The Wayback Machine - https://web.archive.org/web/20120424213324/http://fftranslations.atspace.co.uk:80/chou.html
Originally posted on 14 October 2011

Zero ~Akai Chou~ Development Secrets: About the Image Song, "Chou"

In this corner, we'll go the behind the scenes on the development, with producer Kikuchi and director Shibata.

Image Song "Chou"

Announcement of "Chou"

- Zero ~Akai Chou~'s theme song, "Chou", was unveiled in front of fans at Tsukiko Amano's live show.

Kikuchi: Though it was held at the Bigcat live house in Osaka, I was really excited.

Shibata: I wanted to go, too...

Kikuchi: Anyway, it's unfortunate that everyone can't hear it just yet.

Shibata: I wanted to hear this song live...

Kikuchi: When "Chou" plays, there's a dancing blizzard of red confetti, and it was really pretty.

- It's really soon, but what are the particulars about how the song was made?

Kikuchi: Since the last game, we've wanted to make an image song for the game. Since we wanted the song to stay in the minds of those who heard it, and to reinforce the idea of the game, we needed someone with a powerful voice. This time, I asked people about a song with a powerful voice that would turn heads when people heard it.

Shibata: I wanted a song that would express the appearance of the game world. Even if I do say so myself, it's rather unique since its subject matter is so special...

Why you chose Tsukiko Amano

- Was it decided from the start that you would be hiring Tsukiko Amano?

Kikuchi: Though everyone put forward their own candidates, from the beginning Shibata had taken notice of the indies scene, and asked Tsukiko Amano, whom he'd recommended many times.

Shibata: I had supported it for a long time. Tsukiko Amano was perfect. Though, her first single was called "Hakoniwa", and when I heard the song I thought, "It can't be anyone but her." However, at first Kikuchi didn't believe me. I thought the image song for a Japanese horror game as something like "Singer: Tsukiko Amano, Song: Hakoniwa" could be exceeded. So I said, "Now we'll make it, huh!"

Kikuchi: Anyway, what remains can be told by listening to the CD.

Shibata: After that, the brainwashing gradually began.

- Brain...washing?

Kikuchi: Well, that was said as a joke... once I'd heard them, I quickly became surprised by the lyrics. Maybe it's weird that I was drawn to the lyrics I heard in the song, but anyway, the world view was interesting. Her voice had a strong impact, and the song will be stuck in your head.

Shibata: Right. Since the song was so good it was really smooth to listen to, but when I heard the lyrics I was hit with the sudden thud of a fearful feeling. Of course, though there are various cute, scolding, intense, beautiful songs, Ms. Amano already had a world view that was very much in the Zero style.

Kikuchi: A singer-songwriter with their own world... If this person can make a song for Zero ~Akai Chou~ in their own world... My imagination began to fill with thoughts like this, so we saw if we could request that Ms. Amano create a song for us. In hindsight, it was a really great decision.

Undertaking the creation of "Chou"

- So, the song is completely an original by Ms. Amano?

Shibata: First, in order to get the drift of the game, she was given documents detailing the Zero ~Akai Chou~ universe's creation, plot summary and so on. After this, she came up with an image song.

Kikuchi: As well as that, she also wanted to beat the first game.

Shibata: I was happy, because she said it was scary.

- From then on, were there many issues?

Kikuchi: No; though I don't know if the universe Ms. Amano's song represents is really close to that of Zero, in the grade of the initial presentation, both lyrics and melody could've been no better.

Shibata: I thought things would come one at a time, but I was kind of disappointed when nothing more happened than her saying, "I think this is good"...

Kikuchi: But when I asked her later, I found out that Ms. Amano had really struggled with it.

Finally

- Finally, a message to those who are reading this on the site.

Shibata: It's a great song. While I was listening to it, it felt like maybe death wasn't so bad.

Kikuchi: Well, it comes after the game. Now, while we're making the game with all our strength, we're preparing everyone early to listen to "Chou". It's dramatic and beautiful, yet scary. It's perfect for the world of this game, so please look forward to it.