As we make our way into spring, flowers are blooming all over the world, but the Yoshino cherry blossoms that bloom this time of year in Japan have always held a special place in our hearts. We wanted to share our love for Cherry Blossoms and show our appreciation for our growing Japanese community with our very own Cherry Blossom mini-event in Core Keeper running from the 22nd until the 31st of March. Its a small token of our love, and we hope it makes your games a little bit brighter this spring. Its no secret by now that the Pugstorm team shares a love of Japanese culture, youll even spot references to some of our favourite pieces of Japanese media in Core Keeper. Well, we thought the launch of our Cherry Blossom mini-event would be the perfect opportunity to share some more information about our experiences with Japanese culture and how they have influenced the game. Our chairman, David Wallsten studied and worked in Japan and has fond memories of taking part in the custom of Hanami () AKA "flower viewing". He enjoyed the social element of Hanami, and recalls meeting with lots of different groups of friends for picnics underneath the cherry trees every year.
CEO, Fredrik Prntare has visited Japan several times over the years, soaking up the culture in places like Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Fukuoka. On his many visits he has met with Japanese creatives and attended artificial intelligence conferences, immersing himself in a culture of innovation. While Fredrik is a big fan of exploring the city and enjoying the delicious cuisine on offer (he's a big fan of ramen and udon!), his favourite thing about Japan is the amazing people he's met on his journeys. If you've spotted any Legend of Zelda references in Core Keeper, you can bet Fredrik had a hand in them! He's a huge fan of the franchise and has even hinted that we can expect more of these references in future, so keep an eye out! Alongside Fredrik's Zelda references, you'll come across some nods to Japanese media such as Made in Abyss, Studio Ghibli movies, and more. We hope youre looking forward to Core Keepers Cherry Blossom mini event perhaps youll get some friends together and take part in a Hanami of your own? In the meantime, dont forget to follow us on Twitter or join the discussions on the official Core Keeper Discord!