Omasuguse

Omasuguse is a fictional concept used in speculative fiction and world-building to describe a ritual of communal memory. In the imagined contexts where it appears, omasuguse is typically held at seasonal or communal milestones and involves participants sharing short personal stories or recollections that relate to shared events, values, or identities. The practice is described as both a social and mnemonic device, designed to bind participants to a common past and to transmit cultural knowledge across generations.

In-world etymology places the term in a constructed language, with proposed roots such as oma- meaning memory and suguse referring to gathering or circle; however, etymologies vary by author and edition, reflecting the fictional nature of the term.

Ritual form usually includes a host or designated facilitator, a liturgical refrain or chorus, and sometimes an object such as a carved drum, banner, or memory tablet that serves as a focal point. Stories are typically brief to maintain rhythm, and the chorus may respond with a communal line to mark transitions or emphasize key moments.

Thematic and narrative roles of omasuguse in literature often center on memory, identity, and social bonds. It is used as a device to explore how communities transmit knowledge and negotiate change when personal narratives are braided into a shared performance, sometimes contrasting individual voices with collective memory.

Because omasuguse originates in fiction rather than ethnographic study, it is not a real-world practice. It has become a trope in world-building discussions and speculative literature, employed to examine how memory and belonging are constructed within communities.