BL Game: Room No.9 released + Exclusive Interview with Netoru Irakusa

After MangaGamer announced in 2017 the English release for “Room No. 9”, Parade’s second game, it is finally out! They have already licensed the first game by the same brand, “No, Thank You!!!”, in 2015.   

The game is about two friends, Daichi Kobayashi (CV: Sai Tennen) and Seiji Azumi (CV: Netoru Irakusa), going on a trip to Okinawa after Daichi’s girlfriend dumps him. After leaving the airport and taking a bus, both friends fall asleep, waking up in an unfamiliar hotel-like room. Then, they are told they were “selected” for a behavioral experiment. Both must harm each other in order to leave the room (Daichi is physically harmed, and Seiji is sexually debased). 

Fanart by the amazing @OtogeNoRuari ♥ 

As a psychological horror, Room No.9’s purposes are different than a common BL game’s one. There is a single main couple, without other LI’s routes, but with many ways to reach different endings. With some grotesque and scatological elements (that can be turn off on game’s settings), it challenges you to peep, analyze and even provoke psychological damage on the characters according to your choices. It invites you to see this “fucked up social experiment” closer and to test the limits of “how far can a true friendship between two men go?”.   

Particularly, I think that Parade’s games have a similarity with Harada’s works, with “aiming to defy the BL limits” 

Because of the English release, Blyme team was able to get an exclusive interview with Seiji’s voice actor!!!  

Netoru Irakusa (pseudonym) had his BL debut with Room No.9 in 2016. But he did not stop there: between 2017 and 2019, he acted as Azuma, protagonist of Paradise series (Pil/Slash); in 2018, as Mio Suou (one of Nie no Machi LIs) and, more recently in 2019, starred in his first original BLCD, Escape Bell. At the same time, he was working on several otome situation cds and doing supporting roles – openly or not – in several works, including some BL ones.  

Kaito Aizawa – Escape Bell and Azuma – Paradise 

Check bellow the translated interview, granted to Blyme by the seiyuu through Twitter: 

Blyme: Let us ask some questions about when you accepted the offer to work in Room No. 9. We were told that it was your first role in a Boy’s Love R18 game, but did you get surprised at all?  You probably had some knowledge in that sort of work, but were you resistant about it? 

Netoru: Nothing surprised me at all, but since it was my first time, I was challenged to research about how to make some sounds, etc. I did not know how far I should go, so I think I was refrained overall. 

I had not any resistance after all. My curiosity as an actor was stronger, so I had fun.  

Blyme: When we search on Twitter for people who have played Room No. 9, we can see a lot of comments praising the acting. Do you feel that you are receiving more messages by fans after game Japanese’s release? 

Netoru: Really, it’s pleasing to see how many people have played it, I’m thankful for that. 

I think most of them got to know me by this work. There were moments when I got anxious, wondering if I am enough, but the many messages that I received gave me support. 

It was really an influent work. 

Blyme: Have you ever received messages in English or other languages? 

Netoru: Yes, I had gratefully received message from foreigners. 

I particularly do not know other language than Japanese, so I read them with the help of a translation app, but I feel frustrated for not being able to understand everything. 

But I think that people have thoughts to transmit, so they message me, and I want them to transmit it through their own words. Even if the languages are not same, the feelings that they felt should be transmitted, so even it takes some time, I want to be able to keep reading them from now on. 

Blyme: When we talk about interviewing a voice actor, there were some questions that fans wanted to ask. One of them is if the seiyuu had personally identified himself with his characters. Have you ever felt identified or sympathized in some point with Seiji, or maybe with Daichi? 

Netoru: Unfortunately, I do not have any close friend to go on a trip with, and I am not handsome. One thing that I can sympathize with is the “do not want to let my partner get hurt, sad or face any hardships” part. Because by doing it, I can protect them and give some courage for a disheartened mind. I just don’t know if I would be as strong as the two of them [Daichi and Seiji].  

Blyme: Including Room No. 9, the content of many titles that you have worked in can be considered “heavy”. Especially on this work, did you have any trouble or struggled with the horror and grotesque portrayed on it? 

Netoru: This work has a sense of reality, like something unlikely but possible to happen, I think it is a special thing. So, I have acted as realistic as possible. Being choked, licking, I researched what could come out from me [about sounds, voices], until I reached the result for this work. Besides struggling, I discovered many things and learned a lot. 

Blyme: Room No.9 was your first work as main character in a BL, right? Did you have any trouble acting as Seiji? 

Netoru: Seiji is cool, calm, and feels like an adult. I am completely the opposite of that (laughs) 

So, I worried a lot about how to act. While repeating several times a strategic meeting with the Seiji that I had in mind, I think that I managed to approach him somehow. 

It was also the first time for Seiji, so I think that feeling around was the right choice. Even if I act as Seiji again right now, I believe it would not to be the same. I was pure back then (laughs) 

Blyme: There was any funny moment while recording on studio that you could tell us?  

Netoru: In my everyday life, I manage the best to do not speak jargons (for example: c*ck, an*l etc.), but on a recording day, I don’t know if I got too excited, but I said out loud “next will be the j*rk off scene!!”; it was the first time that I said something like that without acting, so I remember being very embarrassed (laughs) 

Blyme: Is there a specific role or work that you would like to act in? 

Netoru: Gratefully, recently I am having opportunity to act a lot in cool roles ones, but until while ago, I was acting a lot as grandpas and chubby old men.  

So, I want to be able to act on many different roles and surprise everyone, making they say, “is this Netoru Irakusa’s voice?”. 

Blyme: Your first BL work is going to be spread worldwide, what do you think about it? 

Netoru: It is a strange feeling (laughs). I am curious about how far I can express myself, if I will be well received by going out to the world. 

Maybe some people will hesitate because it is BL, but I would be happy if they try it out just like any other work.  

Blyme: Do you have any message for those who will play Room No.9 from now on? For those who already played in japanese too, please. 

Netoru: I think it depends on each one’s personal preferences, but I think this is a wonderful work, so I hope you can have fun with it, if possible. 

For those who already played in japanese, thank you very much. Was it fun? Please, play it again as many times as you like. 

I would be happy if this work gets a place inside your heart. 

Blyme: We want you to say something to brazilian fujoshi and fudanshi as well.  

Netoru: Not even in my dreams I imagined that his work would reach the other side of the planet.  

Even if it’s in a different language I’m sure you’ll feel something through this work, and it’d be great if you could connect with other people because of it. Have fun! 

Got curious about Netoru’s experiences in his BL debut? By completing all the endings for Room No. 9, you’ll unlock a special extra session with staff’s comments, including both voice actors. There, he will tell you more interesting experiences! 

Get the game on Steam or on the MangaGamer website and check this out! (and see why everyone praises so much the “God Netoru’s” performance).