The Shenmue meme stems from the 1999 Sega Dreamcast cult classic, specifically focusing on protagonist Ryo Hazuki's awkward, repetitive quest for information. The most iconic iteration involves Ryo asking random NPCs, 'Have you seen any sailors?' in a monotone voice, highlighting the game's stiff English dubbing and slow-paced investigative gameplay. Over time, the meme evolved to represent any obsessive search for something specific or to poke fun at the quirky, dated dialogue of late 90s gaming. Today, fans use it to celebrate the franchise's unique charm or to satirize RPG tropes where players must repeat the same question to dozens of non-player characters to progress.