠊⠗⠎⠞⠀⠉⠕⠍⠑⠎⠀⠺⠁⠊⠇⠕⠗⠙⠲⠀⠇⠁⠎⠞⠀⠉⠕⠍⠑⠎⠀⠗⠑⠇⠊⠉⠁⠝⠞⠓⠲E
FIRST COMES RELICANTH. LAST COMES WAILORD.RS
FIRST COMES WAILORD. LAST COMES RELICANTH.E
Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Braille English
⠇⠕⠝⠛⠀⠙⠊⠙⠀⠺⠑⠀⠇⠊⠧⠑⠀⠓⠑⠗⠑⠀⠊⠝⠀⠞⠓⠊⠎⠀⠉⠁⠧⠑⠲
⠁⠇⠇⠀⠞⠓⠁⠝⠅⠎⠀⠞⠕⠀⠞⠓⠑⠀⠏⠕⠺⠑⠗⠋⠥⠇⠀⠏⠕⠅⠑⠍⠕⠝⠀⠇⠊⠧⠊⠝⠛⠀⠁⠇⠕⠝⠛⠎⠊⠙⠑⠀⠥⠎⠲
⠽⠑⠞⠂⠀⠺⠑⠀⠎⠑⠁⠇⠑⠙⠀⠞⠓⠁⠞⠀⠏⠕⠅⠑⠍⠕⠝⠀⠁⠺⠁⠽⠂⠀⠁⠇⠕⠝⠑⠀⠊⠝⠀⠞⠓⠑⠀⠙⠁⠗⠅⠲
⠺⠑⠀⠋⠑⠁⠗⠑⠙⠀⠊⠞⠲
⠊⠋⠀⠽⠕⠥⠀⠓⠁⠧⠑⠀⠞⠓⠑⠀⠉⠕⠥⠗⠁⠛⠑⠂⠀⠊⠋⠀⠽⠕⠥⠀⠎⠞⠊⠇⠇⠀⠓⠕⠇⠙⠀⠞⠕⠀⠓⠕⠏⠑⠂
⠕⠏⠑⠝⠀⠞⠓⠑⠀⠙⠕⠕⠗⠲⠀⠋⠕⠗⠀⠃⠑⠽⠕⠝⠙⠀⠊⠞⠀⠞⠓⠑⠀⠑⠞⠑⠗⠝⠁⠇⠀⠏⠕⠅⠑⠍⠕⠝⠀⠺⠁⠊⠞⠎⠲
LONG DID WE LIVE HERE IN THIS CAVE.
ALL THANKS TO THE POWERFUL POKEMON LIVING ALONGSIDE US.
YET, WE SEALED THAT POKEMON AWAY, ALONE IN THE DARK.
WE FEARED IT.
IF YOU HAVE THE COURAGE, IF YOU STILL HOLD TO HOPE,
OPEN THE DOOR. FOR BEYOND IT THE ETERNAL POKEMON WAITS.
⠋⠊⠗⠎⠞⠀⠉⠕⠍⠑⠎⠀⠗⠑⠇⠊⠉⠁⠝⠞⠓⠲⠀⠇⠁⠎⠞⠀⠉⠕⠍⠑⠎⠀⠺⠁⠊⠇⠕⠗⠙⠲ FIRST COMES RELICANTH. LAST COMES WAILORD.

Island Cave

Ruby and Sapphire
Braille English
⠎⠞⠕⠏⠀⠁⠝⠙
⠺⠁⠊⠞⠲⠀⠺⠁⠊⠞
⠋⠕⠗⠀⠞⠊⠍⠑⠀⠞⠕
⠏⠁⠎⠎⠀⠞⠺⠊⠉⠑⠲
STOP AND
WAIT. WAIT
FOR TIME TO
PASS TWICE.
Emerald
Braille English
⠎⠞⠁⠽⠀⠉⠇⠕⠎⠑
⠞⠕⠀⠞⠓⠑⠀⠺⠁⠇⠇⠲
⠗⠥⠝⠀⠁⠗⠕⠥⠝⠙
⠕⠝⠑⠀⠇⠁⠏⠲
STAY CLOSE
TO THE WALL.
RUN AROUND
ONE LAP.
Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Braille English
⠎⠞⠕⠏⠀⠁⠝⠙⠀⠺⠁⠊⠞
⠥⠝⠍⠕⠧⠊⠝⠛⠀⠁⠎
⠞⠊⠍⠑⠀⠏⠁⠎⠎⠑⠎
⠽⠕⠥⠀⠃⠽⠀⠞⠺⠊⠉⠑⠲
STOP AND WAIT
UNMOVING AS
TIME PASSES
YOU BY TWICE.

Desert Ruins

Ruby and Sapphire
Braille English
⠗⠊⠛⠓⠞⠂⠀⠗⠊⠛⠓⠞⠂
⠙⠕⠺⠝⠂⠀⠙⠕⠺⠝⠲
⠞⠓⠑⠝⠂⠀⠥⠎⠑
⠎⠞⠗⠑⠝⠛⠞⠓⠲
RIGHT, RIGHT,
DOWN, DOWN.
THEN, USE
STRENGTH.
Emerald
Braille English
⠇⠑⠋⠞⠂⠀⠇⠑⠋⠞⠂
⠙⠕⠺⠝⠂⠀⠙⠕⠺⠝⠲
⠞⠓⠑⠝⠂⠀⠥⠎⠑
⠗⠕⠉⠅⠀⠎⠍⠁⠎⠓⠲
LEFT, LEFT,
DOWN, DOWN.
THEN, USE
ROCK SMASH.
Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Braille English
⠗⠊⠛⠓⠞⠂⠀⠗⠊⠛⠓⠞⠂
⠙⠕⠺⠝⠂⠀⠙⠕⠺⠝⠂
⠞⠓⠑⠝⠀⠥⠎⠑⠀⠽⠕⠥⠗
⠎⠞⠗⠑⠝⠛⠞⠓⠲
RIGHT, RIGHT,
DOWN, DOWN,
THEN USE YOUR
STRENGTH.

Ancient Tomb

Ruby and Sapphire
Braille English
⠺⠊⠞⠓⠀⠝⠑⠺⠀⠞⠊⠍⠑⠂
⠓⠕⠏⠑⠀⠁⠝⠙⠀⠇⠕⠧⠑⠂
⠁⠊⠍⠀⠞⠕⠀⠞⠓⠑⠀⠎⠅⠽
⠊⠝⠀⠞⠓⠑⠀⠍⠊⠙⠙⠇⠑⠲
WITH NEW TIME,
HOPE AND LOVE,
AIM TO THE SKY
IN THE MIDDLE.
Emerald
Braille English
⠞⠓⠕⠎⠑⠀⠺⠓⠕
⠊⠝⠓⠑⠗⠊⠞⠀⠕⠥⠗
⠺⠊⠇⠇⠂⠀⠎⠓⠊⠝⠑
⠊⠝⠀⠞⠓⠑⠀⠍⠊⠙⠙⠇⠑⠲
THOSE WHO
INHERIT OUR
WILL, SHINE
IN THE MIDDLE.
Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Braille English
⠎⠞⠁⠝⠙⠀⠉⠑⠝⠞⠑⠗⠲
⠁⠊⠍⠀⠞⠕⠀⠞⠓⠑⠀⠎⠅⠽
⠺⠊⠞⠓⠀⠇⠕⠧⠑⠀⠁⠝⠙
⠓⠕⠏⠑⠀⠁⠝⠙⠀⠞⠊⠍⠑⠲
STAND CENTER.
AIM TO THE SKY
WITH LOVE AND
HOPE AND TIME.

Inscriptions in the Sevii Islands

Braille inscriptions are also present in FireRed and LeafGreen, where the player needs to find the Ruby and the Sapphire. The first inscriptions are found where the Ruby lies, featuring the entire alphabet, then focusing on the meaning of life; the next inscriptions found give instructions leading to the Sapphire, then narrate the purpose of these two items combined by two people. This possibly references Bill and Celio, who use the aftermentioned items to create a device that allows FireRed and LeafGreen to be compatible for trading with Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald.

Mt. Ember

Braille English
⠑⠧⠑⠗⠽⠞⠓⠊⠝⠛⠀⠓⠁⠎⠀⠍⠑⠁⠝⠊⠝⠛
⠑⠭⠊⠎⠞⠑⠝⠉⠑⠀⠓⠁⠎⠀⠍⠑⠁⠝⠊⠝⠛
⠃⠑⠊⠝⠛⠀⠁⠇⠊⠧⠑⠀⠓⠁⠎⠀⠍⠑⠁⠝⠊⠝⠛
⠓⠁⠧⠑⠀⠙⠗⠑⠁⠍⠎
⠥⠎⠑⠀⠏⠕⠺⠑⠗⠲
EVERYTHING HAS MEANING
EXISTENCE HAS MEANING
BEING ALIVE HAS MEANING
HAVE DREAMS
USE POWER.

Dotted Hole

Entrance
Braille English
⠉⠥⠞ CUT
Floor puzzle
Floor Braille English
B1F ⠥⠏ UP
B2F ⠇⠑⠋⠞ LEFT
B2F ⠗⠊⠛⠓⠞ RIGHT
B2F ⠙⠕⠺⠝ DOWN
Bottom floor
Braille English
⠇⠑⠞⠀⠞⠓⠑⠀⠞⠺⠕⠀⠛⠇⠊⠞⠞⠑⠗⠊⠝⠛⠀⠎⠞⠕⠝⠑⠎
⠕⠝⠑⠀⠊⠝⠀⠗⠑⠙
⠕⠝⠑⠀⠊⠝⠀⠃⠇⠥⠑
⠉⠕⠝⠝⠑⠉⠞⠀⠞⠓⠑⠀⠏⠁⠎⠞⠲
⠞⠺⠕⠀⠋⠗⠊⠑⠝⠙⠎⠀⠎⠓⠁⠗⠊⠝⠛⠀⠏⠕⠺⠑⠗⠀⠕⠏⠑⠝⠀⠁⠀⠺⠊⠝⠙⠕⠺⠀⠞⠕⠀⠁⠀⠝⠑⠺⠀⠺⠕⠗⠇⠙⠀⠞⠓⠁⠞⠀⠛⠇⠕⠺⠎⠲
⠞⠓⠑⠀⠝⠑⠭⠞⠀⠺⠕⠗⠇⠙⠀⠺⠁⠊⠞⠎⠀⠋⠕⠗⠀⠽⠕⠥⠲
LET THE TWO GLITTERING STONES
ONE IN RED
ONE IN BLUE
CONNECT THE PAST.
TWO FRIENDS SHARING POWER OPEN A WINDOW TO A NEW WORLD THAT GLOWS.
THE NEXT WORLD WAITS FOR YOU.

In the manga

The braille at the end of Volume 42, which reads 幸せ 祝福 43巻へ続く (The Blessing of Happiness continues in vol. 43)

Pokémon Adventures

Main article: List of Pokémon Adventures chapters

From Volume 15 to Volume 42, the subtitle for the next volume is written in Japanese Braille at the end of the volume. Additionally, from Blowing Past Nosepass II to All About Arceus IX, the subtitle for each chapter is written in Japanese Braille on the chapter's title page. All of the volume and chapter subtitles within an arc are decoded and listed at the end of the arc. Although the braille itself is not localized, the lists at the end of each arc are translated to English in both the VIZ Media and Chuang Yi translations, though the subtitles for Volume 23 and Volume 26 in the VIZ Media translation and the subtitles in the FireRed & LeafGreen arc in the Chuang Yi translation were not translated.

The stone tablet in Pokémon Adventures

Ruby & Sapphire arc

In Pokémon Adventures, the braille inscription from the Sealed Chamber in Pokémon Emerald is instead on a damaged stone plate, which first appeared in Bravo, Vibrava, under the possession of the blind boy, whom it had been entrusted to by Steven. In The Beginning of the End with Kyogre & Groudon XIV, Phoebe retrieved the tablet after the blind boy had been unable to figure out the damaged part and brought it back to Steven.

In A Royal Rumble with Regirock, Regice and Registeel I, the letter that Sapphire delivered to Steven from Mr. Stone was revealed to contain a reconstruction of the damaged paragraph. With the help of Sapphire, Steven and the Elite Four unsealed the Desert Ruins, Island Cave, and Ancient Tomb, after which the stone tablet broke to pieces, having served its purpose.

Emerald arc

In Never Spritz a Knotty Sudowoodo, Scott was revealed to have collected the shattered remains of the stone tablet and reassembled it, allowing Brandon to use it to locate and catch the legendary giants for use at the Battle Frontier.

Inscription

VIZ Media

IN THIS CAVE WE HAVE LIVED.
WE OWE IT ALL TO THESE POKEMON.
BUT, WE SEALED THEM.
WE FEARED THEM.
THOSE WITH COURAGE, THOSE WITH HOPE.
OPEN A DOOR. AN ETERNAL POKEMON WAITS.
FIRST COMES WAILORD. LAST COMES RELICANTH.

Chuang Yi

WE LIVE AND DWELL IN THIS HOLE.
BECAUSE OF THE MONSTERS.
BUT WE LOCKED THEM UP.
WE WERE TOO SCARED.
TO THE BRAVE ONES, THE MOST COURAGEOUS ONES FILLED WITH HOPE.
OPEN THE DOORS AND YOU SHALL FIND THE ETERNAL MONSTERS.
THE FIRST IS WAILORD. THE LAST IS RELICANTH.

Trivia

  • In German and Spanish versions of Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, FireRed, and LeafGreen, the sequences ⠿⠄ and ⠿⠂ are incorrectly used for the period (.) and comma (,), rather than the proper Braille patterns and . This is most likely due to the localization staff misinterpreting the pattern sometimes used in reference materials as an aid to clarify the vertical position of the pattern as an actual part of the pattern. This is fixed in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, which correctly use the patterns and .

See also

References

External links

Project Games logo.png This game-related article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games.