Jipang

Village Jipang
Official artwork Japanese ジパング Game Dragon Quest III Old localization Zipangu

Jipang is an isolated country in Dragon Quest III: The Seeds of Salvation. It is intended to be a representation of Japan and is located in the same general area the archipelago occupies in the real world. The Japanese motif is further emphasized by the town soundtrack which has an eastern musical origin and by the dialect of the people, who speak only in haiku save for the children.

Appearances

Dragon Quest III: The Seeds of Salvation

Jipang is a country of four islands located southeast of Alltrades Abbey, south of Mur and far north of Aliahan. Locals call it the "realm of the gossamer mists", while foreigners call it the "golden country". Jipang has little contact with the outside world, as it has barred foreigners from entering the country; Jipang also has no weapon, armour or item shops due to the lack of trade, and no inn at all--players will have to make do with the nearby Wayfarer's Inn. The isolation has lead to a distinct culture with architecture and clothing not seen anywhere else in the game.

The ruler of the village is Queen Pimiko, who possesses the Purple Orb. However, upon first visit the Hero finds the country terrorized by the Orochi, a monstrous serpent queen that demands young girls as a sacrifice in the nearby dormant volcano. The locals explain that this horrific blight is the result of a deal that Pimiko struck with the monster: sacrifices at regular intervals in exchange for not attacking the village directly. This has created an false sense of tranquility in the country, where parents disguise their daughters as boys and those whom have already witnessed their little girls being carried off solemnly cling to the rationale that it was for the greater good of the village.

Yayoi is the girl who is next in line to be sacrificed. Her father, unable to bear the thought of losing her, has her hide in a pot in the village store house until the nearest opportunity to flee with her life. Upon investigating the pot, the Hero mistakenly thinks that they've found a decapitated head before realizing a body is attached to the neck. Yayoi pleads with the party to keep quiet about seeing her, explaining that she's remaining in the village only to see her family one last time before running off.

A Priest seeking to bring the Jipangese into the Goddess' flock expresses frustration at their reverence to their queen Pimiko, and is too frustrated to perform his expected duties for the player. At night, he consoles the father of Yayoi and beseeches the Goddess to end Orochi's reign of terror.

The Hero and Party then confront the dragon in order to stop the sacrifices, only to see the serpent slither off in retreat through a red teleportal behind it after nearly being killed. The group pursues through the gateway and materialize in the central palace of Jipang, with a bleeding Pimiko at their feet. The woman telepathically communicates with the Hero, telling them that only they have seen her true form and offering them the chance to escape if they keep quiet. Upon refusal, a battle with Orochi begins again and the beast is killed. After a transitional scene explaining how news of Pimiko's wicked ways spread through the town, the player regains control in the central palace and a chest containing the Purple Orb is set where Pimiko sat.

In the remakes, sometime after Orochi's defeat, the people of Jipang claim Pimiko's palace for their own place of living and ask the priest for advice on western farming methods. The 5th and final Treasures n' Trapdoors track will appear in the village's well after wishing for it from Xenlon (SFC and GBC version only).

Nearby monsters

• Overtoad
• Ursa minor

Treasures (remakes only)

• Hardwood headwear
• Plain clothes
• Seed of magic (2)
• Coagulant
• Seed of strength (2)
• Mini medal (2)
• Training togs
• Scale shield
• Meteorite bracer (In the well, after wishing for a new Treasures n' Trapdoors track from Xenlon. Absent in the Cell phone and Nintendo Switch versions.)

Usage of Jipang in another area

• The well in Jipang is used for a town during the Monster Scenario at the beginning.

Dragon Quest of the Stars

Jipang appears in the same capacity in the mobile phone title.

Notable resident

• Yayoi: The final young woman to be offered to the Orochi, but is saved by the Hero and Party defeating the serpent. Unlike many NPCs, she retains her name from the NES to Switch localizations.

Trivia

• Jipang and Zipangu are derived from the historical Portuguese name of Japan, Cipangu.
• Jipang's epithet "golden country" refers to the title bequeathed to the land by Marco Polo in his memoirs.
• Jipang's isolation from the world is a historical reference to Japan's Sakoku policy, which lasted from 1633 to 1853.
• Many torii leading up to the northern palace.
• The children do not speak in haiku, implying that the act of which is a deliberate choice by the adults of the country.

Gallery

• 

  Jipang's original artwork.

• 

  Jipang. (NES)

• 

  Jipang's updated design.

• 

  Jipang in the overworld. (NES)

• 

  Jipang in the overworld. (SFC)

• 

  Jipang in the overworld. (Cell phone)

• 

  Pimiko's temple. (Cell phone)

• 

  A Jipangese child warns of danger.

• 

  An unused boss monster speculated to have been planned for Jipang, given its resemblance to an oni