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The original junior high school our three main protagonists attend.

The eel restaurant where our main protagonists drop by

Q1. Why do you think the ".hack" series enchants people the way it does?
●I'd say it the fact that we have an aspect of the game that is very real but at the same time is accessed over the internet. I think part of the reason I like it so much is that I can meet other players online and get to know them. There are occasions were we even start hanging out together in real life (and not just over the internet). There are also particular scenarios in which problems within the game will affect the events in your daily life and vice versa. I think it's just that connection between reality and fantasy that impresses people.

●The ".hack" series has a story line that is profoundly connected to reality. The characters existing the online game, "The World" are so intricately put-together and so human that you can't help but feel that everything happening is very real. It's a product that I also feel relies heavily on forming connections between people.

Q2. What was your first impression of Director Hiroshi Matsuyama?
●He's got a young and fiery spirit, that likes what he likes. Above all else, however his main passion in life seems to be making things that will amuse people to no end.

●He's got the charisma of a CEO selling high-quality gaming products. I think he's the person we need to continue to push the frontiers of the future gaming industry and Japanese culture. While he has the heart of a boy, there is no one more knowledgeable in terms of this industry. He is a very open man who is close to and understands his users.

Q3. What did you think of Yanagawa?
● Upon seeing the 400-year-old Tachibana house built on the bank of the river, which has been passed down through the generations, I couldn't help but feel this is something we can't afford to loose.

●The traditional city-scape was beautiful. In a place like this, it feels as though time is passing by very slowly and is such a peaceful place. I'd really love to be able to see the willow trees lining the roads in autumn or spring.

Q4. Did you enjoy ".hack//The Movie?"
●I went to one of the talk shows the director was holding and during his speech he passionately shouted, "I made this for you guys!!!" The product he was referring to was, as I hoped, ".hack". Seeing scenes in Yanagawa that were also in the movie made me feel as though I were a part of that reality. It was spectacularly made, with everything from the series coming together seamlessly.

●While the film was made in a way that people who knew nothing of the series could enjoy it, those that did got the same amount of entertainment out of watching the movie. I couldn't even hide my surprise at the talent with which this 3D, computer-generated movie was put together. It was nothing short of an epic Hollywood film.

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