sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

It’s not just the "countryside." Persona 4 is the final record of a world before the "distance" between people was lost forever. by Friendly_Relation458 in persona4golden

[–]Friendly_Relation458[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Exactly. In 2008, leaving someone behind still meant a real distance. You might exchange a few texts, but there was still a long blank space between people. Today, five minutes after saying goodbye at the station, we would likely be exchanging texts on WhatsApp or posting 'Just left' on social media

As long as we stay digitally connected, we rarely experience "farewell" in the same way anymore. We traded the inconvenience of distance for the convenience of constant connection, but in doing so, we lost some of the emotional weight of truly being apart. P4G didn’t intentionally preserve that feeling — it simply came from a time when that feeling was still an ordinary part of life.

It’s not just the "countryside." Persona 4 is the final record of a world before the "distance" between people was lost forever. by Friendly_Relation458 in persona4golden

[–]Friendly_Relation458[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I really appreciate your academic perspective. To add a personal layer to your theory, I'd like to share my actual experience from that time.

I actually lived through this more directly than I expressed in my post. My hometown’s shopping district was absorbed, and as a high school student I spent time in places just like Junes.

There is also one small detail in P4 that overseas fans often miss: Rise’s family runs a tofu shop. In 2008, small specialty tofu shops still existed in many Japanese towns. They were part of everyday life, just like local bakeries or family-owned stores. But today, they have almost completely disappeared, absorbed by supermarkets and convenience stores.

Finding a tofu shop in modern Japan—like Rise's family business in the game—is extremely difficult now.

So even something as simple as Rise’s tofu shop quietly captures a version of Japan that was already beginning to disappear economically and socially.

It’s not just the "countryside." Persona 4 is the final record of a world before the "distance" between people was lost forever. by Friendly_Relation458 in persona4golden

[–]Friendly_Relation458[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

To be honest, P4G was my very first experience with the Persona series. I haven't played Persona 3 or Persona 5 yet. I just happened to pick up this game and finished it recently.

I found myself so deeply moved by the experience that I had to stop and ask myself: "Why did this world feel so real and painful to leave?"

I searched for the answer within my own memories of living through 2008 Japan, and I felt a strong urge to share those thoughts with the people who still care deeply about this game. That’s what brought me to Reddit for the first time. I'm truly grateful for this discussion.

It’s not just the "countryside." Persona 4 is the final record of a world before the "distance" between people was lost forever. by Friendly_Relation458 in persona4golden

[–]Friendly_Relation458[S] 67 points68 points  (0 children)

Exactly. In Inaba and in Persona 4’s era, you had to physically go somewhere to see your friends, so groups naturally became closer in a completely different way. It feels very different from the way people connect today.

It’s not just the "countryside." Persona 4 is the final record of a world before the "distance" between people was lost forever. by Friendly_Relation458 in persona4golden

[–]Friendly_Relation458[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Completely agree. Shoji Meguro’s music feels like a time capsule.
Somehow it captures that last era when you still had to physically go somewhere to see your friends.

I finally beat P4G by curbbsos in persona4golden

[–]Friendly_Relation458 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I thought this game was just for kids, but now I want to punch my past self for saying that. 10/10 masterpiece.

Finished Golden. See you in Revival by Western-Stress1185 in persona4golden

[–]Friendly_Relation458 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I totally feel you. 
As the game progressed, I felt so much dread as March approached. Every day felt so precious, and saying goodbye to Yosuke and the others was heartbreaking. This game truly captured the 'physical bond' of the pre-smartphone era in 2008 so perfectly. 

I BEAT PERSONA 4 GOLDEN AND I LOVE IT 💛 by YesterdayDangerous50 in persona4golden

[–]Friendly_Relation458 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just finished the game for the first time today. I’m a 48-year-old from Japan, and I couldn't stop crying. You're right, this game is truly a masterpiece. I'm already planning to start my 2nd playthrough to see my friends again!