Kana: Little Sister

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Kana: Little Sister
Developer(s)D.O.
Publisher(s)
Director(s)Takahiro Yatabe
Producer(s)Ryūichirō Fujisawa
Designer(s)Takahiro Yatabe
Tomoyuki Iguchi
Programmer(s)Takahide Kojima
Writer(s)Romeo Tanaka (under pseudonym Hajime Yamada)
Composer(s)Hechima
Hideki Takahashi
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, PlayStation Portable
ReleaseMicrosoft Windows
  • JP: June 25, 1999
  • NA: August 7, 2002
Mac OS
  • JP: June 30, 2000
  • NA: August 7, 2002
PlayStation Portable
  • JP: October 7, 2010
Genre(s)Eroge, visual novel
Mode(s)Single player

Kana: Little Sister (加奈かな～いもうと～, Kana～Imōto～), is a Japanese visual novel originally developed and released by D.O. in 1999. G-Collections [ja] translated and published the English version in 2002.[1]

Kana: Little Sister has received widespread attention from the eroge player community. The plot was well-received by critics. However, their reactions to the endings and the relationship between Takamichi and Kana were mixed.

Gameplay[edit]

Kana: Little Sister is a visual novel,[2][3] which falls into the subgenre of "nakige".[4][5][6] The player assumes the role of Takamichi Toudou.[7] Most of the gameplay is spent reading text, representing the story's dialogue.[8] In PSP version, the text is accompanied by character sprites, which represent who Takamichi is talking to, over background art.[8] Throughout the game, the player encounters CG artwork in the story.[8]

Kana: Little Sister follows a branching plot line with multiple endings, and depending on the decisions that the player makes during the game, the plot will progress in a specific direction.[1][9] Being an erotic visual novel, relationships between characters become sexual; this include the sexual relationship between Takamichi and his younger sister Kana Toudou.[1][7] The game has six different endings.[3][1]

Plot[edit]

Kana Toudou (藤堂とうどう 加奈かな, Tōdō Kana) suffers a chronic kidney disease that requires her to be hospitalized for long periods of time.[10] Although her older brother Takamichi Toudou (藤堂とうどう 隆道たかみち, Tōdō Takamichi) resents the resulting diversion of attention from their parents,[11] he changes his attitude towards Kana during a family trip; Kana and her family are separated, so Takamichi must find her in the forest. He creates wishes that he will protect Kana during the searching process.

Takamichi falls in love with his classmate Yumi Kashima (鹿島かしま 夕美ゆみ, Kashima Yumi) while studying in Year 5, so he writes her a love letter and leaves it on her desk. However, other classmates know about his feelings towards Kashima and start teasing him the next day. He believes that Kashima deliberately showed the love letter to everyone,[10] stops communicating with her until he graduates from high school, and concentrates on looking after his younger sister. Kana relies on her brother for emotional support as she rarely goes back to school.[11]

Kana develops romantic feelings for Takamichi when he graduates from high school. Kashima confesses her feelings for Takamichi at the same time. At this time, however, Kana's condition deteriorates, and she is given a few months left to live at most. Takamichi begins a relationship with Kashima while studying at university. However, his feelings for Kana begin to bother him, and he becomes aware of the fact that Kana is not related to him by blood. After this, the plot will unfold differently depending on the player's previous choices, and Kana dies in most endings.[12]: 111 

Development and release[edit]

Kana: Little Sister is the first visual novel developed by D.O.,[2] and was released for Windows on June 25, 1999.[2][4] The game's First Press Limited Edition included a Kana-themed mobile phone charm.[13] The novel marked Hajime Yamada's debut as scenario writer.[4][6] Yamada continued to work for D.O. after the game's release, going on to write the scenario for the visual novels Hoshizora ☆ Planet and Family Project. Alongside Kana: Little Sister, these three works became known as "Hajime Yamada Trilogy" by D.O staff.[5]

The development team believed that visual novels have the same elements as other video games; for example, both require the player to solve a puzzle, in a way. At the same time, they regarded visual novels as having the same advantages of a novel, including the involvement of the player's imagination as the protagonist, as well as their unique writing style. For these reasons, D.O. decided to develop Kana: Little Sister as their first visual novel.[13] According to Japanese magazines BugBug and Tech Gian, the team focused more on the feeling of caring rather than likes and love.[2][14] The team also stated that the game has a gentle atmosphere.[13]

An email application featuring Kana, where the user was prompted by Kana on-screen when an email was sent, was released on March 17, 2000.[4] On that same day, a remastered Windows edition of the game was released under the title Kana... Okaeri‼ (加奈かな⋯おかえり！！, Kana… Welcome Home!!). This new version retains the original storyline but features new character designs and full voice acting.[4] A Mac OS version was subsequently published on June 30, 2000.[15] In 2003, Panther Software announced plans to release an Xbox port,[16] which was ultimately cancelled.[4]

As reported by GNN News and Game Watch in July 2010, Cyber Front announced that the game would be ported to the PlayStation Portable in two different editions, Regular Edition and Limited Edition. The latter was to be bundled with the game's soundtrack and art book.[17][18] The PSP version of the game featured the character designs and artwork from the original PC version of the game, although with re-recorded voices and artwork created specifically it.[4][8] Cyber Front released two demo videos in the same month and next month.[19][20] Both editions were released on October 7 2010.[4] An English translation of Kana... Okaeri!! was released in 2015 by JAST USA.[citation needed]

Reception[edit]

Kana: Little Sister has received widespread attention from the eroge player community. Some players have registered as bone marrow donors after playing the game.[4] However, Kazuya Haneda's comment on Bishōjo Games Maniacs indicated that the game has received mixed reviews from players.[12]: 110  When the game was released, it quickly became a hot topic on the Internet,[4] with most online reviews focus on the plot and artwork, although some online reviews have accused the game of sexualising minors because of Kana's appearance.[7] Writing for Introduction to Cultural Studies Adult Games, Naoki Miyamoto said that Kana: Little Sister along with the games developed by Key were considered as masterpieces of "nakige" in the late 1990s.[5]

The plot of Kana: Little Sister was well-received by critics, who felt that it deals with themes such as love, life and family.[1][3][21] Au Yeung Yu Leung of IGN Japan voted the game as the best video game of 1999,[6] comparing it to Air, and praised the game for its emotional portrayal of the relationship between Takamichi and Kana, as well as its ability to make one realize the value of life.[21] In Complete Work on the History of PC Bishōjo Games this feeling was attributed to all players in general.[3] The game is known for its "depressing" and "touching" storyline.[1][3][21] Pasokon bishōjo gēmu rekishi taizen: 1982-2000 specifically commented that the development of Takamichi and Kana's romantic relationship under their "tragic encounter" was "touching".[3] In addition to the character's encounters, The Escapist's Leigh Alexander also find "simple empathy" for "well-drawn individuals".[1] Haneda, on the other hand, criticized its setting as "too common", but also praised for its unexpected mid-to-late development.[12]: 110–111 

Another aspect of Kana: Little Sister that was commended includes the player's empathy. According to Pasokon bishōjo gēmu rekishi taizen: 1982-2000, the player would experience the same psychological pain as Takamichi.[3] Au Yeung felt that Kana was her real-life younger sister while playing, and attributed this to the plot's focus on Kana.[21] In Boku-tachi no bishōjo gēmu Kuronikuru 2, Hiroyuki Maeda analyzed that the player's empathy came from the text, especially the psychological description of the characters.[4]

Critical responses to the endings and the relationship between Takamichi and Kana were mixed. Alexander said the incest was "handled delicately" in regards Takamichi and his young sister's relationship, which distinguishes it from other eroge.[1] Au Yeung criticized the team for setting Kana as an unrelated younger sister due to public's perception.[21] Regarding the endings, Haneda mentioned the ending 2 "Recollection" as the most touching, and felt that the ending where Kana survives became meaningful only after completing the other endings.[12]: 111  Au Yeung, however, criticized the latter, calling it "unnatural" compared to the other endings as there's no explanation of Kana's miraculous recovery.[21]

See also[edit]

  • Autumn in My Heart, a South Korean romantic television drama with a similar theme to Kana: Little Sister.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Alexander, Leigh (July 31, 2007). "Heart-wrenching Hentai". The Escapist. No. 108. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d 加奈かな 〜いもうと〜. BugBug (in Japanese). Vol. 58. June 1, 1999. p. 106.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Pasokon bishōjo gēmu rekishi taizen: 1982-2000 パソコン美少女びしょうじょゲーム歴史れきし大全たいぜん1982-2000 [Complete Work on the History of PC Bishōjo Games] (in Japanese) (1st ed.). Fungasha. October 10, 2000. p. 45. ISBN 4-8211-0717-1.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Maeda, Hiroyuki (July 28, 2016). "加奈かな 〜いもうと〜". Boku-tachi no bishōjo gēmu Kuronikuru 2 ぼくたちの美少女びしょうじょゲーム クロニクル 2 [Our Pretty Girl Game Chronicle 2] (in Japanese). オークス. p. 13. ISBN 978-4799008560.
  5. ^ a b c 宮本みやもと直毅なおき (2013). "シナリオライター• 山田やまだ一いちの三さん部ぶ作さく、泣なきゲーのうねり". エロゲー文化ぶんか研究けんきゅう概論がいろん (in Japanese). 総合そうごう科学かがく出版しゅっぱん. ISBN 978-4-88181-829-9.
  6. ^ a b c あの頃ころのゲーム、僕ぼくらのGOTY――ゲームも新しんミレニアムへ向むかっていた1999年ねんの個人こじんベストゲームは？. IGN Japan (in Japanese). May 14, 2018. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c Martinez, Michelle; Manolovitz, Tyler (2010). "Pornography of Gaming". In Riha, Daniel (ed.). Videogame Cultures and the Future of Interactive Entertainment. Inter-Disciplinary Press. pp. 65–74. ISBN 978-1-84888-040-5.
  8. ^ a b c d 注目ちゅうもくリリース：サイバーフロント、PSP用ようソフト「加奈かな～いもうと～」を発売はつばい. MANTANWEB (in Japanese). July 8, 2010. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  9. ^ Galbraith, Patrick W. (2017). "Adult Computer Games and the Ethics of Imaginary Violence: Responding to Gamergate from Japan". U.S.-Japan Women's Journal. 52 (52): 67–88. doi:10.1353/jwj.2017.0012. S2CID 159004675.
  10. ^ a b Taylor, Emily (2007). "Dating-Simulation Games:Leisure and Gaming of Japanese Youth Culture". Southeast Review of Asian Studies. 29: 192–208.
  11. ^ a b touge (July 8, 2010). 涙腺るいせんがぶっ壊こわれること間違まちがいなし。PSPに甦よみがえる“泣なきゲー”の金字塔きんじとう「加奈かな～いもうと～」，サイバーフロントより10月がつ7日にち発売はつばい. 4Gamer.net (in Japanese). Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  12. ^ a b c d 羽田はた一弥かずや (September 10, 2000). "加奈かな 〜いもうと〜". 美少女びしょうじょゲームマニアックス (in Japanese). キルタイムコミュニケーション.
  13. ^ a b c "D.O.". Tech Gian. No. 1999年ねん06月がつ号ごう. June 1, 1999. p. 133.
  14. ^ 加奈かな 〜いもうと〜. Tech Gian. No. 1999年ねん05月がつ号ごう. May 1, 1999. p. 86.
  15. ^ 加奈かな ～いもうと～ Mac版ばん (in Japanese). Moepedia. Archived from the original on January 23, 2023. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  16. ^ 「加奈かな」將しょう對應たいおうXbox Live網もう路ろ功こう能のう. GNN新聞しんぶん (in Chinese). December 2, 2003. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  17. ^ 《加奈かな～妹いもうと妹いもうと～》PSP 移植いしょく版ばん 10 月がつ登場とうじょう 重じゅう溫ゆたか經典きょうてん催淚さいるい作さく感かん人じん劇げき情じょう. GNN新聞しんぶん (in Chinese). July 8, 2010. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  18. ^ サイバーフロント、PSP「加奈かな～いもうと～」10月がつ7日にちに発売はつばい サントラCDと攻略こうりゃくチャート＆設定せってい資料集しりょうしゅう付属ふぞくの限定げんてい版ばんも. Game Watch (in Japanese). July 8, 2010. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  19. ^ お兄にいちゃんの“理性りせいの錠前じょうまえが，ついに弾ひけ飛とんじゃう”「加奈かな ～いもうと～」プレイムービーを4GamerにUp. 4Gamer.net (in Japanese). July 26, 2010. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  20. ^ 「加奈かな～いもうと～」のプレイムービー第だい2弾だんを4Gamerにアップ。目めから“塩水えんすい”があふれそうなほど切せつないです. 4Gamer.net (in Japanese). August 8, 2010. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  21. ^ a b c d e f Au Yeung Yu Leung (July 4, 2017). 香港ほんこんガリ勉がりべん眼鏡めがねっ娘むすめゲーマー第だい11回かい！“葉は鍵かぎ”女子じょしが「俺おれ」になるとき. IGN Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved January 21, 2023.

External links[edit]

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