Square Enix’s SaGa franchise has received a lot of love from the company in recent years, as an array of new entries in the series alongside classic rereleases have shuttled the RPG franchise back into the public consciousness. The company isn’t limiting this revival of the series to its video games, either, forming a pun-fueled partnership with the Saga region of Japan for a unique yearly tourism initiative.
First taking place in 2014, this collaboration with Square Enix’s long-running RPG series is a conduit to celebrate local crafts, produce and traditions. At first, this event was a rather small-scale affair, limited to a little exhibition in Saga’s city center, with a few nationwide outposts to promote the region through the world of the game and its characters in places like Tokyo. This year, the event is being produced in partnership with eight different businesses in the area, enough locations for an RPG adventure of your own.
Each partnership seeks to blend the traditional with the fantasy of SaGa . Takeo Onsen Bussankan, one of the region’s many hot spring onsens, is selling Yumino dolls (a form of traditional clay doll native to that city in the prefecture) inspired by the franchise’s mascot character, Sensei. Beyond that, wind chimes, a specially-themed crab dish using locally-caught crab, tea, teapots, and other tableware have also been produced by different local businesses. Meanwhile, in partnership with the region and gaming-themed craft beer company Game Brew, four themed Abyss Brew beers based on the series will be sold nationwide.
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