#kovomaka

[kovopedia]

Magical Starsign - Japanese planet name origins

In the Japanese version of Magical Starsign, many characters' and locations' names are anadromes, or words that are flipped backwards (e.g., "stressed" -> "desserts"). Some names don't follow this convention, but are still interesting nonetheless!

~~~~

コヴォマカ Kovomaka, from かまぼこ kamaboko (processed seafood product)

Erd = ヒカラブータ Hikarabīta, from ひからびた hikarabita (dried up)

Cassia = リグ・マハ Rigu Maha, from はまぐり hamaguri (clam)

Puffoon = コットン Kotton, from とんこつ tonkotsu (pork bone ramen)

Gren = カオピター Kaopitā, from タピオカ tapioka (tapioca)

Razen = ラグアフォー Raguafō, from フォアグラ foagura (fois gras)

Nova = シャリィ Sharī, from ぎんしゃり gin shari (slang term for white rice)

Shadra = ロマシュマ Romashuma, from マシュマロ mashumaro (marshmallow)

SIDE NOTES:

Kovomaka is the only planet that wasn't renamed. The reason it comes from かまぼこ kamaboko is because "B" and "V" sounds are interchangeable in Japanese; in the case of the name "Kovomaka," ぼ bo becomes ヴォ vo.

Puffoon's name could also come from "cotton" since it's the wind planet. But when とんこつ tonkotsu is rendered in katakana (トンコツ tonkotsu), the ツ tsu character can become ッ, which accentuates a following consonant sound, hence コットン Kotton.

[kovopedia]

Magical Vacation - Material Plane pixel art appreciation :]

(done by removing sprites/dialogue boxes on mGBA!)