Shujinkou

Welcome to the World of SHUJINKOU
Aiming to appeal to both speakers and non-speakers of Japanese play as Shu Jin and Kou as you try to save the world from the Akuma in this single player JRPG
A retired samurai 主 is entrusted with saving his home from intelligent language-devouring Akuma alongside an eccentric fox 人 freed from a cursed abode and an astute princess 公 with her own ambitions
Shujinkou is a dungeon-crawling JRPG that offers a unique opportunity to learn Japanese as you play It features thousands of Japanese words phrases kana kanji and grammar elements that players can master through focus diligence and consistency The language content spans from JLPT N5 to N1 standards accommodating learners at any stage Shujinkou is NOT purely a learning tool it is a video game with optional but comprehensive language learning functionalities embedded into various gameplay mechanics
Learning is OPTIONAL First and foremost experience a new kind of JRPG
However learning Japanese is entirely optional For those more interested in the adventure Shujinkou delivers a rich JRPG experience Players can immerse themselves in hundreds of skills items equipment forging cooking fishing quests minigames shops and countless achievements and records to break Explore a vast world engage with a riveting story meet multifaceted characters enjoy stunning artwork and lose yourself in hours of dynamic music
All of these elements are woven together through an80 hour story campaign with over200 hours of gameplay content gradually introducing a complex set of RPG mechanics throughout the journey to create a truly comprehensive experience
Player Praise and Feedback Beta Period
We hosted a Closed Beta testing period from June to July2024 where we received feedback from many players who played the Windows version of Shujinkou They had access to around30 of the story campaign Here are some of the comments we received
I really love how much Japanese integration there is while still retaining a full game scenario an ultimate success in gamified learning
Player who knew hiragana and basic vocabulary before playing
My favorite part was that I m learning a skill I can use with time so it s not even that guilty of a pastime like most other games
Player who had no knowledge of Japanese before playing
I basically played it every day I was able to and found myself genuinely learning things to the point that I without any help read what someone wrote in Japanese on a Discord server the other day
Player who has wanted to but struggled to learn Japanese for over a decade
Shujinkou has been great for getting me to reengage with learning Japanese and I basically enjoyed all of the characters that I met from minor NPCs to the playable cast which isn t a small feat
Player who actively studied Japanese in the past
The Art team did a very good job in the character designs and the monsters both in the open world and while fighting the huge art of the Yajuu was badass Oh and good lord did the Music team nail it I just cannot express to you how well they came off to me as music is a very big part of my overall enjoyment and experience in a game
Player who has looked for a legitimate game to properly teach them Japanese
Want to Learn More Here We Go
Gameplay First Dungeon Crawling with Giant Monsters
Explore over a dozen labyrinths and over40 handcrafted maps spanning tens of thousands of tiles looking for Kanakae Orbs orbs imbued with elements of nature and Japanese kana and kanji and avoiding large dangerous foes called Yajuu 野獣
Each labyrinth is filled with unique gameplay mechanics puzzles dozens of akuma treasure chests resource harvesting points and more
Shujinkou also has a4 way Time System Day Dusk Night Dawn that is present in various towns and labyrinths
For Gamers AND Learners An Interwoven Battle System
Shujinkou s Battle System is filled with dozens of mechanics including Battle Skills Arawasu 現 Akuma Negotiation Koushou 交渉 the Escape Minigame and more However the most effective way to defeat the akuma of Shujinkou is by striking their Elemental Weaknesses and Ontological Weaknesses
Use the seven elements of Shujinkou to strike enemy weaknesses and deal extra damage
Use the Kanakae Orbs 変 to reveal the names of akuma the more of an akuma s name you reveal the more damage everyone is able to deal Grinding your Japanese skills only helps make battles easier and quicker to trounce through
For Gamers Build the Strongest Bonds
Shujinkou has plenty of side-content for players who want to take their time and experience the story over a longer period of time
Play through over200 quests Youkyuu 要求 earning thousands of EXP special items and lots of money by fulfilling these requests learn more about the backstories and personalities behind hundreds of civilians that live in Shu s home nation Genya and other foreign nations
Develop a special bond called the Kizuna 絆 with up to SIX PARTNERS by helping them with their private personal requests The stronger your bond is with them the more bonuses you will obtain unlock over40 Kizuna Bonuses that can augment your skills in battle make it easier to win minigames provide useful discounts for goods at shops and much much more
For Learners Practice Writing Hiragana Katakana and Kanji
Through the Moji Kiroku 文字記録 practice writing hundreds of Japanese kana and kanji as you progress through Shujinkou s story and discover new Kanakae Orbs Stroke order writing accuracy example words most commonly used kunyomi 訓読 and onyomi 音読 readings for kanji and more can be reviewed as you collect more and more Kanakae Orbs
For Learners Review Thousands of Japanese Words Phrases and More
Thousands of words phrases sentences explanations for grammar and more are present in various dialogue and signboards throughout Shujinkou
Shujinkou s overall story and side-quest content exceeds over one million words edited and revised for both language accuracy and the narrative style that was often seen in JRPGs in the90 s and00 s
All words and phrases covered can be viewed at any point in time in the Blue Text Menu
Grammar concepts and Japanese concepts that require deeper explanations are found in the hundreds of Kanban 看板 Signboard scattered through the labyrinths
For Learners Swap to English at ANY Time
Shujinkou is able to swap the majority of its user interface text into one of four displays English Japanese Furigana helper kana for kanji and Romaji romanized Japanese
If you are not using any English displays but feel a bit worn out from all of the Japanese you can immediately swap the game into English Mode at the click of a button and continue to play through Shujinkou just like you would any other JRPG
Dozens of Other Gameplay amp Learning Mechanics
Shujinkou is filled with dozens of other gameplay and learning mechanics woven into the overall experience in such a way that each and every player will feel like their playthrough is unique Whether you want to treat Shujinkou like a full-scale learning tool for Japanese or play it like a story-driven mechanically complex JRPG inspired by some of the most timeless classic role-playing games Shujinkou is at your fingertips ready to provide you with an unforgettable time
Our soundtrack is filled with over150 tracks of music including a wide array of genres from classical to metal jazz to electronic gypsy to Eastern and plenty more
Experience a full-fledged Jukebox that allows players to listen to all of the music in the game The Jukebox music continues to play while actively checking any and every menu
Reminisce on the dozens of fullscreen illustrations drawn by our talented Art Team through the Gallery Menu which gives players access to all of the illustrations that they have seen throughout Shujinkou s story and side-content
SHUJINKOU s Core Cast The Good Guys of Genya
Are you ready for SHUJINKOU
We hope so Shujinkou is Rice Games s first commercial release if you have been craving a content-packed single-player role-playing game with tremendous love amp care poured into ALL aspects of its development while offering the ability to help you learn a useful real life skill as you play Shujinkou may just be what you are looking for We promise you will not be disappointed
If you have any questions please join our community on Discord and feel free to ask away We ll promise to answer or enter the discussion as soon as we can