Of robots and ancient mysteries: Representations of Jōmon figurines as cultural heritage and popular culture

Final J & omacr;mon ceramic figurines known as shak & omacr;ki dog & umacr; have been incorporated into popular culture for decades in Japan, but few studies have examined how these sources represent shak & omacr;ki dog & umacr; or how they contribute to public meaning making about the past. Using perspectives from archaeological representation studies, this paper explores trends in when, where, and how shak & omacr;ki dog & umacr; appear in Japanese media, such as anime, manga, and games. In didactic sources, shak & omacr;ki dog & umacr; are predominantly characterized as female figurines connected to J & omacr;mon ritual and Japanese cultural origins. While the dog & umacr; observed here were often depicted as ancient and magical, they were more likely to be masculine, antagonistic, and generic symbols of a distant past, rather than references to the J & omacr;mon or Japanese heritage. This departure from a divine feminine interpretation is discussed in relation to the video game industry, science fiction and fantasy genres, and Arahabaki in the popular mind.