This time our interview features the cricle NEKO WORKs!!

We hope you enjoy the read!



Sayori is a promising illustrator known for her works in professional bishojo PC games

such as "NATSU-KOI HIGHPRESSURE" and "BOKU TO KOI SURU PONKOTSU AKUMA".

Her doujin circle NEKO WORKs became hugely popular with the "NEKOPARA" series.

"NEKOPARA vol.1" received an enthusiastic response with its cute illustrations, production with

E-mote system and prominent staffs. "NEKOPARA vol.2 Des soeurs filles-chat tres gentilles",

released in February this year, also got rave reviews. Furthermore, the series got a large

international audience with the English version. Today, Sayori, the leader of NEKO WORKs, talks about her work.



Please tell us how you started your Circle.

I've always enjoyed drawing. After I entered university, I opened my own website to display my artwork, and I named the site, "NEKO WORKS." Soon I began attending Comiket, and I kept using the name NEKO WORKS.

Please introduce us the other members in NEKO WORKS.

I was alone for a while, but when I developed the NEKOPARA game, Anko-san began working with public relations, and Yukihito-san began working as a scenario writer and direction. Due to all of the extra work requirements, the circle was just getting too big for me to manage alone.

Please tell us what you think is the most fun part of creating a game and then which part you find the most difficult.

As an illustrator, I was able to contribute to other people's games, but it is much more fun developing my own games because I have more creative freedom to do what I want. Because my experience is only in illustration, the difficult part for me is the scheduling and details of constructing the game itself. That led to some catastrophes lol.

Your NEKOPARA series is very popular. Please tell us the concept and sales point.

The concept is "Neko- Kawaii", which is the core of my games. I just want to stay with the same basic core. I am not sure if that is always good for the sales point, but my heroines always have "cat ears". Also, my H scenes are conducted in "threesome" and "harem style." All these aspects are my favorite, and I don't see these in other games much so maybe its uniqueness is the key to successful sales…I guess lol.

So far, you've published NEKOPARA Volumes 1 & 2. Please tell us about each product.

In "NEKOPARA Volume 1," the main character leaves her house, and the characters Chocolate and Vanilla follow her. They open a cake shop called Des Soeurs. Chocolate and Vanilla really love the main character, but in a very pure way. I try and show their very pure love.



In "NEKOPARA Volume 2," their sister and the sister's cat come to help, giving the cake shop a more-merry atmosphere. In this second volume, I focus on the new characters, Azuki and Coconut. The eldest sister cat is Azuki, and the fourth sister is Coconut; I focus on the bond between the two. Azuki is not a straightforward girl, and Coconut is apt to overreach herself. I try to focus on those adorable characteristics of the two girls.



"NEKOPARA Volume 0" is a prequel short story; the time before the main character leaves the house. It is just about an ordinary day for all the cats, including Chocolat and Vanilla.

Do you have any plans yet for Volume 3? If so, what are you developing for the storyline?

I am currently in the middle of developing Volume 3. I am also developing the plan how to end the story. I've been publishing them little by little in different volumes, but don't worry, you will get the ending!

Your NEKOPARA series is comparable to a professionally-developed game; CG, character design, voice, music and E-mote are all excellent! With that in mind, why did you publish this game as Dojin?

In the beginning, my budget was very low, but while it was in development, many people offered to provide assistance. The assistance increased the quality and capability. In the end, the cost was about three times my original budget, which was surprising to me, but the end justified the means lol.

DLsite.com is now selling the English version; it is very popular. What made you decide to market an English version?

When our publisher, Sekai Project, recommended that we publish it on Steam, we decided to create an English version for sale. Our philosophy was to try anything that looked fun. Steam markets products for all ages, so our English version of NEKOPARA was developed for all ages. Now though, we published an English version for the R-18 market as well. We also published it with in Chinese.

What do you find to be the most difficult parts of creating an English version?

We develop both the Japanese and English versions at the same time, so when we change anything in the Japanese script, we have to stop and change it in the English script as well. It is hectic producing the product in three different languages so de-bugging takes three times longer than normal.

Why do you believe the English version became so popular?

Simply, I think it is because of the large number of English-speaking enthusiasts lol. Although this genre has a narrow niche, when you add up the number of fans from all over the world, the number becomes really big lol.

Besides the NEKOPARA series, what are NEKO WORKS' plans for the future?

For now, our plans are to continue with the NEKOPARA series. After that series ends, we may create its spin-off. Within the NEKOPARA series, we are now developing a virtual reality product.

Do you have any message for readers of "Bisyoujyo Game Now!!"?

Yes, we would like them to know that our staff is going to great efforts to make this a really wonderful series, so we would like them to try NEKOPARA! We invite everyone to try our free trial version on our homepage.