From the online horror event "Night of Spirit Delivery"
In recent years, the genre of "horror" has become a new boom among teenagers and 20s. Hit content has come to be created in the form of live broadcasters of YouTube and Nico Nico Douga game live broadcasts of their own horror games uploaded on the net, and viewers who watch the video play the game. Because it's coming. The best example is "Ao Oni," which was also made into a movie. [Photo] A scene from "Night of Spiritual Delivery" that was strongly influenced by J-horror, etc. Against the background of such excitement, we worked on many humorous corporate PR sites with the theme of "horror" and attracted attention from net users. It is "Yami Co., Ltd." When Yami held the first online horror event "Night of Spirit Delivery" in February 2022, it quickly became very popular and additional performances were decided until April 3. This time, with the CCO of Yami Co., Ltd., Seitaro Tonka, and ImCyan, who has been popular in the "Daily Erosion Real Horror Tsugunohi" series since 2012. We asked two new generation horror creators from the Internet to talk about the rise of horror culture that is difficult for adults to see. ――It seems that the online event "Night of Spiritual Delivery" by Yami Co., Ltd. has been very popular with additional performances. Seitaro Tonka (hereinafter referred to as Tonka): I have received a considerable amount of impressions posted on SNS, but about 95% have praised it, and the questionnaire after the event is also rated on a 5-point scale with an average of 4.3. By the way, we have received a very good evaluation. As a result, I was able to implement quite a bit of what I wanted to do, both in terms of story and system, so the response is very big. Another big thing is the old house used for the location ... --Cyan's parents' house (laughs). Tonka: At the end of the performance, the staff roll says "Location cooperation: ImCyan-", so the comments are always "Cyan-san's house!" ImCyan-(Cyan): I'm happy (laughs). I also participated, but it was interesting that the actors came out and made it into a drama, and it was linked with the system. The communication that the character in the play appeals to the viewer and the viewer responds to it is too new.・ What is "darkness"? ――Yami Co., Ltd. has a strong image of being a company that creates a very scary homepage, but in reality, you are doing various things other than site creation like this time, right? Tanaka: Yes. Actually, it was an omnivorous company that said, "I will do anything related to horror." I also make music videos and horror for children. Cyan: I was also famous for creating websites, so I was surprised to learn that. I first learned about Yami Co., Ltd. from around 2015. The homepage has already been created with the fun of a single video, and the horror production has been overwhelming. Especially impressive is the "ghost hair removal salon". Tanaka: Thank you. It's a site I made with Mr. Berghamburg. Cyan: From that time on, I was really impressed with the good design and how to incorporate ideas. I thought it was amazing that even the motifs that would become gag were made by putting them into the context of horror. Tanaka: But the focus is on horror and technology. For example, TeamLab is creating interesting entertainment and art by bringing technology to the context of art and museums. In that way, there are many things that technology can do, including live performances. Therefore, we want to focus on "tech and horror". -It was surprising that the name of TeamLab was mentioned! But on the contrary, you may be told something like "Isn't horror disappearing as technology develops?" Tanaka: On the contrary, I think that "horror created by technology" is messed up, and it may be the person who is on the side of it. ――Does that mean that you can create an unknown experience? Tonka: That's right. One of the events we produced was an amusement park after the park was closed, where visitors brought their tablets. Many demons = enemy characters are placed in the amusement park, and the demons have beacons. Then, if the beacon and the tablet communicate and are found by the demon, they will be damaged more and more. Then, while playing hide-and-seek with the demons, we went through the amusement park and held an interactive game-like event to clear various missions. I would like to propose such a thing in the form of tech and horror. However, this is the first time for us to do an original BtoC project. Until now, it was BtoB all the time. ――Then, it's the first in-house production, and it feels like a sudden big success. Tanaka: No, I'm really glad.・ Tsugunohi's "natural" charm-I'm going back a little ... What was interesting about the previous story was that there were some fans who were surprised to see the name of Imusian. In fact, whether it's darkness or "Tsugunohi", there are some things that old-fashioned horror fans don't know about. Tanaka: From my point of view, the live video is buzzing every time I put out something like "Tsugunohi". ――I think both of you have the feeling of being a new generation horror writer after the Internet. In today's dialogue, I wanted to hear about that as well. Tanaka: In many cases, we do everything from the system to the planning, but so is Mr. Cyan. Cyan: I use a tool called RPG Maker, but that's right. Also, I was originally a designer like Mr. Tonka, so I am particular about visual expression. Tanaka: "Tsugunohi" brings the real 3D world to the deformed 2D world. I think the way of processing images, the way of shaking and the way of making sounds are amazing. Also, regarding the horror production, I really feel that the "Tsugunohi" series is made with the service spirit of "I'm absolutely happy if I produce this kind of production." I think, "If you have a lot of grudges, it's like this" (laughs). Don't you never cut corners in collaboration projects with other creators? Cyan: That's right. I'm thinking of stuffing it firmly without cutting corners. Tanaka: At this event, we were thinking about "how it will be live." Cyan's work is very lively, but how do you think about it? Cyan: Actually, I try not to be aware of the actual situation as much as possible. Of course, I think that "Tsugunohi" was spread from the actual situation, but rather, I try to make it based on the idea that "every time I am surprised and fresh." ――I see, if the company is a company where darkness is fascinated by the power of planning and production, Mr. Cyan feels like a “natural” horror writer (laughs).・ "Circuit" "SIREN" …… J horror who was influenced by a new generation of horror writers ――By the way, what kind of works have you been influenced by? Tanaka: Speaking of horror works, when I was little, I couldn't watch horror programs by myself, and I was trembling, but I loved UFOs and occults in the first place, so I'm scared but I'm looking for ghosts. It was. Then, I gradually became addicted to J horror such as haunted houses and "rings". ――The influence of J horror is great for generations, isn't it? Tanaka: It may be in the middle. The VHS version of "Ju-on" became a hot topic, and Kiyoshi Kurosawa also loves it. The main visual of this event is conscious of Mr. Kurosawa's movie "Circuit". I feel that this is a hint to the kind of "fear that leads to another world" that you feel on the Internet. Cyan: At first, I was playing games with an overseas horror taste like "Resident Evil", but while playing works like Keiichiro Toyama's "SIREN", "I think Japanese horror is better. I'm scared. " There was a blank for several years after that, but in 2012, I released "Tsugunohi" for the first time at "Nico Nico Self-made Game Festival", and from there to the present. ――The scaryness of Cyan's horror game has a unique atmosphere. Cyan: Actually, I'm aiming for a horror game that looks like the PlayStation 1. Because of the polygons, the person isn't as real as it is, and it feels a bit like a picture or an image. I don't even have a face, so I like the anonymity of that hero. "Tsugunohi" is particularly influenced. On the other hand, it's also difficult to do character things with horror. Because if you characterize it, you will never be able to kill it. As a horror, I'm not scared. Tanaka: Certainly, when Sadako becomes so popular, it seems to be really difficult to make it a horror. Cyan: That's why I try to create a world view that doesn't give out character as much as possible. That's why we don't write our eyes on the player character. On the contrary, the eyes of grudges and ghosts are also written firmly. That's because for me, the protagonist of the work is on the side of the ghost. That is the part that is particular about making pictures. ――The other two are horror writers, aren't they the generations that were greatly influenced by the dawn of the Internet? Cyan: The old Windows homepage played an important role in this event, but I myself have been touching the homepage since the latter half of the 90's, so that atmosphere is well reproduced. Tanaka: That was quite difficult (laughs). I think Cyan and I are close in generation, but I was quite inspired by the horror works of Flash, such as "Red Room" and "This is this box garden?" .. Cyan: That kind of old atmosphere was well reproduced even today. In my work, I often use something like "beyond memory" as a horror motif, but sometimes I can't even remember the details of empty memories. However, "Night of psychic delivery" reproduced the atmosphere of that time without any discomfort, so I thought that there was no chance as a horror. Tanaka: When we were in junior high school, high school, and university, the interesting Flash culture suddenly became popular, and in fact, due to that influence, we started a company with technology and horror. But now, I feel that such a culture is cut off ... There are quite a few young people who know the "red room". Cyan: Of course, I was watching "Red Room" and "Isn't it a miniature garden?" In my case, I liked games, so I mainly played works like RPG Maker's "Corpse Party", but ... that made me think "let's make a horror game". .. Tanaka: With the Korona-ka, new values such as remote work are emerging, and online events are increasing. However, there are quite a few things that are not interesting as Internet content, just by distributing them. What was important this time was that I wanted to create an "interesting event that can only be done online." I'm a person who was completely immersed in the culture of 2channel and Nico Nico Douga, so the appeal of "online" is that it's a little hard to happen in real life, and it's a "unknown sense of unity in the field" because it's loosely connected by comments. I think. That's why my goal was to create a story that can be solved only because everyone is there.・ Fear and resentment in the old house-What is Cyan's parents' house, which was the location? Tonka: But when I try to express that kind of culture now, I think location is very important. Even if you do it in a new condominium, you can't easily get that kind of fear. I think this "Night of psychic delivery" is the first expression I made because there was Mr. Cyan's house. ――Even at the event, you were told "I'm scared!" Or "Yadako no Ie!" Why did the darkness pay attention to Mr. Cyan's house? (Laughs) Tonka: On Twitter, Mr. Cyan was posted with a photo saying that he had to demolish his memorable parents' house, but at that time, we were eager to find a location. It's quite difficult to find a horror location, and I'm often refused. ―― "Are you going to use our house for horror photography!" (Laughs). Tanaka: Yes. At that time, when I saw Mr. Cyan's post, I decided to say, "I have no choice but to do this!" But on the other hand, it would be very painful if Mr. Cyan hated me ... ――It is true that if you are exposed on Twitter saying "This rude story came from the darkness", the damage seems to be great. Tanaka: What if you make me think, "What do you think of a person's house!" However, the employee never made an inquiry, and then he said, "I received some positive reply ...". ――In fact, what did you think of Mr. Cyan when you received the inquiry? Cyan: No, I had a lot of respect for Yami-san as a horror creator, so I decided at that moment, "I want to cooperate fully with this!" And "I have to convince my parents anyway!" .. -Is that so (laughs)? Tanaka: I'm really grateful. After that, the story went on and on, and I received the materials for my house from Mr. Cyan, but it was so beautiful and easy to understand that it was already scary from the photos. From there, I got more and more inspiration for the script, such as "The dozo that makes this miso is scary." --Mr. Cyan used the scaryness of the old house as a motif in "Call from Showa" in the "Tsugunohi" series. Have you ever been afraid of your own home since you were a child? Cyan: To be honest, I didn't realize it until I became an adult. When I was a kid, my grandmother was still alive, and although it's an old house, I used to put farm tools, cook beans, and make miso at all. ――At that time, it was very popular. Cyan: But after my grandmother died in 2019, I also have memories of her grandmother, so when I went there about two years ago to take a picture, I was really scared. Tanaka: The real ruins aren't really scary because it's been a long time since there were no people left. I'm most scared of the feeling that it's been about 10 years since people stopped living. Mr. Cyan's parents' house feels the accumulation of time that can not be put out for props, including how dust collects, how cardboard is placed, and the texture of the wall. From the horror maker's point of view, the location is drooling ... I'm really sorry to say rude. Cyan: No, I think exactly the same. The stairs are steep, the sound of drafts, and that kind of part is very big. Tanaka: The atmosphere at the site was really wonderful. I think it wasn't just acting that the actors were scared of, but half seriously scared. But on the other hand, when I was on location scouting, my mother served me a meal, had tea, and had an apple. Normally, it wouldn't be strange to sprinkle salt (laughs). The pork soup from Cyan's house was irresistibly delicious, and even in the location bus, he said, "It was delicious!" Cyan: Miso is made homemade. Tanaka: That miso is so delicious that it's definitely eaten in Tokyo. I thought, "The service spirit of the Cyan family is amazing!" I was deeply moved by the warm hospitality that made me feel like I was able to make my second home. Cyan: I also make horror games, so I think my parents had that kind of understanding. I said "I want you to come again", so please come and visit us. ――Even though your house is completely horror, the Cyan family welcomed you with the whole family. That's a good story (laughs).・ What do you want to do in the horror industry in the future? Do you both want to do something like this from here? Cyan: I'm not thinking of anything new, but I'd like to create and operate an SNS account for a fictitious character, for example. ――Maybe you should do it with the darkness. How about Tonka-san? Tanaka: I would like to create an event where you can experience online while it is neither a movie nor a game. In the future, I would like to create a horror event in VR. I think that the future of technology and horror can really do anything. --Thank you very much. Lastly, please give us a word about this "Night of Spirit Delivery" event! Tanaka: Then from me. This time, I think I was able to create a completely new horror event by setting the stage at Mr. Cyan's house. Yami Co., Ltd. is made with a focus on "the Internet is interesting because it is online", so for those who like the old Internet and those who feel a sense of distance from the recent slightly murderous Internet, once again. I think it's something that you can feel "entertainment unique to online", so I'd be happy if you could experience it. Cyan: Well, I'm using it at my parents' house. It is a house built in the Taisho era, and I hope you can feel the grudge of the house where my family was born and died for many years from the screen. ――Treat your ancestors as a grudge ... As expected (laughs). Thank you for your time today! ■ Yami Co., Ltd. Established in 2015. From the time of its establishment, it has been taken up by various media as a "company with a scary corporate site" and has become a hot topic. The main business areas are haunted house production, horror VR production / event production, horror game production, and product promotion using horror. He is good at raising topics on the Internet, and the total number of views of Youtube live on the production by Yami Co., Ltd. exceeds 45 million times. Using the app and beacon, an event to escape from the ghost chasing in a large amusement park, a haunted house experience to experience in a Ferris wheel using projection and stereophonic sound, an event to actually taste the ghost house after experiencing horror VR It has a good reputation for events that combine horror with "technology". ■ Shotaro Tonka Born in 1981 in Hyogo prefecture. After working as a graphic designer and web designer, he became a horror enthusiast and established Yami Co., Ltd., a production company specializing in horror, in 2015. ■ ImCyan-Game writer. He started making personal games when he was a student, and in 2005, "Lost Maria-Nameless Flower-" won the gold medal at the Techwin Contest Park. The horror game "Tsugunohi, a daily erosion real horror" released in December 2012 attracted a lot of attention with its simple yet innovative style. Since then, he has produced various styles of games as the "Tsugunohi" series. The style of transforming the damp "damp" space peculiar to Japan into a horror expression based on its own aesthetics has received high praise. In recent years, he has been actively challenging Gothic horror and collaboration with VTuber, further evolving his unique world view. A package containing past works has been released on Steam, and it is gaining more and more attention, such as becoming very popular in the live game.
Kei Nakano