Aoi Shiro
A tale of summer camp, ancient demons, and bonds that transcend worlds.
Aoi Shiro is a horror adventure game from Japanese developer and publisher Success Corporation. It originally launched for the PlayStation 2 in Japan on April 5, 2008, and later received a Windows port with additional content. A budget re-release under the SuperLite 2000 Series, called the "popular edition," followed on April 28, 2009. An HD remaster, bundled with its predecessor Akai Ito, arrived for Nintendo Switch and PC on May 24, 2023, featuring an English language option and a release outside Japan.
The story unfolds in both the modern real world and a mythical realm, set in the same universe as Akai Ito. The Seijou Girls Academy Kendo Club heads to Shoushinji for a summer training camp. Nearby lies Urashima Island, site of an ancient demon extermination. Their visit coincides with a festival honoring a local god, meant to celebrate that event and ensure the islanders' health for another year; around this time, storms typically roll in. A few days into training, student Osanai Syouko discovers a mute girl washed ashore near the camp, with no memory of herself. Player choices heavily influence the story's flow and ending, with several outcomes hinting at romantic feelings among the female characters.
The main character, Osanai Syouko (nicknamed "Osa"), is a well-liked second-year and the ace of the kendo team, who becomes captain after the third-year retires. Her serious, hardworking nature often makes her the target of teasing. First-year Yasumi Aizawa, the team's delicate manager, has low stamina but is determined and diligent; she is affectionately called "Zawacchi" by some, and harbors a crush on Syouko. Nami is the young girl found on the shore, appearing 10 to 12 years old, unable to speak but expressive through animated facial expressions, and grows attached to Syouko and Yasumi. Migiwa Kyan, a carefree girl staying at Shoushinji, initially captivates Syouko with her beauty but soon reveals an arrogant side. Kohaku is a mysterious, dignified figure with one eye always closed. Momoko, Yasumi's energetic roommate and friend, is a natural athlete who shows great potential in kendo despite starting in high school. Ayashiro, from a wealthy, sheltered family, is kind and nicknamed "Hime" by the former kendo captain.
Success announced Aoi Shiro in August 2006, two years after Akai Ito. The PS2 version launched April 5, 2008, followed by a Windows release on November 21 of that year, which became the number two bestseller in Japanese PC game sales its first week. The budget edition for PS2 came out April 28, 2009.
Two manga adaptations exist. The first, written by Fumotogawa Tomoyuki and illustrated by Edoya Pochi, was serialized in Comic Yuri Hime in 2008 and collected into one volume; it takes place before the game, focusing on Momoko and Yasumi becoming roommates. The second, also by Fumotogawa Tomoyuki but illustrated by Katase Yu, ran in Comic Rush and was released in three volumes between January and October 2008, following the game's Nami route. A free web novel on the official site, following a Yasumi route storyline, received an unofficial English translation in 2008. An Internet radio show promoting the game aired bi-weekly from March 1 to October 12, 2008, on Galge Radio Station, hosted by voice actresses Yamaguchi Rikako (Yasumi) and Ookubo Aiko (Momoko).
Quick Facts
- Title
- Aoi Shiro
- Developer
- Success Corporation
- Designer
- Hal
- Released
- PlayStation 2JP · April 5, 2008Microsoft WindowsJP · November 21, 2008HD RemasteredWW · May 24, 2023
- Genre
- Visual novel, adventure, horror, yuri
- Platforms
- PlayStation 2, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch
- Modes
- Single-player
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Aoi Shiro is an adventure game that sets stage in both the modern real world and a mythical world. The game takes place in the same universe as its predecessor, Akai Ito. The Seijou Girls Academy's Kendo Club is traveling to Shoushinji for summer training camp. Near there is an island, Urashima, where a demon extermination took place long ago. They arrive around the time of a festival which honors a god that is worshipped by the people of Urashima, it celebrates the onitaiji and ensure another year of health for the people. Around the time of the festival, the weather around Urashima worsens and storms will come. A few days into their training Osanai Syouko finds a girl washed up on the shores near the location of the training camp who can not speak and doesn't seem to know much about herself. Aoi Shiro's story varies greatly based upon the player's decisions, which not only affect the flow of the story but also the ending the player receives, several of which suggest romantic feelings among the female characters.
Reader's Guide
Osanai is the main character of this game and a 2nd year student at Seijou Academy. Her nickname is "Osa". She is the well-liked, ace of the kendo team who takes on the role of captain after the former 3rd year captain retires. Since she is the serious and hardworking type, she often gets teased and is on the receiving end of jokes. A first year student at Seijou Academy, Yasumi is delicate girl who is the manager of the kendo team. Although she does not have any particular illness, she has much less stamina than normal people, so she finds it difficult to partake in any strenuous exercise. On the other hand, she is extremely determined and diligent about her job as a manager, and she does her best to contribute to the team's success. Momoko and a few others refer to her endearingly as "Zawacchi" which comes from "zawa" in her last name, Aizawa. She has a crush on Syouko which Momoko often makes fun of. Nami is a young girl who washes up on the shores near the location of the training camp. She looks to be about 10 to 12 years old, but her name and age are all unknown. When she wakes up from after being rescued by Yasumi and Syouko, she is found being unable to speak. Despite this, she makes up for her inability to communicate verbally with animated facial expressions, giving her a cute, childlike appearance. She becomes particularly attached to Syouko and Yasumi. Former kendo team captain at Seijou Academy and the cousin of Syouko's mother. Kyan is a young girl with a light, carefree personality who stays over at Shoushinji, the location of the training camp. She arrives there earlier than Syouko and the others. At first glance, Syouko is captivated by Migiwa's beauty and fashionable clothing, but once Migiwa shows her arrogance, Syouko quickly disbands that thought and categorizes Migiwa as one of those 'hard-to-deal-with' girls. Kohaku is a person of many mysteries and of a dignified presence. Kohaku's left eye is constantly closed. Friend and roommate of Yasumi, Momoko is an energetic girl who likes to play pranks. Although she only begins kendo in high school, she shows great potential, despite having only trained for less than half a year. Because of her high, natural athletic ability, strong determination, and willpower, many already peg her as the next ace of kendo.
Did You Know?
- Success first announced the production of a new visual novel in August 2006, two years after the release of its previous visual novel Akai Ito.
- Aoi Shiro for Windows was the number two top seller in its first week of release in Japanese PC game sales.
- Aoi Shiro has had two manga adaptations, one serialized in Comic Yuri Hime and another in Comic Rush.
- A free Aoi Shiro web novel was released on the game's official website and has been unofficially translated into English as of 2008.
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