Five years after its debut, Death Stranding has stirred conversation among fans who point to a link with the ancient Japanese vocation known as bokka. This observation has circulated through gaming coverage, including reports from the GamesRadar portal that spotlight the possible inspiration drawn from this real world practice.
The hint about the main character’s line of work, carried by Sam Bridges, surfaced when a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, drew attention to what some described as one of Japan’s most unusual professions, bocca. These couriers are tasked with transporting goods to remote mountain districts that ordinary vehicles cannot reach. They rely on specially engineered wooden ladders to manage their loads, often carrying between 100 and 165 kilograms on their backs as they navigate rugged terrain.
In Death Stranding, Sam Bridges follows a remarkably similar path, shouldering a variety of cargos as he moves across a fractured landscape. Fans have drawn parallels between bocca and the game created by Hideo Kojima and his studio, Kojima Productions. While the developers have not issued an official comment on the comparison, the connections have become a talking point across fan communities and gaming discourse.
When Death Stranding released in 2019, a wave of humor swept through RuNet communities, with many jokingly dubbing it a courier simulator. The humor rested on the gameplay premise in which the player must deliver cargo from one location to another while maintaining balance and spatial awareness to prevent damage to the goods along the way.
In retroactive discussion, some observers note Kojima’s broader interest in nomadic logistics and symbolism. Earlier updates from Kojima included posts that showcased a lamp and other curiosities, which fans have cited as part of the creator’s broader aesthetic and storytelling vocabulary. These visual touches are sometimes interpreted as hints about themes of connection, distance, and the human effort embedded in transportation narratives. (Citation: GamesRadar)