Could Qatherine Have A…Regional Difference?

Disclaimer:

This article will feature a spoiler that will reveal the truth about a certain character’s identity as another theory has motivated the writer into discussing it, along with a slight concern. Feel free to avoiding reading it if you are a Western Catherine crusader trying to avoid as many spoilers as possible.

It has been almost a month since Catherine: Full Body was released in Japan to seduce and frighten many Japanese Catherine crusaders [3]. Ever since the speculation of what is truly under a new neighbour’s dress, plenty of us in Europe and the United States have been hoping some more welcoming and positive portrayal of transsexuality and transgenderism in the gaming industry today, compared to how signs of transgenderism of a few characters have been removed in Western releases of their games in the past [3] [5] [6] [8]. Some of us have also expressed concern for the new neighbour’s mystery as Erica Anderson’s portrayal as a transgender character may have been praised for seeming empathetic and humanized, but it was also considered problematic as her being transgender all along as used as a punchline in one of the endings in the original Catherine [5] [19] [22]. But ever since after the release of Catherine: Full Body in Japan, a few Catherine crusaders have a new theory about what the mystery of Rin, other known as “Qatherine” is building up to for the Western release [17]. I can agree with the theory and I shall dig into it with hopefully no ram horns on my head.

I was rather hesitant about giving out a specific spoiler at first, but I felt as if I needed to elaborate on the theory that was brought up by other Catherine crusaders in order to address an issue that should definitely be avoided, especially for the Western release. [6]

It turns out that Rin is actually an otokonoko [6] [25]. It was revealed at some point during the horrific week of nightmares for unfaithful men in the Japanese version of the full-bodied port of Catherine. For those who do not know what the term “otokonoko” means, it means a male cross-dresser in modern Japanese culture [11] [20] [25]. That would explain the apparent lack of breasts on the pink-haired pianist’s chest [6] [15]. I suppose this year is a good time to bring another otokonoko into the gaming industry since the term became more popular in otaku culture after the mid-2000s [11] [20] [25]. I am okay with being proven wrong as I denied the possibility of Rin being a male cross-dresser back in late 2018 due to his highly feminine voice in the Japanese version [26] [27]. Even though I see how that girly voice is part of hiding his identity of an otokonoko, I still hope that Rin is at least physically old enough to be in a relationship with someone at Vincent Brooks’ age. Aside from that, I guess Rin gives otokonokos a great name with his kindness and innocent nature [6]. Finally! I can use the right pronouns for the pink-haired pianist. Or can I?

5, 4, 3, 2, 1… [15] [26] [27]

Epic jaw drop!! [15] [26] [27]

Even though Rin eventually reveals himself to be a male later on in the Japanese version, there is some speculation that he will be fully a female since not many folks in the West may understand the term “otokonoko” [6] [11] [20] [25]. In addition to this, Rin’s official English voice in the Fine Wine trailer for the Western Catherine crusaders sounds sweet, soft-spoken and so feminine [17]. Furthermore, Brianna Knickerbocker’s vocals would increase the likeliness of Rin being completely female in the Western release [3] [17]. If Rin ought to be fully female in the Western release, perhaps the animators ought to carefully make a few edits in some of the new cutscenes that are quite noticeable for giving Rin breasts, kind of like a reversed progress of how 4Kids used to censor cleavage for their English dubs of anime, such as One Piece [16]. Doing so would not only further prevent Rin from looking underaged, but prevent Vincent from becoming a pedophile and completely ruining his small amount of likeability [23] [24]. At least giving Rin breasts would be a better choice than giving Ratchet from Ratchet and Clank huge black eyebrows that look like the moustache of a certain plumber from Nintendo [9].

I can briefly imagine one of the artists at Atlus USA giving Rin breasts to prevent controversy for the Western release. [6]

Ratchet in the Japanese version of Ratchet and Clank: A Crack in Time. Those crazy eyebrows… [9]

If Rin is secretly a male in Japan and could be completely a female in the West, then it will not be the only time a video game character has received that kind of treatment. Gracie, the fashionable giraffe from the Animal Crossing franchises identifies as a male in Japanese and Korean versions of the games under the name “Grace” [1]. Saharah, the camel who trades carpets and wallpaper is another Animal Crossing character who is a male in Japan under the name “Ronald” [2]. Both characters became females for localized versions outside of Japan and Korea, possibly due to how feminine their eyes look [1] [2]. As someone who grew up in a generation of increasing tolerance towards transsexuality and transgenderism, I like to see those two animals as transgender, combining both of their regional genders together in my mind.  As much as I hope for more positive portrayals of LGBT characters in the near future of gaming [22], I am actually okay with Rin not being transsexual or transgender at all. However, Rin’s true gender in Japan and the possibility of him being fully female in the Western release can always make me and many others view him as either of those [6].

The glammed up giraffe as she (or he if you live in Japan) appears in Animal Crossing: New Leaf. [1]

Saharah/Roland’s appearance in Animal Crossing: New Leaf. [2]

I would not let a supporting character’s gender change affect my overall experience in playing a unique game and witnessing some positive traits of that character. I have nothing against changing a few things for localized versions of video games. Many regional differences can be reasonable while some others can be simply interesting [9] [10] [16] [18]. I honestly do not find making Rin a female in the Western release to be transphobic because I just want Rin’s physical age to be between the early twenties and early thirties so that Vincent will not be seen as a pedophile [23] [24]. Whether the pianist with a very feminine voice is an otokonoko or not, I still think the character development is more important, along with how old he is when it comes to being in love with an average thirty-two-year-old [6]. I might as well use male pronouns for Rin until further notice. At least there are plenty of positive LGBT portrayals and interpretations in video games and cartoons to go around in this day and age [12] [13] [14] [16] [21] [22]. To those who are brave enough to seek spoilers before the Western release, feel free to state your thoughts on the theory in the comments. Stay golden.

Ultimately, at least the chance of Rin being underaged seems very low as he is allowed to work in a North American bar. Lolicon in Catherine? No thanks! [17]

Who knows? Rin could have his own novel some time later in Japan since there is a genre related to the term “otokonoko” in anime and manga. [6]

References:

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