Famous Scene Investigation File 100 Q&A

Q&A

Interview

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Famous Scene Investigation File 100 featured a Q & A with Ryukishi07, Yatazakura, and BT, where they each answered 100 questions about their personal lives and their work on Higurashi When They Cry.

Translated by Omegabodega.

MAJOR HIGURASHI SPOILER WARNING

This article or section contains untagged major spoilers for all of the original Higurashi When They Cry story and possibly the console-exclusive arcs. Readers who have not completed the story are advised not to proceed further.

About the Current Profile[]

1. Pen Name

R07: Ryukishi07
Y: Yatazakura
BT: BT

2. Origin of pen name

R07: I’m a fan of a character from Final Fantasy V
Y: It's taken from one of my old works
BT: I’m afraid I have no comment

3. Role in the production of Higurashi no Naku Koro ni

R07: Scenario and art
Y: Scripting and directing
BT: Homepage management, music rooms, and scripting

4. Birthday

R07: November 19
Y: July 27
BT: December 13

5. Birthplace

R07: Chiba
Y: Chiba
BT: Kobe

6. Gender

R07: Male
Y: Male
BT: Male

7. Blood type

R07: AB
Y: A
BT: O

8. Height

R07: 178 cm
Y: 168 cm
BT: 170 cm

9. Weight

R07: 68.8 kg
Y: 63 kg
BT: 71 kg

10. Shoe size

R07: 27.5 cm
Y: 25.5 cm
BT: 26 cm

11. How would you describe yourself?

R07: First to run away.
Y: I'm a surprising person.
BT: I'm laid-back and careful.

12. Favorite phrase

R07: (Calling out the cat’s name repeatedly)
Y: The most popular manga quotes currently.
BT: Finding lots of typos during debugging.

13. Stress reduction methods

R07: Petting a cat.
Y: Games.
BT: Eating sweet things.

14. Hobbies and Interests

R07: Mahjong (even though I can't play it...)
Y: Games.
BT: Tactical RPGs and trading card games.

15. Dog or cat person?

R07: Cat.
Y: Cat.
BT: Dog.

16. How to spend money

R07: Livelihood…
Y: Games.
BT: Savings.

17. Do you believe in fortune telling?

R07: I only trust the good ones.
Y: I believe in it somewhat.
BT: Indeed I do.

18. Do you believe in ghosts?

R07: No, actually.
Y: To an extent.
BT: Yes.

19. Favorite food

R07: Yakiniku
Y: Pacific saury fish
BT: Mangoes

20. Favorite beverage

R07: Pepsi Nex
Y: Cola
BT: Coffee

21.Favorite alcohol

R07: Chivas Regal mixed with cola
Y: I don't drink.
BT: I don't drink.

22. Do you smoke?

R07: No.
Y: I don't smoke.
BT: I don't smoke.

23. Favorite manga

24. Favorite novel

R07: And Then There Were None
Y: Isha's Boat
BT: Kouhei Kadono’s works

25. Favorite game

R07: Stealth third-person shooters and zombie games
Y: Everything from AliceSoft
BT: Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and Fire Emblem

26. Favorite music

R07: Movie soundtracks
Y: dai-san’s music
BT: dai-san’s music (“Thanks/you”)

27. Favorite anime

28. Favorite movie

29. Favorite sport

R07: Aikido
Y: No comment
BT: No comment

30. Favorite TV show

R07: History At That Time
Y: The news
BT: The Fountain of Trivia

31. Favorite celebrity

R07: Monta Mino
Y: No comment
BT: Takeshi Kitano

32. Favorite website

R07: 07th Storming Party Drawing BBS
Y: 07th Storming Party Photo BBS
BT: 07th Storming Party BBS

Past and Present Career History[]

33. What I was passionate about as a child

R07: Program modifications for Bemaga^[1]
Y: Reading books (Gentleman Thief Lupin series)
BT: Famicom

34. Dreams of the future you had as a child

R07: I’m afraid I didn’t have any.
Y: Nothing in partciular.
BT: Nothing in particular.

35. What you were passionate about as a student

R07: Tactical RPGs
Y: Game centers
BT: Tactical RPGs

36. Future dreams and goals as a student

R07: Joining Square
Y: Civil servant
BT: Chemist

37. Club activities you were involved with (multiple answers possible)

R07: Computer club, Interact club
Y: Track and field, simulation study
BT: Broadcasting club, Newspaper club

38. Favorite and least favorite subjects

R07: I liked music class. I disliked English
Y: Liked math. Disliked English
BT: Physics and chemistry I liked. English I didn’t.

39. Moments that determined your way of life and personality

R07: When the activities of 07th Expansion became interesting, I realized that creative activities were my greatest pleasure.
Y: One day, I realized that I had nothing, and I felt the urge to leave something behind.
BT: Starting a TRPG group in college.

40. The most gratifying experience of your life

R07: When Higurashi was appreciated.
Y: Getting good impressions on Higurashi.
BT: Getting to see previews of the Higurashi anime.

41. The most upsetting experience of your life

R07: I don’t know…
Y: Nothing in partciular.
BT: Don't know.

42. The saddest experience of your life

R07: When I was unknown, I was rejected by everyone when I asked to compose music for Higurashi.
Y: Not being able to attend Winter Comiket due to work circumstances.
BT: When a friend from high school tried to recruit me for an MLM...

43. Most enjoyable event in your life so far

R07: When I was congratulated on the completion of Higurashi
Y: Getting excited during the production of Higurashi
BT: Travelling with everyone in the circle to Shirakawa-go.

44. The most horrifying Higurashi-related moment of your life

R07: After sending the mass screening to the factory, I discovered that there was something in the background of Matsuribayashi that should not be there.
Y: Fixing bugs after distributing at Comiket (around the time of Watanagashi-hen)
BT: Finding bugs after distributing at Comiket (Minagoroshi)

45. What did you do before working on "Higurashi"?

R07: Office work
Y: Delivery work
BT: Worked at a printing shop

46. Licenses and Qualifications

R07: Driver's license (but no car)
Y: Motorcycle license
BT: Regular license

About Current Creative Activities[]

47. How did you get into the doujin industry?

R07: I wanted to express myself.
Y: A friend got me into it.
BT: Through a college group.

48. What is the most unforgettable doujin work? (Blind recommendation or otherwise)

R07: The Queen of Heart (Watanabe Seisakujo)
Y: The Queen of Heart
BT: Ryukishi07’s AIR orikas

49. The most popular doujin artist at the moment.

R07: ZUN-san
Y: No comment
BT: No comment

50. What do you think of the current doujin industry?

R07: It’s a gateway to success for dreams and ideals.
Y: It's like a jack-in-the-box.
BT: It’s a place full of dreams

51. What do you think will happen to the doujin industry?

R07: Maybe it will be a kind of brand…
Y: I think genres other than books and software will become popular.
BT: I think it is growing more and more.

52. When did you start your creative work? Why did you do it?

R07: In junior high school, to escape the reality of exams.
Y: I became involved in Higurashi’s production.
BT: In my college days, because of my group.

53. Event that most influenced your current style

R07: Playing Otogirisou and Kamaitachi no Yoru.
Y: No comment
BT: No comment

54. How do you generate ideas?

R07: Back yourself into a corner.
Y: No comment
BT: No comment

55. What do you do when you can't come up with an idea?

R07: Play games until you figure something out.
Y: No comment
BT: No comment

56. What’s the most important part of creating?

R07: Not being afraid to try new ideas.
Y: The ability to concentrate.
BT: Getting paid.

57. Necessary equipment for work (Computers, etc.)

R07: Just a regular computer.
Y: A regular computer.
BT: Regular computer.

58. What kind of reference materials do you use for your work?

R07: I get inspired by watching movies.
Y: I learn from the games I usually play.
BT: No comment.

59. How much can you get done in a day if you're on top of your game and you're working at your highest tension? And what is the most you've ever written?

R07: The school hostage scene in Tsumihoroboshi. I wrote that scene in an entire day.
Y: No comment
BT: No comment

60. If you’re in a funk and go into work at your lowest point, how much can you get done in a day? Also, what is the least you’ve written?

R07: Himatsubushi, from Akasaka’s dispatch to Yukie’s death. I wrote a few lines over the course of a day, and then discarded it all.
Y: No comment
BT: No comment

61. How many days off per week?

R07: I can't remember any in the last few years...
Y: 2 days off per week (with exceptions)
BT: I don't have anything like that...

62. What does "deadline" mean to you?

R07: A father completing his work with passion.
Y: It's the edge of the world.
BT: A goal.

Regarding Current Plans[]

63. What are you most excited about for the next work Umineko When They Cry?

R07: I want to have fun while writing.
Y: Uwooooooooooo!
BT: Fight on!

64. If you had to make something of a completely different genre, what genre would it be?

R07: Horror third-person shooter. A zombie game.
Y: A strategy simulation game similar to Sengoku Rance.
BT: Card game

65. If you had no work at all and could go on a trip for one week, where would you go?

R07: I’d go on a photography trip in anticipation of the next work’s backgrounds (any kind of place is appreciated).
Y: A photo trip to prepare backgrounds for the next work. (any place is appreciated)
BT: I’d go to Shirakawa-go to relax...

About Higurashi When They Cry[]

66. What does Higurashi mean to you?

R07: Ultimately, I think it is entertainment.
Y: It's like my child.
BT: It’s a work that encouraged me to grow.

67. Say something about the current Higurashi boom, please

R07: I believe that this is a work that I have created together with everyone.
Y: It's a popular work with everyone.
BT: It is something created with the help of the fans.

68. In a word, what is the main theme and message of Higurashi?

R07: Communication and miscommunication.
Y: The difficulty in believing.
BT: Humanity.

69. What’s your favorite Higurashi episode? (should be XX-hen)

70. And why?

R07: I really like the muddled nature of the village's handling of the villagers' disappearance.
Y: It was the first work I tried to see if my expressions would work.
BT: It’s a story about the importance of friends and belief.

71. A comment about Keiichi Maebara

R07: A rival to ONE’s Kouhei Orihara. I think he’s a striking and unique young man who stands out.
Y: Thank you for playing the most difficult role.
BT: No comment.

72. A comment about Rena Ryuugu

R07: Her hatchet weapon originally started as an axe. We changed it during development because the hatchet seemed a lot more stylish. It became a recurring theme to show on the cover a girl and kyoki.^[2]
Y: You can see a slit there.
BT: No comment.

73. A comment about Mion Sonozaki

R07: Many heroines in old galges were called X-on. I decided to follow that method.
Y: It was hard to find the highest number of sprites.
BT: No comment.

74. A comment about Satoko Houjou

R07: During development, Satoko was supposed to be a character that would pester Rena, but that concept went unused since her relationship with the main character took priority.
Y: Thank you for all of your trapwork throughout.
BT: No comment.

75. A comment about Rika Furude

R07: I think her catchphrases of “mii” and “nipah” have been used since Tatarigoroshi. We had a habit of putting “...” at the beginning of each line.
Y: Meep!
BT: Nipah~

76. A comment about Shion Sonozaki

R07: There were many theories for Onikakushi that said “Rena and Mion switched places with twins.” I think Shion was created to adapt that idea.
Y: I wish you and Satoshi the best.
BT: No comment.

77. A comment about Hanyuu

R07: I originally planned to write Hanyuu’s name as 羽生, but I thought it might be difficult for some people to read so it became 羽入. However, it seems many people read it as “Unyuu”...
Y: No comment.
BT: No comment.

78. A comment about Mamoru Akasaka

R07: It was planned for Akasaka to die in Himatsubushi, but due to a slight error in writing he ended up surviving and playing such an important part of the story...It was an unexpected promotion for a character.
Y: No comment.
BT: No comment.

79. A comment about Satoshi Houjou

R07: I originally envisioned him as a chubby, tidy giant, however I realized this may conflict with other people’s imaginations. The design became a common divisor.
Y: No comment.
BT: No comment.

80. A comment about Akane Sonozaki

R07: The new sprites in Meakashi-hen were all male, and I really wanted to include a female character, so I gave her a sprite.^[3]
Y: No comment.
BT: No comment.

81. A comment about Tatsuyoshi Kasai

R07: People say his necktie is very gaudy, but I happen to like it a lot...Hmmm, is it gaudy?
Y: No comment.
BT: No comment.

82. A comment about Rumiko Chie

R07: If TYPE-MOON were to get angry, I think I’d write a special story called “Farewell Chie-sensei!” and have her leave school. Thank you very much, TYPE-MOON...
Y: No comment.
BT: No comment.

83. A comment about Jirou Tomitake

R07: At first, Tomitake was going to seem very mysterious, possibly as a private detective? However, he turned out to be an incredibly refreshing and nice guy. I didn't expect him to become so beloved.
Y: No comment.
BT: No comment.

84. A comment about Kuraudo Ooishi

R07: He's a character I created by taking elements of older people I respected greatly at my old workplace. I think he has a mature, grounded charm...
Y: No comment.
BT: No comment

85. A comment about Kyousuke Irie

R07: Irie was planned to be the mastermind but he seemed too similar to Muska^[4], a typical glasses-villain, so it was changed.
Y: No comment.
BT: No comment

86. A comment about Miyo Takano

R07: At first, Takano was going to play a role similar to Nomura from Matsuribayashi. I’d say she is a very successful character who’s come a long way.
Y: No comment.
BT: No comment

87. A comment about Rina Mamiya

R07: Rena, Rina, and Risa are 3 names that are similar to each other. Honestly, I regret making the naming so complicated.
Y: No comment.
BT: No comment.

88. A comment about Teppei Houjou

R07: He’s the only character that was drawn to clearly look antagonistic from the start. He was originally designed by Jiro Suzuki of G-Fantasy, and when I copied it, he grew wider. The original design was a little slimmer.
Y: No comment.
BT: No comment.

89. A comment about Okonogi

R07: I drew him thinking he’d be cool like the villains in Hollywood action movies like Die Hard. Personally I think he became a nice guy with a nice wink.
Y: No comment.
BT: No comment.

About Higurashi When They Cry (What If...? Chapter)[]

90. Out of all the characters in the story, who would be your friend?

R07: Satoko
Y: Mion
BT: Mion

91. Who would be your lover?

R07: Mion
Y: Satoko
BT: Rena

92. Who would be your sibling?

R07: Ooishi
Y: Keiichi
BT: Satoshi

93. Who would you take home?

R07: Rena
Y: Hanyuu
BT: Rika

94. In the morning, you wake up and find you are a resident of Hinamizawa Village. What's the first thing you do?

R07: I'd find out what chapter this world is. If it's a bad scenario, I’ll escape before June 19.
Y: I'd go to Angel Mort.
BT: I would visit Rika-chama.

95. A Hollywood live-action adaptation of Higurashi is suddenly being produced. Who are the director and actors?

R07: Anyone who is willing to work on it would be great. Those who are passionate about the project.
Y: Can’t think of anybody.
BT: Can’t think of anybody.

In the End...[]

96. Please say something you believe in.

R07: A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
Y: Take responsibility for your actions.
BT: Enjoy things together with fans.

97. Please state what your next goal is.

R07: Finishing writing my next novel, Umineko When They Cry.
Y: Completing work on Umineko.
BT: Finishing Umineko and its website.

98. Do you have a message for newcomers who are debuting their works at Comiket?

R07: It doesn't matter how small the work is. Never give up in the middle of a project, but aim to complete and finish it. One completed work is better than 100 unfinished large works!
Y: Don’t be afraid to take the first step. After that, make sure to finish the race!
BT: If you want to do something, you have to take the first step.

99. Please leave a message for all of the Higurashi fans.

R07: Thank you very much for your support. I will do my best to publish more enjoyable works in the future, so I would be very happy if you continue to support me. Thank you for your continued support!
Y: Thank you very much. We were able to get here with everyone’s support. I look forward to working more with you.
BT: It was thanks to all the fans that I could get here. You have my sincerest thanks. I want to continue making enjoyable things without forgetting the debt of gratitude I owe everyone.

100. One last comment.

R07: I feel like I’ve written a lot of embarrassing things...I want to lie in a hole somewhere...
Y: I was embarrassed to write that.
BT: 100 is quite a lot. (laughs)

Notes[]

↑ Mycom BASIC Magazine, or Bemaga, is a computer hobbyist magazine. wikipedia.jp page
↑ “Kyoki” (キョウキ) can mean “dangerous weapon” (凶器) or “insanity” (狂気).
↑ Ryukishi originally said Tsumihoroboshi-hen here, however sprites for Kasai, Satoshi, Keiichi, and Akane were actually introduced in Meakashi.
↑ Character from Castle in the Sky

[1] Mycom BASIC Magazine, or Bemaga, is a computer hobbyist magazine. wikipedia.jp page

[2] “Kyoki” (キョウキ) can mean “dangerous weapon” (凶器) or “insanity” (狂気).

[3] Ryukishi originally said Tsumihoroboshi-hen here, however sprites for Kasai, Satoshi, Keiichi, and Akane were actually introduced in Meakashi.

[4] Character from Castle in the Sky

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[2]

[3]

[4]