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:
"Translation of an early Muecas edition"
Before the eccentric Muecas Dan became a regular feature on the official Shenmue website, it began life in February 2001 as Shenmuecast FAN, part of Sega AM2’s online magazine. The name “Muecas” (ムーキャス) was formed by combining abbreviated versions of “Shenmue” and “cast,” reflecting the feature’s focus on the actors behind the game’s characters.
The first installment, Vol. 01, saw Masaya Matsukaze, the Japanese voice and motion actor for Ryo Hazuki, respond to readers seeking advice on their problems. It also showcased some of the unusual ways in which Japanese fans expressed their love for Shenmue.
The Weekly AM2 staff also joined in with their own contributions, including series of romantic scenes inspired by Nozomi and Ryo... staged by two male staff members.
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| Two Weekly AM2 staff members recreate a tender moment between Nozomi and Ryo. |
Other highlights included a mysterious package sent in by a reader containing a pair of handcuffs bearing Ryo and Ren’s names.
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| Takumi Hagiwara and Masaya Matsukaze try on a reader’s Ryo-and-Ren handcuffs, |
In this upcoming article, we will present a full English translation of Shenmuecast FAN Vol. 01, originally published on February 6, 2001, offering a lively glimpse of the Shenmue cast and Japanese fan community in the months leading up to the release of Shenmue II.
Coming soon to the blog!
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