Secrets of Japan: Surviving the Mythos in Present-Day Japan

Call of Cthulhu RPG

by Michael Dziesinski

Modern-Day Exploration of the Land of the Rising Sun

Japan is a contradictory nation of ancient traditions and modern high-tech free enterprise. Within its dark shadows and hidden places, Great Old Ones, Outer Gods, and their monstrous servitors lie in wait for the unwary. In the corporate boardrooms and political offices, secret societies carry out their sinister agendas. In hoary shrines and temples, Shinto kami and Buddhist bodhisattvas provide ancient knowledge and alien enlightenment to those who remember the old ways. Cutting-edge corporate laboratories uncover forbidden secrets and create new horrors born of human science and the corrupting power of the Mythos. The mass media bombards the population with escapist entertainment and crass materialism while the madness of cosmic truth slowly seeps through, burrowing into the popular consciousness.

Welcome to the Land of the Rising Sun, where you will discover that the horrors of the Cthulhu Mythos are not limited to the West.

SECRETS OF JAPAN provides detailed information for playing CALL OF CTHULHU adventures in a modern Japanese setting. This book includes new character occupations, new spells, new monsters, new organizations, and rules for playing Japanese investigators. Also included are three adventure scenarios, two short stories, a glossary of cultural terms, details on Shinto and Buddhism in a CALL OF CTHULHU setting, extensive cultural background notes, and the secret history of Japan!

Genres: Role Playing Games, Horror, Fantasy, Cthulhu Mythos

360 pages, Paperback

First published January 31, 2005

Reviews

[Robin · Rating 1 out of 5]

As somebody who lives in Japan and is planning a Call of Cthulhu campaign set here, I was excited to read this book. Unfortunately, I came away disappointed, and with very little usable material. Outdated cultural stereotypes and orientalism abounds, along with some pretty iffy setting choices (did you know that all ethnic Japanese people have serpent folk blood?) and a very anime take on the mythos.

If you are acquainted with Japan, you’re better off coming up with your own campaign material. And if you don’t know much about Japan, I shudder to think what cliches and misunderstandings this book would impart.

[astraeus · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author is a master of japanese culture, history, religion and philosophies. I was trying to find more information about aku shin kage, and yas, very cool. I really enjoy such scp style story set in the modern world context

[Scott Carmody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great source book with a lot of flavor and ideas.