its a GAME people!!!!!! it baffles me how a discusion like this can continue.....that is true boredom...but anyway...

the developers make characters to attract their intended market. the main theme for the FF series has been the asian style of architecture and advancement, and hence, the asian "feel" to everything.

in X, the formality of the summoners (geysha), the honour of the warrior (samurai), the small towns like Kilika (tribes - societies organized largely on the basis of kinship), little things like that. its nothing major, but it helps draw in their intended market. its all based on sales and marketing, and a minimal amount of it is based on the actual game. but the fact remains, why develop a game that wont sell????