Masaya Matsukaze on Shenmue the Animation - Mini Interview [May 2022]

In this post, we translate a short 2022 interview that was held with Masaya Matsukaze, who voiced the protagonist Ryo Hazuki in Japanese in all Shenmue games, about his involvement in the Shenmue the Animation anime adaptation. The interview was conducted during the period of the anime’s broadcast in Japan.

Matsukaze also shares memories from the recording booth and offers insight into why even the smallest details in Shenmue continue to resonate decades later.

The translation begins below.

Originally released in 1999 on SEGA’s home console, the Dreamcast, Shenmue is a legendary action-adventure game that has influenced countless titles since.

Now, the anime adaptation Shenmue the Animation has been streaming across various platforms since April 2022, and as of May, has also begun airing on TOKYO MX [TV station].

We’ve obtained an official interview with Masaya Matsukaze, who plays the lead role of Ryo Hazuki. In it, he talks in depth about the anime adaptation, describing it as proof that “the miracle isn’t over yet.” He shares his impressions from the voice recording sessions, his thoughts after watching the finished episodes, and what continues to make the world of Shenmue, including the original game, so captivating.

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Fill Out the "Shenmue III Prospective Survey" from ININ Games!

Hot on the heels of ININ Games's announcement of taking over the reins of Shenmue III publishing rights, they have set up a survey for feedback from the community. Their message on X reads:

"Hey folks!

We have prepared a quick survey with a couple questions on Shenmue III. Please consider filling it out if you're a fan of Ryo's antics or just familiar with the game. Your feedback will be invaluable to us, as always!"

The survey page itself starts with a brief note acknowledging fans' anticipation for news on their plans:

"Happy birthday, Shenmue!

The 25th anniversary of Shenmue's release in Japan is coming soon, while the 5th anniversary of Shenmue III's release was just celebrated last month. What fantastic milestones for this legendary saga!

We know you’re eagerly awaiting a statement from us, and we deeply appreciate your patience. Our collaboration with YS NET has been very fruitful, but we are carefully reviewing all details. This process takes time, and we thank you for your understanding."

The Survey Questions:

These are the questions for which feedback is being sought:

1. On which platform would you like to see Shenmue III?

• Apple Mac
• Xbox Series X|S
• Nintendo Switch
• PlayStation 5

2. What graphics and performance improvements would you like to see for Shenmue III?

3. What's your favourite moment in the whole Shenmue series?

Comment:

It is very encouraging to see another indication of how much the new publisher cares about the franchise, to the extent of reaching out to gather feedback directly from fans. This bodes well for the future of the series.

Regarding the questions themselves, which are focused on Shenmue III as expected, they hint at what the new plans for the game may include.

Publishing ports to other platforms is something that fits in with their promise from their press announcement to ensure its "accessibility to even more fans around the world".

Graphics and performance improvements suggest that they may be planning to work together with YS Net to address issues and better the experience for players. This might include things like increasing draw distance, removal of the "no running" loading areas or even updates to title screens or menus - let them know!

It is also good to see the inclusion of the question about your favorite moment in the whole series, showing that they are gathering feedback about what makes the Shenmue franchise special. Hopefully this will feed into further plans in the future, and may even find their way back to Yu Suzuki himself. 

I encourage all Shenmue fans to fill out the survey if you haven't already - it only takes a minute to complete!

Survey Link:

Head here to fill out the survey!!

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The Shenmue III Publishing Torch Has Passed to ININ Games | Community Video Selection

Although several days have passed since the announcement caused a flurry of excitement in the Shenmue community, we could not let it go unmentioned on the blog any longer: with the blessing of YS Net, ININ Games has assumed publishing rights for Shenmue III!

The YS Net Press Release

It all started with a rather inconspicuous news entry added on 19 November 2024 to the YS Net official site, simply titled "Notice Regarding Shenmue III Publishing Change". This linked to a press release  document that announced the immediate transfer of publishing for Shenmue III to ININ Games, stating:

"Following the previous collaboration on Air Twister, this will deepen the relationship between ININ Games and YS NET. Known for their commitment to celebrating beloved titles, ININ Games is excited to shepherd Shenmue III into its next phase.

This collaboration marks the beginning of a new chapter for Shenmue III, with ININ Games working closely alongside YS NET to honor the series' legacy while ensuring its accessibility to even more fans around the world".

 

The ININ Games Press Release

A couple of days later, an online article by Gematsu quoted a press release from ININ Games. After noting the significance of the transfer date coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the Shenmue series and the fifth anniversary of Shenmue III, the release continued:

"We at ININ Games are honored to carry the Shenmue torch forward during such a significant moment in the series’ history. As we reflect on two decades of innovation and passion, we remain dedicated to preserving and sharing the journey of Ryo Hazuki with both long-time fans and newcomers".

 (Note, there had been some initial confusion about whether the rights were for the complete franchise, but it was later clarified to be just Shenmue III).

The timing, on the 5th anniversary of Shenmue III, suggests that the previous publisher, Deep Silver, had publishing rights for a period of five years from its release. In addition, the mention of ensuring "accessibility to even more fans" suggests that the exclusivity to Sony's PlayStation platform has now also ended.

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Top 10 Shenmue Story Revelations | Shenmue Dojo & Phantom River Stone Interview with Yu Suzuki

Earlier this month saw the release of a brand-new, extensive interview with Yu Suzuki that was held in person by James Brown of the Shenmue Dojo and myself (Switch) for Phantom River Stone at the YS NET office in Japan. 

The full interview can be found at the Shenmue Dojo's website, who have also recorded an in-depth discussion stream but in this post we will focus in on summarizing some of the most surprising story details revealed during the interview, ending with new information regarding the leaders of the Chi You Men!

The Day of the Interview

On the fine Spring morning of the interview, we gathered at a local coffee shop in the vicinity of the YS Net office for a quick run-through of the topics we would be covering, and making sure reference images were at hand and ready. Having been granted such a precious opportunity to spend time with the legendary game creator, we wanted to be sure not a single minute in his company would go to waste due to lack of preparation.

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Does the Chawan Sign in Shenmue Have a Historical Basis?

Today, we will do a deep dive into an iconic communication method seen in Shenmue: the Chawan Sign, which Ryo first learns about in Shenmue II (and is reintroduced later in one of the Shenmue III DLC stories). He makes use of the Chawan Sign to discreetly communicate with allies, by arranging teacups in a certain pattern in a public place, 

Arranging four teacups

Ryo is warned that placing them at the wrong location, or carelessly arranging them in the wrong pattern, can result in unwanted attention...

Trying at the wrong location may attract trouble

But was the concept of the Chawan Sign something that Yu Suzuki and team created purely for Shenmue, or did it have some kind of historical basis?

In this post, we will try to answer this question by looking at a possible sources of inspiration.

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