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1Killer 7 - Plot Analysis/FAQ
2
3KILLER7 PLOT ANALYSIS
4James Clinton Howell
5Last revision: 14 August 2005
6
7TABLE OF CONTENTS
8I: INTRODUCTION [#I]
9II: THE LONG VIEW: FOUR NARRATIVE LEVELS [#II]
10     A: The Cosmic Level (Gods) [#IIA]
11     B: The Political Level (Governments) [#IIB]
12     C: The Individual Level (Folks) [#IIC]
13     D: The Spiritual Level (Ghosts) [#IID]
14III: SYMBOLISM [#III]
15     A: Yin/Yang VS God/Devil [#IIIA]
16     B: Chess [#IIIB]
17IV: HISTORY LESSONS [#IV]
18     A: Reagan, the Japanese Diet, and New Diplomacy [#IVA]
19     B: Miscellaneous World War II Allusions [#IVB]
20     C: November, 1942 [#IVC]
21V: QUESTION AND ANSWER [#V]
22     A:  Three Harmans? [#VA]
23     B:  Which One Is God Again? [#VB]
24     C:  Surveillance Cameras [#VC]
25     D:  Handsome Men [#VD]
26     E:  Iwazaru [#VE]
27     F:  Vinculum Gate, Gateman, and the Coliseum [#VF]
28     G:  Screaming in the Trailer [#VG]
29     H:  Kun Lan and H. H. Gunned Down [#VH]
30     I:  Time, Space, and Trailers [#VI]
31     J:  The Forbidden Room [#VJ]
32     K:  Greg Nightmare [#VK]
33     L:  Murderer Keane [#VL]
34     M:  The Golden Gun [#VM]
35     N:  Why 1996? [#VN]
36     O:  Silent Man at the Union Hotel [#VO]
37     P:  Bondage Suicide [#VP]
38     Q:  Whistler's Murder [#VQ]
39     R:  Mills' Assassin [#VR]
40     S:  Dan's Hatred for Harman [#VS]
41     T:  Ulmeyda [#VT]
42     U:  LOVE [#VU]
43     V:  Union Hotel [#VV]
44     W:  Samantha Sitbon/Smith [#VW]
45     X:  Curtis Blackburn [#VX]
46     Y:  Ayame Blackburn [#VY]
47     Z:  Kevin Smith [#VZ]
48     AA: Dogs and Monkeys [#VAA]
49     AB: Kenjiro Matsuoka [#VAB]
50VI: THEMATIC OBSERVATIONS [#VI2]
51     A: Smile Static [#VIA]
52     B: Traitorous Stains [#VIB]
53     C: ISZK [#VIC]
54     D: Fallen Angel [#VID]
55     E: Heaven Smiles, as Kamikaze Fighters [#VIE]
56     F: Andrei Ulmeyda: Descendant of Internment Prisoners [#VIF]
57     G: Post World War II Japanese Thought, and Killer7 [#VIG]
58     H: Further Thoughts on the Yakumo [#VIH]
59     I: Lion Flag [#VII]
60     J: Battleship Island [#VIJ]
61     K: Channels Eleven and Twelve [#VIK]
62     L: Racism in Killer7 [#VIL]
63     M: Harman and Freud [#VIM]
64     N: Three Monkeys [#VIN]
65     O: Messiahs [#VIO]
66     P: The Big Deal [#VIP]
67VII: CONCLUSION (WITH A NOTE ABOUT JACK THOMPSON) [#VII]
68VIII: APOLOGETICS (AKA, ABOUT THE AUTHOR) [#VIII]
69IX: LEGAL NOTES [#IX]
70
71I: INTRODUCTION [#I]
72
73This document is a Plot Analysis of the Capcom release Killer7 
74(2005). A few points should be clarified up front.
75First: since this is a Plot Analysis, it will drawn support 
76for its conclusions from all parts of the game. Therefore, I 
77assume that the reader will have played the game at least 
78once--having watched all of the cutscenes and talked to all 
79the NPC's--before reading this guide. This also means that the 
80Plot Analysis is one huge spoiler. 
81
82Second: since Killer7 is such an open-ended game, no single 
83understanding of the events of the game can be regarded as 
84"correct" above other understandings. The purpose of the 
85analysis in this guide is not to establish a final authority 
86on the events of Killer7, but to provide one unified grasp of 
87the game that answers the majority of the questions presented 
88within the game. 
89
90I hope you enjoy reading this Plot Analysis.
91
92II: THE LONG VIEW: FOUR NARRATIVE LEVELS [#II]
93
94Interpreting Killer7 is like jumping into a cold swimming pool 
95on a hot summer day. There is no warm place to stand and get 
96used to the water. You just need to jump in--or get pushed.
97
98Either way, you have to start tying things together by their 
99loose ends--and the knots you use aren't going to be 
100everyone's choices. With that in mind, I'll start with some 
101assertions that have a basis in the game's story, and I will 
102then explain the entire story of the game based on those 
103assertions. From here on out, when I write "such-and-such 
104means" or "such-and-such is this way," I'm reasoning the 
105conclusion either from the clarity that the definitions bring 
106to the story, or from a historical or mythological 
107relationship between a fact in the game and the historical 
108world we live in. 
109
110A pre-release article on Killer7 described the game thus: 
111"Killer 7 will contain five storylines that span through four 
112different worlds in two time periods, the present day and the 
113year 2005."
114
115Amendments have been made, of course, to the narrative since 
116the publication of the article. For all of the differences 
117that developed between the earlier concept and the finished 
118product, though--I'm thinking specifically of the five 
119storylines and the two time periods--the "four different 
120worlds" facet stuck with me. 
121
122As I have played and studied the game, I have concluded that 
123the plot of Killer7 exists on four different levels of 
124narrative reality. These four levels of narrative reality are: 
125the Cosmic level; the Political level; the Individual level; 
126and the Spiritual level. To simplify the distinction (and to 
127prevent this document from becoming confusing), I will refer 
128to each level of narrative reality by a nickname. 
129
130The Cosmic level is Gods.
131
132The Political level is Governments.
133
134The Individual level is Folks.
135
136The Spiritual level is Ghosts.
137
138All of these narrative levels progress at the same time, and 
139they interweave through each other. In the interest of keeping 
140my explanation unconvoluted, I will describe the flow of each 
141of the four narrative levels, insofar as they operate 
142independent of each other. 
143
144A: THE COSMIC LEVEL (GODS) [#IIA]
145
146The Cosmic Level of the narrative is the easiest to describe. 
147However, I should clarify up front that there are three 
148different entities known as "Harman" in this game. They look 
149alike and speak alike; they are related to each other; 
150however, they are distinct from each other. 
151I will describe each of them, as they relate to their 
152respective levels of narrative. The "Harman" on the Cosmic 
153Level of narrative is the character who I refer to as "Hasidic 
154Harman," or H. H. I name him "Hasidic Harman" because his 
155manner of clothing suggests that he belongs to a spiritual 
156tradition related to Western religious heritage, which is 
157dominated by religious traditions that find their roots in 
158Hebraic history. 
159
160H. H. is described as "the God Killer." His rival is Kun Lan, 
161who is described as wielding "the Hand of God."
162H. H. represents Western culture and civilization: Europe and 
163the Americas. Kun Lan represents Eastern culture and 
164civilization: the Asian continental nations and Japan.
165At the end of the ANGEL episode, we see that H. H. uses 
166Garcian and the Smiths (in the Killer7 group) as 
167transportation. He and Kun Lan have a long history of 
168friendship, though they seem to regard each other with 
169professional (rather than personal) affection. They reflect 
170upon their competitive relationship as experienced via chess 
171games; most of the time, H. H. wins. 
172
173SUDA 51 (the visionary developer of the game) has been quoted 
174as remarking that H. H. and Kun Lan represent "the futility of 
175war." This seems most keenly expressed in the game's final 
176epilogue, which occurs 100 years after the game's events in 
177Shanghai. I do not disagree with SUDA 51's comment; I would 
178add, also, that it seems to represent the inevitability of war 
179and the eternal irresolution of differences between East and 
180West, so long as one attempts to aggress upon the other. 
181
182At the end of ANGEL, H. H. fires a tank-piercing bullet at Kun 
183Lan, who catches and drops the shell after having been 
184propelled backward by its impact. This moment signifies the 
185beginning of the "chess game" that occurs in the Union Hotel's 
186top floor suite, through the course of the game's events. The 
187only time H. H. appears is when he is in the company of Kun 
188Lan. 
189
190The conflicts between Kun Lan and H. H. involve human 
191political, personal, and spiritual affairs. These three levels 
192of existence are the media through which they war. Everything 
193that occurs on these levels of existence (and narrative) are 
194related to their actions. Importantly, these two figures are 
195not absolute dieties: they can "recruit" individuals, nations, 
196and spirits into their leagues--and the power that the 
197formerly subordinate entities gain from their recruitment 
198places them on a tier higher than most mortals. 
199
200B: THE POLITICAL LEVEL (GOVERNMENTS) [#IIB]
201
202In order to understand the political narrative of Killer7, we 
203must first look at the enigmatic "Yakumo." Hints are given on 
204what it is, in the game, but it's never really made clear what 
205its contents are.
206
207GameFAQs message board user Yoshiko Ohier has offered the 
208following information on the Yakumo:
209
210"Acoording to the CAPCOM official web site in Japanese, Yakumo 
211is a text which was created by 7 Japanese 
212founders(politicians) in the past. The Yakumo (text) is said 
213to have a power to change the world. And, Ulmeida (Cloudman) 
214got somehow a part of the text and thanks to that, he could 
215develop his company to one of the biggest corporation in the 
216world. Here, I'll give you translations of two names: 
217
218"Yakumo = (Ya)eight (kumo)clouds
219
220"KumoOtoko (title in Japanese) = (Kumo)Cloud (Otoko)man
221
222"Ulmeida has gotten one Kumo (Cloud). Maybe that's why the 
223title was named 'Cloudman'. Well, this is what I think...".
224
225Given the close relationship that the Yakumo, in Killer7, 
226shares with Japanese nationalism, it is pleasant to note that 
227the first recorded piece of Japanese poetry begins with the 
228very words "Ya kumo."
229
230I would like to quote Patrick Smith's book "Japan: a 
231Reinterpretation" regarding this matter:
232
233"The importance not only of belonging but of being hidden 
234within can be judged from the first lines of poetry Japan ever 
235produced: 
236
237"Eight clouds arise.
238The eightfold fence of Izumo
239Makes an eightfold fence
240For the spouses to retire within.
241Oh! that eightfold fence.
242
243"These lines are about the whole of Japan. There were eight 
244clouds and eight fences because in the old chronicles Japan 
245consisted of eight islands."
246
247During his brief scene, in SUNSET, Toru Fukushima described 
248the Yakumo as a policy that was created by the Union-Seven. 
249However, he expressed his revulsion with Japan as being too 
250weak of a nation to handle the power of the Yakumo. The 
251contents of the Yakumo are implied to be able to propel a 
252nation toward total domination of the world--or, at least, 
253primary control. 
254
255When I first played Killer7, my impulse was to regard the 
256phrase "U. N. Party" as indicative of the United Nations' 
257presence in the fictional universe. However, the U. N. Party 
258is not the United Nations. Travis' speech is most useful in 
259determining the role and identity of the U. N. Party. 
260
261Travis says: "Japan is controlled by the United Nations Party. 
262If the UN Party goes down, Japan's minority party will take 
263control. In other words, the Liberal Party would take the 
264reigns. There's some nasty shit cooking in this restaurant. 
265And it ain't momma's fried chicken." 
266
267During his brief scene at the start of SUNSET PART TWO, 
268Kurahashi says that all of the U. N. Party's efforts will be 
269destroyed, and that they have been in motion for "65 years" 
270since Japan's American occupation at the end of World War II. 
271Most historical resources seem to agree that Japan's struggle 
272after World War II involved two major ideological forces: the 
273liberal, individualistic ideas that wanted to depart from 
274Japan's culturally historical means of thinking and acting--
275and the conservative, collectivistic ideas that wanted to 
276return the government to the control of an oligarchic shadow-
277government and the pursuit of Shinto and Bushido ideals. 
278
279If we judge the political quality of the U. N. Party by their 
280apparent means of self-government (Kurahashi and Akiba reveal 
281that they dealt with succession by killing their elders) and 
282their contrast to the Liberal Party, we may conclude that the 
283Yakumo--as a governmental policy developed by the Union-Seven-
284-is enmeshed in those conservative Japanese ideals. 
285
286Another historical departure might be useful, now. Japanese 
287foreign policy was established early in the second millenium 
288of the Christian calendar as "Hakko Ichiu." The ideology holds 
289that the Japanese emperor is not merely the sovereign 
290authority over the Japanese people, but over all people of all 
291races. The self-righteousness of their cultural self-
292perception was manipulated easily during the Second World War 
293by Japanese Emperor Hirohiko (also a high Shinto priest who 
294very much believed in his own deity) into justification for 
295all types of nationalistic aggression. Translated, the foreign 
296policy aims to bring "all the eight corners of the world under 
297the roof of Japan." 
298
299The U. N. Party comes from this cultural tradition. The 
300Yakumo--a policy of "eight clouds," implying the literary 
301association with the first Japanese poetic expression of 
302nationalistic identity--seems to be a renovated form of "Hakko 
303Ichiu." 
304
305Further, this policy may have been developed strictly for 
306Japanese execution, but (as Fukushima admits) Japan is too 
307weak to implement it on her own.
308
309Now, let's look a little at the supposed history of the U. N. 
310Party. Fukushima appears to be the party's leader. After all, 
311his political clout is the reason he is the Killer7's target 
312in SUNSET. Fukushima explains that he became frustrated with 
313Japanese politics, because of its inability to become anything 
314more than play-acting upon a stage. Yet, he explains, he got a 
315call one day from someone asking if he would like to be "an 
316architect." 
317
318Two questions stem from this root: first, who called 
319Fukushima; second, what sort of architecture?
320
321I'll answer them in reverse order. The architecture is 
322Japanese; it is deliberate, I think, that Fukushima's estate 
323is so Japanese you can taste the Pocky. It is the only 
324location that is idiosyncratically Japanese in the whole game-
325-even moreso than Battleship Island. The cultural history 
326implied by Fukushima's restaurant's architecture, along with 
327his description of his work as that of "an architect," 
328suggests that the more abstract and political "architecture" 
329he designed was an extension of Japanese, Shinto-based 
330imperialism. 
331
332As for his caller--I think he was (who else) Kun Lan. Akiba 
333and Kurahashi seem to recognize Kun Lan easily enough, when he 
334appears to them and Matsuoka. Most probably, Kun Lan is the 
335head of the U. N. Party; by extension, it would make sense 
336that Kun Lan would have recruited Fukushima to create a 
337governmental structure--the U. N. Party--through which the 
338Yakumo could be realized in the field of world politics. 
339
340So--what are the eight clouds?
341
342I'm unsure, exactly. It might be good, though, to consider who 
343possessed the Yakumo at what times. Fukushima was supposed to 
344have had the Yakumo, but Julie Kisagi appears not to have 
345found it on him--even going to far as to demand it of H. H.! 
346At the KAKU Building (where the second half of SUNSET occurs), 
347DePaul's ghost says that Matsuoka has the Yakumo. 
348
349When we speak to Ulmeyda's ghost in Curtis Blackburn's home, 
350during the second part of ENCOUNTER, he says that he gave 
351Clemence (the boy who was featured at the end of CLOUDMAN) the 
352Yakumo. Clearly, Ulmeyda possessed some measure of the 
353Yakumo's wisdom. The postal clerk describes Ulmeyda as "an 
354asshole" who seemed to have gotten lucky, and who seemed to 
355have risen out of nothing to his current status. Ulmeyda is 
356regarded by the townspeople as a mysterious local who rose to 
357prominence through his corporation "First Life," yet we learn 
358from Ulmeyda that the company doesn't exist: they simply run 
359commercials. 
360
361Ulmeyda's success, it seems, is owed to the governing ideals 
362and methods described in the Yakumo.
363
364"But wait!" you may say. "Travis said that the Yakumo had the 
365power to let the United States dominate the world! If Ulmeyda 
366had the Yakumo, why didn't the do just that?!"
367I answer: because he was a postal clerk. He's neither the 
368United States nor the U. N. Party. Even Garcian says of 
369Ulmeyda (when Master Harman asks if Ulmeyda is a 
370revolutionary), "No sir, no one of that calibre." Despite the 
371admittedly sadistic whims he displayed--such as destroying an 
372entire stadium during a concert and subjecting his heir to 
373"driving yourself to death"--he clearly possessed some 
374humanitarian impulses. Even though his decision to inject 
375himself with lethal diseases was a self-oriented action, to 
376make himself feel alive by courting death, his decision to 
377make his blood available for others to immunize them against 
378those diseases is humanitarian, surely. 
379
380I think that the Ulmeyda episode illustrates the manner in 
381which the Yakumo serves as an extension of the Shinto-based 
382policy of "Hakko Ichiu." In Andrei Ulmeyda, we see the 
383convergence of political leadership (he runs the town that has 
384his name) and religious leadership (he has a cult). However, 
385Ulmeyda's simplicity as a man and a leader only allows him to 
386create a facade of government. (Notice how that giant 
387corporate cathedral fell down, as mere plywood, and revealed a 
388desert in which Ulmeyda tested the limits of both his and his 
389acolytes' bodies.) Understanding this makes the intervention 
390of the U. S. military at the end of the CLOUDMAN chapter more 
391sensible: they seem to have neutralized Ulmeyda to retrieve 
392the Yakumo, which the United States has been trying to get for 
393a year. 
394
395I initially thought that "Yakumo" referred to a political 
396party; however, it does not. It refers to the cabinet policy 
397of the United Nations Party within Japanese government. The 
398irony of the party's name becomes more apparent, when we 
399recognize that the Yakumo is a revised version of "Hakko 
400Ichiu": a surface interpretation of the name "United Nations" 
401would lead a person to think that Japan had renounced its 
402attitude of racial entitlement to global rulership, and wish 
403to become united with other nations; however, since the nature 
404of their cabinet policy is nothing more than a revision of the 
405same ideology that led to the belief of racial entitlement, 
406they are claiming (oppositely) that they want to unite all 
407nations--UNDER JAPANESE RULE. 
408
409The curious thing about the Yakumo, to a Western (and 
410specifically American) mind, is its implied blending of 
411spiritual and governmental activity. On the one hand, it is a 
412governmental party's policy, and therefore it is governmental, 
413practical, executable; on the other hand, it seems to be 
414communicated only after harsh spiritual experiences, such as 
415Matsuoka's "enlightenment" by Kun Lan in the introductory 
416sequence of SUNSET PART TWO. In understanding this, it will be 
417important to remember the cultural tradition out of which the 
418"Hakko Ichiu" policy and, in turn, the Yakumo are derived. 
419
420Shinto religion held that the Japanese Emperor was supreme 
421over all, as a governmental authority as well as a spiritual 
422authority. Nationalism and government were inextricable from 
423spiritual identity. In his biography "Hirohito and the Making 
424of Modern Japan," author Herbert P. Bix writes of "Hakko 
425Ichiu" (also called "the Imperial Way"): "The 'imperial way' 
426was a motivating political theology sprung from the idea of 
427the emperor as the literally living embodiment of Japan past 
428and present, a paradigm of moral excellence all should follow. 
429The term denoted a kind of ideological warfare but also, on 
430the other hand, an action plan. It was designed to make Japan 
431free of all externally derived isms, such as Western 
432democracy, liberalism, individualism, and communism. Free to 
433be itself only, the nation would regain self-esteem and be 
434able to wage a 'holy' war of ideas against Western political 
435doctrines." For an incredible span of world history, Japan 
436violently resisted involvement with Western culture. At one 
437point, early after Western culture's introduction to Japan, 
438the Japanese took all Japanese and non-Japanese Christians, 
439physically crucified them, and displayed the crucified 
440practitioners of Western culture on the islands' coasts--so 
441that all Western ships passing by would know what sort of 
442welcome to expect. 
443
444Emperor Hirohito is described by Bix as having believed in his 
445own deity: "In a wooden building in the southeast corner of 
446the palace compound, he regularly performed complicated 
447rituals that clearly implied his faith in his mystical descent 
448from the gods, and the sacred nature of the Japanese state and 
449homeland." Hirohito continued to serve Japan, as emperor, 
450after their defeat and occupation during the Second World War. 
451Under his emperorship, then, the United Nations Party 
452developed and grew--the Yakumo was developed for execution by 
453what seemed to be a democratic nation, rather than a 
454theocracy--and Fukushima created the stable political 
455organization for the Yakumo to become active through. 
456
457Most American players--and I include myself in the category of 
458"most"--will see the theme of usurpation of American 
459democracy, during their first play-through of Killer7. 
460Understood against the cultural and historical tension of 
461post-World War II Japan, Killer7 is also the story of the 
462usurpation of Japanese democracy. 
463
464So, now that the Yakumo is understood, what can be said about 
465the political narrative of Killer7?
466
467On July 3rd, 1998, the world trashed all of its nuclear 
468missiles and set up an island in the South Pacific for the 
469disposal of radioactive waste. Not all missiles were 
470destroyed, though: ICBMs (Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles) 
471remained. 
472
473I would like to quote the narration during the opening 
474animated film of SUNSET PART ONE: "The international society, 
475under the motto of 'Protecting the world from international 
476terrorism, ideology terrorism, and cyber-terrorism,' stopped 
477all air transportation and closed every network station in the 
478short span of two years, to reduce the likelihood of 
479terrorism. The world had changed. 
480
481"In the year 2002, a network of intercontinental expressways, 
482bridging the Atlantic Ocean, opened, connecting the two major 
483sides of the world. In the following year of 2003, the 
484construction of a mass scale distribution system began, and 
485the man-made landmass large as a city was built over an ocean. 
486The use and research of nuclear energy was banned, and all 
487radioactive waste and materials were disposed of at an energy 
488disposal facility in the Gibsoft Islands, a remote set of 
489islands off the coast of the Indian Ocean." 
490
491So--all this has happened. Soon afterward, though, a terrorist 
492group called "the Smiles" began attacking government meetings 
493and figures. Their modus operandi seemed to be to suicide-bomb 
494their targets. They were a hard group to catch, and--developed 
495to catch them--an underground society of assassins served to 
496kill targets who threatened the stability of the new-found 
497global peace. Among these, the group known as "the Killer7" 
498were supremely skilled. 
499
500Presumably, since the early 1980's, Coburn Elementary had been 
501taken over by the U. N. Party of Japan. There, they raised 
502children in the cultural image of the Yakumo. They taught that 
503the President of the United States was always decided upon by 
504"the Chairman of the Education Ministry." (This may be taken 
505as a misnomer for "the Secretary of Education," since the 
506American form of democratic government does not describe 
507itself in terms of "ministries.") In other words, they taught 
508that democracy did not exist--and they replaced the 
509ideological education of children under democracy with the 
510education of children under the Yakumo. 
511
512According to Holbert's tapes, the children who graduated from 
513Coburn were prepared for post-graduation careers in government 
514service. In exchange for their service, Holbert explains, they 
515were "promised their life." Those who did not comply with the 
516expectations of the United Nations Party and the Yakumo were 
517killed, although it is also highly probably that they were 
518deported and sold as orphans on the black market--or, they 
519were killed and their organs were sold on the black market. 
520Other students were recruited to serve as assassins, in the 
521interest of defending and supporting the Yakumo. 
522
523In 2010, a terrorist group called "the Heaven Smiles" began 
524attacking the United States. Their organization was unknown, 
525as was their leader. They were most troublesome, as 
526terrorists, because of their relative invisibility. Only one 
527counter-terrorist group (the Killer7) could see and kill 
528Heaven Smiles. In all, there seemed to be three "types" of 
529Heaven Smiles: first, people who looked human and wore strange 
530smiles; second, Heaven Smiles borne from eggs out of egg-
531machines; third, Heaven Smiles cobbled together out of organs 
532harvested by black market organ sellers, like Pedro and Curtis 
533Blackburn. 
534
535Apart from the Heaven Smiles, tension existed between the East 
536and West--specifically, Japan and America--during the 1980's, 
5371990's, and first decade of the 21st century. Japan had become 
538a husk of a country, politically; it had so little political 
539clout, its most powerful political party (the U. N. Party) 
540cannot even appeal to the United States to save it from 
541imminent destruction. Missiles were fired from an unknown 
542Asian source at Japan, and, after much suspense, the United 
543States launched missiles westward across its Californian 
544border to stop the missiles of unknown origin. 
545
546Why did the United States launch its missiles to defend Japan, 
547when it seemed the entire U. N. Party was finished? Because of 
548Coburn graduates, subordinate to Matsuken, who held positions 
549in American government.
550
551Over the course of the next year, the Heaven Smile problem 
552became more unmanageable. Military research on captured Heaven 
553Smiles had enabled the United States military to extract a 
554viral serum that, when injected into a host, would turn the 
555individual into a Heaven Smile. Seeking to test their 
556concoction on a man with high viral resistance, the U. S. 
557military assaulted cult leader Andrei Ulmeyda and infected him 
558with their homebrew strain. The virus overpowered Ulmeyda, and 
559the resulting transformation destroyed all of the military 
560officers present. The Killer7 group killed the Heaven Smile 
561diseased Ulmeyda, who passed his spiritual legacy (and the 
562Yakumo) on to Clemence, his chosen heir. 
563
564Later that year, Curtis Blackburn--a former officer of the 
565self-defense department--raided the Immigration Headquarters. 
566His violence prompted the U. S. government to call (again) 
567upon the Killer7 group. The Killer7 group tracked Curtis to 
568ISZK LAND, an amusement park that served as a front for 
569Curtis' black market kidnapping ring. They confronted Curtis' 
570adopted protoge, Ayame Blackburn, and followed the escaping 
571bus (filled with kidnapped young girls) to Blackburn's 
572residence. After raiding Blackburn's home, killing Ayame, and 
573discovering Blackburn in a secret chamber beneath his estate's 
574swimming pool, Dan Smith of the Killer7 group slew Blackburn. 
575During the raid, it was discovered that Blackburn had traded 
576selling orphans on the black market for selling orphans' 
577organs on the black market. The organs were used for the 
578genetic cobbling of the experimental Heaven Smiles that the 
579Killer7 group had found during their otherworldly passage 
580through the Vinculum Gates. 
581
582With Blackburn killed, exportation of girls' organs slowed 
583significantly. Since Blackburn had killed his former cohort--
584Pedro--the two oldest and most professional salers of black 
585market organs were dead. The production of experimental Heaven 
586Smiles slowed. 
587
588By this point in the story (around mid-2011), the Heaven 
589Smiles had become regarded practically as their own species. 
590They were deemed racially acceptable to exterminate. The 
591United States military--deciding against their former policy 
592of harnessing the Smiles' strength--purportedly developed the 
593group "the Handsome Men" in conjunction with Trevor 
594Pearlharbor (a clairvoyant comic book artist) to combat the 
595Heaven Smiles. However, they abandoned their plan and turned 
596on Pearlharbor when his clairvoyance departed from their 
597interests, resulting in the assassination of a Democratic 
598Party senator by the Handsome Men. 
599
600The Handsome Men became regarded as terrorist threats 
601themselves, and the Killer7 group was dispatched to kill 
602Trevor Pearlharbor--who was believed to have been the guiding 
603force of the team of heroes-turned-terrorists. The Killer7 
604invaded Trevor Pearlharbor's home in the Dominican Lost City. 
605When they discovered Pearlharbor on his veranda, drawing, Dan 
606Smith confronted Handsome Black, who was summoned by Trevor to 
607stop Dan Smith. Handsome Black, however, turned on Trevor who 
608died confused as to why his clairvoyance had failed. Dan Smith 
609killed Handsome Black, and the remainder of the Handsome Men 
610vowed to avenge Handsome Black's death by a formal duel in 
611Times Square, New York. 
612
613The Handsome Men and Killer7 group battled one-on-one in Times 
614Square. When the final confrontation came between Handsome 
615Pink and Garcian Smith, Handsome Pink transformed into her 
616alter ego, known only as LOVE. LOVE revealed herself as the 
617force responsible for the Handsome Men, and gave the Handsome 
618Men up to their losses at the hands of the Killer7 group. 
619
620The Presidential elections passed (in 2011, for some reason), 
621and the Republican candidate was elected President.
622
623In winter of that year, the Killer7 was sent to contact and 
624capture Kenjiro Matsuoka--the recognized leader of Japan's U. 
625N. Party and the possessor of the Yakumo. Matsuoka received 
626information that he was targeted by the Killer7, and used his 
627informant's advice to locate Hiro Sakai. Having located Sakai, 
628Matsuoka tortured and killed him, making his death seem like a 
629suicide. 
630
631After a long, self-revelatory journey between Washington State 
632and Pennsylvania, the Killer7 group became pared down to Emir 
633Parkreiner. Emir overtly joined hands with Kenjiro Matsuken to 
634work together and eradicate the Heaven Smiles. 
635Three years later, on Battleship Island, Matsuken had trapped 
636the final Heaven Smile. Emir arrived to dispose of the curse 
637for good.
638
639Here, the path splits, and the words of Linda Vermillion (the 
640assassin who killed Mills) come back to mind: "See the system 
641with your own eyes, and then decide." Emir chooses whether he 
642believes in Western democratic ideals (by killing Matsuken and 
643destroying the remains of the Yakumo)--or if he believes in 
644the Japanese "imperial rule" revised in the Yakumo (by letting 
645Matsuken live). 
646
647C: THE INDIVIDUAL LEVEL (FOLKS) [#IIC]
648
649On 22 November 1942, Emir Parkreiner is born.
650
651A few notes on Emir's names:
652
653"Emir" is a name derived from an French word, "?mir," which in 
654turn is derived from the Arabic word, "'amara," which means 
655"to command." As a name, "Emir" means "a prince, a chieftain, 
656or a governor." It can apply to the leader of a holy Muslim 
657pilgrimage; in general, it connotes a leader of people who are 
658traveling or working toward an ultimate destination or goal. 
659
660"Park" is a cognate, between German and English. It can mean a 
661literal park; as well, it can connote a garden.
662"Reiner" is a German adjective, generally meaning "purity; 
663clarity; simplicity; chastity."
664
665Taken all together, the name "Emir Parkreiner" can mean 
666"Leader to the Holy Gardens."
667
668Among other levels of significance, Emir is symbolic of 
669Japan's national well-being. He is born at the time when the 
670Japanese imperialist Empire is at its strongest, historically. 
671In 1946, as alluded to by one of the Japanese diplomats during 
672the introductory sequence to SUNSET, the atomic bombs are 
673dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the period during which 
674Japan is an occupied nation begins.
675 
676As a reflection of Japan, Emir naturally would be aligned with 
677Kun Lan--in Harman's hemisphere. With the ultimate 
678establishment of Modern Japan--out of the Western remodeling 
679of Occupied Japan--it may be inferred that Kun Lan's powers 
680weakened, correspondingly. This may account for Emir 
681Parkreiner's recorded death in 1952--it corresponds with the 
682"death" of isolationist Japan. However, as Japan was "reborn" 
683into Modern Japan, Emir also was reborn. 
684
685Holbert's tapes indicate that Emir was "living with his 
686parents at the time of his death." Who else would be the 
687father of the Soul of Japan, but Kun Lan himself? This 
688implies, of course, that Emir has a mother. I assume that Emir 
689would have endured his "rebirth," while still in his mother's 
690care. 
691
692It may seem improbable that Emir's physical life and death 
693would correspond with the life and death of a 
694political/cultural body, but I think that the symbolism is 
695intended, to evince the game's general statements about the 
696relationship between Japan and America. 
697
698Thus, Emir Parkreiner's second cycle of life begins around 
6991952. He would be ten years old at the outset of the Civil 
700Rights movement; he would be twenty when the Civil Rights 
701movement had reached full swing. The narrative supplied by Kun 
702Lan, during Garcian's first visit to the "Forbidden Room," 
703applies to Emir's second cycle of life. I will provide a 
704transcript of the dialogue, to keep the reference present 
705alongside my argument. 
706
707Kun Lan: "There once was a young man who had a promising 
708future. The centerback position was his to keep, and no one 
709could take that away from him. Any play was a fair play; no 
710one blew the whistle on him. Everybody loved him. Not to 
711mention his campus sweetheart. Oh, she was something! They 
712were the perfect couple. He graduated from Columbia with an 
713MBA. His opportunity was infinite. He could do whatever he 
714wanted with his life . . . but was he satisfied? No! Every 
715night he would cry, begging the Lord; something deep within 
716needed awakening. Then one day it happened....that moment, 
717when the subconscious rises to the surface. Well, the way it 
718triggered was very simple: it happened when his mother came on 
719to him one night. As if the spirit of Jack the Ripper had 
720taken over his body, he stabbed and stabbed until you couldn't 
721tell who she was. You know what I think? An angel whispered 
722into his ear. The angel gave him the exta courage he needed, 
723to give her the divine retribution she deserved." 
724
725H. H.: "Sure she wasn't . . . a Hell's angel?"
726
727Kun Lan: "I'm pretty sure she only had good intentions."
728
729H. H.: ". . . you really are a villain."
730
731Kun Lan: "I had nothing to do with it . . . but I must admit, 
732my memory has become a bit misty these days." 
733
734During Emir Parkreiner's second cycle of life, he was a star 
735football player, had a great girlfriend in college, and--in 
736general--turned out to be the All-American Ideal.
737Yet, despite his attainment of the All-American Ideal, 
738"something deep within needed awakening." That "something," I 
739think, was the buried memory of his earlier incarnation--as a 
740child of Kun Lan. Here we have one of the layers of irony: the 
741soul of Japan, reincarnated into the body of the All-American 
742Ideal, wrestling with a painful emergence of identity. Kun 
743Lan's coyness strongly suggests that he is accountable not 
744only for Emir's awakening--but what awakening within him. 
745
746Such an awakening could not have occurred, though. Thirty 
747years after Emir's reincarnation--in 1983--a new diplomatic 
748relationship between Japan and America was established, 
749through Ronald Reagan's formal address to the Japanese 
750legislature. This indicated a crucial change for Japanese and 
751American culture. In the same manner that Emir's soul 
752reincarnated when Modern Japan was formed, his Japan-Soul-
753Inside-The-All-American-Ideal ruptured and caused another 
754reincarnation. The crucible for this rebirth, though, was much 
755darker. 
756
757As a young man, during his second cycle of life, he held 
758within himself both the Soul-of-Japan and the All-American-
759Ideal--both of which resided in his genetic memory. (Remember, 
760Emir has special DNA; I expect that his "immortal" qualities 
761allow him to retain the memory of previous incarnations.) 
762During his second cycle of life, his mother tried to sexually 
763molest him. Something in the act of molestation brought forth 
764the tensions that had been boiling within him, spiritually, 
765since his birth in 1942. Perhaps, it can be chalked up to the 
766fact that the taboo against mother-son incest is one of the 
767few cultural similarities between the East and the West--
768allowing him to judge him using the full force of both Eastern 
769and Western parts of his soul. When he slew his mother, he 
770reincarnated again--awakened, now, but uncontrollable. 
771
772H. H. and Kun Lan, likely, were aware of his trifold 
773existences. By positing Emir Parkreiner's unaccounted history 
774above, we can account for his age at the time of the murders 
775of the Harman Assassins, the time of his recorded birth and 
776death, as well as the events of the narrative supplied by Kun 
777Lan in the forbidden room that--owing to cinematic techniques 
778that deflect the stress of the story onto Garcian--most 
779probably describe Emir's past. 
780H. H. appears not to have known about Emir's dark awakening, 
781at Kun Lan's behest. (Note that H. H.'s line, "You really are 
782a villain," refers both to the atrocity of awakening Emir's 
783darkness--and prompting the slaying of his ex-wife.) Since Kun 
784Lan awakened Emir--and since the "government" of United 
785Nations Party members within the U. S. government are 
786reflections of Kun Lan's activity--they naturally would have 
787been led to find Emir and place him in Coburn. 
788
789At this point, Emir is a loose cannon. He is uncontrollable 
790because he lacks the ability to identify himself as either 
791Japan or America. In the terminology of games, he is the Joker 
792card: neither one thing nor the other, but with the potential 
793to be both at any given moment. 
794
795Now--we need to cut away from Emir Parkreiner, and look at 
796Harman Smith.
797
798Harman Smith is the man who was once the Principal of Coburn. 
799At the time of Holbert's cassette tapes' recording, Holbert 
800says (of Harman): "He's the key person linked to some 
801underground organization." Note the tense that Holbert uses: 
802"He is--". This implies that Holbert has no reason to believe 
803that Harman is dead, at the time of the recording. 
804Let's do a little bit of symbol-digging, to try and figure out 
805when Harman was killed along with the Harman Assassins.
806
807The full moon is a symbol of transformation. It throbs full 
808screen while each mission loads. As well, when Garcian sees 
809Emir standing, dazed, atop the Union Hotel, the full moon is 
810in the background. I take the persistence of the full moon as 
811a symbol that the Harman Assassins--and Harman himself--were 
812killed during a full moon. If, as I think, Emir has killed 
813Harman and crew just before killing Holbert, then Harman and 
814the Assassins were killed a full three days befor the 
815recording of Holbert's cassette tapes.
816 
817If you look at a lunar calendar, for the month of November in 
818the year 1996, you'll see that the date described as the time 
819of Holbert's first recording falls three days after the full 
820moon. Holbert says that he begins recording on "the fourth 
821Thursday in November." This also places Emir's assassination 
822of Harman and his Assassins very close to the Presidential 
823election, which Holbert describes as being a few days from the 
824time of his first recording. 
825
826So--why would Emir choose to kill Harman Smith, his mentor, 
827during the full moon--along with the other Harman Assassins?
828
829Simply put, Harman Smith is a type of anti-Christ figure. He 
830looks like H. H. and talks like H. H. Yet, he is in league 
831directly with Kun Lan. I think that, because of his alliance 
832with Kun Lan, he is given Kun Lan's power of light and 
833resurrection. 
834
835Travis describes himself as "the chief's first kill." He also 
836dates his death at "thirty years ago," seemingly parallel to 
837the promise of diplomatic responsibility offered by Reagan in 
838his address to the Japanese Diet. He describes himself as "the 
839killer who got killed on the job." 
840
841I think that Travis was the first assassin sent to kill 
842Harman, and that Harman had never actually killed before 
843Travis. If the diplomatic unity between Japan and America are 
844regarded as H. H.'s victory over Kun Lan, then it seems 
845natural that H. H. would want to neutralize the most violent 
846threat to the stability: Harman Smith, then Principal of 
847Coburn. 
848
849I think that Travis is the reason why Harman gathered the 
850Harman Assassins together. Not only did Harman Smith perceive 
851that his own life was in danger, but he perceived that the 
852interests of his boss--Kun Lan--were in danger. So, the Harman 
853Assassins were gathered together from a diverse range of 
854killers across the North American continent. 
855
856We're at the point in the long-term timeline, now, when Emir 
857kills everyone: 25 November 1996, the full moon of November.
858
859The next question is: how does Emir know where everyone is 
860staying? I suspect that Yoon Hyun tipped off Emir, while Yoon 
861Hyun was still alive.
862
863As we know from the locations of the Soul Shells in the first 
864part of SMILE, and the locations of the Harman Assassins' 
865deaths in the second part of SMILE, the Soul Shells correspond 
866with each of the Assassins' deaths. Yet, a seventh shell is 
867found--outside the same Suite where Garcian finds Harman 
868Smith, with Johnny Gagnon. 
869
870I think that this means that Emir killed Harman in the lobby 
871area of the Suite. He took the body back to Coburn--all the 
872way back to Washington State. This would put Emir's return to 
873Coburn at almost the same time that Holbert infiltrates the 
874building, looking for answers for the investigative committee. 
875
876Holbert describes Emir as "an ace brought out by the Yakumo." 
877That means that, somewhere in all of this, Kun Lan's plans are 
878on track. This, I think, accounts for Kun Lan's presence, 
879denoted by the strange laughter that Holbert reports having 
880heard. While Holbert is snooping around for clues to aid his 
881investigation, Emir has taken Harman Smith's body to the 
882Principal's Office--and stuffed it in the safe. 
883
884We see a red scar appear across Garcian's forehead, when he 
885opens the safe that Harman's body was stuffed into. SUDA 51 
886has commented on this moment, in an interview: "His awakening 
887as a bloodthirsty ghoul is represented by having a 3rd eye. In 
888the High School, Garcian's eye bleeding is shown as a way of 
889indicating that he was in conflict with his past memories and 
890that his eye was beginning to open." I take this to imply that 
891Emir's third eye literally began to appear when he stuffed 
892Harman Smith's body into the safe. (This might also suggest 
893why we never see Harman--in any of his forms--standing up, 
894except for his playble form as Young Harman. Emir must have 
895broken his back at least once stuffing him in there.) 
896
897The awakening of Emir's Third Eye, I think, accounts for the 
898"surreal" phenomena that Holbert experiences in the school. He 
899has inherited Harman Smith's vision ring--as well as the Third 
900Eye. The spirits of the remnant psyches have gathered around 
901Emir, and they are becoming bound to him. "Inside the walls of 
902this school, the voices continue to echo," describe's 
903Holbert's presence during the formation of Garcian--the 
904Killer7--and Kun Lan's binding into Iwazaru. 
905
906So, what is the significance of Emir's name changing to 
907"Garcian?" "Garcian" may have significance as a play off the 
908French word "Garcon," or "servant." The change in his names 
909likewise reflects his change from Kun Lan's home-bred messiah-
910-and into H. H.'s personal task force, unified under the 
911powers previously held by Harman Smith. 
912
913Again, the ironies stand out: Harman Smith, a messianic image 
914of H. H., is aligned with Kun Lan--and Emir Parkreiner, a 
915messianic image begotten by Kun Lan, is reigned by H. H.
916
917D: THE SPIRITUAL LEVEL (GHOSTS) [#IID]
918
919The ghosts are the souls of the dead and the living, as they 
920interact with supersensual beings (such as Emir Parkreiner and 
921Harman Smith).
922
923There are two types of ghosts in Killer7: Personae and Remnant 
924Psyches.
925
926Personae are ghosts who have been killed, and who have been 
927bound in such a way that they are wholly controlled by H. H. 
928and Garcian. Master Harman--who is in the wheelchair in 
929Garcian's trailer--is the "Harman" on the spiritual level. 
930Why, then, does he need a caretaker (Samantha)? Why is he 
931physical and able to interact with living people?
932
933The important thing to note about the Personae is that they 
934are ghosts who can be given PHYSICAL EXPRESSION. The themes of 
935death and rebirth run all through Killer7; when one persona is 
936dispersed, it "dies," and the physical manifestation of 
937another persona forms out of the dispersed physical material 
938that comprised the FIRST persona's body. 
939This is why Trevor Pearlharbor and Curtis Blackburn can see 
940Killer7 as Dan Smith. This is why Jean DePaul can see Killer7 
941as MASK De Smith.
942
943The Remnant Psyches are the ghosts who have been killed by 
944either Harman Smith or the Killer7, and who have been bound to 
945the psychic matrix formed around the former Emir Parkreiner at 
946Coburn, in 1996. Some of the Remnant Psyches stick around of 
947their own accord; some of them stick around because they are 
948forced into service, such as Iwazaru. 
949
950The gameplay sequences all take place on the spiritual level 
951of the narrative. Even the Heaven Smiles exist on the 
952spiritual level, although some of them may bear human 
953appearance on the individual level. When you are playing 
954through the game, with the exception of scripted events, you 
955are Smith--the general combination of the Personae. 
956
957While playing through Killer7, I was perplexed at who the 
958Remnant Psyches addressed when I spoke to them. I could deduce 
959a few things: at the end of ANGEL, Travis addresses the player 
960as "Emir," and the player is forced to speak to him as 
961Garcian. Therefore, Travis recognizes Garcian as distinct from 
962the other Personae. Susie addresses whomever approaches her as 
963"Smith," suggesting her awareness of the multiplicity of the 
964player's identity--and, also, her uncertainty as to who is the 
965"true" character. Therefore, she addresses the player by the 
966name common to all the Personae: Smith. 
967
968Iwazaru addresses the player as Master, and he seems be 
969uninterested to differentiate between the Personae, when he 
970addresses Master. He speaks to the core energy of the 
971Personae. When he explains his grudge against the current fad 
972of abbreviations (at the beginning of SUNSET PART TWO), he 
973says that he would abbreviate the Master with "M. The Big M." 
974None of the Personae have a name that begins with M--except 
975MASK, who is clearly a secondary figure to Iwazaru since he is 
976referred to with distrust in ANGEL. 
977
978Travis seems to have the best grasp on who he's talking to, 
979spiritually. He generally refers to the player as "chief," who 
980is distinct from Garcian as the leader. His former master was 
981Harman Smith, who Travis recognizes as being nullified as an 
982active force--which implies that Travis, at least, regards 
983Master Harman as the real listener. 
984
985Master Harman, then, is a Persona, given physical expression, 
986in need of at least superficial care. With the exception of 
987Samantha, no one knows that Master Harman exists in Garcian's 
988trailer. When Garcian explains Master Harman's disappearance 
989to Mills, Mills awkwardly tries to find a way to explain that 
990Harman has been dead (to him) for years. 
991
992In discerning Master Harman's nature--as distinct from the 
993mortal nature of Harman Smith and the immortal nature of H. 
994H.--I think the best place to look is the television. In one 
995of his letters, Johnny Gagnon writes: "The members switch 
996using the medium of television. But I have yet to determine 
997what governs the switches." Notice the differences between the 
998television, when accessed from Harman's Room in the field--and 
999Harman's Room in the trailer. When in the trailer, Garcian can 
1000only access Master Harman; the other Personae--even his own--
1001are not selectable. When in the field, the other Personae are 
1002present and selectable--yet, Master Harman is not in the room. 
1003
1004Master Harman governs the switches. When Garcian is in the 
1005field, I think that Master Harman actually manifests himself 
1006AS HARMAN'S ROOM. When we are inside Harman's Room, in the 
1007field, we are inside Harman himself. From within Master 
1008Harman, we can access the other Personae and wake them up; we 
1009can give the surgeon (also Master Harman) blood from our kills 
1010and strengthen him; we can save our progress, when Samantha is 
1011in a mood to serve. Samantha's felicity in saving the game is 
1012a reflection of Master Harman's experience with her, as a 
1013caretaker: she only does her job one eighth of the time, and 
1014the rest of the time she's slacking off or behaving abusively. 
1015
1016Why is Master Harman catatonic most of the time, then?
1017Master Harman's catatonia is a safeguard of H. H., to prevent 
1018Harman Smith's spirit from becoming uncontrollable. When he 
1019was given a physical body and free will, Harman Smith allied 
1020himself with Kun Lan. He became a traitor. When H. H. had Emir 
1021kill Harman Smith, he incorporated Harman Smith's ghost into 
1022the whole psychic matrix--but, he did so in such a way that 
1023would leave Harman Smith unable to betray H. H. again. 
1024
1025Master Harman is what happened to Harman Smith, when his ghost 
1026was incorporated into the psychic matrix as a Persona. Since 
1027most of the vital energy of the whole psychic matrix exists 
1028within Garcian, Harman Smith's Persona can only become 
1029activated if Garcian chooses to engage him. Here, then, is the 
1030safeguard: Master Harman can only become active when Garcian 
1031wishes to activate him--and, he can only speak and act 
1032according to the ways in which Garcian desires him to speak 
1033and act. Garcian desires a Shogun-like master: therefore, 
1034Master Harman speaks to Garcian in the tone of a warlord 
1035sending a loyal soldier on a mission. Master Harman only 
1036carries authority because Garcian wants him to have authority. 
1037
1038Garcian serves as both the lock and the key for Harman Smith's 
1039psyche. When Master Harman disappears--as Garcian explains to 
1040Mills--something happens that H. H. didn't expect. As the 
1041chess game parallels the dramatic events on the spiritual 
1042level of the narrative, let's look at what happens in that 
1043game, when Master Harman disappears: 
1044
1045Kun Lan: "Check." *moves*
1046
1047H. H.: "What a coincidence. Check." *moves*
1048
1049Kun Lan: "This time, the game is mine." *moves*
1050
1051Kun Lan appears to have made a surprise move that nullified 
1052the defense that H. H. established, in the chess game. This 
1053"surprise move" is reflected on the spiritual level of 
1054narrative, in the awakening of Harman Smith's Persona. 
1055
1056How did Harman Smith's Persona awaken? Johnny Gagnon.
1057
1058While we don't know how, Gagnon is implied to have clairvoyant 
1059powers. He can perceive and communicate how Garcian and the 
1060Killer7 use the medium of television to communicate. However, 
1061he cannot perceive the Remnant Psyches, which is implied by 
1062his observations of KAEDE: 
1063"Kaede Smith spurts blood from her arms. What a sick sight! 
1064And then what did she do? She flattened a wall, right before 
1065my eyes. She must have taken out some kind of barrier. That's 
1066what Kaede's blood can do! Sometimes her arm sucks blood. 
1067That's some stuff I didn't need to see, either!" 
1068
1069He attributes KAEDE's barrier-breaking abilities to her blood 
1070alone, and he does not mention Iwazaru's wife. His accounts of 
1071the deaths of the Remnant Psyches are historical observations, 
1072rather than explanations of the ghosts who he sees around the 
1073Killer7. He also believes that the Harman Assassins are a 
1074different group from the Smith Syndicate. 
1075
1076In his final letter, he writes: "I asked Master Harman. Asked 
1077him to kill you."
1078
1079Given Johnny Gagnon's extraordinary resourcefulness in digging 
1080up information, it is likely that he found Master Harman in 
1081Garcian's trailer and "used all of [his] resources" to wake up 
1082Harman Smith.
1083
1084Johnny Gagnon is Kun Lan's secret piece, used at the right 
1085time to make a devastating move against H. H. Emir Parkreiner 
1086has been asleep for years; H. H. would have no interest in 
1087dispersing the veritable powerhouse he has in the Killer7. 
1088Only Kun Lan has the motivation or power to have instigated 
1089Gagnon's investigation, by prompting Gagnon to gradually 
1090awaken Emir from his identity as Garcian. In the process of 
1091awakening Emir, Gagnon also awakened Harman Smith. 
1092
1093The experience of rebirth, in most instances, involves a death 
1094to past life and a clean slate. When Emir Parkreiner became 
1095incorporated in the psychic matrix that deconstructed and 
1096reformed his soul, he was "reborn," albeit not as an infant. 
1097He was "reborn" as a monster, a shape-shifter. However, in 
1098most religious beliefs of reincarnation, a reincarnated 
1099person's former identities are accessible still, as memories. 
1100Certain chance encounters with objects and experiences, in a 
1101current life, that associate with an earlier life may bring 
1102about a recognition of memory that was buried at the time of 
1103rebirth. 
1104
1105Gagnon's purpose is to give information to Garcian--and to 
1106Master Harman, who experiences everything that Garcian does in 
1107the field--that other people will not provide. It is implied 
1108that the people around Garcian deliberately shield him from 
1109his own history, since Mills apparently knew about Garcian's 
1110belief in Harman's existence WHILE KNOWING that Harman was 
1111dead, physically. Gagnon was used as an informant who did not 
1112know the consequences of giving information. As Master Harman 
1113gained more information through Gagnon's letters, he began to 
1114awaken from his sedation--and more fully became Harman Smith. 
1115
1116When Garcian meets Harman Smith for the first time, in SMILE 
1117PART ONE, Harman Smith directs Garcian to Coburn Elementary so 
1118that Garcian can retrace, finally, the buried history that led 
1119to his present identity. However, Harman Smith is not fully as 
1120strong as he might become. He reappears, briefly, in Harman's 
1121Room in Garcian's trailer as a subdued Persona, between SMILE 
1122PART ONE and SMILE PART TWO. As well, he seems to remain 
1123attached to Garcian's physical presence, given his immobility. 
1124(Notice that, even after he's awakened to his identity as 
1125Harman Smith, he is still never seen standing.) 
1126
1127Only after Garcian finally learns his original name--Emir 
1128Parkreiner--can Harman Smith separate himself from Garcian's 
1129control. As Garcian moves through the Union Hotel, during 
1130SMILE PART TWO, he revisits each of the Personae's death. 
1131Without the Vision Ring, Garcian cannot retain the Personae 
1132any longer; when he remembers how he killed each of the 
1133Personae, he is forced to confront the fact that he--Emir--is 
1134psychologically distinct from the given Persona. In other 
1135words, when he revisits his murder of Kevin Smith, in the 
1136lobby, he must recognize psychologically: "I am myself, and 
1137you are not me. Because we are not the same person, I can kill 
1138you." As he realizes that he is NOT the Killer7--but only Emir 
1139Parkreiner--each of the Personae enter into the Forbidden Room 
1140and excuse themselves from H. H.'s service. 
1141
1142During the second Forbidden Room scene, Kun Lan snidely 
1143remarks that "[they've] been interrupted again." H. H. then 
1144asks, "Has another come to surface?"
1145
1146Kun Lan's dialogue implies that they have been visited 
1147recently by successive people. H. H.'s dialogue implies that 
1148these visitations are the "surfacing" of people. I propose 
1149that, here, Kun Lan and H. H. allude to their experience of 
1150Garcian's awakening into his identity as Emir. As Garcian 
1151revisits each murder, the spirit of the victim "surfaces" like 
1152a bubble--that is, he or she rises to the top of the hotel, 
1153through the elevator, and enters the Forbidden Room. These 
1154events occur parallel to Garcian's loss of each Persona, 
1155because he can no longer identify himself AS them. 
1156
1157When Garcian enters into the Forbidden Room, the second time, 
1158Harman Smith (having traveled with him) kills the impressions 
1159of both Kun Lan and H. H. Afterward, Garcian goes to the roof 
1160and frees himself from Harman Smith's power, by killing the 
1161Third Eye on his teenage self. He opens the case, sees the 
1162Killer7's weapons, and collapses: bewildered and truly alone. 
1163
1164Here, the credits roll: Emir Parkreiner has become whole 
1165again. The consequences are two-fold. First, he is aware of 
1166himself, completely. Second, he is alone for the first time, 
1167spiritually, since his birth in 1942.
1168
1169Afterward, Emir Parkreiner assumes his identity without the 
1170Killer7, as the true son of Kun Lan. While he is alone, 
1171spiritually, he is not yet free of the spirits that associated 
1172with him. Since H. H.'s psychic matrix has been dissipated, 
1173the Remnant Psyche of Kun Lan--Iwazaru--is now free. The sole 
1174influence left within Emir is the diminuitive Kun Lan. Because 
1175of this, he cooperates with Matsuoka. Without Kun Lan around 
1176to control the Heaven Smiles, the Heaven Smiles no longer act 
1177in the interest of terrorizing America alone. 
1178
1179As the leader of the Japanese people, Matsuoka desires to 
1180protect Japan from the Heaven Smiles, who are now without 
1181their Shogun, Kun Lan. Three years pass: Emir and Matsuken 
1182work together to eradicate the Heaven Smiles. Emir seems to 
1183have retained his reputation as a shape-shifter, since 
1184Matsuoka says to Emir: "You boys are almost done. You don't 
1185need to go around killing everybody anymore." Without the 
1186balance of H. H.'s presence within his soul, Emir becomes 
1187violent under the impulses of the diminuitive Kun Lan. 
1188
1189Yet, Emir also possesses some free will. Because he possesses 
1190free will, he can decide whether or not to kill Matsuoka. If 
1191Kun Lan were fully in charge of Emir, he would not have 
1192allowed Matsuoka--and the Yakumo--to die. 
1193What happens to Emir, after the credits roll?
1194
1195There's absolutely nothing in the game that so much as hints 
1196at what happens to Emir after the end. However, I will hazard 
1197a guess, based on the rules that seem to govern the spiritual 
1198universe of Killer7.
1199
1200When Emir kills Kun Lan's spiritual remainder, he becomes 
1201mortal. His immortal qualities have depended upon his identity 
1202as his father's son--as the son of an immortal, cosmic being. 
1203When he kills the last Heaven Smile, he destroys the last 
1204shred of immortality within himself and becomes only human. 
1205
1206This fate, I think, explains why Matsuoka says: "No more 
1207terrorism, hail to the free world. But I wonder, what'll 
1208become of you guys if terrorism is the law of nature? You 
1209know, you should kill me now, because you don't want us 
1210hanging around. Know what I mean? If I'm alive, I'll give you 
1211a run for your money--even an assassin like yourself. Better 
1212be prepared, because blood must atone for blood." 
1213As an "adopted son" of Kun Lan, Matsuoka has insight into 
1214Emir's existence that most people do not. If the last Heaven 
1215Smile is also the last bit of immortality left in Emir, then 
1216Matsuoka knows that Emir will be mortal and MUCH less powerful 
1217after killing the remainder of Kun Lan. "If terrorism is the 
1218law of nature," then Emir will have a lot of people after him-
1219-and he won't have the resources left to defend himself. 
1220
1221Emir will not be reborn. His death is the end of his cycles of 
1222life, and the end of the drama until Shanghai, 100 years 
1223later.
1224
1225III: SYMBOLISM [#III]
1226
1227(A) Yin-Yang VS God-Devil Interpretation of Harman and Kun Lan
1228[#IIIA]
1229
1230I think that the yin/yang VS God/Satan issue can be resolved 
1231by looking at the theme of hybridization that permeates the 
1232game. The color schemes in the game suggest that a yin/yang 
1233interpretation is valid: H. H. wears all black, and Kun Lan 
1234wears all white. Yet, there's even a reversal here, because H. 
1235H. controls white chess pieces, while Kun Lan controls black 
1236chess pieces. The yin/yang distinction is a decidedly Eastern 
1237dichotemy; a more Western dichotemy is the God/Satan 
1238distinction, which alludes more to the Western spiritual 
1239tradition of Zoroastrianism. 
1240
1241There are ironies laid out all over the place. Harman is the 
1242Yin: passive, white-dressed-in-black. Kun Lan is the Yang: 
1243active, associated with light. Yet, Harman's "Queen" piece is 
1244Garcian: black-dressed-in-white. In the Eastern sense, Harman 
1245and Kun Lan are complementary opposites; yet, along the more 
1246Western lines of Zoroastrian spirituality, they use the 
1247elements of the world to dramatize their struggles with each 
1248other. 
1249
1250I don't think that they are impossible to discern, though, 
1251simply because they are ironies. Part of thesignificance of 
1252Kun Lan's irony, for example, is that he is the active 
1253principle of the East (Yang)--associated with light and 
1254heaven--and, yet, in the symbolism of the West, he is 
1255associated with Lucifer, the light-bearer who masquerades as 
1256an angel. 
1257
1258(B) CHESS [#IIIB]
1259
1260Think about Emir's "rebirth," at the time of Reagan's address 
1261to the Japanese Diet, in 1983. Now, think about his movement 
1262to the age of thirteen, when he kills the Harman Assassins and 
1263gains the power that we control, as players, during the game. 
1264
1265This suggests to me the act of promotion, in a game of chess. 
1266When a pawn reaches the other end of the chess board--and has 
1267completely infiltrated the other player's territory--it 
1268becomes promoted to whatever piece the player would like, 
1269usually a queen. 
1270
1271Consider, then, that young Emir Parkreiner was Harman's pawn--
1272reborn as a queen, with all of the abilities of movement of 
1273the other pieces (except, of course, for the knight).
1274
1275Consider, also, that in addition to the pawns, there are seven 
1276chess pieces besides the Queen in an opening chess set-up. 
1277
1278Harman would be the king: essentially immobile, and, yet, the 
1279most precious and valuable.
1280
1281Con and Coyote would be the knights: able to move in ways that 
1282the other pieces cannot.
1283
1284KAEDE and Kevin would be bishops: able to move in diagonals, 
1285as a way of getting around obstacles that would take more 
1286effort to confront head-on, such as KAEDE's barrier breaking 
1287skills and long shot, and Kevin's invisibility. 
1288
1289MASK and Dan would be rooks: no-bones-about-it, head on power.
1290If the player talks to Iwazaru outside of the Ladies' 
1291Restroom, during SMILE-PART 2, Iwazaru comments on "those 
1292two," though the people referred to are not specified: "But, 
1293who are those two? Acting like kings . . . ." While it is 
1294uncertain whether Iwazaru comments upon Harman Smith and 
1295Johnny Gagnon, sitting in the 7th floor Suite, or Kun Lan and 
1296H. H., sitting in the rooftop Suite, his language suggests a 
1297connection between Kun Lan and H. H., if we take the chess 
1298metaphor. 
1299
1300As the Kings of the metaphorical chess game, Kun Lan and H. H. 
1301are "immune" from the effects of the activity occuring on the 
1302playing board. The noteworthy laziness--even malaise--that Kun 
1303Lan and H. H. exhibit when Harman Smith enters the room 
1304suggests that the game has become unwinnable by either Kun Lan 
1305OR H. H. In other words, the game is a stalemate. 
1306
1307Harman Smith decides who "wins" the chess game by totally 
1308annihilating both kings. He tries to destroy the whole game. 
1309This is contrasted with Emir's decision, near the end of the 
1310LION mission, when Emir is forced to choose between the United 
1311States or Japan. Cosmically, the stalemate was resolved when 
1312Harman Smith annihilated Kun Lan and H. H. Politically, the 
1313stalemate was resolved when Emir Parkreiner chose to save the 
1314United States or Japan. 
1315
1316IV: HISTORY LESSONS [#IV]
1317
1318(A) Ronald Reagan, the Japanese Diet, and New Diplomacy [#IVA]
1319
1320I'd like to explain what I think was meant by "the promise 
1321made 30 years ago." Since Garcian delivers the quoted words in 
13222010, he indicates that the promise was made in 1980. I have 
1323researched lightly Japanese-American diplomatic relationships 
1324during 1980, and I discovered nothing significant. However, a 
1325significant occasion occurs in 1983, when President Reagan 
1326addressed the Japanese legislative assembly (the Diet). The 
1327contents of his address seem to relate most closely with the 
1328events of Killer7, and I think that it may be the "promise" 
1329alluded to in the game. 
1330
1331I will highlight some of Reagan's remarks, and comment on 
1332their relevance to the game. You can read the entire text of 
1333the speech here: 
1334
1335http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1983/111183a.htm 
1336
1337The outward, visible alternative political history of Killer7 
1338starts in 1998, I think. Almost everything before 1998, in 
1339real political history, can be considered relevant to the 
1340game.
1341
1342Reagan's address to the legislature--the Diet--was the first 
1343formal address given by an American, to a Japanese political 
1344group, in a very long time. It marked a new understanding of 
1345Japanese-American relationships. The diplomatic interests are 
1346clear in Reagan's speech: "The bonds of friendship which unite 
1347us are even greater than the ocean which divides us." And, 
1348later: "Japan will not have to bear the burden of defending 
1349freedom alone. America is your partner. We will bear that 
1350burden together." 
1351
1352As well, the speech emphasizes the parallel development of 
1353Japan and the United States: "In 6 years you will celebrate 
1354your 100th anniversary of representative government in Japan, 
1355just as we will celebrate the birth of our own Congress. I 
1356bring you the best wishes and heartfelt greetings from your 
1357American counterparts, the Congress of the United States." 
1358Taken in the context of the fictional history of Killer7, some 
1359of Reagan's remarks foreshadow the dissolution of airlines and 
1360commerce, in the interest of retarding terrorism: "Our two 
1361great nations, working with others, must preserve the values 
1362and freedoms out societies have struggled so hard to achieve. 
1363Nor should our partnership for peace, prosperity, and freedom 
1364be considered a quest for competing goals. We cannot prosper 
1365unless we are secure, and we cannot be secure unless we are 
1366free." It is worth noting that the siezure of airlines, as a 
1367way of retarding terrorism, was given historical precedent 
1368well before September 11, 2001; a while before Reagan's speech 
1369to the Diet, over the Sea of Japan, 269 people were killed 
1370when a Japanese civilian airplane was shot down. 
1371
1372Reagan remarks upon one of the hottest issues of the times, 
1373which we see reach a half-conclusion in "the missile shows": 
1374"Arms control must mean arms reductions. America is doing its 
1375part. As I pledged to the United Nations less than 2 months 
1376ago, the United States will accept any equitable, verifiable 
1377agreement that stabilizes forces at lower levels than 
1378currently exist. We want significant reductions, and we're 
1379willing to compromise." 
1380
1381Even the Japanese "occupation" of the American government in 
1382Killer7 is foreshadowed. Reagan comments upon the Japanese 
1383economy's strengths, over the United States', and says: 
1384"Sometimes I wonder if we shouldn't further our friendship by 
1385sending our Congress here and you coming over and occupying 
1386our Capitol Building for a while." 
1387
1388I believe that the political circumstances in Killer7 are 
1389science-fiction extrapolations of Japanese-American diplomatic 
1390relations, as they are communicated in Reagan's speech. I 
1391wrote that I thought that Holbert's cassettes were recorded in 
13922000, but now I change my mind. I think that they are recorded 
1393in 1996. I think it more probable that electoral suspicion 
1394would arise in a president who was so interested in pursuing 
1395the goals of global disarmament, that he would dissolve some 
1396of the sovereignty that separates America from Japan. 
1397
1398(B) World War II Allusions [#IVB]
1399
1400Emir is noted as having died on 28 April 1952. This date 
1401corresponds to the exact day before the end of Japan's post-
1402World War II occupation, and the beginning of modern Japan. 
1403The occupation of Japan involved Japanese disarmament, as well 
1404as the establishment of a new Japanese political Constitution-
1405-drafted and finalized in the image of the American 
1406Constitution. 
1407
1408The comic book artist's name is Trevor Pearlharbor. The 
1409allusion in his last name is screamingly obvious to anyone 
1410raised in the American school system. It is significant that 
1411Trevor Pearlharbor is the comic writer who designs and 
1412narrates the adventures of the Handsome Men--and that the 
1413Handsome Men (according to Mills) are a force designed by the 
1414military to combat the Japan-affiliated Heaven Smiles. 
1415The role of the Handsome Men, of course, is subverted. They 
1416are used to assassinate American political figures--and, 
1417ultimately, used to assassinate Trevor Pearlharbor himself. 
1418While they appear to originate from the United States, they 
1419turn out to be controlled by Kun Lan. Kun Lan's appearance at 
1420the very end of the ALTER EGO chapter--as he puts down a video 
1421game controller, after the faux-credits of a Capcom fighting 
1422game scroll past--suggest that they were his characters to 
1423control in his and H. H.'s "game." 
1424
1425Before I get to further discussion of the World War II 
1426symbolism, I'd like to note one narrative parallel: as I have 
1427stated in an earlier post, Garcian can switch between the six 
1428main members of the Killer7, because he stays behind at the 
1429television. A subtle layer of irony work, here: Garcian 
1430controls the Killer7 from the television screen, just like we 
1431(as players) control Garcian and the other six characters from 
1432our television screen. When we see Kun Lan on the other side 
1433of the monitor, putting down his controller, after watching 
1434the faux-credits, we (as players) as being addressed somewhat 
1435directly. We have played a scripted game of "Handsome Men 
1436Online Battle" against Kun Lan, over a fictional online game. 
1437In the opening of Sunset, Part 2, one of the old men says: 
1438"For 65 year, we give everything we have to restoring this 
1439country. Now, all our efforts will end up in smoke once again, 
1440by the hand of the same country that put us here." If 65 is 
1441subtracted from the date of this statement (2010), we find 
1442that the year referred to is 1945--the year of Germany and 
1443Japan's defeat by the Allied Powers. As well, this is the same 
1444yeat that the United Nations charter was signed. It is also 
1445(importantly) the year in which the Atomic Bomb was used 
1446against Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 
1447
1448(C) November 1942 [#IVC]
1449
1450Emir Parkreiner was born in 1942--the year that the Japanese 
1451Empire was at its height. You may view a map of its land 
1452possesssions here:
1453
1454http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/pacificwar/pacwar.gif
1455
1456The only remarkable information that I've been able to dig up 
1457about Japanese war activity during November 1942 is (1) the 
1458Battle of Tassafaronga, and (2) the naval battle of 
1459Guadacanal. My natural knowledge of World War II is 
1460unimpressive, therefore much of my information is the result 
1461of immediate research. In general, 1942 was a very, very good 
1462year for Japan. November, specifically, saw Japan endure (and, 
1463in one instance, win) a couple of naval battles that--judging 
1464from the numbers--they shouldn't have won. 
1465
1466Emir was born when Japan was at its height, as an Empire.
1467
1468V: QUESTION AND ANSWER [#V]
1469
1470A--[Q]: Who are Harman Smith, H. H., and Master Harman? Why 
1471are you describing Harman as three people? [#VA]
1472
1473[A]: "Harman Smith" is the man who used to be principal of the 
1474school visited in the "Smile" chapter. He was the man who ran 
1475the school that trained Japanese terrorists, and he was also 
1476the man who was Emir Parkreiner's mentor. He was an agent of 
1477Japan, and in league with Kun Lan; as an agent of Kun Lan, he 
1478is granted power from the "Hand of God": he can resurrect 
1479whomever he wants. 
1480
1481"Master Harman" is the man who Garcian addresses as "Master 
1482Harman." He lives in the room in the trailer-house, and he is 
1483taken care of by Samantha. He is the Remnant Psyche of Harman 
1484Smith. Due to the circumstances that led Emir (as an agent of 
1485God) to kill Harman Smith, he is subdued in a wheelchair. He 
1486can only act and speak, when Emir turns to him on the 
1487television--and, when he acts and speaks, he acts and speaks 
1488as the voice of H. H., who I will now describe. 
1489
1490"H. H." is "Hasidic Harman." He is the man who wears 
1491traditional Jewish men's clothing. He is an eternal figure, 
1492and his power complements the power of Kun Lan. Kun Lan has 
1493the "Hand of God," which enables him to bestow life on 
1494whomever he pleases. H. H. (Hasidic Harman) has the power of 
1495the "God-killer," meaning he can kill those creations of Kun 
1496Lan that normal people are unable to destroy. You see H. H. at 
1497the chessboard with Kun Lan, and you also see him at the ends 
1498of Angel and Lion. Anytime you see one of the three Harmans 
1499interacting with Kun Lan, it's H. H. 
1500
1501B--[Q]: You describe Kun Lan as a Devil-figure, yet he has the 
1502"Hand of God;" also, you describe H. H. as a God-figure, yet 
1503he is designated the "God-killer." Aren't these contradictory?
1504[#VB]
1505
1506[A]: I think it is significant that Kun Lan has the "Hand of 
1507God," whereas H. H. is the "God Killer." Each represents 
1508different aspects of existence: life and death. If we assume 
1509that President Harman was under the control/mentorship of Kun 
1510Lan, then it seems more natural that President Harman would 
1511have the power of Kun Lan: the power to give life. 
1512
1513Some see Kun Lan's ability to give life as proof that he is 
1514the holy part of the pair; oppositely, I see him as the unholy 
1515part. He may create life, but the ends to which he creates 
1516life are twisted. H. H. may destroy life, but he destroys the 
1517twisted life created by Kun Lan. 
1518
1519Also, I think it's worth noting that many of the people who 
1520the Killer7 kill over the course of the game show up as 
1521Remnant Psyches-and thank Killer7 for having killed them! A 
1522person who kills psychopathically expresses hatred for life; 
1523their true desire is to die themselves. As the death-half of 
1524the divine presences in the game, H. H. uses the Killer7 to 
1525murder those who want death. In a sense, he delivers both 
1526mercy and retribution at the same time! 
1527
1528I think it is ironic that the characters who serve Kun Lan-the 
1529life-giving divine figure-desire death more than anything.
1530
1531C--[Q]: What's the deal with the surveillance cameras? [#VC]
1532
1533[A]: I think that their locations a due mostly to narrative 
1534convenience. For instance, when Travis addresses Garcian as 
1535"Emir," the cameras are set up deliberately to ensure that you 
1536will play as Garcian during that sequence-and, again, set up 
1537deliberately to ensure that you will face Kun Lan as H. H., 
1538rather than Garcian. 
1539
1540I believe that the cameras are connected to the "medium of 
1541television," as Johnny Gagnon puts it. I also think it's 
1542connected to the overlapping layers of the narrative.
1543
1544Think about it this way: when you watch television, you 
1545control what you watch, because you can change the channel. 
1546When you operate a cam-corder, however, you experience an 
1547added level of control: you control what you watch, and you 
1548alter the content insofar as your power as director allows. 
1549
1550The television represents Garcian's free will, with respect to 
1551his use of personas. When you play as any of the six main 
1552characters of the Killer7, Garcian is not selectable from the 
1553Smiths menu. This implies that all of the Smith characters are 
1554present, on screen, yet Garcian is not. Likewise, when you 
1555select Garcian, none of the other characters are available 
1556under the Smith menu. When one of the personas is selected, 
1557from within Harman's Room, I believe that Garcian stays in 
1558Harman's Room; when you switch characters in the middle of 
1559gameplay, Garcian has changed channels, within Harman's room. 
1560This also explains why none of the other characters are 
1561selectable, when you play as Garcian: none of them can change 
1562the channels, and the channel-changer is out in the field. 
1563
1564The camera, though, represents H. H.'s control of Garcian. 
1565Garcian cannot select when to use H. H. in the field; H. H. 
1566apparently chooses this of his own accord, and he uses the 
1567medium of the cam-corder to do so. Notice that the first time 
1568Garcian changes under the view of the cam-corder, he turns 
1569into Dan; Dan then looks up at the camera, with both surprise 
1570and recognition. The transformation has been enforced upon 
1571Garcian, according to H. H.'s will. 
1572
1573D--[Q]: What do the Handsome Men have to do with anything? [#VD]
1574
1575[A]: The Handsome Men serve a number of purposes, to the plot. 
1576One of those purposes, I think, is the continuation of the 
1577theme of creations-turning-against-their-creators. Just as 
1578Trevor Pearlharbor is killed by the Handsome Men, Kun Lan and 
1579H. H. are killed by Young Harman--who is both of their 
1580creation. (Similarly, as I believe that Emir is the son of Kun 
1581Lan, he turns against his "creators," by killing his mother 
1582and eventually killing his father.) 
1583
1584The "video game" layer of the ALTER EGO mission takes the game 
1585to a more metaphorical level. We see Kun Lan putting down a 
1586controller, after we watch the credits for what looks like an 
1587online fighting game made by Capcom. This implies that we, as 
1588players, have been playing an online video game against Kun 
1589Lan. 
1590
1591In terms of a formal analysis of Killer7--meaning, an analysis 
1592of the form used to present the narrative--the "video game" 
1593layer of ALTER EGO connects to the means of using a television 
1594to switch between personalities. Recall that Garcian can 
1595change Smiths, when he is not selectable from the pause menu--
1596which implies that all of the Smiths are in the field, while 
1597he has stayed behind in Harman's Room. He is controlling the 
1598Smiths from afar, using a television screen--much as we, the 
1599players, are controlling the Smiths in their virtual world, 
1600using a television screen. One might even posit that Garcian 
1601is controlling the Smiths in exactly the same way that we, as 
1602players, are controlling the Smiths: in a virtual sense, as 
1603though playing a game. 
1604
1605Throughout all of the "game-playing," controlling the Smiths 
1606from afar, Garcian has been battling the Heaven Smiles--the 
1607cultish army of Kun Lan. As we learn by the end of ALTER EGO, 
1608the Handsome Men were controlled by Kun Lan. The image of Kun 
1609Lan putting down a game controller puts everything I have just 
1610discussed into the context of Kun Lan and H. H.'s "game." 
1611This also relates to greater meaning of the game, beyond the 
1612specific details of the plot: how Eastern and Western cultures 
1613have intermingled and influenced each other. It is important 
1614that 1983--the year that Reagan addressed the Diet--was also 
1615around the time that Japanese pop culture began to influence 
1616Western, American culture more apparently. I think 
1617specifically of the greater appearance of anime, as well as 
1618the domination of Japanese-made video games. At least three of 
1619the bosses of Killer7 (the Angel in ANGEL; Ayame Blackburn in 
1620ENCOUNTER; and the Handsome Men in ALTER EGO) are made in the 
1621image of stock types out of Japanese anime and manga: the 
1622seraphic figure head; the Sailor Moon-esque schoolgirl who 
1623transforms into a fighter for justice; and the team of 
1624futuristic, helmet-wearing martial artists. 
1625
1626<1980's-fanboy> I'm sure that some of the younger generation 
1627reading this are jumping up and exclaiming, "But those weren't 
1628Japanese characters who the Handsome Men were parodies of! 
1629They were parodies of the Power Rangers, who were American pop 
1630icons!" I'll let you know that the Power Rangers--much to the 
1631disgust of many of my generation--were mere copies of VOLTRON, 
1632who preceded the Power Rangers by at least ten years and were 
1633infinitely better. </1980's-fanboy> 
1634
1635The mere fact that we, as gamers, garner so much of our 
1636entertainment and our favorite myths from video games attests 
1637to the cultural "invasion" of the East. I think that this is 
1638one of the over-arching messages of Killer7.
1639
1640I should note, here, that VOLTRON was not the first embodiment 
1641of normal-people-who-gain-awesome-powers-and-dress-up-to-
1642fight-evil, in Japanese entertainment. The whole motif falls 
1643under the general description of Sentai--or, if there are 
1644gigantic robots involved, Super Sentai. A number of readers 
1645have pointed this out, and the knowledge has led to an 
1646extension of my thought regarding the significance of the 
1647Handsome Men. 
1648
1649According to my resources, "sentai" loosely means "task 
1650force." The term was originally employed by the Japanese Army 
1651Air Force, in reference to their fighting squadrons.
1652The Handsome Men kill Trevor Pearlharbor--just like the World 
1653War II Sentai bombed Pearl Harbor. There seems to be an 
1654implied connection between Japanese pop culture, and Japanese 
1655military aggression.
1656
1657E--[Q]: So, Kun Lan was Iwazaru? Why is he in Garcian's 
1658basement? [#VE]
1659
1660[A]: I think that this goes back to my assertion that Kun Lan 
1661was originally inside Principal Harmon--and, then, Emir "ate" 
1662Principal Harmon's powers, granting him the Third Eye. Since 
1663Garcian can resurrect his fallen members--a power inherited 
1664from President Harman, who (in turn) had inherited it from Kun 
1665Lan--it may be reasonable to assume that a remnant psyche of 
1666Kun Lan exists somewhere within Garcian's psyche. Since H. H. 
1667overwhelmed Kun Lan when Emir killed President Harman, Kun Lan 
1668appears within Garcian's psyche as a defeated character: bound 
1669in bondage gear and subservient. 
1670
1671I don't think that Kun Lan has remained active within 
1672Garcian's psyche, opposing Harman in the form of Iwazaru; I 
1673think that Izawaru is the remnant psyche of Kun Lan's earlier 
1674habitation of Principal Harman. In the same way that Principal 
1675Harman (as an aspect or avatar of H. H.) contradicted the 
1676spiritual being in whose image he was made, Iwazaru 
1677contradicts the fact that he has been made in Kun Lan's image. 
1678I don't think that he was in Garcian's basement. First, I've 
1679lived in trailers. They don't have basements--especially not 
1680as spacious as the area that Garcian chased Iwazaru/Kun Lan 
1681through. Second, Garcian's trailer seems connected with 
1682Battleship Island, outside of the boundaries of space-time. 
1683The Forbidden Room door leads to a suite on the top floor of 
1684the Union Hotel, and the Basement door leads to a winding 
1685network of passages in Battleship Island. These strange 
1686alterations of space-time represent the cosmic nature of 
1687Garcian's existence, as well as the psychological qualities of 
1688each room's inhabitant. 
1689
1690At the end, we see H. H. asleep on the floor of Harman's Room. 
1691While H. H. is asleep, Kun Lan (AKA, Iwazaru) is loose and 
1692alive. Emir kills Iwazaru/Kun Lan and effectively frees 
1693himself from the influence of his father. Kun Lan's presence 
1694in Garcian's basement suggests strongly the subconscious 
1695memory of Kun Lan, as a father figure. 
1696
1697F--[Q]: What's the deal with the Vinculum Gate and the Gateman 
1698and the Coliseum? [#VF]
1699
1700[A]: The Vinculum Gate is a sort of barrier set up by Kun Lan, 
1701to prevent H. H.'s Killer7 from getting to their goal. Think 
1702of it as a "castle" move, from chess. A Vinculum, literally, 
1703is a mathematical mark used to connect two ideas together. 
1704Since the Vinculum Gate transcends space-time, it takes the 
1705Killer7 through the Coliseum--which, by the end of the game, 
1706we know is the base of Japanese military strength, Battleship 
1707Island. Also, importantly, Battleship Island is the 
1708experimentation headquarters, for the creation of new types of 
1709Heaven Smiles. 
1710
1711G--[Q]: What's all that terrible screaming in Garcian's 
1712trailer? [#VG]
1713
1714[A]: I think that it's the remnant psyche of Principal Harman, 
1715AKA Harman Smith. He's bound and immobile--a juxtaposition to 
1716Iwazaru, who is also bound and immobile. (Note that Iwazaru 
1717can only move via his bungee cord, vertically, whereas Harman 
1718can only move via his wheelchair, horizontally.) Since 
1719Principal Harman is doped up, owing to his binding, he has all 
1720the coherency and grace of an Alzheimer's patient on crystal 
1721methamphetemine. 
1722
1723H--[Q]: Who gunned down Kun Lan and H. H. during the second 
1724cut-scene of the Forbidden Room? [#VH]
1725
1726[A]: Good old Harman Smith.
1727
1728Notice that H. H. looks at the person who enters the Forbidden 
1729Room and says, "Well. Look who it is. Haven't seen you in a 
1730long time." When I first watched this scene, I thought that H. 
1731H. spoke with inappropriate condescension to Garcian. As well, 
1732his remark that he hadn't "seen [him] in a long time" didn't 
1733make sense, since he was in fairly regular communication with 
1734Garcian. 
1735
1736Then, I figured it out: He spoke condescendingly, because he 
1737was addressing the Remnant Psyche of Principal Harman. He had 
1738obvious disdain for the man who looked like him, but betrayed 
1739him.
1740
1741Further, as we see when we play as Harman Smith in Killer8, 
1742Harman is the only character with a Tommy Gun, which is what 
1743seems to have been used against Kun Lan and H. H. 
1744
1745It seems that old President Harman knew his number was up, as 
1746a Remnant Psyche. The six main killers of the original Killer7 
1747had already been laid to rest: as soon as Garcian destroyed 
1748the Third Eye on Emir, President Harman's Remnant Psyche would 
1749be released, too. He took the last possible chance he had to 
1750get revenge on the two divine beings who had caused so much 
1751havoc in his life. 
1752
1753I--[Q]: In the LION mission, how can Garcian/Emir run from the 
1754Coliseum (in the Pacific Ocean) to his trailer (in northwest 
1755America) to the Coliseum again? [#VI]
1756
1757[A]: I think that Garcian's Trailer-House, the Forbidden Room 
1758of the Union Hotel, and the Coliseum are all connected-and I 
1759mean physically, though not concretely.
1760
1761Lemme try to unknot that for you. For reasons that are never 
1762explained directly, the Coliseum (in the Pacific Ocean) goes 
1763down to a sublevel-where you can walk into Garcian's living 
1764room. This is either a tremendous glitch, or an important 
1765detail. 
1766
1767Likewise, the basement of Garcian's Trailer-House goes down 
1768into the depths of the Coliseum. Somehow, he is able to run 
1769about fifty feet on an island in the Atlantic Ocean and make a 
1770detour by his kitchen, in Washington State. 
1771
1772Similarly, Garcian is able to walk through the back door to 
1773his Trailer-House, and walk into the top floor suite of a 
1774hotel in Pennsylvania. (Note that I think that the room he 
1775walks into, after finding Samantha dead, is the top floor of 
1776the Union Hotel. Look through the windows during the cutscene: 
1777you'll see atmosphere that you shouldn't be able to see from 
1778the one floor of a Trailer-House.) 
1779
1780A couple of other things strike me as odd about the set up. 
1781The most major one is the fact that it's a Trailer-House. 
1782Those things don't even have basements. Likewise, unless it is 
1783a double-wide, I can't imagine having enough room for a large 
1784room, like the suite. The second fact-more subtly-comes from 
1785something Kun Lan says, during gunning scene in the Forbidden 
1786Room. He says, "Time here is warped." 
1787
1788J--[Q]: What happened with H. H. and Kun Lan, during the first 
1789scene in the Forbidden Room? [#VJ]
1790
1791[A]: I believe that the two freak out, because "things are 
1792astir." (Not a quote from the game; my own phrase off set by 
1793quotations.) Samantha is dead; Harman is gone; and Garcian has 
1794just overheard them describe the trauma of his past. Clearly, 
1795things are going a little rustier than they expect, in 
1796Garcian's mind. 
1797
1798An interesting aspect of the divine/immortal beings in Killer7 
1799is that they depend upon human beings, as hosts or vessels. At 
1800the time of the gunning scene in the Forbidden Room, both Kun 
1801Lan and H. H. seem fatigued-bored, even. I think that this is 
1802because both of their "vessels" have disintegrated: H. H. is 
1803losing Garcian/Emir, and Kun Lan has just lost Nightmare. 
1804Their chess game has even come to a halt-the game they love 
1805more than anything. Without their physical vessels, the chess 
1806game (which is a symbol of all of the activities in the human 
1807world) cannot resolve because neither divine being has the 
1808energy he needs to play. 
1809
1810I don't think that Garcian could have entered the Forbidden 
1811Room, from his Trailer-House, unless the remnant psyche of 
1812Principal Harman had awoken. The remnant psyche of Harman is 
1813the sole layer between Garcian and H. H.--and with that layer 
1814absent, Garcian can intrude upon the very working of the 
1815spiritual fabric that dictates historical events. 
1816
1817One important difference between the two Forbidden Room scenes 
1818is how Garcian and Harman react to the presences of H. H. and 
1819Kun Lan. Garcian only gives them a little shock. Harman mows 
1820them Al Capone style. Harman's got a lot more rage pent up 
1821than Garcian does, apparently. 
1822
1823K--[Q]: The whole set-up with the gymnasium at Coburn seemed a 
1824little deliberate. Who set it up? [#VK]
1825
1826[A]: I expect that Kun Lan set it up. If he can dissolve 
1827Garcian's spiritual balance (psychotic though it may be), he 
1828can unravel H. H.'s vessel--and, therefore, gain the upper 
1829hand. To do this, he has to awaken Garcian to his past 
1830identity: Emir. 
1831
1832Note how the entire scenario in the gymnasium plays out like a 
1833chess game, visually; also note how it plays out like a trap. 
1834A number of Heaven Smiles appear, and they are equal to the 
1835number of personas within Garcian. They are totally black, 
1836like Kun Lan's chess pieces. And they take them out, one-by-
1837one, diagonally, like pawns taking more powerful pieces on the 
1838board. (Also note that Garcian's suit is white--the color of 
1839H. H.'s pieces.)
1840
1841I expect that the flaw in Kun Lan's plan came from the 
1842Benjamin Keane. Kun Lan likely expected Nightmare to be ready 
1843for Garcian, with the Golden Gun and black Heaven Smiles at 
1844his command. However, the Ben Keane caught him off guard and 
1845hoisted him on the stage rack. 
1846
1847L--[Q]: Why would Benjamin Keane kill Greg Nightmare? [#VL]
1848
1849[A]: Greg Nightmare who controls Coburn--and, by consequence, 
1850controls who will become the next President of the U. S. A. 
1851Keane didn't win the "election" like he hoped.
1852
1853In other words, Ben Keane wanted the elections rigged in his 
1854favor--so, when this didn't happen, he rigged Greg Nightmare! 
1855
1856M--[Q]: What's the deal with the Golden Gun? [#VM]
1857
1858[A]: Think of the Golden Gun as a holy sword. The Golden Gun 
1859was Emir's token, I think. The usual signifiers are at work: 
1860the gun is made of gold, connoting that it is special; 
1861further, it is the weapon of an agent possessed by God (or a 
1862God-analog); as well, it is made of the metal that was deemed 
1863most holy by alchemists. (Nevermind the fact that an actual 
1864golden gun would melt after the first few shots.) A further 
1865reference at work is the allusion to James Bond, the man who 
1866can do anything: "The Man With the Golden Gun." 
1867
1868The black Heaven Smiles, I think, are pure Heaven Smiles. I 
1869think they are the raw essence of the evil within a Heaven 
1870Smile, without a human host. Previously, the Killer7s' guns 
1871could kill the Heaven Smiles, because they could kill the 
1872physical body of the host. Now, they cannot, since no physical 
1873body is present. Nightmare is in possession of the Golden Gun, 
1874to keep Garcian away from the one weapon that will work 
1875against the black Heaven Smiles. Note, also, that Garcian 
1876lacks the Vision Ring. He most probably sees the Heaven 
1877Smiles, now, as those three victims in ANGEL saw them. 
1878
1879N--[Q]: The game doesn't give a specific date for the 
1880recording of Holbert's cassette tapes, in the SMILE chapter. 
1881How do you come up with the year 1996? [#VN]
1882
1883[A]: Holbert opens the first tape, by explaining: "It's been a 
1884few days since the Presidential election. Today's the fourth 
1885Thursday in November."
1886
1887So, let's look at election years. The last one we had was in 
18882004, and they occur every four years. These are the 
1889possibilities, then: 2000, 1996, 1992, 1988, 1984, 1980, 1976, 
18901972, 1968, 1964, 1960, 1956, and 1952. I stop at 1952, 
1891because this is the election year closest to Emir's death. 
1892Holbert describes Emir's birthdate as "1942," and then pauses 
1893and says, "That's over 50 years ago."
1894
1895From this, I conclude that the recording of the cassettes 
1896comes at least 50 years since 1942. 1942 plus 50 equals 1992.
1897
1898The first cassette tape explains that the first cassette is 
1899recorded during an presidential election year. I assume that 
1900the only election years in question are 1996 and 2000, because 
1901the election of 2004 would have been at least 60 years since 
19021942. Given that it seems likely that Holbert would have 
1903expressed the time span in tens, I think that 2004 is too late 
1904of a date to place the recording of his cassettes.
1905
1906Between 1996 and 2000, I choose 1996. The intro movie of 
1907SUNSET describes the resolution to ban nuclear weapons in July 
19083, 1998. It seems more likely that concern would arise (with 
1909respect to electoral validity) given the later developments to 
1910stop all international commerce. 
1911
1912To quote the narrator, again: "The international society, 
1913under the motto of 'Protecting the world from international 
1914terrorism, ideology terrorism, and cyber-terrorism,' stopped 
1915all air transportation and closed every network station in the 
1916short span of two years, to reduce the likelihood of 
1917terrorism. The world had changed. 
1918
1919"In the year 2002, a network of intercontinental expressways, 
1920bridging the Atlantic Ocean, opened, connecting the two major 
1921sides of the world. In the following year of 2003, the 
1922construction of a mass scale distribution system began, and 
1923the man-made landmass large as a city was built over an ocean. 
1924The use and research of nuclear energy was banned, and all 
1925radioactive waste and materials were disposed of at an energy 
1926disposal facility in the Gibsoft Islands, a remote set of 
1927islands off the coast of the Indian Ocean." 
1928
1929In other words, the resolutions of 1998 began a process that 
1930resulted in U. S. cooperation in a global unification of the 
1931economy. Note that Holbert's communication comes a few days 
1932after the election--meaning, someone suspected fraudulent 
1933practices only a short time after the election had taken 
1934place. Since the winner of the 1996 election is held 
1935responsible for the U. S. policy changes that resulted in the 
19361998 resolutions, I expect that that was the year of Holbert's 
1937cassettes' recording. 
1938
1939O--[Q]: Who's the guy sitting next to Harman Smith, in the 
1940Union Hotel? [#VO]
1941
1942[A]: Quick answer: he's Johnny Gagnon.
1943
1944Johnny Gagnon's last letter narrates that Harman Smith was 
1945laughing with him. Laughter, of course, is Kun Lan's calling 
1946card. We also know that Kenjiro has been touched by Kun Lan, 
1947from the intro scene to Sunset, Part 2. Since Harman Smith--in 
1948the suite of the Union Hotel--is aligned with Kun Lan, and 
1949since his identity is the Harman who worked with the Yakumo, I 
1950believe that he and Kenjiro would cooperate with each other. 
1951
1952When Harman Smith explains that he already sent Kenjiro away, 
1953I believe that he sent Kenjiro away to make a hit on the man 
1954who is seen gagged, and who falls off the building.
1955
1956Harman tells Garcian that he "handed over" Kenjiro, to get 
1957Garcian to go to the school. Johnny Gagnon knows what Garcian 
1958looks like--but not what Emir looks like. In his mind, Garcian 
1959(as part of the Killer7/Harman's Assassins) is distinct from 
1960Emir. Therefore, when Harman tells Garcian that "the man you 
1961are looking for" is at the school, Johnny thinks that Garcian 
1962is going to kill Emir. 
1963
1964Between the time that Garcian goes to the school, and the time 
1965that he returns, Harman Smith has killed Johnny Gagnon, and 
1966Johnny Gagnon is a remnant psyche of Harman Smith. In other 
1967words, the man who we see handing Harman Smith the hat is a 
1968subservient ghost of Johnny Gagnon. 
1969
1970P--[Q]: Who's the man who falls from the roof of the building, 
1971in the opening to SMILE? [#VP]
1972
1973[A]: I think that the man who falls off the building is Hiro 
1974Sakai, Garcian's contact at the opening of SUNSET, Part 2. 
1975Since Harman Smith would have been "within" Garcian at the 
1976time that Garcian met with Hiro Sakai, he would know that Hiro 
1977was an agent against the Yakumo's agenda. 
1978
1979Q--[Q]: What is that song that Emir whistles, during the 
1980flashback sequences of SMILE? [#VQ]
1981
1982[A]: The tune is "Greensleeves," and the music is named so in 
1983the credits. However, other players and I think that the music 
1984is intended to reference "What Child Is This?"
1985
1986The main reason given against interpreting the music as "What 
1987Child Is This?" is that the credits do not list the song as 
1988"What Child Is This?" Despite this discrepancy, a number of 
1989reasons exist that favor the interpretation of the music as 
1990"What Child Is This?" 
1991
1992First, there's the literal matter of tune and song. The song 
1993"What Child Is This?" puts lyrics to the tune of 
1994"Greensleeves." Since no lyrics were sung, it's plausble that 
1995the tune may be credited as "Greensleeves," while the song 
1996"What Child Is This?" is the intended reference. Second, 
1997there's the metaphorical matter of meaning. The themes of 
1998divine incarnation and birth present in "What Child Is This?" 
1999cohere more meaningfully with the themes of Killer7--as 
2000opposed to the theme of "Greensleeves," which more often than 
2001not is about romantic love. 
2002
2003R--[Q]: Who's the woman who killed Mills? What's her purpose 
2004in the story? [#VR]
2005
2006[A] Her name is "Linda Vermilion."
2007
2008I think Linda Vermilion is a functional character, whose 
2009purpose is to allude to contextual information that is useful 
2010in understanding the plot. I don't think she's connected to 
2011anyone, right now.
2012
2013The reasons that I think she was introduced are mostly 
2014technical reasons, relating to the story-telling. First, 
2015Garcian needed someone for a contact, with Mills dead. Second, 
2016Linda alludes to the dual functions of Mills and Garcian, as 
2017assassins: they ostensibly work for the American government, 
2018but they are forbidden to do anything "in the interest of the 
2019country." Linda is positively spiteful toward Mills, when she 
2020says, "Is making a move in the interest of the country an 
2021assassin's job, too?" 
2022
2023Mills loved his job, I think, because he loved his country. He 
2024was unaware that his country-or, at least, the part of it 
2025through which he served-was corrupt.
2026
2027It's also useful to note that Linda is Japanese-or, if not 
2028Japanese, markedly Asian. It suggests that, even though 
2029Garcian's orders appeared to be coming from a Western source 
2030(a white American man with a New England accent), he was being 
2031monitored by and controlled by an Asian source. 
2032
2033Most of this information is made directly available to the 
2034player, later in the game; however, I think that it is 
2035suggested by Linda's presence (I assumed all these things when 
2036I saw her scene in the game, anyhow) as foreshadowing for the 
2037revelations to come. 
2038
2039Also, she serves as one of the few definitely-human-characters 
2040to interact with Garcian directly, and to react to him. 
2041Garcian and Mills appear to have been working together for a 
2042long time-enough to know each other's habits, certainly-and 
2043Garcian clearly seemed unprepared for another contact who 
2044would become irritated at his lack of punctuality. (At the 
2045start of ANGEL, we see that Garcian has been on thirty formal 
2046missions. I expect that he and Mills have worked together for 
2047most of them-or, if not most of them, enough for them to have 
2048developed a personal affection through their professional 
2049relationship.) 
2050
2051Her interaction with Garcian also suggests Garcian's own 
2052blindness. At least three people seem to know more than 
2053Garcian does, about his own past: Mills ("Garcie, thirty years 
2054ago-"), Linda ("Must be nice being you, able to come and go as 
2055you please-"), and Matsuoka ("There are more important things-
2056like finding out who you are."). I don't think that any of 
2057these characters have a whole vision of Garcian's/Emir's 
2058history and circumstances, but they certainly know enough to 
2059suspect a larger picture-and, until SMILE Part 2, Garcian 
2060doesn't seem to know enough to cause him to doubt his 
2061assumptions about his existence. 
2062
2063S--[Q]: The instruction booklet says that Dan wouldn't 
2064hesitate to kill Harman. This never gets played out in the 
2065game. What's up with that? [#VS]
2066
2067[A]: Please read the entry titled "FALLEN ANGEL" in the 
2068section "Things That Don't Belong Anywhere Else."
2069
2070T--[Q] What's the purpose of the Ulmeyda episode in the game?
2071[#VT]
2072
2073[A]: I think that the Ulmeyda episode is meant to illustrate a 
2074few aspects of the Heaven Smiles, as well as show how 
2075thoroughly the Yakumo had infiltrated the American government.
2076
2077Ulmeyda's religion seems antithetical to the Heaven Smiles. I 
2078draw this conclusion from a few instances: first, Ulmeyda's 
2079followers do not bear the smiling, near-manic demeanor of the 
2080Smiles; second, when Clarence (the boy who "wins" the car) is 
2081pulled aside, he is ecstatic at having "won," but Ulmeyda 
2082discourages his smiling because he'll "frighten off lady 
2083luck;" and, third, he obviously fears the Heaven Smiles as a 
2084disease, since he asks Garcian to kill him in the instance 
2085that he is "infected" as one of them. 
2086
2087This illustrates a few things about the Heaven Smiles, I 
2088think, on the cosmic level of the narrative. However, it 
2089illustrates those characteristics of the Heaven Smiles, as 
2090they are antithetical to Ulmeyda. Ulmeyda, importantly, 
2091represents most of the characteristics of Western religion. As 
2092we know from Clarence's monologue at the end of CLOUDMAN, 
2093Ulmeyda's followers drank Ulmeyda's blood; this reflects the 
2094ritual of the Last Supper, in Christian tradition. Further, 
2095Ulmeyda delberately infected himself with various lethal 
2096diseases, and overcame them. His blood is filled with numerous 
2097antibodies to genuinely deadly diseases, giving his blood a 
2098degree of "healing power," much as Christ's body is believed 
2099to have held in the Christian tradition. 
2100
2101(It seems suggested, though, that Ulmeyda's blood also 
2102contains traces of the original diseases. Notice the different 
2103reactions in the military officer and Clarence, when each is 
2104showered with Ulmeyda's blood. The military officer screams 
2105and falls over, as though the blood were acidic; Clarence 
2106simply tastes it and recognizes it as Ulmeyda's. This 
2107suggests, to me, that Clarence had developed an immunity to 
2108the diseases still in Ulmeyda's blood, owing to his earlier 
2109drinking of Ulmeyda's blood.) 
2110
2111In fact, when we see Ulmeyda infected with the Heaven Smile 
2112virus, we may be looking at the process of "conversion" to the 
2113Heaven Smile cult.
2114
2115The irony, here, is that the American military has infected 
2116Ulmeyda with a disease that is the aggressive force of Kun 
2117Lan--the East! I think that this is another instance of the 
2118irony of East-in-West--Kun Lan's use of Western power, to 
2119achieve mastery for the East. 
2120
2121Clarence, at the end, sells the car to Mills. Presumably, he 
2122continues Ulmeyda's cult. In a way, he is the Saint Peter to 
2123Ulmeyda's Christ.
2124
2125Ulmeyda's real motivations seem to be what they appear. He 
2126wants to do good things for humanity, yet he is only happy 
2127living when he's risking death. (We learn this, when talking 
2128to Ulmeyda's remnant psyche, post-CLOUDMAN mission.) In the 
2129process of amassing his empire, he has (naturally) garnered a 
2130lot of attention, and he fears being exploited by the Heaven 
2131Smiles. 
2132
2133U--Q: Q: That girl just appeared while I was fighting Handsome 
2134Pink!!! WTF? Is this game SERIOUSLY punching my brain and NOT 
2135apologizing!? [#VU]
2136
2137A: Yes. It is punching you in the brain and not apologizing. 
2138Viva SUDA 51!
2139
2140That girl introduces herself as LOVE. The short answer: she's 
2141Trevor Pearlharbor's agent, and she is the one who really 
2142controls the Handsome Men.
2143
2144Here's the scene, since it's easy to miss stuff:
2145
2146Garcian: "The girl's an avid gamer. Her world of games and the 
2147real world co-exist as one."
2148
2149LOVE: "Nice to meet you, Mister Killer Garcian. My name is 
2150LOVE."
2151
2152Garcian: "How do you know my name?"
2153
2154LOVE: "Because I write the story, mister."
2155
2156Garcian: "I don't follow."
2157
2158LOVE: "Here's the thing, I work for Electro-inline Inc. I 
2159create propaganda using media--you see?"
2160
2161Garcian: "You're saying . . . that they're all Electro-
2162inline's advertisements."
2163
2164LOVE: "That's why I'm gonna bring 'em down. I'll make 'em pay 
2165for Trevor's death."
2166
2167Garcian: "Can you really do it?"
2168
2169LOVE: "I'll make sure justice is done. But in MY book though. 
2170You be sure to check it out in next week's issue. I'm really 
2171glad we met, Mister Killer Garcian."
2172
2173Garcian: "The pleasure's all mine. LOVE, your passion is 
2174inspiring to us all."
2175
2176LOVE: "Thank you. I'll be watching you, mister."
2177
2178*LOVE disappears*
2179
2180First off: I am not sure if the company's name is "Electro-
2181inline." I'm uncertain of the written letters around where the 
2182hyphen is.
2183
2184In order to understand what LOVE is saying, we have to look at 
2185what Travis says during the ALTER EGO mission. As he describes 
2186Trevor, the comic artist is egoistical, arrogant, and elitist-
2187-he secludes himself from his artistic team. Travis explains 
2188the rationale for the hit: "We all know the guy owes his 
2189success to his representative's finesse. He doesn't have the 
2190skill to make it on his own, thank you. Straight up, he puts 
2191an angle on a comic, and the same shit goes down in the real, 
21923-dimensional world. The guy's a seer, man." 
2193
2194When Dan Smith walks into Trevor's veranda, it's clear that he 
2195thinks the world of himself. He squeals, "I didn't think I had 
2196such power!" He then brags that Dan can't kill him, because he 
2197wrote the comic so that Dan will die. Trevor mistakes his 
2198ability as a seer for the ability to create the future. He 
2199brags about the superior strength of the Handsome Men, because 
2200they are his creations. 
2201
2202Yet, he is killed by Handsome Black. Trevor Pearlharbor is a 
2203fanboy unrequited.
2204
2205The entire second half of ALTER EGO is akin to a blend between 
2206a video game and reality--or, to speak from our side of the 
2207television screen, a video game WITHIN A VIDEO GAME, and the 
2208reality within the video game Killer7. 
2209
2210The video game that runs its credits notes that it is an 
2211online game. This means, it could be played by LOVE from an 
2212undisclosed location.  LOVE is not present, physically; 
2213Garcian and the Killer7, however, are.  Even so, the space 
2214created for the fight appears to be unreal, given the absence 
2215of ANYONE in Times Square.
2216
2217Since the space for the HAJIME fights is a synthetic creation 
2218of a video game and reality, it follows that part of the space 
2219is created by a television--on LOVE's end.  This may account 
2220for how all of the Killer7 (and Master Harman) can exist in 
2221the same physical space, at the same time.  All of them can 
2222exist on different channels, in the television, and through 
2223the combined television-reality of a video game they can all 
2224share physical presence.
2225
2226The purpose of the HAJIME fights is to destroy the Handsome 
2227Men.  LOVE is Trevor Pearlharbor's representative.  She writes 
2228the stories--Trevor "predicts" their outcome, and he takes 
2229credit for it.  In other words, LOVE is the person who 
2230manipulates the Handsome Men through the medium of a video 
2231game; Trevor is the person who takes credit for the 
2232predictions and the actions of the Handsome Men.
2233
2234Garcian and the Killer7 are sent to kill Trevor Pearlharbor, 
2235because Trevor is the person who is responsible, publicly, for 
2236a senator's assassination.  However, the Handsome Men arrive 
2237to assassinate Trevor, too--controlled by LOVE!  Likely, she 
2238sent the Handsome Men to kill Trevor, so that Trevor would 
2239know (at the last moment) that he was powerless.
2240
2241We can take away some useful observations, from the 
2242conversation between Garcian and LOVE.  First, they do not 
2243regard each other as enemies; this is quite different from all 
2244of the preceding interaction.  She refers to Garcian as 
2245"Killer Garcian," because that is the name that he will have 
2246in the comic book.  Remember, Mills showed Garcian the next 
2247issue in which Harman Smith was portrayed as a monster, and 
2248the Killer7 were named as the Handsome Men's next opponent.  
2249That means that Garcian and the other members of Killer7 will 
2250be in the issue, and they will likely have names patterned 
2251similar to the Handsome Men's.
2252
2253For example: "Handsome" is like a family name, and the 
2254specific color designates the individual.  So, you'll have 
2255"Handsome Red" and "Handsome Blue," and you'll know they're 
2256part of the same group because they're both "Handsome."  
2257Similarly, you'll have "Killer Garcian" and "Killer Dan," and 
2258you'll know they're part of the same group because they're 
2259both "Killer."  The language pattern reflects the Japanese 
2260custom of placing a person's family name before his or her 
2261personal name--suggesting that the comic book is an American 
2262knock-off of Japanese Sentai motifs.
2263
2264Therefore, when LOVE says, "That's why I'm gonna make them pay 
2265for Trevor's death," she's speaking ironically.  Garcian 
2266smiles, and says, "Can you really do it?" with the incredulity 
2267of a secondary character who hears a comic's lead character 
2268vow to do something noble.  (E.G.: "I'm off to kill Tetsuo!"  
2269"Can you really do that?!")  LOVE makes a point of 
2270highlighting that "justice will be done" in HER book--not 
2271Trevor's.  She's killed Trevor, in other words, to advance her 
2272own career.
2273
2274Notice the trio of dots, on LOVE's hand.  The camera focuses 
2275on this little tattoo twice, suggesting that it is important.  
2276The triangle, pointed upward (as LOVE's tattoo points) 
2277symbolizes masculine power and fire.  It also symbolizes the 
2278Third Eye: two dots for the two normal eyes, and one dot for 
2279the third.
2280
2281Therefore, when Kun Lan appears on the other side of the 
2282television screen, the trio of dots suggests that either LOVE 
2283was being controlled by Kun Lan--or, that LOVE never existed, 
2284but, rather, was a fa�ade adopted by Kun Lan for the sake of 
2285the game.  Sure, Kun Lan is male and LOVE is female--but how 
2286easy is it to lie about one's gender over the internet?  
2287Further, how much less willing to question the lie will a 
2288person be, if the name tantalizes him, somehow, like "LOVE"?
2289
2290V--Q: How did Emir know that Harman and his assassins were 
2291staying at the Hotel Union? [#VV]
2292
2293A: My belief is that Yoon Hyun tipped off Emir. I think so, 
2294because of Johnny Gagnon's description of him, in his next-to-
2295last letter:
2296
2297"The informant's name is Yoon-Hyun. He's the owner of the 
2298Union Hotel Group. He met an untimely death at the Union Hotel 
2299in Philadelphia. Many celebrities were at the reception, but 
2300nevertheless, there were few witnesses to the murder, and many 
2301of the facts don't add up. Yet one thing is for sure: he was 
2302involved with the Smith syndicate. Rumor has it that an 
2303incident that happened at the hotel was swept conveniently 
2304under the rug." 
2305
2306Yoon-Hyun is an informant. As a member of the Smith syndicate, 
2307he knew the whereabouts of the Harman Assassins--and, as the 
2308owner of the Union Hotel (where the seven were murdered), he 
2309knew which rooms they were staying in. 
2310
2311Why, then, would he betray the rest of the Smiths? A couple of 
2312reasons suggest themselves to me. 
2313
2314The first reason is fairly easy, I think: as a likely Yakumo 
2315affiliate, Yoon-Hyun would have been the best person for Emir 
2316Parkreiner ("an ace of aces brought out by the Yakumo") to 
2317contact for information. Since both Emir and Yoon-Hyun worked 
2318for the same organization, Yoon-Hyun would have been loyal to 
2319his greater master: the Yakumo. 
2320
2321The second reason is a little more difficult. The Remnant 
2322Psyches all are represented metaphorically, I think. Travis 
2323was a go-getter, so he's often shown exercising; Susie 
2324frequently "lost her head," so she's shown disembodied; Kess 
2325was a handbag of insecurities, so he's blind and constantly 
2326beseiged by dreams of monsters; and Yoon-Hyun (I think) was 
2327happily traitorous . . . for the right price. 
2328
2329Notice that, as an informant, Yoon-Hyun is happy to provide 
2330general information and banter for free. If you want the real, 
2331direct information, though, you have to shoot the mask and pay 
2332up. Yoon-Hyun then addresses "the chief" and refers to himself 
2333as "the True Mask." I think that this is a symbolic expression 
2334of Yoon-Hyun's inner character, and how easily he was bought.
2335 
2336W--Q: What's the deal with the Save Maid? Is she Samantha 
2337Sitbon or Samantha Smith? [#VW]
2338
2339A: At the end of ANGEL, Samantha is introduced as "Samantha 
2340Sitbon." However, I am informed that, in the Japanese release, 
2341she is introduced as "Samantha Smith." In both releases, she 
2342refers to herself as "Samantha Smith," in Johnny Gagnon's 
2343final letter. 
2344
2345I would offer the explanation that Harman has identified with 
2346Samantha Sitbon (who I call the Save Maid's real-world self--
2347the abusive caretaker), and has established a spiritual 
2348connection with her that allows him to take advantage of her 
2349identity as a Remnant Psyche--before she is actually dead. 
2350When Harman Smith finally rapes and reaps her soul, she is 
2351fully Samantha Smith--one of the Smith syndicate, in death. 
2352
2353X--Q: What's Curtis Blackburn's deal? Did he just fly through 
2354those corridors? [#VX]
2355
2356A: Yes. "How," you ask? Ninja magic.
2357
2358Simply put, Curtis has Awesomeness, with a capital-A. He can 
2359levitate down corridors; he can lie on the surface of water 
2360and even use his Awesomeness to levitate upright and stand on 
2361the water's skin. The man has 'leet skills. 
2362
2363Y--Q: Who is Ayame Blackburn? [#VY]
2364
2365A: In what may be one of the most memorable moments in my 
2366video game career, Ayame Blackburn introduces herself as "the 
2367Chairman of the Educational Guidance Council."
2368
2369Ayame might have explained herself a little better for an 
2370American audience unfamiliar with Japanese government and 
2371bureaucratic structure. The Japanese government is very 
2372similar to the government of the United Kingdom, employing 
2373many of the same terms and relationships between structures as 
2374does the government in the U.K. Either Ayame Blackburn is 
2375confessing that she holds a position in the Japanese 
2376educational system--or, she is confessing that she holds a 
2377position in the American educational system which (in the 
2378political universe of Killer7) is defined in terms of Japanese 
2379bureaucratic structure. 
2380
2381The equivalant to American bureaucratic terms would be 
2382something like "Chairman of the Board of Education," most 
2383likely in the Seattle region, since this is where Curtis is 
2384based and where Coburn elementary exists. 
2385
2386I have learned from various sources (which I will specifically 
2387describe, when I have those bearings together) that Ayame 
2388Blackburn is Curtis Blackburn's adopted daughter. She is about 
2389sixteen years old, and Curtis has trained her personally. This 
2390is how she can run invisibly through poorly lit areas, and can 
2391run at incredible speeds. 
2392
2393Ayame Blackburn is one half of another light-and-dark 
2394juxtaposition. Remember that Curtis Blackburn also taught Dan 
2395everything that he knew. Presumably, given Curtis' unique 
2396skills, he also taught Dan how to perform the Collateral Shot. 
2397Ayame Blackburn's strength is found by entering into darkness; 
2398Dan's strength is found by emitting light. I suspect that they 
2399are two halves of Curtis Blackburn's total knowledge.
2400
2401Z--Q: Where was Kevin during the flashback sequences? [#VZ]
2402
2403A: This is the most frequently asked question that I receive 
2404via eMail, so I'll include it here: Kevin was the bellhop.
2405
2406Yes, that's right. The bellhop.
2407
2408AA--Q: I didn't understand what was going on in the KAKU building. 
2409Who were those four guys playing Mah-jong? Why were they 
2410talking about dogs and monkeys? [#VAA]
2411
2412A: According to the translation of Capcom-Japan's Killer7 web 
2413site provided for me by Yoshiko Ohier, the men in the KAKU 
2414building playing Mah-jong were named Dudley, Jeffers, Ohta, 
2415and Kuramato. Dudley and Jeffers were American diplomats, and 
2416they were the ones referred to as "Dogs." Ohta and Kuramato 
2417were Japanese diplomats with the Liberal Party, and they were 
2418the ones referred to as "Monkeys." 
2419
2420I think that these nicknames correspond with the archetypal 
2421dogs and monkeys of the Shinto zodiac. In the Shinto zodiac, 
2422monkeys are erratic geniuses, clever and skillful when working 
2423on large operations, innovative, and original. These 
2424characteristics would seem to describe the Japanese politicians 
2425in Killer7: all of them innovatively find ways to undermine their 
2426opponents, and they pursue these plans in large-scale ways. Yet, 
2427describing the Japanese as "monkeys" is ironic, given the 
2428ambiguous success that the Japanese seem to have in these 
2429endeavors. Dogs, in the Shinto zodiac, are imbued with strong 
2430senses of duty and honor. They are extremely honest, and try 
2431to maintain good relationships with others. They inspire 
2432confidence and can easily persuade others to keep secrets. 
2433This sort of blunt, emotional personality is an appropriate 
2434description of the American politicians in Killer7; certainly, 
2435the American military officers seen in the opening cutscenes 
2436of SUNSET showed sincere concern for the lives of the Japanese, 
2437who (to those officers) were known national allies. However, 
2438describing the Americans as "dogs" is also ironic, given 
2439the fact that the Americans would have betrayed Japan's 
2440friendship were it not for Matsuken's intervention on behalf 
2441of the U. N. Party. 
2442
2443AB--Q: Who was Kenjiro Matsuoka? And why was he called 
2444Matsuken? [#VAB]
2445
2446A: Yoshiko Ohier explained to me that "Matsuken" is a nickname 
2447for Kenjiro Matsuoka. In Japanese language, family names are 
2448written before personal names, opposite how they are written 
2449in most Western languages. Matsuoka's name would be written 
2450"Matsuoka Kenjiro." The nickname is simply a combination of the 
2451two names: "Matsu(oka) Ken(jiro)." 
2452
2453Matsuken was a lower, younger member of the U. N. Party, until 
2454he became frustrated with the seeming ineptitude of his party 
2455elders. He shot them--Akiba and Kurahashi--and prepared to shoot 
2456himself. However, Kun Lan touched him and "adopted" him with 
2457the "Hand of God." 
2458
2459Matsuken represents the violent anger in Japanese culture 
2460toward America, due in large part to the destruction of Hiroshima 
2461and Nagasaki with the atomic bombs. Yoshiko has explained that 
2462the Capcom-Japan Killer7 website that Matsuken was born in 
2463Hiroshima, and is 30 years old at the time of the story. He was 
2464born in Hiroshima. Further discussion of the significance of his 
2465age and birthplace can be found in the section of this document 
2466titled "MESSIAHS." 
2467
2468After becomig "adopted" by Kun Lan, Matsuken takes the reins 
2469of the U. N. Party. He is responsible for the murder of Hiro 
2470Kasai, the Japanese man who informed Garcian of the talks being 
2471held in the KAKU building at the opening of SUNSET PART TWO. 
2472Hiro Kasai was a member of Japan's Liberal Party--the domestic 
2473opposition to Matsuken's U. N. Party. 
2474
2475Some players believe that the man who Matsuken kills is Iwazaru. 
2476I do not think this is correct. First, we are given no indicators 
2477that suggest that the scene on top of the roof in Washington, 
2478D.C., is a flashback. It occurs within the narrative linearity 
2479of the game's events. At the time of the murder atop the D.C. 
2480building, Iwazaru was already a remnant psyche. As well, whether 
2481or not a reader accepts my interpretation of Iwazaru as a remnant 
2482psyche of Kun Lan (Emir's father), it cannot be argued that 
2483Matsuken had a known motive for killing whomever Iwazaru was in 
2484life. On the other hand, Matsuken has the knowledge that would 
2485lead him to kill Hiro Kasai (since Harman Smith is now alive as 
2486a Persona), and he has the motivation to kill Hiro Kasai, since 
2487Kasai is a leading figure in the Liberal Party working against 
2488the U. N. Party. 
2489
2490At the end of the game, if the player allows Matsuken to live, 
2491we see him standing with a stern facial expression as Japanese 
2492military technology hurtles toward America. Given his "divine 
2493ordination" and the Japanese political party that is most closely 
2494aligned with conservative Japanese political ideals, I think 
2495that Matsuken represents the reinstatement of Japanese 
2496emperorship and the destruction of democratic freedom.
2497
2498VI: THINGS THAT DON'T BELONG ANYWHERE ELSE [#VI2]
2499
2500Think of this as a junk drawer for observations on the formal 
2501and plot elements of the game that don't belong, really, to 
2502any of the other areas.
2503
2504A--SMILE STATIC [#VIA]
2505
2506While playing through SMILE-PART 2, I noticed that the sound 
2507of television static vaguely resounded, in the background of 
2508most of the music and sound effects. At first, I thought that 
2509my television was acting up. I recorded some of the audio from 
2510the game onto an outside MP3 recording device--and, still, the 
2511static showed up. I even switched televisions and cables--and, 
2512still, the static showed up. 
2513
2514The conclusion that I draw from this is that the static is not 
2515a technical malfunction on behalf of my PS2, television, or 
2516A/V cables--but, rather, that the static is an intentional, 
2517formal element of the game.
2518
2519Two things combine, in SMILE-PART 2, that suggest an 
2520explanation for the static. First, recall that television is 
2521the medium for Garcian's communications with the personas. 
2522Second, recall that SMILE-PART 2 is the chapter, in the 
2523narrative, when the patchwork of Remnant Psyches and personas 
2524within and around Emir's soul begin to dissolve. 
2525
2526When changing personas, in Harman's Room, the player hears 
2527static most noticeably while changing channels. Though 
2528television static is avoidable today, mostly owing to cable 
2529and digital transference of image and sound, it is extremely 
2530common on old television sets that use rabbit-ear style 
2531antennae for their reception. The static during SMILE-PART 2 
2532is a formal hint that the once-reliable medium of television 
2533(as a way to manipulate the personas) is dissolving. 
2534
2535B--TRAITOROUS STAINS (Special recognition goes to Sam Ellis, 
2536who directed my attention to this.) [#VIB]
2537
2538If you used Coyote to unlock the door to Room 406 in ANGEL, 
2539you can talk to Travis as he shuffles a ghostly frying pan 
2540over the eye of the stove. Travis explains that the Camellia 
2541Smiles are stained with blood, because red bloodstains are the 
2542marks of a traitor--and the Camellia Smiles are supposedly 
2543Garcian's contacts within the Heaven Smile. 
2544
2545If we take the definition of red-on-white as a symbol that 
2546recurs in the game, it raises questions about both KAEDE and 
2547Garcian. KAEDE is the only one of the Killer7 to have retained 
2548any scar or mark of her death. If the image of red-on-white 
2549applies to her character, what betrayal did she commit? 
2550KAEDE's act of betrayal may relate to her flashback, as Emir 
2551goes through the Union Hotel killing the Harman Assassins. 
2552Circumstantial evidence suggests that that, 
2553during the flashback sequences, KAEDE had just left Coyote's 
2554room. KAEDE is the only character who seems to have had 
2555knowledge of Emir's killings, before he arrived at her room. 
2556Perhaps her "betrayal" lies in her efforts to save herself, at 
2557the expense of warning her fellow assassins about Emir's 
2558killing spree. 
2559
2560Another possible explanation of KAEDE's betrayal may be her 
2561relationship to the political circumstances in the game, given 
2562her ethnicity. (A Japanese Killer7 guide states that KAEDE is 
2563Japanese American, born around Oregon.) Given the location of 
2564Coburn elementary in Washington State, her ethnicity, and the 
2565region of her childhood, it's possible that KAEDE was trained 
2566as an assassin by the Yakumo. Hence, her inclusion within the 
2567Killer7 group, as a group of assassins who work for the West 
2568(AKA H. H.) makes her a traitor to the values and allegiance 
2569that she was raised under. 
2570
2571Garcian's traitorous action may be similar to the second 
2572possibility ascribed to KAEDE. At the end, once he has seen 
2573thirteen-year-old Emir Parkreiner shoot himself through the 
2574mouth, his white suit is stained red. In terms of being a 
2575traitor, Garcian's all over the place. Born as the son of Kun 
2576Lan, THREE TIMES, and working for H. H.--yet, while working 
2577for H. H., serving the interests of the Japanese contingency 
2578within the shadow-government of American politics--Garcian's 
2579certainly earned that blood. 
2580
2581C-ISZK [#VIC]
2582
2583The letters "ISZK" appear frequently through the game: from 
2584the television set used to change personas to the name of the 
2585amusement park that Curtis uses as a front for his collection 
2586of orphans. Kess Bloodysunday is the only character who gives 
2587a meaning for "ISZK." He remarks that he can't believe he's 
2588actually in "Ishizaka Land." 
2589
2590I believe that this is a reference to the post World War II 
2591Japanese novelist, Ishizaka Yojiro. I have not read any of 
2592Ishizaka's novels in translation, so my information (at this 
2593point) relies upon critical literary summaries and biographies 
2594that I have located on various digital servers. All sources 
2595describe Ishizaka as a Japanese novelist who helped introduce 
2596the idea of a "New Japan": a post-World War II Japanese 
2597culture that could see a future for itself, beyond the shock 
2598and depression of the horror of the atomic bombs. 
2599
2600D--FALLEN ANGEL [#VID]
2601
2602After defeating the Ceramic Smile in ENCOUNTER-PART 1, Dan 
2603Smith's Demon Gun is "revived." Dan receives both the Demon 
2604Gun and a Soul Shell from a figure named only "Fallen Angel."
2605The Fallen Angel is not elaborated upon at any other point in 
2606the game. Within the bounds of the interpretation of Killer7 
2607provided in this plot analysis, I suggest that the Fallen 
2608Angel represents Dan Smith's ascent toward the ultimate power 
2609he can amass, to confront Curtis Blackburn.
2610 
2611Dan Smith was killed by Curtis Blackburn. Some have suggested 
2612that Curtis only wounded Dan severely, and that Harman Smith 
2613came along and bandaged him up afterward. Following this 
2614reasoning, they explain that Dan Smith (in the Union Hotel, 
2615during the flashback of his murder) was bandaged up from his 
2616encounter. 
2617
2618I disagree with the interpretation just described. First, 
2619Travis and Garcian both specifically state that Curtis 
2620Blackburn KILLED Dan Smith. Second, Travis repeats the 
2621question, "Did you recover the body?" to the player, during 
2622ENCOUNTER-PART 1. Travis' use of the word "body" strongly 
2623suggests that Dan Smith, in fact, died. 
2624
2625Within the bounds of the interpretation ascribed to in this 
2626plot analysis, Harman Smith was given the power to resurrect 
2627the dead from Kun Lan. As a strong ally of Kun Lan, Harman 
2628Smith was given a share of Kun Lan's "Hand of God," his 
2629ability to create (or restore) life. Travis seems to suspect 
2630that Harman Smith (before being killed by Emir) came upon 
2631Dan's corpse and restored it to life. 
2632
2633If we go with the idea that (from a certain perspective) Kun 
2634Lan is a Devil-figure, Dan's resurrection is akin to having 
2635made a deal with the Devil. In a sense, Dan Smith has made a 
2636Faustian bargain: he gave Harman Smith his soul, in exchange 
2637for the longevity of existence that would allow him to get 
2638revenge against Curtis Blackburn. 
2639
2640Some argue that Dan's "death" actually occurred while Dan 
2641Smith was under Garcian. That is, they argue that Dan Smith 
2642was used as a persona on one of Garcian's missions, and that 
2643the mission involved the confrontation of Curtis Blackburn. 
2644During that mission, Curtis killed Dan Smith; consequently, 
2645the Dan Smith persona desires revenge. 
2646
2647I disagree with this theory. A few pieces of evidence suggest 
2648that Dan's death at Curtis' hands occurred well before Dan 
2649Smith's incorporation in Garcian's complex life. First, Dan 
2650was killed by Curtis Blackburn, WHILE Dan was still working 
2651with the self-defense department. Since Dan's existence and 
2652appearance can only be maintained by Garcian at the expense of 
2653the appearance of the other personas (as well as Garcian), it 
2654seems unlikely that Garcian would have dedicated enough time 
2655as the Dan Smith persona to have established a career in the 
2656self-defense department. Second, Dan Smith's reaction to 
2657Curtis Blackburn (during the cut-scene before the boss fight 
2658of ENCOUNTER-PART 2) suggests that the last time he and Curtis 
2659met, Curtis was much younger--placing Curtis and Dan's fight 
2660before Emir Parkreiner's raid on the Union Hotel. 
2661
2662Now, let's bring this back to the enigmatic Fallen Angel. Dan 
2663Smith died, and Harman Smith took his soul in exchange for 
2664prolonged life during which Dan might avenge himself. When 
2665confronting Curtis, Dan says, "I went to see the Devil. Now 
2666it's your turn." Within the context of the interpretation 
2667favored in this plot analysis, Dan (in this scene) refers to 
2668his exchange with Harman Smith. The Fallen Angel is a 
2669representation of his decadent decision: it holds both a Soul 
2670Shell--a representation of Dan's soul, when he gave it to 
2671Harman Smith--and Dan's Demon Gun. I deduce from the use of 
2672the term "revive" that Dan once used the Demon Gun, before his 
2673murder. The Fallen Angel is the keeper of Dan Smith's greater 
2674strength, as well as his mortal soul. 
2675
2676Some might ask (reasonably): "If the Soul Shell held by the 
2677Fallen Angel represents Dan Smith's soul, and so does the Soul 
2678Shell in the 6th floor of the Union Hotel, are you saying that 
2679Dan has two souls?" My answer: yes and no. Dan's first soul 
2680was given to Harman Smith--and, when Emir Parkreiner killed 
2681him in the Union Hotel, Dan Smith's "second soul" (the 
2682animating force bestowed upon him by Harman Smith's miniature 
2683Hand of God) was contracted by Emir Parkreiner. In a sense, 
2684Dan Smith and Garcian Smith are incredibly alike: each man is 
2685running off of his third "incarnation" in life, only for 
2686different reasons. 
2687
2688The above interpretation would also explain the game 
2689instruction booklet's claim that Dan would kill Harman at any 
2690time. If Dan sees Harman Smith as his "owner," he would want 
2691naturally to deprive Harman of the authority that a master has 
2692over a slave. Doctor Faustus would have killed Satan, 
2693certainly, if doing so would release him from his unholy pact. 
2694Also, if this is accurate, Dan's relaxed reaction to Emir's 
2695slaughter of his teammates might be more understandable. Dan 
2696had a deal with Harman: he would kill for Harman, and Harman 
2697would keep him alive until Dan got revenge on Curtis. He 
2698likely did not expect Emir to kill Harman--and, instead, 
2699expected Harman to kill Emir and then resurrect Dan. 
2700
2701E--HEAVEN SMILES AS RELATED TO WORLD WAR II JAPANESE AERIAL 
2702TACTICS [#VIE]
2703
2704The Heaven Smiles have bombs planted inside them, and these 
2705bombs detonate upon their contact with their target. This 
2706bears a stark similarity to the grim tactics of Japanese World 
2707War II kamikaze pilots.
2708
2709Further, the Japanese kamikaze fighting tactics came from a 
2710cultural history steeped in Bushido. Historically, "Bushido" 
2711incorporates a highly idealistic philosophy with formal social 
2712customs and martial arts practice. In the event that a person 
2713must choose between honor and death, he must choose death 
2714(according to Bushido ethics). The culmination of such 
2715idealism resulted in kamikaze pilot tactics. The level of 
2716idealism may seen distant (even impossible) to us, but during 
2717World War II volunteers for kamikaze missions flooded and 
2718amassed to three times the number of aircraft available for 
2719such missions. 
2720
2721F--ANDREI ULMEYDA: POSSIBLE DESCENDANT OF INTERNMENT PRISONERS
2722[#VIF]
2723
2724As a Southerner (with family from Alabama and South Carolina) 
2725who lives in the South, I asked myself, "Who the hell would 
2726have the name 'Andrei Ulmeyda'?" The sounds are uncommon in 
2727the South, to say the least. However, Ulmeyda lives in Texas, 
2728where the cultural history deviates from most of the region 
2729that I recognize as the American South. 
2730
2731I must confess, though, that I have been helped toward the 
2732direction of thought that I will soon describe. Many warm 
2733thanks are due to Pedro Giglio, who offers the following 
2734observation from his home in Rio de Janeiro: 
2735
2736"'Andrei Ulmeyda' sounds like 'Andre Almeida', and
2737the Brazilian flag on the Ulmeyda Collection logo menu sounds
2738suspiciouis enough that he isn't from the U.S., but an 
2739immigrant (possibly illegal? who knows, he's just some postal 
2740worker)." 
2741
2742Intrigued by Pedro's suggestion, I researched Texas World War 
2743II history, the possible etymology of Ulmeyda's names, and 
2744derived a possible explanation for Ulmeyda's presence in 
2745Texas. His presence in Texas, of course, relates to the theme 
2746of U. S. World War II politics. 
2747
2748Ulmeyda City (in Killer7) is located in the same general area 
2749as Crystal City, Texas, during World War II. During World War 
2750II, the United States bureau of Alien Enemy Control either 
2751kidnapped German-descended South Americans, or it coerced 
2752South American nations to deport German-descendant citizens to 
2753the United States. During a legal hearing in the 1980's, 
2754Edward J. Ennis (the Director of Alien Enemy Control during 
2755World War II) described a federal program that involved the 
2756kidnapping of "alien enemies from other countries in South 
2757America." 
2758
2759Pedro suggests that "Ulmeyda" is a bastardization of 
2760"Almeida," and he then posits that Ulmeyda may have Brazilian 
2761roots. His suggestion, I think, is apt.
2762
2763The possible decision to name Andrei Ulmeyda after the 
2764Brazilian surname "Almeida" suggests an interesting 
2765correlation. John Almeida was a 16th century Catholic 
2766missionary, born in London, who traveled to Brazil during his 
2767life of devotion and prayer. His name was originally "Meade," 
2768but became changed to "Almeida" owing to the Portuguese 
2769surroundings. The connection suggests that "Ulmeyda" was a 
2770deliberate decision to link Andrei with Catholic piety--and 
2771not the easy kind, either. As Ulmeyda infected himself with 
2772various lethal diseases, John Almeida inflicted great pain 
2773upon his body to learn to endure suffering; he wore hair 
2774shirts, iron chains, and even wore metal plates with sharp 
2775points piercing his flesh. 
2776
2777The Ulmeyda-Almeida connection notwithstanding, the surname 
2778certainly suggests that he has Brazilian origins. Why, then, 
2779would he be related to the internment camp at Crystal City? 
2780His first name, Andrei, is a Germanic variation of the name 
2781"Andrew." His family seems to have been of German descent, 
2782living in Brazil, and were deported to the central-south Texas 
2783region during the World War II internment of suspected enemies 
2784of the United States. 
2785
2786Another variation upon Ulmeyda exists, in Catholic history: 
2787Saint Almedha. The biggest difference between Saint Almedha 
2788and Andrei Ulmeyda is gender; however, two notable parallels 
2789exist. First, those homes that refused to offer Saint Almedha 
2790shelter during the time of her persecution (immediately 
2791preceding martyrdom) were beset with disasters that led to 
2792their quick destruction. (This suggests the fate of the 
2793military personnel who suffer under Ulmeyda's rain of blood.) 
2794Second, the legend surrounding her martyrdom holds that a 
2795healing spring appeared at the site of her death. (This 
2796suggests the "healing spring" of blood that appears at the 
2797site of Ulmeyda's death, to which Clarence reacts without 
2798suffering--which, also, is full of antibodies to various 
2799lethal diseases.) Finally, Saint Almedha was beheaded--which 
2800Ulmeyda certainly was. 
2801
2802G--IT'S A SMALL WORLD AFTER ALL [#VIG]
2803
2804Through the course of my research into aspects of Japanese 
2805culture and history that I (previously) knew nothing about, I 
2806have run across paragraphs pertaining to U.S./Japanese 
2807relations since World War II that seem highly relevant to 
2808Killer7. I will quote these excerpts, and follow each 
2809quotation with a comment connecting the excerpt to the game. 
2810
2811EXCERPT: " . . . [The] critic Eto Jin . . . has characterized 
2812the [post-WWII] Occupation as a period during which the 
2813Japanese psyche was recast in an American mold--and with such 
2814success that the Japanese virtually lost the power to think 
2815critically about their national identity. Eto sees the 
2816operations of the Civil Censorship Detachment (CCD) as one of 
2817the Occupation's most powerful tools. With it, he says, the 
2818Occupation was able to cut Japan off from the rest of the 
2819world and to wage, within this 'sealed linguistic space,' an 
2820'invisible war of attrition' against Japanese thought and 
2821culture." (Rubin, Jay. "From Wholesomeness to Decadence: The 
2822Censorship of Literature under the Allied Occupation." Journal 
2823of Japanese Studies. Winter 1985. Pgs 71-103.) 
2824
2825COMMENTARY: Since so much of the historical context of the 
2826political emotion in Killer7 is drawn from post-WWII Japan, it 
2827seems fitting to read a critical assessment of the 
2828U.S./Japanese cultural relationship during those years. 
2829Killer7 effectively reverses the cultural subterfuge that 
2830Japan experienced after World War II--and it combines both 
2831invisible military domination with the cultural infiltration 
2832of pop Japanese cultural symbols, like anime angels, 
2833transforming anime school girls, and Sentai action heroes. 
2834
2835EXCERPT: The excerpt recounts the Japanese writer Sakaguchi 
2836Ango's reaction to the post-WWII disillusionment with warrior 
2837ideals. "Japan lost and Bushido perished, but humanity was 
2838born at last from decadence, the womb of truth. Live! Become 
2839decadent! . . . Human beings have not changed; we have simply 
2840become human again. People become decadent. Heroes and 
2841heroines become decadent. It cannot be prevented, nor can 
2842preventing it save us. People live, and they become decadent. 
2843It is our shortcut to salvation." (Ibid.) 
2844
2845COMMENTARY: The author of the article comments that "Ango 
2846feels a fascination for the transcendent and superhuman, but 
2847he has the sense to step back and say no." One might read some 
2848of this into Harman Smith's slaying of Kun Lan and H. H., at 
2849the end of SMILE. Kun Lan and H. H.--the transcendant and 
2850superhuman embodiments of the cultural values that both vied 
2851for his soul--are rejected violently; Harman Smith wins by 
2852taking the path of human decadence, forsaking his 
2853superhumanity, and becoming only human. Because of this, I 
2854think, his soul is asleep in Harman's Room, at the end of 
2855LION. 
2856
2857H--FURTHER THOUGHTS ON THE YAKUMO [#VIH]
2858
2859The rings that the Killer7 receives from Susie during the 
2860game seem to be embodiments of the Yakumo.  Once more, 
2861"ya kumo" translates into "eight clouds."  Andrei Ulmeyda is 
2862supposed to have gotten the eight part of the Yakumo, and this 
2863is responsible for the success of his business.
2864
2865When the Killer7 talks to the cult member inside the restaurant, 
2866in CLOUDMAN, the cult member asks if we have seen "that adventure 
2867movie about the ring."  He then describes the movie as Ulmeyda's 
2868autobiographical thanksgiving for his success.  This suggests that 
2869Ulmeyda received his portion of the Yakumo in the form of a ring, 
2870much as the Killer7 have received their "powers" in the form of 
2871rings.
2872
2873A final note about the Yakumo: "Yakumo" is the name of a German 
2874digital hardware company that manufactures (among other products) 
2875PDA's.  (Special thanks goes to Sam Ellis, who pointed this out
2876to me.)
2877
2878I--LION FLAG [#VII]
2879
2880If you reload your Save File after completing the sixth chapter, 
2881LION, you'll see the silhouette at the Mission Select screen 
2882filled in, like Kun Lan's in ANGEL and Curtis Blackburn's in 
2883ENCOUNTER. The flag is (presumably) a territorial flag for 
2884Battleship Island. 
2885
2886The flag is the symbol of the aggressive, militaristic U. N. 
2887Party in Japan. Toward the stern of the battleship's silhouette, 
2888we see the rising sun and its rays extending to the flag's 
2889extremities. The image of the rising sun with extended light rays 
2890is a direct allusion to the Japanese Naval Battle Flag, which 
2891features the risen sun with red rays emanating to the rectangular 
2892flag's borders. After World War II, the flag became regarded as 
2893distasteful, even socially offensive, since it represented the 
2894violence and aggression enacted by the Japanese within Asia during 
2895the nation's imperialism. (An American might consider it similar 
2896to the Confederate Battle Flag, in terms of the popular emotional 
2897reaction it incites.) 
2898
2899The deliberate allusion to Japan's World War II battle flag 
2900hammers home the idea that the U. N. Party seeks--not retribution 
2901for the East--but specifically Japanese retribution for the 
2902use of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The extension 
2903of the light rays from the lower right corner of the flag (symbolic 
2904of the eastern direction) extending forward beyond the battleship 
2905visually resonates with the image of Matsuken watching Japanese 
2906missiles and fighter planes screaming toward America. 
2907
2908The above explanation is incomplete, however. The flag also 
2909suggests the ambiguity found in the ending.
2910
2911Inasmuch as the red ball on the lower right of the flag could 
2912represent the rising sun of Japanese nationalism, it also could 
2913represent a much crueler reality for the Japanese: the detonation 
2914of hundreds of nuclear missiles on their soil. If we view the 
2915flag from the perspective of a player who chose to kill Matsuken, 
2916then the red ball and the light represent Japanese destruction. 
2917
2918J--BATTLESHIP ISLAND [#VIJ]
2919
2920Readers who lurk or post on the Gamecube Killer7 boards will 
2921recognize the information on Battleship Island from various 
2922threads on the board. I do not have information on the first 
2923person to have recognized the connection between Battleship Island 
2924in Killer7 and Gunkanjima in Japan. To whomever first noted the 
2925connection, I apologize for the omission of your due credit. 
2926
2927However, I can credit (again!) Yoshiko Ohier, who redirected me 
2928to a web site that features the work of Japanese photographer 
2929Saiga Yuji. Saiga Yuji took many exquisite photographs of 
2930Gunkanjima, and the physical presense of the island in the 
2931photographs resonates with the images during the LION chapter 
2932of Killer7. 
2933
2934Saiga Yuji's professional web site, in English, may be 
2935accessed here:
2936
2937http://www.ne.jp/asahi/saiga/yuji/menu/menu-e.html
2938
2939Another equally professional web site featuring photographs of 
2940Gunkanjima Island is available at the following URL:
2941
2942http://www14.big.or.jp/~kawamura/m-city/english_top.html
2943
2944The name "Gunkanjima" translates into "Warship Island," because 
2945its silhouette looks like a battleship cruiser from a distance. 
2946(See Saiga Yuji's first picture for a stunning example of this.) 
2947Since the word "Island" is included in the original name 
2948"Gunkanjima," I will not refer to the locale as "Gunkanjima 
2949Island," since this would be redundant. (Another name for the 
2950island is "Hashima Island," though I will not refer to it by 
2951this name.) 
2952
2953The descent into the center of the Coliseum, down several 
2954hundreds of feet of subterranean elevation, is plausible given 
2955Gunkanjima's remaining structure. Tunnels originally constructed 
2956for coal mining run from Gunkanjima's surface to below the 
2957ocean floor. The island's coal-mining days ended in 1976, when 
2958the industrial life of a coal-miner finally became obsolete; 
2959however, the structures remain. 
2960
2961In his article "Hashima: The Ghost Island," Brian Burke-Gaffney 
2962writes: "The history of Hashima Island reads like a chronology 
2963of changes in Japan's energy policies from the Meiji Period to 
2964modern times." Before its popular recognition as a fuel source 
2965in 1890, Gunkanjima was dominated by the Fukahori family; 
2966since coal was the best fuel source next to pine wood, the 
2967island's resources were in high demand. The island's mined coal 
2968became a centrepiece of the region's economy. After Japan became 
2969accessible, economically, in the 1850's, the island received 
2970greater attention: Nagasaki--only 15 kilometers from 
2971Gunkanjima--was one of Japan's most lucrative ports, especially 
2972to China. 
2973
2974In 1887, the Fukahori family installed the first real mining 
2975shaft in the island. Unable to do much more with modern technology, 
2976though, the family turned the island over to the Mitsubishi 
2977Corporation. Under Mitsubishi's ownership, the island whose 
2978legacy we recognize in the modern, industrial ruins of Gunkanjima 
2979began. 
2980
2981Before Mitsubishi took over, the Fukahori family had mined coal 
2982using pre-modern methods: picking and chipping at exposed rock. 
2983Mitsubishi plunged mine shafts deep into the island, to extract 
2984coal from its source at a vein that ran beneath Gunkanjima and 
2985its neighboring islands. 
2986
2987Using the slag from the excavated minerals, Mitsubishi engineered 
2988a flat surface on top of the island's natural terrain. Upon this 
2989flat surface, the corporation built the homes and industrial 
2990workspaces that now exist as colossal ruins. The island was home 
2991to Japan's first noteworthy concrete structure--erected to prevent 
2992typhoon damage. Successive concrete buildings were erected, and 
2993the island became an industrial city unto itself. 
2994
2995Gunkanjima was one of Japan's top producers of coal fuel. Its 
2996continued operation was crucial during World War II--a war in 
2997which victory depended keenly upon modern industrial technology 
2998and the resources that make such technology possible. The island 
2999became a sort of concentration camp, where Japan sent Korean and 
3000Chinese captives to work as miners. These prisoners were kept on 
3001starvation diets and were only regarded as work labor; the death 
3002toll among those workers was high. These prisoners were forced 
3003to die while working to supply their captors with fuel for naval 
3004warships and steel for ammunition. 
3005
3006After World War II, Gunkanjima's resources were used to rebuild 
3007Japan out of wartime defeat. A community grew around the economy 
3008of the island. Almost all of the social effects of normal, 
3009mainland life were available for the island's residents, from 
3010housing to a Shinto shrine to groceries. As much as Gunkanjima's 
3011economy depended upon mined coal, though, it depended just as 
3012much upon imports from locations beyond the island's walls. As 
3013packed as it was, the island could not afford any land to grow 
3014food upon--in fact, given the terrain's history, it is unlikely 
3015that food could have been grown there at all. 
3016
3017Gunkanjima's life started fading in the 1960's, when petroleum-
3018based products replaced coal as the main industrial fuel resource. 
3019By 1976, the island's whole operation was closed; everyone 
3020evacuated.
3021
3022How, then, is Battleship Island significant?
3023
3024Gunkanjima was key to Japan's military mobilization. As a 
3025threat in the Second World War, their industrial resources 
3026depended upon the wealth of coal-based products available from 
3027the coal mined at Gunkanjima. Similarly, Battleship Island 
3028(in Killer7) is implied to be the base of operations for Japan's 
3029military activity. Here, the Heaven Smiles are "built" and 
3030experimented with; here, missiles are installed to launch at 
3031the United States. 
3032
3033In addition, the economic life of Gunkanjima reflects the 
3034political reality of Japan, as it is explained in Killer7. 
3035In the game's hypothetical years of 2010 and 2011, Japan 
3036depends upon the help of other nations (most notably the United 
3037States) for its economic stability. It is also a site of notable 
3038resources, making it the "prize to any neighboring country" 
3039that Travis describes it as. In the same manner, Gunkanjima 
3040was useful as a community that provided coal resources, but 
3041it was entirely defenseless and unable to support its own 
3042population. 
3043
3044(You can't eat coal, after all.) 
3045
3046K--CHANNELS ELEVEN AND TWELVE [#VIK]
3047
3048After the player has unlocked Killer8, channel 10 on the 
3049television screen offers Young Harman as an available Persona. 
3050This brings the list of channels and Personae to completion:
3051
3052Channel 2: Master Harman
3053Channel 3: Garcian Smith
3054Channel 4: Dan Smith
3055Channel 5: KAEDE Smith
3056Channel 6: Kevin Smith
3057Channel 7: Coyote Smith
3058Channel 8: Con Smith
3059Channel 9: MASK De Smith
3060Channel 10: Harman Smith
3061
3062Yet, channels eleven and twelve remain blank. 
3063
3064Some players ask why.
3065
3066First off: no new Personae are available on channels eleven and 
3067twelve. At all. Ever. In the name of Harman.
3068
3069Second: I've considered channels eleven and twleve from a variety 
3070of metaphorical and symbolic points of view, and I can refine 
3071no conclusion about any meaning of the channels beyond a simple 
3072wish (on behalf of the design team) to remain true to the 
3073representation of the technology. 
3074
3075Back in the proverbial day, televisions had channels two through 
3076twelve, and an extra band for UHF transmissions. The UHF band in 
3077Killer7 is changed to the dial spot where the player transfers 
3078blood to the surgeon. That, however, seems to be the extent of 
3079the significance of the television channels. 
3080
3081L--RACISM IN KILLER7 [#VIL]
3082
3083Some have inquired whether or not Killer7 is another anti-American 
3084rant, designed to lampoon American ideology and political culture. 
3085The curious fact about opinions of the game is that people find 
3086it difficult to say whether or not the game favors America or 
3087Japan. After all, the player is given a choice at the end of 
3088the game, without editorial comment from any of the characters, 
3089whether or not to destroy America. 
3090
3091Killer7 carries ambiguous anti-nationalist and racist undertones 
3092that are difficult to extricate and understand. The cultural 
3093and political history of Japan creates great difficulty in 
3094separating racial distinctions from national identity, with 
3095respect to a plot that centers on Japan-U.S. tensions. 
3096Historically, as an island-nation, Japan has forcibly isolated 
3097itself from other countries' political and spiritual ideologies; 
3098specifically, Japan has reacted against Western ideologies: 
3099until the nation was forced into Western subjugation following 
3100World War II, it's elite cultural figures considered Communism 
3101and Capitalism equally detestable because of their Western 
3102origins. 
3103
3104Therefore, Japan came to associate its physical characteristics 
3105with its national identity. Shiratori Kurakichi, a turn-of-the-
310620th-century Japanese scholar who was charged with the education 
3107of Emperor-to-be Hirohito, wrote a five volume discourse on 
3108Japanese history, titled "Kokushi." In explaining Japanese racial 
3109origins and national ideology, Shiratori wrote: 
3110
3111"The imperial house unified our land and people and created the 
3112empire. Not only did it rule as the head of state, it also became 
3113integrated with the people and the head of their religion. 
3114Because of the ineffable feeling of intimacy between the throne 
3115and the people, the imperial house was able to create an extremely 
3116firm foundation for a state. However, just as the imperial house 
3117is a line of emperors unbroken for ages eternal; the people too, 
3118from generation to generation, father to child, have propagated 
3119down to today. Not once has there been a change in the race. 
3120Therefore we, descendants of the people who assisted the founder 
3121at the time of her creation of the state, have carried out the 
3122will of our ancestors and become eternally loyal subjects. The 
3123successive imperial families have loved the loyal subjects of 
3124their progenitor and always trusted in the people's cooperation 
3125in carrying out their grand plans. This indeed is the essence 
3126of out kokutai . . . . There is no mistake . . . in saying that 
3127we have been a homogeneous race since antiquity" (Print source: 
3128Bix, Herbert. "Hirohito and the Making of Modern Japan." Page 71.) 
3129
3130Certainly, the concept of homogeneous racial identity may be 
3131disputed; the important aspect, however, is that Japanese culture 
3132implied a self-perception of racial purity. As well, this racial 
3133purity was tied directly to the people's relationship to their 
3134emperor. In other words, Japanese racial identity and political 
3135identity were regarded as inextricable. The United States shared 
3136Japan's racist views, as illustrated in its internment of Japanese 
3137descended Americans during World War II. As a nation at war, the 
3138United States regarded all people "of the Japanese race" as 
3139allies to the Japanese Emperor and, by extension, the Axis powers. 
3140
3141I do not think that Killer7 ascribes to the type of racism 
3142described above. However, since that racism was a cultural ideal 
3143that began to change as a result of the Japanese's occupation 
3144by Allied forces after World War II, I think that Killer7 taps 
3145into that tradition of Japanese racial-political succession for 
3146part of its atmosphere. The Yakumo, as described in section [#II-B] 
3147of this document, is connected directly to Japanese nationalist 
3148identity. It is important that all of the members associated 
3149with the U. N. Party are visibly distinct as Japanese men. 
3150
3151The anti-American sentiments present in Killer7 stem largely 
3152from the implied attitudes of racism, on behalf of the 
3153conservative Japanese ideologues in Killer7, such as Akiba, 
3154Kurahashi, and Matsuoka.
3155
3156As an American myself, I am more sensitive to the game's criticism 
3157of America than I am to the game's criticism of Japan. However, 
3158as a scholar who has become more aware of Japanese history, I 
3159must recognize that I have become more sensitive to the game's 
3160criticism of Japan, too. The game describes Japan in the 
3161harshest terms, just like it does America: it is a politically 
3162corrupt state, war-mongering, ignorant, and hateful. The scene 
3163in the KAKU Building at the end of the SUNSET mission, wherein 
3164the diplomats from the U. S. and Japan's Liberal Party shoot 
3165each other over a symbolic game of Mah-jong, illustrates the 
3166dual criticism of American and Japanese political ideology. 
3167
3168M--HARMAN AS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE FREUDIAN MIND [#VIM]
3169
3170Harman's division into three parts suggests another aspect of 
3171Western thought: Sigmund Freud's division of the psyche into 
3172Superego, Ego, and Id.
3173
3174Freud's psychological theories evolved constantly, during his 
3175work as a professional psychoanalyst. Owing to the complex nature 
3176of his theories, as well as the ways in which Western culture 
3177has assimilated his ideas into popular awareness, a stark 
3178difference often exists between the popular notions of Freud's 
3179theories and Freud's actual ideas. A prime example of a popular 
3180misuse of Freud's theories is the Austin Powers film series, 
3181which mostly boils Freud down to phallic and vaginal symbols. 
3182
3183In the interest of specifying Freud's relevant ideas from the 
3184popular notions that (often) distort his thought, I will describe 
3185the Superego, Ego, and Id, as well as their relationships to 
3186each other.
3187
3188The Superego is a residual memory of the father-figure, often 
3189perceived by an individual as God, a higher moral consciousness, 
3190or any authority whose mere will is a moral expectation. H. H. 
3191is the Harman-figure who embodies the Superego. 
3192
3193The Id is the individual's raw bestial energy. These are the 
3194elements of the individual's being which are trimmed and 
3195domesticated by civilization, because they are inherently 
3196unsociable. They can be understood most simply as sex-impulses 
3197and violence-impulses, all of which involve the assertion of 
3198the individual's power upon the world beyond himself. Harman 
3199Smith is the Harman-figure who embodies the Id. 
3200
3201The Ego is the individual's most acute layer of consciousness. 
3202It mediates between the separate demands of the Id and 
3203Superego--and, further, it mediates these two forces' desires 
3204with the forces that intrude upon the individual's awareness 
3205from outside the body. Of all three faculties, the Ego does 
3206not generate anything except combinations of the demands given 
3207by the Id and Superego, in response to objects that it 
3208perceives as existing outside the mind. Master Harman is the 
3209Harman-figure who embodies the Ego. 
3210
3211The psychic world created around Emir Parkreiner is a sort of 
3212miniature version of the order of Western civilization, according 
3213to Sigmund Freud's theories. Emir, a member of Western 
3214civilization, goes to Master Harman (the Ego) with news from 
3215the outside world; Master Harman, as the combined expression 
3216of H. H. and Harman Smith, balances this knowledge against 
3217the "holy" desires of H. H. and the violent desires of 
3218Harman Smith. 
3219
3220Importantly, the development of Superego, Ego, and Id is started 
3221by the problematic Oedipal complex. When the individual 
3222(as an infant) internalizes the moral expectations of his 
3223father, he creates the Superego; however, since the power of 
3224this moral code outlasts the physical life of his father, it 
3225becomes translated into what psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan called 
3226the "Name-of-the-Father." In other words, it is the father's 
3227law given lasting power as an abstraction. 
3228
3229In this sense, Iwazaru's incantation "In the name of Harman" 
3230carries great significance. The relationship between Iwazaru 
3231and Master Harman becomes more interesting, here; as both 
3232represent "fathers" of Emir Parkreiner, both seem to carry a 
3233similar presence within the psychical world. (Note that Master 
3234Harman and Iwazaru both inhabit the same location, in Harman's 
3235Room.) When Iwazaru speaks to the Killer7, his intonation 
3236"In the name of Harman" suggests that he speaks on behalf of 
3237the "Name-of-the-Father," or the Superego. 
3238
3239At the end of the game, when Harman Smith kills H. H. and 
3240Kun Lan in the Forbidden Room, we see a dramatization of the 
3241triumph of the Id over the Superego. As a psychic force within 
3242Freud's theory, the Id must be frustrated, necessarily, by 
3243the Superego: the Superego is the psychic force that deliberately 
3244restricts the Id from doing whatever it pleases. As a result, 
3245the Id desires to kill the Superego because it wants full 
3246freedom; in Freud's Oedipal Complex, this is expressed 
3247symbolically by a man's desire to kill his father, from whom 
3248the moral code is taken. 
3249
3250N--THREE MONKEYS [#VIN]
3251
3252Many individuals with some education in the Japanese language 
3253have remarked that Iwazaru, his wife, and the spirit who helps 
3254find the Soul Shells are named after the Japanese words for 
3255"Hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil." Iwazaru's name 
3256translates into "Speak no evil;" Mizaru's name translates 
3257into "See no evil;" and Kikazaru translates into "Hear no evil." 
3258
3259Their names suggest a close relationship to each other. Mizaru 
3260and Iwazaru's relationship is apparent enough; they were married. 
3261If you ascribe to the interpretation of the game described in 
3262this document, they were Emir Parkreiner's parents. However, 
3263not enough information is provided for Kikazaru to determine 
3264what relationship, if any, he has to the other two. 
3265
3266Their names suggest qualities of their relationship to their 
3267former lives. As Iwazaru was the former psychic presence of Kun 
3268Lan within Harman Smith, he is given the name "Speak no evil," 
3269meaning that he is to speak nothing against H. H. ever again. 
3270(Note, also, that Kun Lan's calling card laughter is also an 
3271extension of the mouth and speech.) As Mizaru was Emir 
3272Parkreiner's mother--and she sexually desired her own son--her 
3273name is "See no evil;" the eyes are credited often as cultural 
3274symbols for desire and lust. 
3275
3276Again, as little information is provided regarding Kikazaru, it 
3277is difficult to speculate on his identity. As such, it is 
3278difficult to speculate on why he earned the name "Hear no evil."
3279
3280O--MESSIAHS [#VIO]
3281
3282In the Christian tradition, Jesus Christ began his ministry on 
3283earth when he was thirty years old. His ministry lasted for 
3284three years, at the end of which he was crucified by the Roman 
3285Empire and resurrected from the dead. His resurrection resulted 
3286in the opening of a relationship between God and humanity, 
3287through which human sins could be overcome. 
3288
3289The messianic symbolism is used heavily in Killer7. When we 
3290start the game, we learn that we are starting "Mission 34" of 
3291the Killer7's career. Symbolically, we are in a dangerous area, 
3292since we are past the messianic point of no-return. Further, 
3293Garcian Smith is described as being thirty years old--the age 
3294at which Christ began his ministry on earth. 
3295
3296Likewise, Kenjiro Matsuoka is thirty years old. While Matsuken 
3297has not shared the personal history of rebirths that Emir 
3298Parkreiner has, he is "adopted" by Kun Lan. (One might almost 
3299call Matsuken's scene at the opening of SUNSET PART TWO his "baptism.") 
3300
3301Think of Emir Parkreiner and Kenjiro Matsuoka as messianic 
3302opposites; given the relativism of the game's political 
3303perspective, this makes both Emir and Matsuken messiahs and 
3304anti-messiahs. Both are born in the "heartlands" of their 
3305respective countries. Holbert's tapes recognize Emir as having 
3306been born in Alabama, in the American South, from which almost 
3307all of the United States' culturally distinct art comes. 
3308(Think: jazz, blues, rock and roll, and William Faulkner all 
3309come from Southern roots, and all the art is based in the life 
3310of the American South.) Matsuken is described on Capcom-Japan's 
3311web site as having been born in Hiroshima, the heart of Japan's 
3312post-World War II self-consciousness. Alabama and Hiroshima 
3313are twin Bethlehems for the messiahs of Killer7. 
3314
3315The time period between the end of SMILE and the LION mission 
3316is three years. Since both men are thirty years old at the time 
3317of SMILE, this makes them thirty-three years old at the time of 
3318LION. In other words, both of them are ripe for crucifixion; if 
3319the player chooses to crucify Matsuken, then Japan's messiah dies; 
3320if the player chooses to let Matsuken live, he implicitly crucifies
3321Emir as America's messiah. 
3322
3323P--THE BIG DEAL [#VIP]
3324
3325With all of the symbolism and historical references woven 
3326through Killer7, one should ask, "What is intended to be 
3327communicated by these references?"
3328
3329Many answers to this question can be provided. The one that 
3330most interests me, now, is the ironic inversion of the fate 
3331experienced by post-World War II Japan, at the hands of the 
3332Allied (American) Occupation. 
3333
3334At the time of the Occupation's end, Japan was ostensibly 
3335"reborn" as a Western democracy. The specific factors involved 
3336in the "rebirth" were cultural. Three central influences were 
3337regarded as having led to Japanese participation in World War 
3338II: first, Bushido ideology; second, an isolationist (yet 
3339imperialistic) foreign policy; and, finally, a cultural belief 
3340in conservative Japanese values--values that regarded the 
3341family as higher than the individual, the emperor-god higher 
3342than the family, and the god of the emperor higher than the 
3343emperor-god. The Allied Occupation's specific goal was to 
3344convert the defeated nation of Japan from its feudalistic 
3345origins--including cultural socialism and Bushido ideology--
3346into a state modeled as a Western democracy. 
3347
3348In order to accomplish this goal, the Allied Occupation was 
3349forced to filter and censor the literature created by native 
3350Japanese writers. The two biggest targets of censorship were 
3351(1) anti-American sentiments and (2) any explicit reverence 
3352for the conservative cultural values that made the Japanese 
3353participation in World War II possible. Through the control of 
3354the media, the Allied Occupation Forces succeeded in 
3355establishing a long-term democratic state out of the feudal 
3356conditions of pre-World War II Japan. 
3357
3358This is very important to keep in mind, when we think about 
3359how Killer7 reverses this against America. First, think about 
3360how the American Allied Occupation Forces undermined Japanese 
3361culture: control of the media and the cultural images. Now, 
3362think about all of the images in the game: anime angels, Ayame 
3363Blackburn's transforming schoolgirl routine, Sentai heroes, 
3364and ISZK branded on the televisions and amusement parks--
3365representing "Yoishi Ishizaka," the post-World War II Japanese 
3366fiction writer. All of the cultural images rendere from 
3367Japanese pop culture are throw-backs to pre-World War II 
3368feudal Japanese culture. The anime angels and the transforming 
3369schoolgirl routine express the absolute certainty of virtue 
3370assumed by one who lives according to Bushido ethics: the 
3371morality implies an intrinsic superiority of the challenger 
3372(either angel or schoolgirl) over the challenged forces. As 
3373well, the Handsome Men Sentai fighters suggest the activity of 
3374Bushido values. Instead of settling the battle with Dan Smith 
3375at Trevor Pearlharbor's Dominican home, they arrange a formal 
3376duel in New York City--and take death before any loss of 
3377honor. 
3378
3379In the fictional world of Killer7, we see a reverse of the 
3380"cultural persuasion" that the West forced on Japan: we 
3381undermined traditional Japanese values with Western ideals of 
3382individualism that exceeds loyalty to code and government, and 
3383the Japanese (in Killer7) are undermining Western ideals of 
3384individuality and a reverence for private truth with Bushido 
3385ideology, that emphasizes self-sacrifice and righteous 
3386violence. 
3387
3388During the Allied Occupation, the cultural subversion occurred 
3389parallel to Japan's governmental reformation. In Killer7, the 
3390cultural subversion is likewise accompanied with governmental 
3391reformation. There are two different layers to this 
3392reformation, though, and I want to present this carefully. It 
3393can get tricky. 
3394
3395The first layer is the most obvious: by controlling the key 
3396voting district in the United States, Japanese interests will 
3397prevail through the accepted means of American governmental 
3398operation. This is accomplished through Coburn Elementary 
3399School's brainwashing--which involves the indoctrination of 
3400young students into the ideals of the Yakumo. 
3401
3402Earlier in this document, I quoted GameFAQs user Yoshiko 
3403Ohier, who explained: 
3404
3405"Acoording to the CAPCOM official web site in Japanese, Yakumo 
3406is a text which was created by 7 Japanese 
3407founders(politicians) in the past. The Yakumo (text) is said 
3408to have a power to change the world."
3409
3410In other words--just as we indoctrinated Japanese children 
3411with the ideals of Western democracy, at the expense of their 
3412native religion and government, THE JAPANESE ARE 
3413INDOCTRINATING AMERICAN CHILDREN under the ideals of Japanese 
3414governmental ideals at the expense of their native belief in 
3415individuality and democratic process. 
3416
3417The second layer is quite difficult to explain. I will try my 
3418best. I will start by addressing the fallacy of the location 
3419of Coburn Elementary school, with respect to the claims made 
3420about it.
3421
3422Of Coburn Elementary school, Travis says: "This is the spot 
3423where the homeland's elections originate. The spot for the 
3424primaries for the first presidential election. The first 
3425president of the US was the principal of this school. Win over 
3426your neighbors, and win over the world. That's the way 
3427politics works." 
3428
3429Two things seem off, in what Travis says. First, the ideal of 
3430"Win over your neighbors, and win over the world" does not 
3431express the ideal execution of a democratic republic. Rather, 
3432it suggests the warring territoriality of feudalism. Second, 
3433Travis claims that "the first president of the US was the 
3434principal of this school"--yet, the school is in Washington 
3435State--and Washington State only entered the Union after the 
3436Civil War. (Needless to say, the first presidential election 
3437was finished by that time.) 
3438
3439The easy way to resolve this would be to conclude that the 
3440game developers didn't know much about American history when 
3441they made the decision to place Coburn in Washington State. 
3442However, that conclusion seems inconsistent with the care 
3443taken to associate characters and events with specific 
3444historical occasions. 
3445
3446The more difficult way--and, from my perspective, the truer 
3447way--is to conclude that the OBVIOUS fallacy behind the 
3448suggestion that George Washington was the principal of a 
3449school that existed in a state that was only a guess on the 
3450left edge of a map of the New England territories MEANS that 
3451we are being lied to. 
3452
3453What are we being lied to about? "That's the way politics 
3454works."
3455
3456If we, as players role-playing Garcian/Emir's circumstances, 
3457believe that politics works just as Travis explains, then we 
3458have lost our Western identity and accepted feudal ideals in 
3459their stead. Linda Vermilion tells us to "see with our own 
3460eyes how the system works, and then decide." Yet, all of the 
3461information that leads to the conclusion that politics works 
3462as Travis has described is SECOND-HAND information. We haven't 
3463seen how the system works at all, if we are going by Travis' 
3464explanations. 
3465
3466What, then, can we say that we saw? When the curtain pulled up 
3467behind Greg Nightmare's bloated corpse in the gymnasium, we 
3468saw a stage running into the distance, filled with voting 
3469booths. Think of voting booths on the stage, and think of who 
3470fills them (American citizens of a democratic republic)--and, 
3471then, think of Benjamin Keane's words as a Remnant Psyche: 
3472"The actor pulls the curtain himself." The one who opened the 
3473curtain--Garcian--is also the actor, the voter. Taken 
3474together, this affirms that a democratic process exists in the 
3475fictional America of Killer7--but it also affirms that the 
3476democratic process is DYING, owing to both terrorism and 
3477Americans forsaking their native culture and governmental 
3478system in the interest of ancient Japanese culture and 
3479government. 
3480
3481The Yakumo represent the ancient Japanese culture and 
3482government. One layer of significance to the scene at the 
3483opening of SUNSET-PART 2 is its illustration of the principles 
3484by which the Yakumo operates. The principles of the Yakumo's 
3485operation seem remarkably similar to the operation of Japanese 
3486culture and government during the Meiji and Showa periods of 
3487Japanese history--the decades before Japan's occupation by 
3488Allied forces! 
3489
3490Before I explain how the old men (Kurahashi & Akiba) in 
3491SUNSET-PART 2 illustrate pre-Occupation Japanese ideology, I 
3492would like to draw a parallel between the education given to 
3493the students at Coburn Elementary, and the educational goals 
3494of pre-Occupied Japan. 
3495
3496Pre-Occupied Japan educated its children to be able to 
3497mobilize as a violent force, as well as to conform to the 
3498culture's religious and nationalistic ideals. The training 
3499described by Holbert, in his tapes, suggests that the students 
3500at Coburn Elementary are trained in precisely the same ways: 
3501they are either trained to become assassins (a mobilized 
3502violent force) or they are indoctrinated with Japanese 
3503nationalistic ideals, in order to pursue those ideals from 
3504within American government positions. 
3505
3506Now, to address the relevance of Kurahashi and Akiba. Their 
3507actions offer a direct insight into the principles that the 
3508Yakumo seems to advocate, and they are similar to the 
3509political realities during the Meiji Period. During the Meiji 
3510Period, the emperor's power was superceded by a small group of 
3511elite elder men. They possessed political control of the 
3512government, despite the Japanese Emperor's more public 
3513presence. Prior to the Meiji Period, a more rugged version of 
3514oligarchy prevailed during the Edo Period, when samurai and 
3515shoguns possessed most of the political power. Succession in 
3516power was either determined by familial relationships, or by 
3517vassal relationships. Often, though, a younger man with great 
3518expectations might kill an older man whose position he wants 
3519to fill. 
3520
3521When Kurahashi and Akiba tell Matsuoka to kill himself, they 
3522are suggesting that his suicide would be better for him than 
3523his dishonor as an inept young member of the U. N. Party. This 
3524accords with Bushido ethics regarding honor and its 
3525importance. However, they also say that they killed many of 
3526their own elders when they were younger--and, further, that 
3527they are prepared to die at any moment! They talk as though 
3528they have lived through a time dominated by Bushido ideals, in 
3529which political succession is determined by the violence of 
3530ambitious youth against the older generation. 
3531
3532Kun Lan's manipulation of Kurahashi and Akiba--transforming 
3533them into Heaven Smiles--also suggests the influence of the 
3534Shinto reverence for ancestors. The contradiction in this 
3535management of political affairs seems obvious: one can only 
3536ascend to political significance by killing one's elders--yet, 
3537once killed, one's elders become more significant. Much as 
3538Matsuoka becomes more in tune with the Yakumo ideals followed 
3539by Kurahashi and Akiba (after he is touched by Kun Lan), a 
3540successor in a Shinto culture would simultaneously dispatch 
3541his elders, and then fall into a reverent relationship with 
3542them. 
3543
3544These, then, are some of the principles of the Yakumo ideals 
3545of political operation. Emir Parkreiner has already enacted 
3546the Yakumo ideals by killing Harman and the Harman Assassins. 
3547He is named SPECIFICALLY as "the successor" to the chief, and 
3548he earned that position by killing Harman Smith--his childhood 
3549mentor. Before we take control of the Killer7, the Japanese 
3550process of succession of power has already been put into 
3551motion. 
3552
3553Yet, when we play the game, we interact with the Killer7 
3554through means similar to the process of voting on a candidate 
3555in a democratic republic! We approach the television, as 
3556though it were a voting booth, and we select the "candidate" 
3557who seems most likely to overcome the obstacles that confront 
3558us. 
3559
3560Julie Kusagi tells the player to "hand over the Yakumo," 
3561insinuating that Garcian possesses the knowledge of the code. 
3562If we look at the seven virtues associated with the Bushido 
3563ideology, and if we compare them with the members of the 
3564Killer7 (counting Harman as one of the seven), we see that 
3565each member of the Killer7 represents the opposite of one of 
3566the Bushido virtues. 
3567
3568Courage (Yu)--This conflicts with Kevin Smith, who turns 
3569invisible and can escape a fight better than any of the other 
3570seven.
3571
3572Honesty (Makoto)--This conflicts with Coyote Smith, who is a 
3573thief.
3574
3575Respect (Rei)--This conflicts with Con Smith, who's a fourteen 
3576year old punk.
3577
3578Loyalty (Chuugi)--This conflicts with KAEDE Smith, whose 
3579bloodstained clothes suggests that she is traitorous.
3580
3581Honor (Meiyo)--This conflicts with Dan Smith, who (as the 
3582Hellion) will kill however he can.
3583
3584Benevolence (Jin)--This conflicts with MASK De Smith, whose 
3585pure power does not admit to any of the restraint required for 
3586benevolent action.
3587
3588Rectitude/Right Decisions/Justice (Gi)--This conflicts with 
3589Harman Smith, who is unjust and brutal.
3590
3591If, as Yoshiko has suggested, Andrei Ulmeyda possessed the 
3592"eight part" of the Yakumo--possibly his blood, for its 
3593purity--then Garcian is in full possession of the seven 
3594"clouds" or "spirits" that constitute the remainder of the 
3595Yakumo. Notice how Garcian speaks to Master Harman (as 
3596distinct from Harman Smith) with reverence, like a samurai 
3597addressing his shogun. Garcian is in full possession of the 
3598Yakumo--and he is fully possessed by it, as well. 
3599
3600What, then, does this mean for us, as players who do not live 
3601daily in the world of Killer7?
3602
3603I believe that Killer7 is a subtle and brilliant cultural 
3604criticism of the intermingling between Eastern and Western 
3605cultures and ideals. it artfully juxtaposes actual historical 
3606relationships between the United States and Japan with 
3607fictional circumstances that illustrate the reality of the 
3608cultural relationship between America and Japan. In Killer7, 
3609we see a description of our age--and, perhaps, a choice about 
3610how to react to it. 
3611
3612VII: CONCLUSION (WITH A NOTE ABOUT JACK THOMPSON) [#VII]
3613
3614In an eMail dated 5 August 2005, from Jack Thompson (Florida 
3615attorney) to Patricia Vance (President of the E.S.R.B.), 
3616Thompson argues for the re-casting of Killer7 from a Mature 
3617rating to an Adults Only rating.
3618
3619Thompson reasoned that the content of Killer7--in the wake of 
3620the "Hot Coffee" controversy directed at Rockstar Games' 
3621release Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas--could not stand the 
3622scrutiny of an eye that valued the protection of children from 
3623sexually explicit material. Presumably, the same standards of 
3624decency and honest evaluation that the E.S.R.B. is accused of 
3625having relaxed for GTA:SA have been relaxed for Killer7, too.
3626
3627Thompson cites Matt Casamassina's review of Killer7, written 
3628for IGN.com and published on 1 July 2005, as evidence against 
3629Capcom's experimental release. Specifically, he quotes 
3630Casamassina's statement that: "We can't stress it enough: kids 
3631should not play Killer 7. Not just because there's an M on the 
3632box, but because for once that M really means something. 
3633There's much more than blood and guts in the game. Everything 
3634from the design of puzzles to the subject matter is designed 
3635for older players and it's really that simple." Thompson later 
3636quotes Casamassina's comment that "And there are cinematics 
3637that feature full-blown sex sequences" (Web resource: 
3638http://cube.ign.com/articles/630/630908p3.html).
3639
3640Since this Plot Analysis addresses Killer7 as a game that "is 
3641designed for older players," I believe that it should include 
3642a brief commentary on Casamassina's quoted statements, as well 
3643as Thompson's activity and claims. 
3644
3645I agree with the spirit of Casamassina's comments. As a 
3646twenty-five year old college graduate, who has traveled 
3647globally and experienced many things, I reacted emotionally to 
3648the scene in which Curtis Blackburn threw Pedro's daughter's 
3649severed head at him. This scene alone is reason enough to deny 
3650almost all gamers under the age of 18 access to the title. The 
3651violence is more intense than mere senseless violence--it is 
3652infused with an intelligence that acts cruelly, deliberately, 
3653and without penitance. Certainly, I do not believe that the 
3654material should have been removed from the game; the purpose 
3655of Curtis Blackburn's portrayal is to create pathos in the 
3656player against him. It is essentially good Greek drama, 
3657wherein pathos is created for the purpose of later catharsis. 
3658This type of villain, however, is inappropriate for almost all 
3659teenagers. 
3660
3661Thompson offers a cunning piece of sophistry, with respect to 
3662Casamassina's statement that "for once that M rating really 
3663means something." Thompson argues that--because Killer7 
3664deserves the rating it received--it should be given a harsher 
3665and more dishonest rating: Adults Only. 
3666
3667Many commentators on the E.S.R.B. rating system have ridiculed 
3668the distinction between the ratings of Mature (17+ only) and 
3669Adults Only (18+ only). They focus on the single year of 
3670maturity that sets the ratings apart, and conclude that the 
3671difference is arbitrary. While their argument may be valid, it 
3672is distracting from the real significance of the difference 
3673between the ratings of Mature and Adults Only. The Adults Only 
3674rating is a symbolic statement of the game's content--implying 
3675that the content has portrayed adult circumstances in such a 
3676way that the portrayal lacks redeeming merit, and has become 
3677simply obscene. The "Hot Coffee" segment of GTA:SA certainly 
3678stepped across this chasm into obscenity; neither the sexual 
3679content nor the violence of Killer7, however, cross that 
3680boundary. Even the most violently distressing scene in 
3681Killer7--involving Blackburn and Pedro--ultimately redeems 
3682itself as a stress, because of its function as a creator of 
3683pathos. 
3684
3685The aspect of this controversy in which I am critical of both 
3686Thompson and Casamassina--though moreso Thompson--involves the 
3687appraisal of the game's sexual content. Since Thompson uses 
3688Casamassina's assessment to draw his conclusion on Killer7's 
3689appropriateness, I first will address Casamassina's review 
3690excerpt. 
3691
3692The assessment of the sexual content of Killer7 as "full blown 
3693sex sequences" is misleading and exaggerated. Only one scene 
3694in the entire game qualifies as sexual, and--insofar as it 
3695contributes to the game's characterization and content--it is 
3696portrayed tastefully for the game's intended adult audience. 
3697The specific scene that I refer to is a cut-scene, at the 
3698beginning of the CLOUDMAN mission. Samantha Smith--the Save 
3699Maid and caretaker of a catatonic Master Harman--is 
3700interrupted while molesting Harman in his wheelchair. She 
3701wears sexually suggestive clothing--a Catholic school uniform-
3702-and audibly climaxes during the sequence. Then, exhausted, 
3703she collapses in a nearby chair--with suggestive posture--and 
3704offers Garcian sexual favors. Importantly for the game, 
3705Garcian refuses the invitation. 
3706
3707Other scenes contain sexually adult circumstances, but they 
3708are implicitly sexual (rather than explicitly sexual, as the 
3709scene described above). The two most notable scenes involving 
3710Samantha Smith are the animated cutscene at the start of the 
3711ALTER EGO mission--wherein the camera's point-of-view hints at 
3712a shot of Samantha's crotch while she is wearing a skirt 
3713(although showing neither genitalia nor much underwear)--and 
3714the cutscene the start of the SMILE mission, wherein Samantha 
3715is discovered dead and appears to have been raped. 
3716Naturally, the implicit and explicit sexuality of these scenes 
3717have not been created for an audience of children. Within the 
3718context of the narrative of Killer7, however, they are 
3719justifiable characterizations within adult circumstances. 
3720Description of these circumstances as "full blown sex 
3721sequences" implies a greater degree of explicit, pornographic 
3722sexuality; it also implies interactivity, such as was 
3723implemented in the "Hot Coffee" sequence of GTA:SA. Neither 
3724greatly explicit presentation nor interactivity are elements 
3725of the sexual scenes in Killer7. However, I am not critical of 
3726Casamassina for having described Killer7 in the terms that he 
3727has; the ambiguity of individual value judgments, with respect 
3728to what constitutes a "full blown sex sequence" and what 
3729constitutes a sexually allusive sequence, suggest that he and 
3730I played the same game and are describing the same scenes. 
3731
3732Casamassina's description of Killer7's content seems to be 
3733Thompson's greatest leverage for his criticism of the 
3734E.S.R.B.'s rating. Thompson, then, has relied upon a 
3735misleading and ambiguous description of the content of the 
3736game--and, from this reliance, has thrown insupportable 
3737accusations at the game and the E.S.R.B. 
3738
3739I do not think that Casamassina is at fault, here; his 
3740quotation about the sexual content of Killer7 is excerpted 
3741from a review article, and (as anyone who has read a review of 
3742any media that he or she enjoys may attest) review articles 
3743are highly subjective compositions. I may disagree with the 
3744language used in Casamassina's review article, but I do not 
3745believe it is inappropriate for the subjective claims of a 
3746review article. 
3747
3748Jack Thompson, however, has excerpted a subjective description 
3749of Killer7, and he has used it as a means of spreading 
3750disinformation about the game's content. Not only are 
3751Thompson's claims sensationalistic and unfounded, they are 
3752dishonest and undermine the sincere efforts of conscientious 
3753adult gamers to create room in the gaming medium for mature 
3754creations--while restraining the medium's corporations from 
3755making mature games available to immature gamers. 
3756
3757On a concluding note, I would like to add that maturity is a 
3758relative term. Some gamers (almost always teenagers) prefer to 
3759think of maturity as a character quality that transcends 
3760years; often, the age at which maturity can bloom fully is 
3761(coincidence!) the same age as the gamer. This is rationale is 
3762self-serving, I think. A minority of gamers, below the age of 
376318 years old, can handle the difficult scenes in Killer7; I 
3764would like to stress, however, that this minority should be 
3765recognized as exceptionally mature by their authority figures 
3766before being allowed access to the game. 
3767
3768Please keep thinking about the game and suggesting your ideas. 
3769I may be contacted at: LOGOS_AWAKENING@BELLSOUTH.NET.
3770
3771Thank you very much--especially to all of the wonderful 
3772readers who have written their questions and recommendations. 
3773I really appreciate all of your communication.
3774
3775VERY SPECIAL THANKS goes to Yoshiko Ohier, Sam Ellis, and Genji 
3776Masamume (from the GameFAQs boards).
3777
3778And, of course, to Iris, whom I love for all my life.
3779
3780VIII: APOLOGETICS (AKA, ABOUT THE AUTHOR) [#VIII]
3781
3782I have titled this segment "Apologetics," because of a type of 
3783criticism that I have received for my writing on this game. I 
3784refer to a particular breed of criticism, chiefly defined by 
3785its antagonism, animosity, and aggressive dismissal of 
3786everything written above. 
3787
3788This plot analysis is the document that it is, because Killer7 
3789is the game that it is and I am the gamer who I am. Any 
3790analysis, no matter how scientific its context, is ultimately 
3791an act of interpretation. In scientific analysis, the 
3792difference between analysts depends upon their relative 
3793experience and talents. The difference also lies in their 
3794priorities: two scientific analysts, one with the military and 
3795the other with consumer products, could look at the same 
3796general information about, say, heat generation, and draw 
3797different conclusions about the information, because one needs 
3798to make better bombs and the other needs to make better 
3799toasters. 
3800
3801As a creative writer--a poet, in fact--my analytical 
3802priorities are aesthetic. I desire to analyse a story in terms 
3803of the beauty and pleasure it inspires; and the beauty and 
3804pleasure it inspires, I think, depends upon its sense of 
3805balance and its ability to convey a relevant truth. The latter 
3806aspect is WHAT a story does, and the former aspect is HOW it 
3807does it. 
3808
3809With that said, I will offer examples of the criticisms 
3810leveled toward my interpretation of Killer7, as it developed 
3811on the GameFAQs message boards: "ShockleyHaynes, no offense, 
3812but your posts are closer to fanfics than plot analysis. Maybe 
3813you should go make your own thread;" "your theory only holds 
3814together if the reader accepts distinctions and terminology 
3815that you made up;" "you made **** up to fit your ideals! Well, 
3816whatever;" and the classic: "Yeah, you would know better than 
3817the game creators huh?" 
3818
3819Those who level criticism of this sort mistake "self-
3820confidence" for "certainty of truth." Yes, I am self-confident 
3821that my interpretation is sensible, coherent, and respects the 
3822content of the game. No, I am not certain of the absolute 
3823truth of my interpretation. 
3824
3825I believe in history; I believe in culture; I believe in myth; 
3826I believe in the human need to understand coherently the world 
3827of experience. I am a Southern American man whose family has 
3828roots in Alabama and South Carolina, and I was raised on 
3829German military bases until I was ten years old. I have lived 
3830in a number of European countries, have traveled to most of 
3831them at one time or another, and lived in Finland for four 
3832months. I love learning. I am, in short, an American scholar--
3833specifically, a Southern American scholar, which comes through 
3834most keenly when discussing post-modernity, a worldview of 
3835which I am skeptical when it is taken as a faith. 
3836
3837Yes, our times may be described as "post-modern," eminently 
3838subjective, ultimately pointing toward no absolute truth. Yet, 
3839we conclude that no truth can exist, because no truth can be 
3840absolute. This is as ridiculous as Beat Poetry and pure 
3841atheism. Everyone over the age of twenty has a value system; 
3842and interpretations are born from value systems, whether 
3843ancient or invented. 
3844
3845In most plot analysis documents, this sort of long and 
3846abstruse explanation of the plot analysis would be quite out 
3847of place. Killer7 is a post-modern story, and (as such) leaves 
3848many holes for the gamer to fill with his or her personal 
3849explanations. If I wrote this plot analysis with the intention 
3850of wresting those holes from the reader and filling them with 
3851my own explanations, then I would have betrayed the vision of 
3852the creative team. 
3853
3854This game can be anything from the extended commentary on 
3855Japanese-U.S. relationships that I have suggested above, to a 
3856story involving the bad-ass adventures of Garcian and Dan 
3857Smith. Pick your cup of tea and drink it, but don't say that 
3858because you have a choice of cups, there is no tea.