On the 23rd of December 1994, around six developers made a video game funded by a television station about a traveling sushi chef carrying a pink bag and an elastic fishing line which released on the Super Famicom in Japan.
Umihara Kawase is a Rubber Ring Action game or to put it more simply, a physics-based 2D platformer where you swing across platforms and obstacles by using an elastic fishing line trying to find any door to exit a stage.
While it didn't reach the top 30 charts on Famitsu back then. It had a cult following which led to three sequels and a spin-off that is currently in development.
You may have heard about the person who kept their Super Famicom powered on for over 20 years to ensure the replay save data on their copy of Umihara Kawase wasn't lost due to the battery dying out.
You may also remember Episode 31 of GameCenter CX where Shinya Arino's game challenge for the episode was to finish Umihara Kawase. You can watch the episode here: https://archive.org/details/0755aa3faad2bf2aa6b121f1d9ea5448
You probably haven't heard about this series because it was only available in Japan until the third game in the series released overseas on the 3DS which was called Sayonara Umihara Kawase (Yumi's Odd Odyssey in the US).
If you're interested in playing the first game of the series then this is good timing because the first trilogy: Umihara Kawase, Umihara Kawase Shun and Sayonara Umihara Kawase is available on Steam at 50% off, here's the link: https://store.steampowered.com/sub/85452/
If you don't have a PC then your other alternative is buying Sayonara Umihara Kawase+ on the PS Vita which comes with the first game Umihara Kawase in-game. Here's the link: https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP0967-PCSE00683_00-UMIHARAKAWASE000
I recommend playing the first trilogy of the series: Umihara Kawase, Umihara Kawase Shun, Sayonara Umihara Kawase. Start from the third title and go backwards if you want to play the easiest game and work your way up.
If you want to know more about the Umihara Kawase series, I reposted below a segment which I used for the official thread for Umihara Kawase Fresh!
The meaning of the title "Umihara Kawase" comes from Japanese chef terminology meaning "Fish from the sea have fat on their bellies, and fish from rivers have fat on their backs." In Japanese, this is pronounced "Umi no sakana wa hara ni, kawa no sakana wa se ni abura ga notteru." In this series, many fatty fish of the sea and rivers appear as enemy characters.¹
Note: Umi hara kawa se = Sea belly river back
The following is a quote from a USGamer interview of Kiyoshi Sakai:
"The reason I named the game that way, I was watching a travel program on TV, and that saying came up. It sounded really good in my ear, so that's why I named the game that way."
If you'd like to learn more about the origins of Umihara Kawase, here is the link to USGamer where they interview the creator: Kiyoshi Sakai.
There are two developers that are well known for their work on the Umihara Kawase series, Kiyoshi Sakai and Toshinobu Kondo. Kiyoshi Sakai is the creator, game designer and programmer behind the Umihara Kawase series, he came up with the physics-based platforming for Umihara Kawase by use of an elastic fishing line. Toshinobu Kondo is the illustrator and hence gave us the character design of Umihara Kawase. They have worked on every title in the series excluding Umihara Kawase Portable.
Disclaimer: The following historical information regarding TNN and XING may be inaccurate due to lack of verification.
Kiyoshi Sakai was coming up with concepts for a game to make back in the early 90s. He made the prototypes on a Sharp X680000. This quote from the USGamer interview is relevant:
How he ended up deciding on making Umihara Kawase:
The first game in the series: Umihara Kawase released on December 23rd 1994 for the Super Famicom in Japan, developed by TNN (Think about Needs of Notice for Human Being) and published by NHK SC (NHK Service Center) which is a subsidiary of the television broadcaster NHK (a.k.a. Japan Broadcasting Corporation). There are 49 fields (stages) and this Super Famicom game allowed you to save replay data. You will not find this game in the top 30 charts from Famitsu Weekly back when it released but that didn't stop the game from having a cult following.
The second game in the series: Umihara Kawase Shun released on February 28th, 1997 for the Sony Playstation in Japan, published by XING and developed by Jackpot who were the development studio TNN but were bought out by Japan Clary Games. This sequel has a new artstyle with environmental objects in 3D, animated cutscenes and voice acting with in-game commercials.
In September 1997, Studio Saizensen was founded by Toshinobu Kondo who is currently the President and CEO of the company. Establishing themselves as an independent developer studio, they would go on to release games such as Pounding Poyaccio (PS1), Shining Hearts (PSP), Glory of Heracles (Nintendo DS) and more.
After a number of ports and enhanced versions of Umihara Kawase Shun games…
On September 26th, 2012. News released that Studio Saizensen had acquired the rights to Umihara Kawase which allowed Studio Saizensen to release Umihara Kawase Shun: Second Edition on PSN.
For more proof of this, read the following quote from Toshinobu Kondo:
The third game in the series: Sayonara Umihara Kawase released on June 20th, 2013 for the Nintendo 3DS in Japan, published by Agatsuma Entertainment and developed by Studio Saizensen. It features new playable characters and transitions from having 2D sprites to 3D characters. It would later become the first title in the series to release overseas.
Where can I play the other games in the series?
If you are looking to play Umihara Kawase, Umihara Kawase Shun and Sayonara Umihara Kawase. The easiest place to find those three games digitally is on Steam for PC. Here's the Steam link for the trilogy pack, you can also buy them separately.
If you don't have a PC, your options for digital games are limited. The Nintendo 3DS has the original Sayonara Umihara Kawase (Yumi's Odd Odyssey for the US because Natsume) on the eShop and the PS Vita has Sayonara Umihara Kawase+ on PSN.
Sayonara Umihara Kawase+ (PS Vita) comes with the original Umihara Kawase. To be able to play Umihara Kawase Shun Second Edition (PS1), you will need a Japanese PSN account to download the game on PS3/PSP/PS Vita. The link for it is here.
If you don't have any of the above then, if you own an Android Smartphone you can download Sayonara Umihara Kawase Smart (Click here). It is a port of Sayonara Umihara Kawase+ which is simplified by having replay and online leaderboard functions removed. It is highly recommended that you play the game using a "Bluetooth wireless controller or similar" because the touch controls are not good since the UI makes using jump + lure simultaneously an extremely difficult task (Sakai even made instructions for pairing your PS4 Dualshock Controller or Nintendo Switch Pro Controller to your phone). The first 10 stages of the game are free, you have to pay to play all 60 stages which is ¥450 or equivalent to the currency of your region (around $4). The game was ported by Kiyoshi Sakai under his studio called Sakai Game Development Factory, Sayonara Umihara Kawase Smart is licensed from Studio Saizensen.
If you're looking for physical copies of any of those games in the series, they can be much more difficult to find due to the fact being that this is a niche series that didn't come overseas until Sayonara Umihara Kawase on 3DS in 2014.
If you are still looking to import those other games in the series, I will list each game that had a physical release and you can go search on eBay and other resellers:
Umihara Kawase (Super Famicom, Nintendo DS*, PlayStation Vita**, Steam)
- Beware of region locking for the Super Famicom version.
- Steam release has additional features: Practice mode, online leaderboards, etc.
*Is an extra game included in Umihara Kawase Shun Second Edition Kanzenban for Nintendo DS
**Is an extra game included in Sayonara Umihara Kawase+ for PlayStation Vita.
Umihara Kawase Shun (PlayStation)
- Only this game has in-game commercials.
- Beware of region locking.
Umihara Kawase Shun Second Edition (PlayStation)
- This does not have in-game commercials.
- Beware of region locking.
Umihara Kawase Shun Second Edition Kanzenban (Nintendo DS)
- It includes Umihara Kawase.
- This does not have in-game commercials.
- The Steam release of Umihara Kawase Shun is based off this version, has additional online features: Leaderboards, etc. (Does not include Umihara Kawase.)
Umihara Kawase Portable (PSP)
Sayonara Umihara Kawase (Nintendo 3DS)
- Physical release only in Japan, beware of region locking.
Sayonara Umihara Kawase Chirari/Sayonara Umihara Kawase+ (PlayStation Vita)
- Frame rate increased from 30FPS to 60FPS
- Enhanced graphics
- Includes Umihara Kawase
- Physical release only in Japan, PS Vita is region-free.
- The Steam release of Sayonara Umihara Kawase+ is based off this version. (Does not include Umihara Kawase)
- The Steam release of Umihara Kawase is based off this version, has additional online features: Leaderboards, etc. (Does not include Sayonara Umihara Kawase)
Sayonara Umihara Kawase++ (PlayStation Vita)
- Go to this link.
In what order should I play the games?
You can play the games in any order. My suggestion if 1) You are a newcomer and 2) You are wanting to play something now while waiting for the western release of Umihara Kawase Fresh! is to play the games backwards in order. Sayonara Umihara Kawase is the easiest game to start with because your stage progression doesn't reset to zero. Plus, just like the guide I made for Umihara Kawase Fresh! there is also one I made for Sayonara Umihara Kawase+ three years ago and solutions to every stage (in case you get stuck) which is in this playlist here.
Has Umihara Kawase appeared in any other games?
Yes. Umihara, her childhood friend Emiko and her time traveling cop descendant Noko are playable characters in the fighting game Blade Strangers (PS4/Switch/Steam) developed by Studio Saizensen, published by Nicalis.
Umihara Kawase is also going to be a playable character in the game Crystal Crisis (PS4/Switch). This is a game published and developed by Nicalis Inc. which plays like Capcom's Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo. Note that she is a guest character because this game is not developed by Studio Saizensen, it is featuring characters from Cave Story, Binding of Isaac and Black Jack (Tezuka) to name a few.
Where can I see the anime scene of Umihara Kawase Shun in full screen?
So assuming you've reached the score ranking screen, you'll see Umihara Kawase sitting down playing on a PS1 in front of a TV. (Yes, the PS1 is blurred out if you are playing any of the non-PlayStation versions of Umihara Kawase Shun).
The TV will show a small image of an anime scene going on, it's not possible to see the scene in full screen in-game however, there is a YouTube link showing it in full screen. Mind you it's low res.
_____________________
¹Credit to Gematsu for the chef terminology quote.
Umihara Kawase is a Rubber Ring Action game or to put it more simply, a physics-based 2D platformer where you swing across platforms and obstacles by using an elastic fishing line trying to find any door to exit a stage.
While it didn't reach the top 30 charts on Famitsu back then. It had a cult following which led to three sequels and a spin-off that is currently in development.
You may have heard about the person who kept their Super Famicom powered on for over 20 years to ensure the replay save data on their copy of Umihara Kawase wasn't lost due to the battery dying out.
You may also remember Episode 31 of GameCenter CX where Shinya Arino's game challenge for the episode was to finish Umihara Kawase. You can watch the episode here: https://archive.org/details/0755aa3faad2bf2aa6b121f1d9ea5448
You probably haven't heard about this series because it was only available in Japan until the third game in the series released overseas on the 3DS which was called Sayonara Umihara Kawase (Yumi's Odd Odyssey in the US).
If you're interested in playing the first game of the series then this is good timing because the first trilogy: Umihara Kawase, Umihara Kawase Shun and Sayonara Umihara Kawase is available on Steam at 50% off, here's the link: https://store.steampowered.com/sub/85452/
If you don't have a PC then your other alternative is buying Sayonara Umihara Kawase+ on the PS Vita which comes with the first game Umihara Kawase in-game. Here's the link: https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP0967-PCSE00683_00-UMIHARAKAWASE000
I recommend playing the first trilogy of the series: Umihara Kawase, Umihara Kawase Shun, Sayonara Umihara Kawase. Start from the third title and go backwards if you want to play the easiest game and work your way up.
If you want to know more about the Umihara Kawase series, I reposted below a segment which I used for the official thread for Umihara Kawase Fresh!
The meaning of the title "Umihara Kawase" comes from Japanese chef terminology meaning "Fish from the sea have fat on their bellies, and fish from rivers have fat on their backs." In Japanese, this is pronounced "Umi no sakana wa hara ni, kawa no sakana wa se ni abura ga notteru." In this series, many fatty fish of the sea and rivers appear as enemy characters.¹
Note: Umi hara kawa se = Sea belly river back
The following is a quote from a USGamer interview of Kiyoshi Sakai:
"The reason I named the game that way, I was watching a travel program on TV, and that saying came up. It sounded really good in my ear, so that's why I named the game that way."
If you'd like to learn more about the origins of Umihara Kawase, here is the link to USGamer where they interview the creator: Kiyoshi Sakai.
There are two developers that are well known for their work on the Umihara Kawase series, Kiyoshi Sakai and Toshinobu Kondo. Kiyoshi Sakai is the creator, game designer and programmer behind the Umihara Kawase series, he came up with the physics-based platforming for Umihara Kawase by use of an elastic fishing line. Toshinobu Kondo is the illustrator and hence gave us the character design of Umihara Kawase. They have worked on every title in the series excluding Umihara Kawase Portable.
Disclaimer: The following historical information regarding TNN and XING may be inaccurate due to lack of verification.
Kiyoshi Sakai was coming up with concepts for a game to make back in the early 90s. He made the prototypes on a Sharp X680000. This quote from the USGamer interview is relevant:
Here is a video of those two prototypes mentioned.Kiyoshi Sakai said:
How he ended up deciding on making Umihara Kawase:
Here is footage of the prototype of Umihara Kawase he made on a Sharp X68000 back in 1992. If you read the USGamer interview it explains how he took the prototype to a friend at a development studio to see if a game could be made out of it. Sakai said the process didn't go smoothly and that it took more than two years for the game to release.Kiyoshi Sakai said:
The first game in the series: Umihara Kawase released on December 23rd 1994 for the Super Famicom in Japan, developed by TNN (Think about Needs of Notice for Human Being) and published by NHK SC (NHK Service Center) which is a subsidiary of the television broadcaster NHK (a.k.a. Japan Broadcasting Corporation). There are 49 fields (stages) and this Super Famicom game allowed you to save replay data. You will not find this game in the top 30 charts from Famitsu Weekly back when it released but that didn't stop the game from having a cult following.
Picture is from Umihara Kawase on Steam
The second game in the series: Umihara Kawase Shun released on February 28th, 1997 for the Sony Playstation in Japan, published by XING and developed by Jackpot who were the development studio TNN but were bought out by Japan Clary Games. This sequel has a new artstyle with environmental objects in 3D, animated cutscenes and voice acting with in-game commercials.
Picture is from Umihara Kawase Shun Steam Edition
In September 1997, Studio Saizensen was founded by Toshinobu Kondo who is currently the President and CEO of the company. Establishing themselves as an independent developer studio, they would go on to release games such as Pounding Poyaccio (PS1), Shining Hearts (PSP), Glory of Heracles (Nintendo DS) and more.
After a number of ports and enhanced versions of Umihara Kawase Shun games…
On September 26th, 2012. News released that Studio Saizensen had acquired the rights to Umihara Kawase which allowed Studio Saizensen to release Umihara Kawase Shun: Second Edition on PSN.
For more proof of this, read the following quote from Toshinobu Kondo:
The third game in the series: Sayonara Umihara Kawase released on June 20th, 2013 for the Nintendo 3DS in Japan, published by Agatsuma Entertainment and developed by Studio Saizensen. It features new playable characters and transitions from having 2D sprites to 3D characters. It would later become the first title in the series to release overseas.
Picture is from Sayonara Umihara Kawase+ on Steam.
Where can I play the other games in the series?
If you are looking to play Umihara Kawase, Umihara Kawase Shun and Sayonara Umihara Kawase. The easiest place to find those three games digitally is on Steam for PC. Here's the Steam link for the trilogy pack, you can also buy them separately.
If you don't have a PC, your options for digital games are limited. The Nintendo 3DS has the original Sayonara Umihara Kawase (Yumi's Odd Odyssey for the US because Natsume) on the eShop and the PS Vita has Sayonara Umihara Kawase+ on PSN.
Sayonara Umihara Kawase+ (PS Vita) comes with the original Umihara Kawase. To be able to play Umihara Kawase Shun Second Edition (PS1), you will need a Japanese PSN account to download the game on PS3/PSP/PS Vita. The link for it is here.
If you don't have any of the above then, if you own an Android Smartphone you can download Sayonara Umihara Kawase Smart (Click here). It is a port of Sayonara Umihara Kawase+ which is simplified by having replay and online leaderboard functions removed. It is highly recommended that you play the game using a "Bluetooth wireless controller or similar" because the touch controls are not good since the UI makes using jump + lure simultaneously an extremely difficult task (Sakai even made instructions for pairing your PS4 Dualshock Controller or Nintendo Switch Pro Controller to your phone). The first 10 stages of the game are free, you have to pay to play all 60 stages which is ¥450 or equivalent to the currency of your region (around $4). The game was ported by Kiyoshi Sakai under his studio called Sakai Game Development Factory, Sayonara Umihara Kawase Smart is licensed from Studio Saizensen.
If you're looking for physical copies of any of those games in the series, they can be much more difficult to find due to the fact being that this is a niche series that didn't come overseas until Sayonara Umihara Kawase on 3DS in 2014.
If you are still looking to import those other games in the series, I will list each game that had a physical release and you can go search on eBay and other resellers:
Umihara Kawase (Super Famicom, Nintendo DS*, PlayStation Vita**, Steam)
- Has 49 Fields (stages).
- Beware of region locking for the Super Famicom version.
- Steam release has additional features: Practice mode, online leaderboards, etc.
*Is an extra game included in Umihara Kawase Shun Second Edition Kanzenban for Nintendo DS
**Is an extra game included in Sayonara Umihara Kawase+ for PlayStation Vita.
Umihara Kawase Shun (PlayStation)
- Has 50 fields (stages)
- Only this game has in-game commercials.
- Beware of region locking.
Umihara Kawase Shun Second Edition (PlayStation)
- Has 53 fields (stages).
- This does not have in-game commercials.
- Beware of region locking.
Umihara Kawase Shun Second Edition Kanzenban (Nintendo DS)
- Has 61 Fields (stages).
- It includes Umihara Kawase.
- This does not have in-game commercials.
- The Steam release of Umihara Kawase Shun is based off this version, has additional online features: Leaderboards, etc. (Does not include Umihara Kawase.)
Umihara Kawase Portable (PSP)
- Buyer beware, this is considered a bad port of Umihara Kawase Shun because it was handled by Rocket Studio which didn't involve Kiyoshi Sakai to handle any of the programming. It is said that the game is buggy and the physics are worse than the original game. The publisher was Marvelous Entertainment.
Sayonara Umihara Kawase (Nintendo 3DS)
- Has 50 Fields (stages).
- Physical release only in Japan, beware of region locking.
Sayonara Umihara Kawase Chirari/Sayonara Umihara Kawase+ (PlayStation Vita)
- Has 60 Fields (stages).
- Frame rate increased from 30FPS to 60FPS
- Enhanced graphics
- Includes Umihara Kawase
- Physical release only in Japan, PS Vita is region-free.
- The Steam release of Sayonara Umihara Kawase+ is based off this version. (Does not include Umihara Kawase)
- The Steam release of Umihara Kawase is based off this version, has additional online features: Leaderboards, etc. (Does not include Sayonara Umihara Kawase)
Sayonara Umihara Kawase++ (PlayStation Vita)
- Go to this link.
In what order should I play the games?
You can play the games in any order. My suggestion if 1) You are a newcomer and 2) You are wanting to play something now while waiting for the western release of Umihara Kawase Fresh! is to play the games backwards in order. Sayonara Umihara Kawase is the easiest game to start with because your stage progression doesn't reset to zero. Plus, just like the guide I made for Umihara Kawase Fresh! there is also one I made for Sayonara Umihara Kawase+ three years ago and solutions to every stage (in case you get stuck) which is in this playlist here.
Has Umihara Kawase appeared in any other games?
Yes. Umihara, her childhood friend Emiko and her time traveling cop descendant Noko are playable characters in the fighting game Blade Strangers (PS4/Switch/Steam) developed by Studio Saizensen, published by Nicalis.
Umihara Kawase is also going to be a playable character in the game Crystal Crisis (PS4/Switch). This is a game published and developed by Nicalis Inc. which plays like Capcom's Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo. Note that she is a guest character because this game is not developed by Studio Saizensen, it is featuring characters from Cave Story, Binding of Isaac and Black Jack (Tezuka) to name a few.
Where can I see the anime scene of Umihara Kawase Shun in full screen?
So assuming you've reached the score ranking screen, you'll see Umihara Kawase sitting down playing on a PS1 in front of a TV. (Yes, the PS1 is blurred out if you are playing any of the non-PlayStation versions of Umihara Kawase Shun).
The TV will show a small image of an anime scene going on, it's not possible to see the scene in full screen in-game however, there is a YouTube link showing it in full screen. Mind you it's low res.
_____________________
¹Credit to Gematsu for the chef terminology quote.
