While playing through BAKERU, I couldn't help but reminisce about the 3D platformers that defined a large part of my childhood—Ape Escape, Sly Cooper, the list goes on. But as mentioned in my review my focus eventually shifted from my own foundational gaming experiences to those of today's kids who are always asking to take Bakeru on another adventure it would be fair to say that Good-Feel's tanuki hero has been on my mind quite a bit lately this year's Tokyo Game Show provided Anime News Network with the exciting opportunity to chat with BAKERU's director—Tadanori Tsukawaki of Good-Feel We ended up talking about a wide range of topics—from the team's dedication to satisfying movement There are many who have proclaimed BAKERU to be something of a spiritual successor to your team's previous work what was your approach to making the game something those old fans would like while still appealing to the children of today TADANORI TSUKAWAKI: We didn't take any special measures to make it particularly eye-catching but we were mindful of ensuring that people would get the impression that this title is a bright and colorful adventure it was staying true to our own ideas and seeing them through to the end Trying to cater to all sorts of preferences can make it hard to know what's right prioritizing our ideas and developing BAKERU with that mindset I've actually played a bit of the game with my young nephews the experience made me wonder how you approach game design targeting different age groups a 10-year-old might have an easier time with BAKERU's controls than a 6-year-old would We designed it so players wouldn't need to manage complex stats or systems making it intuitive enough to understand just by looking at it we put a lot of effort into removing any frustration with the controls aiming to make the game feel satisfying just by moving we fine-tuned the combat so the attacks would come out even if you casually pressed the L and R buttons We believe that kids who aren't good at action games will still find joy in moving Bakeru around making it a great introduction to the action genre how did you and the team settle on using L and R for Bakeru's Haradaiko There's such a wonderful tactile feeling to it we were exploring the idea of independent actions for the right and left hands in combat we considered giving distinct roles to the right and left hands but we optimized it to lower the difficulty making it more accessible by allowing players to perform combos even with random inputs we also started thinking about the right motif the idea of him swinging around weapons like swords didn't feel right either from a design or visual perspective we explored non-weapon motifs and eventually landed on using the drum The idea of wielding a drumstick in each hand is simple to understand both in terms of gameplay and logic using the drum as a shield seemed like it would meet the needs of other combat mechanics there's the phrase 'tanuki drumming on its belly,' which ties in well with the character and drums have long been believed to ward off evil spirits we thought a drum that only affects evil enemies would be a fitting weapon Since drums are a familiar instrument worldwide we also felt it would resonate with players overseas With Bakeru's adventure taking him throughout all of Japan did the team go on any adventures of their own for research were there any particular locations that really stick out in your mind TSUKAWAKI: We weren't able to go on research trips for development but I did take countless 'trips' using Google Maps I spent a lot of time researching various places to understand the landmarks and grasp the unique characteristics of different regions in Japan There was a period when I would open Google Maps and 'travel' anytime I had free time After development started, I went on a few personal trips within Japan for research and to expand the image of what we were creating. Some of the places I visited were Shirakawa-go in Gifu Prefecture The place that left the biggest impression on me was Mount Fuji and seeing it in person left a strong impression (I recommend viewing it from Nihondaira—it's spectacular!) we decided to feature Mount Fuji in a key event toward the end of the game I absolutely loved searching for Scoop and being rewarded with a new Japan fact every time I found him How did you and the team go about sourcing all of these facts TSUKAWAKI: The entire team worked together to develop the trivia content With members hailing from different regions we pooled our knowledge of local trivia and fun facts as a group and because the game takes place across the country we wanted to weave these fun tidbits into the gameplay That's why we included the trivia collection feature fun bits of information that you don't need to know but make you think Was there a conscious decision to introduce educational elements into the game I could see kids in the West learning so much about Japanese culture while playing the game TSUKAWAKI: While BAKERU wasn't designed as an educational experience about Japan we hope players will enjoy its unique version of the country and maybe even feel inspired to learn more We especially hope players from overseas will be motivated to explore different parts of Japan The stages are based on real locations from various prefectures with some modeled after well-known tourist spots and scenic areas players might even start recognizing certain landmarks you may notice stages or mechanics influenced by actual places If you ever get the chance to travel to Japan 'This is the place that was a stage in BAKERU!' I ended up getting a little emotional while playing through BAKERU That's because it reminded me a lot of the games I played as a child Are there any games from your childhood that you took inspiration from while developing the game TSUKAWAKI: I think every 3D platformer I've ever played has been a source of inspiration which was what made me want to pursue a career in the game industry is at the core of my experience with 3D action games The concept for BAKERU's world is based on Japanese fairy tales and legends there was a TV anime called Manga Nippon Mukashi Banashi that I loved with each short episode using a different art style I've always wanted to create a world where fairy tales cross over which I felt aligned perfectly with the concept That's how I decided to use this idea as the foundation for the world of BAKERU Speaking of childhood favorites, where did the concept for the Bunbuku's Tokusatsu Mode come from? I couldn't help but see shades of Tetsujin 28 and Giant Robo in the giant robot battles TSUKAWAKI: The idea behind Bunbuku's special attack mode came from wanting to add something to the game that we couldn't express during regular battles let's be honest—robot battles are just exciting In terms of game mechanics, we designed the robot battles to feel heavy and powerful, rather than fast-paced, so we went with a more bulky and weighty design. As you pointed out, I was definitely influenced by shows I personally like, such as Tetsujin 28 and The Big O featuring a giant robot among the skyscrapers and illuminated by searchlights With the recent release of BAKERU and a slew of other fantastic 3D platformers do you think the genre might be slowly returning to the prominence it had in years past TSUKAWAKI: Both in the past and now we've seen incredible 3D platformers released and I truly believe the future of this genre is bright if you were to define “Good-Feel” in the dictionary For me it's something nostalgic yet satisfyingly tactile in the case of BAKERU TSUKAWAKI: I think of Good-Feel as the place where I gained all of my career experience as a game developer I joined Good-Feel as the first artist when the company was founded I've worked on various titles as a lead artist and art director I gained valuable experience as an artist while also learning about game design techniques through interactions with external companies which has helped me perform my role as a director today TOKYO: Former Japanese lawmaker Masatoshi Akimoto on Monday pleaded not guilty to charges of taking bribes from an offshore wind power company over a project in the northeastern prefecture of Aomori a 49-year-old former member of the House of Representatives has been charged with receiving about 72 million yen in bribes from Masayuki Tsukawaki a 65-year-old former president of Japan Wind Development Co At the first hearing of his trial at Tokyo District Court Akimoto said that he received the payment but added that the money was “neither a reward for a job nor a benefit.” Tsukawaki also pleaded not guilty to bribing Akimoto He has been charged with giving the former lawmaker about 41 million yen in bribes the amount whose three-year statute of limitations has not expired “It’s completely false that I bribed,” Tsukawaki said Akimoto also said he will not contest separate charges of illegally receiving 2 million yen in COVID-19 relief subsidies which Japan Wind Development had sought to undertake could have fallen apart due to its potential impact on a national defense facility the prosecution said in its initial remarks The prosecution said that in February 2019 who was concerned about the fate of the Aomori project made parliamentary remarks seeking not to regulate it excessively and drew a response from a government official that is favorable to the company Akimoto received 30 million yen in interest- and collateral-free loans from Tsukawaki to register with the Japan Racing Association as a horse owner Akimoto had told Tsukawaki that he needs 30 million yen to do so Akimoto received about 72 million yen in bribes from Tsukawaki by June last year after being asked several times by him to make parliamentary questions in favor of the company starting in February 2019 Interview with BAKERU producer Etsunobu Ebisu and director Tadanori Tsukawaki about the game's development Developed by Good-Feel and published by Spike Chunsoft BAKERU launched digitally on September 3 for the PC (Steam) and Nintendo Switch The 3D action-adventure game initially released in Japan back in 2023 for the Switch BAKERU is a brand-new IP from the creators of the beloved Goemon series so English-speaking fans have been eagerly waiting for the game to make it overseas AUTOMATON WEST recently had the opportunity to talk to BAKERU’s producer Etsunobu Ebisu and director Tadanori Tsukawaki We asked them all about the game’s creation its reception in Japan and what kind of changes they’ve made in the meantime.  could you please introduce yourselves and tell us about your careers as creators?   Tadanori Tsukawaki  (hereafter Tsukawaki): I’m Tadanori Tsukawaki.  I started my career in the game industry as an artist I entered the industry with aspirations to do character design and concept art I struggled to secure the positions I hoped for I worked across various roles including modeling I have taken on roles as lead artist and art director for various titles developed by Good-Feel I served as both director and art director Etsunobu Ebisu (hereafter Ebisu): I’m Etsunobu Ebisu Good-Feel specializes in producing console action games and we will be celebrating our 20th anniversary next year I started my career as a programmer on the NES and have been involved in many games We are dedicated to creating engaging and unique games and we look forward to continuing this journey ──Can you tell us about what kind of company Good-Feel is and about your approach to game development?  Tsukawaki: We are a company that develops games from the planning stage onward Our development style revolves around the broad concept of “fun,” where the entire team collaborates on ideas and improvements throughout the process.  We also place great importance on finding the best ways to express gameplay and features making us a studio dedicated to visual excellence.  ──How did you come up with BAKERU’s concept and worldview?  Tsukawaki: The concept for the worldview of BAKERU is based on Japanese fairy tales and legends there was a TV anime called “Manga Nihon Mukashi Banashi,” which featured various fairy tales in short episodes with a different art style each week I’ve always wanted to create a world where many fairy tales cross over I thought this idea would be a great fit for this project so I used it as the starting point for building the world.  ──Were there any specific sources of inspiration (such as your previous titles) that you channeled or expanded upon in BAKERU?  Tsukawaki: The game that inspired me to pursue a career in the gaming industry was Super Mario 64 which remains a core influence on my approach to 3D action games.  I have drawn on my experiences from working on Bōken Jidai Katsugeki Goemon.  ──BAKERU is rich with Japanese motifs and cultural references that are recognizable for Japanese people but is there anything you would like overseas players to pay special attention to Could they approach the game as a kind of “trip-around-Japan-simulator”?  Tsukawaki: It might be a bit of an exaggeration to call it a “trip-around-Japan simulator,” but since we’ve created the game with stages based on every prefecture in Japan there are certainly elements inspired by famous sightseeing spots and scenic areas.  If you’ve been to Japan or are familiar with the country you’ll probably recognize some of the stages or game elements The world map is also based on the real map of Japan so you might even learn about various landmarks and their locations.  I hope you enjoy the Japan that has been reimagined in the world of BAKERU and that it might spark an interest in the actual Japan.  ──Good-Feel has a history of working together with Nintendo How has your experience with Nintendo influenced your work on BAKERU?  I sincerely appreciate Nintendo’s overall approach to creating things.  ──Did you come across any challenges during BAKERU’s development?  since this was my first time developing a 3D action game and I started without any prior know-how I struggled with organizing concepts in a proper sequence and communicating specifications and information to the team clearly and visually.  The first six months were particularly challenging as it felt like we were solely focused on movement We spent a lot of time repeatedly testing mock-up models I firmly believed that if the movement wasn’t solid linear stages was another area where we had to experiment with respect to scale and density We explored different types of levels and stage directions but I found level design to be both profoundly interesting and challenging.  ──Tell us about BAKERU’s reception in Japan Were there any aspects of the game that were particularly well received Tsukawaki: We received positive feedback on aspects like the player controls and the colorful as the concept aimed to appeal to a broader audience it might feel a bit lacking for advanced players we have refined the protagonist Bakeru’s movement speed and various action elements to allow for more aggressive play and maneuvering while staying true to the core concept We’ve also introduced new actions such as “Hurricane” and “Spinning Top” to give the player more options for attacking in different situations.  we have reviewed and adjusted enemy placement within the stages and added a mid-boss character to provide more challenging and satisfying battles at key points in a stage.  BAKERU will also be coming to Steam for the first time but was there anything new that the Steam version allowed you to accomplish more lavish depictions of damage and the like.  Tsukawaki:  We have added several optional settings to the Steam version Texture Quality: You can now upgrade the texture resolution from HD/FHD to WQHD and adjust the texture quality setting (Settings > Graphics > Texture Quality).  Resolution Setting: You can select resolutions such as WQHD and 4K (Settings > Graphics > Resolution).  Draw Distance: Added setting to display distant enemies and shadows (Settings > Graphics > Draw Distance).  Anti-Aliasing: Improved rendering quality with support for SMAA and FXAA (Settings > Graphics > Anti-Aliasing).  High Refresh Rate Support: Supports operation at a constant 60fps or higher and is compatible with high refresh rate monitors (Settings > Graphics > V-Sync).  You can enjoy these settings in a PC environment albeit dependent on your PC’s specifications.  do you have a message for overseas players?  We developed “BAKERU” with the aim of utilizing the action game expertise that Good-Feel has accumulated over the years and to create an original game that we hope will be enjoyed by a wide variety of players.  We are thrilled to deliver this title to players around the world with the support of Spike Chunsoft and hope that many will enjoy this grand adventure set in our quirky version of Japan!  BAKERU is available now for the PC (Steam) and Nintendo Switch.  Delivering gaming news from Tokyo/Osaka Japan How do Like a Dragon games come out so fast? One of RGG Studio’s secrets is a highly efficient testing and debugging cycle that starts as soon as development does Interview: The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy’s devs needed players to think they were “completely out of their minds” to compete in the game market  Interview: Nitroplus missed Armored Core so much, they started making their own mecha action game Dolls Nest – then AC6 got announced  and website in this browser for the next time I comment AUTOMATON WEST is operated by Active Gaming Media Inc.Reproduction in any form or medium without acknowledgment of Active Gaming Media Inc Copyright © 2025 - AUTOMATON WEST / Theme by Creative Themes A Japanese lower house lawmaker was indicted Wednesday for receiving bribes from a wind power firm in exchange for exercising his influence in favor of the company who left the ruling Liberal Democratic Party after the incident came to light was secretary general of an LDP parliamentary association for promotion of renewable energies He advocated the enactment of a law on utilizing sea areas for renewable power generation that came into force in April 2019 Akimoto received a total of 70 million yen ($470,000) from Masayuki Tsukawaki 64-year-old former president of Japan Wind Development Co. which was bidding for offshore wind power projects in Aomori Prefecture in return for asking certain questions at the Diet Prosecutors on the same day indicted Tsukawaki without detaining him for giving bribes to Akimoto they also indicted Akimoto for his alleged involvement in a 2 million yen fraud over COVID-19 financial relief for businesses 7 on suspicion of receiving 61 million yen for acting on requests from Tsukawaki which were made several times between around February 2019 and February 2022 such as for not imposing excessively strict regulations in waters off Aomori in northeastern Japan Akimoto has denied the bribery and fraud charges but Tsukawaki has told investigators money was given to him as a reward for his actions in the Diet The crime of accepting bribes in exchange for exercising influence in performing public duties in response to specific requests carries a prison term of up to seven years as against up to five years for the crime of simply receiving bribes The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office's special investigation squad searched Akimoto's office and the headquarters of Japan Wind Development in August before arresting Akimoto Japan lawmaker arrested in suspected clean energy bribery Japan lawmaker embroiled in bribery allegation leaves ruling party Bribery claims lead Japan parliamentary vice foreign minister to quit To have the latest news and stories delivered to your inbox Simply enter your email address below and an email will be sent through which to complete your subscription Please check your inbox for a confirmation email Thank you for reaching out to us.We will get back to you as soon as possible Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information National Report 27 indicted Lower House member Masatoshi Akimoto for accepting 72.86 million yen ($489,000) in bribes in exchange for favorable questioning in the Diet about offshore wind farm projects the government was promoting 7 on suspicion of taking 61.46 million yen in bribes from Masayuki Tsukawaki But the special investigation squad attached to the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office concluded that Akimoto received 11.4 million yen more from Tsukawaki as a reward for asking questions in favor of his company Tsukawaki was also indicted without arrest on Sept 27 for offering 41.86 million yen in bribes to Akimoto The amount is lower due to the three-year statute of limitations for the bribery charge Akimoto left the ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Aug has stated the money was in part a reward for Akimoto’s cooperation in the Diet 27 announcement by prosecutors and other sources Akimoto was approached by Tsukawaki on several occasions between 2019 and 2022 to ask questions favorable to his company in connection with offshore wind farm projects The bribes were allegedly made up until this year Prosecutors have since learned that Tsukawaki made his requests in writing at Akimoto’s office in the Diet members’ building or by email Tsukawaki asked Akimoto to intervene to prevent the presence of defense facilities from getting in the way of the designation of a sea area off Aomori Prefecture for a government wind farm project that his company was trying to secure Tsukawaki also sought swift disclosure of information on bids already called for wind farm operators in respective sea areas and switching screening standards based on sales prices of electricity to those prioritizing the speed of a bidder’s business plan 27 for fraudulently receiving 2 million yen in government benefits relating to the COVID-19 pandemic Akimoto is suspected of having falsely claimed in 2020 that a renewable energy company suffered sales declines due to the novel coronavirus pandemic to apply for a government relief program designed to support small and midsize businesses The company is headed by a Chiba prefectural assembly member close to Akimoto Prosecutors believe Akimoto hatched the fraud scheme and took all the money Wind power group worked for arrested Diet member VOX POPULI: Is arrested lawmaker betting he will be found innocent Diet member arrested in bribery case over wind farms Survey: Kishida Cabinet approval rating slides further to 33% Energy firm boss to admit money to lawmaker was bribe Akimoto quits LDP as wind farm bribery case heats up Information on the latest cherry blossom conditions Please right click to use your browser’s translation function.) A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II In-house News and Messages No reproduction or republication without written permission The president of an energy entity embroiled in bribery allegations that crippled the political career of a ruling party lawmaker now admits to paying bribes in exchange for favorable questioning in the Diet regarding offshore wind farm projects The lawyer for 64-year-old Masayuki Tsukawaki 11 to divulge the latest development in the case the lawyer stated that 30 million yen ($207,000) or so that Tsukawaki gave to Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Masatoshi Akimoto over a number of years was intended to help fund a thoroughbred owners group the two men had set up in autumn 2021 resigned as a parliamentary secretary in the Foreign Ministry on Aug the same day that Tokyo prosecutors searched his offices in the Lower House members’ building as well as his local constituency the party announced it had accepted Akimoto’s request to leave the LDP prosecutors also searched the offices of Japan Wind Development as well as Tsukawaki’s residence Tsukawaki’s lawyer explained that his client’s change of heart stemmed from concerns about the impact the investigation was having on the company’s management now that it had expanded to business partners The claim that the 30 million yen was used to purchase thoroughbreds never washed with prosecutors They kept their sights firmly locked on a connection between the payments and questions in the Diet by Akimoto who repeatedly mentioned government standards related to offshore wind farm projects Akimoto referred to a project that went to a concern led by a major trading company that had placed an overwhelmingly low bid to win the contract Japan Wind Development placed a losing bid on that project This prompted Akimoto to ask that not only price but also the speed with which a project could be pushed forward also be taken into consideration when deciding which companies win bids in the future changes were made to bid assessment standards to emphasize the quickness with which a planned project could proceed went to Akimoto’s office in the Lower House members’ building with 10 million yen in cash Lawmaker’s offices raided in wind farm bribery probe Defendants testify to bribing lawmaker over casino project EDITORIAL: Fresh charges in bribery case deal a new blow to casino policy 5 searched the home of the president of a wind farm developer as part of a bribery investigation triggering the resignation of a ruling Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker who is also embroiled in the case Investigators with the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office searched the home of Masayuki Tsukawaki Tsukawaki is president of Japan Wind Development Co investigators searched the offices of Masatoshi Akimoto Akimoto resigned from his post as a parliamentary secretary in the Foreign Ministry and also told senior officials of the LDP that he intended to leave the party 5 that it had accepted Akimoto’s request to leave the party LDP Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi also issued a statement calling on Akimoto to thoroughly explain his involvement in the matter Investigative sources said prosecutors were looking into the connection between Diet questions posed by Akimoto about offshore wind farm projects and around 30 million yen ($210,000) given to Akimoto in installments from 2021 Tsukawaki’s lawyer met with reporters on Aug 4 and denied that the money was intended as a bribe The lawyer explained that Akimoto and Tsukawaki were fellow thoroughbred owners who set up a group in autumn 2021 called Purple Patch Racing while Akimoto holds a 45-percent share in the group Tsukawaki’s name is not registered as a part owner while the remaining 10 percent is held by an acquaintance of Akimoto Tsukawaki’s lawyer explained that his client transferred about 30 million yen to Purple Patch Racing from about 2021 in response to requests from Akimoto The money was allegedly intended to pay for the purchase of thoroughbreds as well as feed and stable expenses The lawyer said the money was in no way connected to wind farm projects that Japan Wind Development is involved with Sources said prosecutors have a different view of the arrangement Prosecutors noted that most decisions about how money in Purple Patch Racing was used were made by Akimoto While Tsukawaki transferred money to the group’s account or made payments directly to business associates of Purple Patch Racing he also on occasion directly handed Akimoto cash Prosecutors are also expected to closely look into when Tsukawaki made the payments and Diet questioning by Akimoto Akimoto is known to have discussed wind farm projects in Diet committee sessions on at least four occasions between November 2018 and February 2022 Akimoto had served as secretary-general of a group of LDP lawmakers who favor renewable energy Officials of Japan Wind Development met with Akimoto on several occasions to discuss issues related to the wind power sector Tsukawaki originally worked for the major trading company Mitsui & Co. but has been involved with Japan Wind Development since its establishment in 1999 Prosecutors arrested Lower House member Masatoshi Akimoto on Sept 7 on suspicion of taking 61.46 million yen ($417,000) in bribes over the government's wind farm projects in exchange for favorable questioning in the Diet The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office said Akimoto received requests from Masayuki Tsukawaki to ask questions in support of its operations left the ruling Liberal Democratic Party after the scandal broke Akimoto temporarily borrowed 30 million yen from Tsukawaki to register as a horse owner with the Japan Racing Association More than 75 million yen in assets was necessary for registration Akimoto formed a horse owners’ union to own racehorses with the Tsukamoto side in autumn 2021 Tsukawaki provided 31.46 million yen as expenses to purchase and raise horses by 2023 While 21.46 million yen was sent to accounts of the union and its business partners the remaining 10 million yen was handed to Akimoto in cash at his office in a Diet members’ building in October 2022 Prosecutors believe that the horse owners’ union is effectively under Akimoto’s control and the money was provided to Akimoto Prosecutors concluded that the 61.46 million yen in total was meant as bribes as a reward for the questions he repeatedly asked in the Diet that were favorable to the company's operations Japan Wind Development is seeking to undertake a wind farm project in Mutsu Bay in Aomori Prefecture At a subcommittee session of the Lower House Budget Committee in February 2019 Akimoto called on the government not to impose “excessive restrictions” on power generation facilities in sea areas in Aomori Prefecture due to their impact on defense facilities At the Budget Committee's subcommittee session in February 2022 Akimoto called on the government to review screening standards to prioritize the speed of a bidder’s business plan In a government wind farm project in another sea area Japan Wind Development had lost to a consortium led by trading house Mitsubishi Corp. Akimoto said the money was related to the activities of horse owners and had nothing to do with his questions in the Diet Tsukawaki has admitted that the money was in part a reward for Akimoto’s questions in the Diet Prosecutors are expected to continue to investigate Tsukawaki without arrest on suspicion of offering bribes to Akimoto a four-time Lower House member most recently elected through the proportional representation portion from the Minami-Kanto bloc resigned from his post as parliamentary vice minister for foreign affairs after his office was searched on Aug Diet member Akimoto pleads innocent in casino-bribe case No reproduction or republication without written permission.