Sometimes a game touches its players in a profound way. It can be a creative inspiration, a desperately necessary distraction, or something that gives you a new perspective on things.
For a lot of people, Togainu no Chi – Lost Blood is such a game. Even amongst Nitro+CHiRAL’s beloved lineup of infamous titles, it stands out as one — perhaps even THE one — with a truly outsize impact among its fans.
“When I was first introduced to Togainu no Chi, I was in the midst of a chronic pain flareup and just looking for something – anything – to hopefully distract me from it,” explains Sarah Moon, aka Mistress Arachnia. “I had no idea what a huge impact this game would have on my life. The gritty post-apocalyptic setting drew me in right away.
“It felt so visceral and real that I could see the blood on the streets and smell the stench of decay in the air. The storyline was intense and gripping, exploring the darkest recesses of the human heart and soul. The characters within this world were steeped in moral ambiguity. It was dirty, and dangerous… and so very beautiful.
“I fell in love with Akira right away, and as the story progressed, I found myself experiencing an intense array of mixed emotions along with him, pondering questions and dilemmas with no clear answer. I adored the game’s portrayal of non-neurotypical and mentally ill characters. Nano’s story was unforgettable. It shattered my heart and left me in tears.
“I couldn’t get the story or its characters out of my mind. I quickly became obsessed. I started a blog based around the character Nano, which to my surprise became quite popular. Desperate for more source material to work with, I started collecting memorabilia from the series and teaching myself Japanese. I am extremely grateful to JAST BLUE for bringing this unforgettable game to the English speaking world.”
KV Hice is half of Green Solid Studios, the company behind 2016’s magical cat cafe dating sim Hustle Cat and the upcoming horror BL title West Falls.
“Visual Novels were still fairly obscure in the west when I first became aware of Togainu no Chi,” says Hice. “I’d only played one before Nitro+CHiRAL came around, so I didn’t expect much — mostly because I didn’t know what to expect at all. Since I expected a short and simple ‘two boys meet and kiss’ experience, I was blown away by the depth of storytelling and worldbuilding that came along with Togainu no Chi. You can do that? You can make stories about desperate post-apocalyptic worlds where they also kiss?
“I kept this close to my heart when I started making games of my own. As my co-founder and I work on my second visual novel, we often ask each other, ‘how would Nitro+Chiral do it? How can we make this a game on their level of quality?’ The world and characters of Togainu no Chi are especially close to our hearts. Hell, our company name — Green Solid — is a Togainu no Chi reference.”
“Togainu no Chi ’s rich and complex characters have been my muses for years,” explains Moon. “Because of them, my decade-long writer’s block was cured, and I lost many of my creative inhibitions. I’ve met and collaborated with some of the most wonderful, passionate people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing through this fandom. Many of us have since become close friends.
“Over the years, Togainu no Chi has directly inspired my writing, artwork, cosplay, and crafting. I’ve learned a variety of skills including leatherwork, ceramics, quilting, 3D printing, video editing, and many more. Through it all, Nano and Akira have been my muses.
“Thank you, Nitro+CHiRAL, for creating such a rich, colorful story that has touched so many fans’ lives in so many ways. And thank you, JAST BLUE, for capturing the gritty, decaying atmosphere of Toshima so well.”
