Real Japanese Couriers Inspired Kojima to Create Death Stranding

Did you know that Sam Porter Bridges has a hidden meaning behind his name? Of course, the "Porter" part has always been present in the name, and we all know that throughout the game, Sam is busy transporting cargo across expansive landscapes while striving to maintain balance and not fall over.

Recently, one Twitter post about "one of the oddest professions in Japan" went viral, and fans of the Death Stranding series started seeing the connection they had never been aware of.

As the Twitter user wrote, in Japan, the bokka (歩荷) profession is among the most peculiar. These porters transport supplies to remote mountain guesthouses, which are hard to reach by vehicles. Using specialized wooden ladder frames, a bokka can carry 100-165 kilograms of supplies during day-long treks.

Does it sound familiar? It seems that Death Stranding has always been like a bokka simulator, a discovery that social media algorithms helped reveal to those unaware of the profession.

Did you know that there was such a profession in Japan? What do you think about Kojima's parallel with the real-life job portrayed in the popular game?

Speaking of Death Stranding 2, the game is slated for release in 2025. For more details, you can read this article.

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