SEGA people on the last day of Heisei era

News from 2019.04.30
Archived on 2019.05.02

The Heisei era of Japan that lasted for 3 decades is ending today, and everybody is looking back on the past 30 years.

From tomorrow, the Reiwa era starts. I wonder what SEGA and Sonic Team will show us in this new era!

🔵The Heisei era of Japan that lasted for 3 decades is ending today, and everybody is looking back on the past 30 years.

From tomorrow, the Reiwa era starts. I wonder what SEGA and Sonic Team will show us in this new era!

— ●SonicJPNews● (@SonicJPNews) April 30, 2019

Some look back on the history of Heisei era...

SEGA Official looks back on 'Print Club' or 'Purikura', the arcade machine which was invented in 1995 which became very popular especially among students, and is now a part of Japanese culture.

今日は「平成最後の日」。

平成に誕生し、平成を代表するエンターテインメントのひとつは『プリント倶楽部®︎』（セガ/アトラス 1995年）

通称「プリクラ®︎」と呼ばれ、日本独自の文化として、学生を中心に多くの人が楽しみました。 pic.twitter.com/2kp3MYti71

— セガ公式アカウント (@SEGA_OFFICIAL) April 30, 2019

"Today is the 'Last day of Heisei'.
One of the entertainment born in Heisei and represents Heisei is 'Print Club' (SEGA/ATLUS 1995)
Shortened as 'Purikura', it was enjoyed by many people, especially by students as a unique Japanese culture."
- SEGA Official

Satoshi Okano-san is the artist behind Sonic Jam and Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island!

News from 2019.04.30
Archived on 2019.05.01

Long-time confusion over artist behind Sonic Jam and Sonic 3D solved!
Upon a post by a fan who credited the Sonic art for Sonic Jam as Uekawa-san, Satoshi Okano-san, the actual artist who created this cover art, corrected the misunderstandings.

According to him, SEGA held an art competition with participants from public to decide a new style for Sonic as the series was transitioning to a 3D game, and Okano-sanös design was the second best choice - the winner was Uekawa-san.

🔵Satoshi Okano-san cleared up the confusion over the artist behind Sonic art for Sonic Jam and Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island. Okano-san is the one who drew these Sonic, not Uekawa-san.

He explains that SEGA back then held a public competition to decide the artist for -

— ●SonicJPNews● (@SonicJPNews) April 30, 2019

- new Sonic art for SEGA Saturn Magazine cover and for Sonic Adventure, and Uekawa-san won this contest; Okano-san was the second place.

RTs ⬇⬇⬇

— ●SonicJPNews● (@SonicJPNews) April 30, 2019

これは上川祐司さんの仕事じゃなくて私、岡野聡の仕事です。３Ｄのコピーもね。背景の青い３Ｄを作ったのは川村幸子さんです。
This isn't Mr. Yuji Uekawa's work. This work is Satoshi Okano's work. and then,Ms. Sachiko Kawamura was making blue/3D background :) https://t.co/l3dSfNmLbl

— OKN/Satoshi Okano (@okanotion) April 30, 2019

グッジョブです 👍✨ https://t.co/39qnWkL4NN

— 大谷 智哉 Tomoya Ohtani (@Ohtanitter) April 30, 2019

"Good Job!" says Ohtani-san to Okano-san.

これも上川さんじゃなくてぼくなのよね＾＾This is my creation too. It's not Yuji Uekawa-san :) Everyone like him...I Know.I Know ;D　　https://t.co/WUNVbYMpL7

— OKN/Satoshi Okano (@okanotion) April 30, 2019

Thank you very much. I drew this sonic too.'Sonic 3D: Flickies’ Island ' It's a very nostalgic job. I understand you and all. I don't mind. Yes,Uekawa-san is a super cool creator ;D https://t.co/amwReJ9WEo

— OKN/Satoshi Okano (@okanotion) April 30, 2019

There was competition in those days, Sega where a sonic team made "sonic adventure".
The beginning was the argument, "Who did this Sonic of Sega Saturn Magazine draw?" A company invited public participation for new sonic. As for the result, I was the 2nd , and Uekawa-san won :) https://t.co/L3WrVny2yc

— OKN/Satoshi Okano (@okanotion) April 30, 2019

If my memory is correct, I drew it around May 1997. Its the instruction of Kazuyuki Hoshino/Sonicteam's Art Director. https://t.co/iEHkdhZ8fS

— OKN/Satoshi Okano (@okanotion) April 30, 2019

A left illust drew by Uekawa -san,right illust drew by me.Can you understand these difference?The character of SANBA DE AMIGO is drown by two artist😊 pic.twitter.com/FsLux36vIJ

— OKN/Satoshi Okano (@okanotion) April 30, 2019

Otani-san of Sega still uses my illust. SAMBA's characters were designed me & Uekawa-san too.He is a light still now.Then Ｉwas a shadow.But one body. Please understand,I still love sonic teams with Naka-san & Ohshima -san❤️ https://t.co/dvgAyfSFvv

— OKN/Satoshi Okano (@okanotion) April 30, 2019

This is my good comment. "I drew the sonic with a wish to say to want him to be always the provocative image that seems to open up the tip of the Ages". The background made "S" of the initial a mark like a hero. Designer Okano " : ) https://t.co/46FdTjCzwS

— OKN/Satoshi Okano (@okanotion) May 1, 2019

Both of them have unique and easily recognizable styles!
I can see why they chose Uekawa-san's design for the new Sonic, but both styles are cool in their own ways.

Okano-san describes him as the shadow and Uekawa-san as the light - the two worked together and lead to the birth of the iconic style of Modern Sonic. Okano-san appreciates his former co-workers using his art until today, and he still loves Sonic Team!


Okano-san's website
http://www.okanotion.com/about.html

-----------------------------
🍵Please support me through Ko-fi! Or a cup of tea!

#SonicTravels to Kyoto!

News from 2019.04.30
Archived on 2019.05.02

SEGA posted new #SonicTravels photo!
This time, Sonic visited Kyoto together with SEGA employee 'Yoshi Chronicle'.
On the last day of Heisei, Sonic took a photo with the bullet train born in Heisei, Nozomi.
Sonic will continue his journey around the world in Reiwa!

#世界を旅するソニック

ソニックはセガグループ社員「よっしーくろにくる」さんと京都へ。

平成最後の日は、平成に誕生した新幹線「のぞみ」と一緒に記念写真。令和も引き続きソニックは世界を旅します！

旅するソニック特設サイトhttps://t.co/0Xzj5D4qJS

Japan,Kyoto#SonicTravels #segalife pic.twitter.com/N2fgmbaSye

— セガ公式アカウント (@SEGA_OFFICIAL) April 30, 2019

Don't forget to check out precious SonicTravels photos on their official website!

-----------------------------
🍵Please support me through Ko-fi! Or a cup of tea!

NDW's direct interview with TSR teams #2: Team Rose

News from 2019.04.30
Archived on 2019.04.30

Nintendo Dreams conducted an interview with each team of Team Sonic Racing!

The full article can be found on their vol. 302 issued this month, but they are also releasing a part of these interviews online!

Each interview-part will be released on Nintendo Dreams Web (NDW) from April 23rd onwards every Tuesday towards the game release on May 21st.

And I will translate all of them and collect them here on my archive blog!


Schedule for Team Sonic Racing racers direct interview:
#1: Team Sonic (April 23rd) - ORIGINAL / TRANSLATION
#2: Team Rose (April 30th) - you are here
#3: Team Dark (May 7th) - ORIGINAL / TRANSLATION
#4: Team Vector (May 14th) - ORIGINAL / TRANSLATION
#5: Team Eggman (May 21st) - ORIGINAL / TRANSLATION


The second team they interviewed is... Team Rose!

『#チームソニックレーシング』に参戦するソニックたちに“直接”インタビュー！ NDWにて毎週火曜日に更新中です。本日より第２回「チーム ローズ」公開！ 発売中のニンドリ6月号とはちょっと違う内容も読めちゃいます！ https://t.co/n9a2z8BugH pic.twitter.com/1q49GxjGoq

— ニンテンドードリーム編集部（ニンドリ） (@nindori) April 30, 2019

🔵 NDW's Interview to TSR teams #2: Team Rose is now online! https://t.co/U9s5z9gEJ6

— ●SonicJPNews● (@SonicJPNews) April 30, 2019

【特別企画】『チームソニックレーシング』レーサー直撃インタビュー！ その2「チーム ローズ」

https://www.ndw.jp/teamsonicracing-interview_rose/

↑↑↑↑　As usual, check out the original article first!   ↑↑↑↑

(c) SEGA, NDW

Translation

Sonic the Movie's Japanese official website

News from 2019.04.29
Archived on 2019.04.29

Oh look! The official Japanese website for Sonic the Movie is now up online.
There is not much in there yet, but as the story is progressing with leaked image of Dr. Eggman and rumor of new trailer coming up tomorrow, it probably will have more contents very soon.

🔵Official Japanese website for Sonic the Moviehttps://t.co/7hHEL4i7H6

— ●SonicJPNews● (@SonicJPNews) April 29, 2019

https://sonic-movie.jp/

-----------------------------
🍵Please support me through Ko-fi! Or a cup of tea!

Naoto Ohshima-san on NiGHTS' scratched design

News from 2019.04.29
Archived on 2019.05.02

Naoto Ohshima-san on NiGHTS' scratched design:

Concept artwork for ‘Nights Into Dreams’, from Sega Magazine JP #3, January 1997. @NaotoOhshima https://t.co/dQoQWmTVcD pic.twitter.com/79D6waNHSo

— Sega City (@sega_city) April 29, 2019

That's nostalgic. That is a rejection plan.

— Naoto Ohshima (@NaotoOhshima) April 30, 2019

So these are the base of Nights and Reala, I see?
In initial ideas they look more like Cheshire Cat from Alice in the Wonderland. This is a cool design too!

-----------------------------
🍵Please support me through Ko-fi! Or a cup of tea!