[Part One] Shenmue Anecdotes from Composer Osamu Murata

The Musical Genius of Osamu Murata

The musical talents of Osamu Murata have left an indelible mark on the Shenmue series, captivating players around the world with his unforgettable compositions.

Osamu Murata (profile photo from Twitter / X)

Fresh out of university, Murata joined the AM2 Sound Section at SEGA in 1997 and quickly immersed himself in a number of arcade projects - more than 10 titles during his time there, including classics like F355 Challenge and Virtua Cop 3.

Murata's exceptional talent as a composer led him to create an estimated 800-1000 songs for the Shenmue project, pouring his heart and soul into crafting the atmospheric pieces that enrich the Shenmue experience. His dedication to his craft was so intense that he once blacked out at the piano during a grueling composing session (as he shared in an interview with Shenmue World magazine, Issue 2).

When Murata first joined the Shenmue project, he was also responsible for recording voice lines for many actors and is officially credited as Voice Recording Chief for US Shenmue.

Among his many compositions are such standouts as Nozomi's Theme, Xiuying's Theme, and Yokosuka Blues (Goro's Theme) which became instant classics, each adding depth and emotion to the Shenmue universe. Additionally, some of his compositions, from the vast pool of unused music from the original project, were selected for inclusion in the latest chapter, Shenmue 3.

In today's post, we share a selection of Murata's tweets from recent years, where he recounts anecdotes and memories from his time working on the Shenmue project as one of the music composers. These tweets offer an insightful look into the creative process behind one of gaming's most beloved series, directly from the perspective of one of the individuals who contributed to its music.

Let's dive into Murata's firsthand experiences and reflections below!

Note: Additional images and videos accompany some of the tweets for additional context.

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Poll Result: Patrons' Choice Topic for September 2024

Every month Phantom River Stone holds a poll among our patrons to choose a topic for the blog in the coming month. After tallying the votes (including accumulated votes from previous months), the winning topic that has been voted this time is:

"1999 Interview with Yu Suzuki and Kenji Eno (Famitsu)"

In the October 1999 edition of Famitsu magazine, an extensive interview was published with two great figures in the games development industry: Yu Suzuki (SEGA) and Kenji Eno (Warp Inc.), about their much-awaited upcoming titles that would see release in Japan a few months later in December of that same year.

Yu Suzuki and Kenji Eno

The interview has the following introduction, suggesting a mix of anticipation and frustration from gamers at the time:

Shenmue and D2: two titles that have been included in the Dreamcast's lineup since the console's announcement. However, these two games have continued to be delayed, much to the disappointment of many. While some devoted fans have patiently waited, the number of fans growing frustrated has also risen.

These two epic titles have finally begun to reveal their full scope. The timeline for their release has almost solidified. The more you see and learn about these games, the more you realize that they are not the kind of projects that could be completed in just a year or so. Both of these games possess the characteristic of moving movie-level realistic CG in real-time, interactively. For example, ten years from now, those who attempt to write the history of games as interactive entertainment will surely recognize that these two titles have irreversibly changed the quality and quantity of games as interactive entertainment.

Should we not humbly appreciate the fact that we are witnessing this moment in history? 

We will be translating this extensive 6-page interview, from scans kindly provided by SkillJim.

Coming soon to the blog!

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The Manga 'Kenji' and Shenmue: Insights From a Virtua Fighter Developer | Part 4 (Final)

This is the last part of our 4-part series comparing the 1980s' manga "Kenji" and Shenmue. In this post, we'll translate an interview with one of the developers of the hit arcade game Virtua Fighter, to gain insight into influences in its creation, to understand how the manga may have provided inspiration, and by extension may have helped to shape the game that eventually became Shenmue.

Parts in this Series

• Part One - Unveiling Inspiration: Exploring the Manga 'Kenji' and Shenmue
• Part Two - Character Threads: Themes and Characters in 'Kenji' vs Shenmue
• Part Three - Exploring Parallel Paths: Locations and Scenes in Kenji vs Shenmue
• Part Four (this part) - Insights From a Virtua Fighter Developer

Virtua Fighter, Virtua Fighter RPG and Shenmue

Soon after the release of the first Virtua Fighter in 1993, Yu Suzuki went on a trip to China, primarily to gather materials for the upcoming Virtua Fighter 2 which was released in 1994. 

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Exploring Parallel Paths: Locations and Scenes in 'Kenji' vs Shenmue | Part 3

Welcome to Part 3 of our analysis comparing the 1980s' manga "Kenji" and Shenmue. The previous part covered Characters and Themes. In this part, we'll look at how both stories follow the protagonist's journey from Japan to China, highlighting certain locations and scenes that shed light on potential influences between the two works.

Parts in this Series So Far

• Part One - Unveiling Inspiration: Exploring the Manga 'Kenji' and Shenmue
• Part Two - Character Threads: Themes and Characters in 'Kenji' vs Shenmue
• Part Three (this part) - Exploring Parallel Paths: Locations and Scenes in Kenji vs Shenmue

Kenji vs Shenmue: Journey from Japan to China

A clear parallel can be seen in terms of the broad setting and locations of the stories. In both, a Japanese boy who has been brought up studying martial arts resolves to set out on an overseas journey by ship that takes him through locations in Hong Kong and mainland China.

In the case of Kenji, his parents are initially against the idea, but reluctantly give their permission after being persuaded by one of Kenji's adult martial arts mentors. Kenji is able to secure his boat trip for free thanks to the connections of his friend. His initial destination is Taiwan, from where he travels by plane to Hong Kong.

In Ryo's case, the main obstacles to his wish to go to Hong Kong are the permission of his housekeeper, Ine-san, and the lack of money for the boat ticket. Overcoming these obstacles - in particular, the second of these - is the focus of Shenmue's first chapter.

Leaving Japan by Ship

Kenji departs from Japan by ship from Yokohama, and is seen off by a group of friends and family. 

Kenji's friends and family see him off at the port in Yokohama

In Shenmue, Ryo also leaves by ship a little further down the coast in Yokosuka. The cutscene that plays shows Master Chen and his son, Guizhang, watching his departure.

Ryo sets off on his journey from Yokosuka after saying farewell to Master Chen and Guizhang

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Character Threads: Themes and Characters in 'Kenji' vs Shenmue | Part 2

In this second part, we continue on our exploration of the 1980s' manga series Kenji in comparison to Shenmue. We will take a look at the personalities of the two main characters, and then explore themes and story connections between the two creations.

Previous Part: Exploring the Manga 'Kenji' and Shenmue

Kenji vs Shenmue: The Protagonists

The main characters of both Kenji and Shenmue - Kenji Goh and Ryo Hazuki, respectively - are Japanese school students with an interest in martial arts.

Their personalities, however, are rather distinct from each other, understandably as Kenji is still a carefree primary school pupil at the start of the series, as compared to Ryo who is a senior high school student who experiences the shocking loss of his father in the prologue of the game. 

In the initial chapters of the manga, we observe that Kenji is a good-hearted, cheerful child who often causes his mother despair at his mischievous ways. He has a great fondness for his grandfather, whom he loves to spend time with and learn martial arts moves and history. He is also quick to stand up to bullies and protect those weaker than himself. When he grows older, he is driven to travel to China in order to search for his missing grandfather.

Kenji's light-hearted nature can be seen frequently, such as when tries to balance a ruler on his head as he is scolded by his school teacher

In Shenmue, on the other hand, Ryo Hazuki also exhibits many of the same traits of determination and belief in justice, but is weighed down by his grief at the loss of his father. He tends not to open up easily to others around him trying to help, and keeps to himself. His motivation for his journey for China is thus for much darker reasons, as he seeks to locate his father's killer.

Grief takes a heavy toll on Ryo

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Unveiling Inspiration: Exploring the Manga 'Kenji' and Shenmue | Part 1

In the landscape of martial arts-themed storytelling, Kenji stands out as a beloved manga series that potentially paved the way for later works like Shenmue. Spanning from 1988 to 1992, the series chronicles the journey of the young Japanese protagonist Kenji as he develops both his character and skills in Chinese martial arts. Written during the years preceding the development of Shenmue, this manga has a strong connection to the world of martial arts, drawing inspiration from the author's personal expertise.

Throughout Kenji's adventures, readers are immersed in a rich tapestry of martial arts styles as he traverses locations such as Hong Kong and China. Along the way, he encounters formidable masters, forms lasting friendships, and confronts various challenges, all while honing his skills through diverse martial arts disciplines.

As far as I am aware, Shenmue's creator, Yu Suzuki, has not explicitly referenced Kenji as being a direct influence in published materials. However, given the timeframe in which Kenji was published, its popularity in Japan and its storyline set around martial arts themes, it would be a natural source of inspiration for similarly-themed creative works that followed.

In this initial post of our series, we aim to unearth parallels and similarities between Kenji and Shenmue. We will consider the narrative, characters, and thematic elements shared between the two works while also scouring interviews with development staff for any indications of Kenji's influence on Shenmue's creation.

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Poll Result: Patrons' Choice Topic for August 2024

Every month Phantom River Stone holds a poll among our patrons to choose a topic for the blog in the coming month. After tallying the votes (including accumulated votes from previous months), the winning topic that has been voted this time is:

"Yu Suzuki Interview Excerpts from the Japanese Air Twister Booklet"

Following on from its original worldwide release via Apple Arcade for Apple devices in June 2022, Air Twister was subsequently released for consoles & PC in November of 2023.

Air Twister Special Edition (Japan)

One of the physical editions made available in Japan was a Special Edition that included a number of extras, including the soundtrack on double CD, a square card with Yu Suzuki's signature and a "Special Interview" booklet.

This 50+ page booklet (which can be seen near the bottom right in the image below) contains an extensive interview with Yu Suzuki, in which he talks about not just Air Twister but also his own background in the games industry - one of the games discussed being Shenmue, of course!

Contents of the Air Twister Special Edition set (Japan)

With the set being for the Japan market, the Special Interview booklet was only in the Japanese language.

Air Twister Collector's Edition (Strictly Limited Games)

For the overseas market, the Air Twister Collector's Edition has been announced by Strictly Limited Games, and is to feature a Yu Suzuki Biography booklet with its own unique cover design.

Yu Suzuki Biography booklet cover (Air Twister Collector's Edition from Strictly Limited Games)

While its exact content is not yet known, it is reasonable to assume that it contains the same material as Japan's Special Interview booklet.

 

However, this Collector's Edition has not yet been released. Originally slated to be released in "Early 2024", at the time of this post in August 2024 it is yet to be seen, with the expected release date given on the official website now reading "2024 (exact date TBC)". A brief product status is provided on the website, although this has remained unchanged since February:

"Production files have been approved by licensor and are now with Platform Owners. Once completed, files will be handed to production."

Interview Excerpt Translations

To ease the pain of the wait for the Collector's Edition to appear and discover Yu Suzuki's thoughts and anecdotes revealed in the interview, in an upcoming post we will be translating his comments about Shenmue and other selected excerpts from the Japanese interview booklet into English. (Scans of the interview pages have been kindly provided by SkillJim).

Watch for the post to come soon to the blog!

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Issue 3 of Shenmue World Magazine Announced on Kickstarter!

 

The much-anticipated third issue of Shenmue World, the fan magazine created by Shenmue Dojo co-owner James, has recently been launched on Kickstarter!

• Shenmue World Issue 3 - Kickstarter Project Page

Despite having gone live only a few days ago, backing has been rapid and strong with the magazine already almost fully funded, even though the campaign still has weeks to go, with the deadline on the evening of August 28th (BST).

As before, the reward for backing a magazine tier includes not only the magazine itself, which is packed with fan-submitted content, but also a number of other included items such as:

• An audio CD of Shenmue themed music from composer RyoX
• A hand-signed print from voice talent Lisle Wilkerson
• A folded poster of the magazine cover artwork
• A side-story Comic
• A set of 5 art prints
• A special artwork card
• and more!

Your backing will also help contribute to a special promotional campaign in the works that will promote the #LetsGetShenmue4 campaign.

Some of the many bonus items that come with Issue 3!

...and there's more! 

View the Overview Video

See SkillJim's video where he gives more details about the project and what you can expect in Issue 3:

Back It Now!

Head over to the Shenmue World Issue 3 - Kickstarter Project Page to find out more about this fantastic project and secure your own piece of Shenmue fan history!

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