REALITY Staff Interview 【Yoshikawa - Art Team】

What is the REALITY Employee Interview?

Hello everyone!
Thank you for always enjoying REALITY.
I’m SHARI, from the Community Team.🍣

Why are we suddenly starting a new article?!?!
Let me explain that to you guys. For some time now, we have received several questions such as “What kind of work the REALITY management do?”, “Who are the people behind REALITY?” and more, so we started a new article to showcase some of our staff members and employees!

Our First Guest

And now, for our memorable first guest!
Please welcome Ms. Yoshikawa, from the REALITY Art Team!

Yoshikawa: Hello! Nice to meet you~!

SHARI: 
Nice to meet you! Even though we’re working in the same company, this is my first time talking with you, right? I would love to know a little bit more about you, so let’s get into the interview!

■Getting to know Ms. Yoshikawa

ー Straight to the point, what kind of person is “Yoshikawa”?

Yoshikawa: I’m sorry, I’m not that interested in myself…! I’m more of an observer, it might be hard for me to stream. I’m a person who admires watching REALITY’s streamers being authentic with themselves while streaming on the app.
I find myself suited for working behind the scenes, creating something, and shaping the working environment for everyone (management), you could say it's a backstage kind of nature!
I enjoy watching all of you shine and excel in what you do.

■ Hobbies and How I Spend my Private Time

ー Do you have any kind of hobbies to share with us?

Yoshikawa: Hobbies, you say? (laughs)
My hobbies are hiking, running, and camping!
I love games and anime too.

SHARI: Oh, you're quite active! Was there any particular reason or inspiration that led you to these hobbies?

Yoshikawa: I started running originally to improve work efficiency. Due to my role involving multiple tasks, I found that my perspective would narrow down while working, so I started running during lunch breaks. It allows me to reset my mind, organize my thoughts, and then switch back to work with a fresh perspective and determination. Lately, it has become too hot, so I've been running in the evenings or at night instead.

I usually run around here during spring~

Yoshikawa: A friend invited me to go hiking and it was amazing! This time of the year is especially great for it. I love the air and the scenery, so I usually go to mountains that are around 2500 meters or higher. Since there is still snow, it's pleasantly cool. Even in the peak of summer, it's around 12 or 13 degrees Celsius (Around 54 degrees Fahrenheit), and I enjoy hiking in such refreshing mountain environments.

SHARI: It's so cool and healthy to have lots of scenes where you get to connect with nature, both physically and mentally. I totally look up to that!
Have there been any anime or games that had an impact on you?

Yoshikawa: Trigun and Cowboy Bebop! I have an older brother so I was influenced a lot by shounen manga. I watch anime every night and sometimes even while exercising or muscle-building! Lately, I’m really into “Oshi no Ko”. All the girls are so cute, the anime is perfect.✨

SHARI: Oh, so you’re even doing muscle-building…! By the way, SHARI’s favorite character from Oshi no Ko is Arima Kana. It looks like you’re more of an outdoor kind of person, but…

■ The adorable co-habitant

ー So, I’ve heard that you have a cute friend living with you too…?

Yoshikawa: I have a pet parakeet, and sometimes during meetings, it chirps loudly. It's a parakeet known as a "Quaker Parrot," and it can be four different colors: green, red, yellow, and blue.

SHARI: Aww it’s so cute and colorful! What a precious picture…
Does it even join you during meetings?! That’s so cute!

Talking about Work

■About the Art Team

ー Can you tell us what kind of work you do in REALITY?

Yoshikawa: For starters, let me tell you that we have these two teams: the Design Team and the Art Team. 
They might look similar, but their job responsibilities are entirely different.

The Design Team is responsible for creating announcement banners within the app and other related tasks.

On the other hand, the Art Team designs the well-known Gachas and avatar items for the shop. I have the privilege of managing this team.

ー I see…! Even if we say "design", it is a field classified into different categories, right? While the word "management" alone seems challenging, are there any important things valued within it?
Yoshikawa: I believe that to create rich creativity, those involved in the creative process must also lead a fulfilling life. This is because, in my previous job, which was at a demanding company, many people often got exhausted and couldn't stay for long, resulting in high turnover rates. Now, I prioritize work-life balance and strive to manage it carefully, aiming for a balanced and fulfilling environment.

ーIt is indeed very important! Even from an outsider's perspective, the atmosphere within the art team always seems very friendly and harmonious. But how is it in reality?

Yoshikawa: The art team is always praising each other. They respect one another and engage in discussions with proper input. The art team has a great balance, and it's my favorite team I've ever been a part of!

ーThat's great! The community team can't fall behind either! 🔥 Now, I would like to ask about a hugely popular "gacha" next.

■How is the production of a gacha conducted?

ーAttractive gachas are being released one after another, but how are they actually made?

Yoshikawa: So, first, we decide on a theme, like "Let's make it Japanese-style!" and then we place special emphasis on the aspects that should be attractive. We then define these points quite specifically and create the gacha accordingly.

①Decide the theme

Everyone in the art team gathers together and chatters while making decisions.
 We hold quite a few meetings during this process and decide on the details. 
Depending on the case, it can take up to about six months of discussions to finalize everything.

② The person in charge imagines the intended image

We create several rough drafts based on the theme and then hold multiple meetings to further refine the ideas. The finalized concepts are then drawn in three-dimensional views, ensuring that every detail is clear and easily understandable to everyone.

Above all, the goal is to ensure that everyone enjoys the final result. This process is where the passion and dedication of the team members are tightly packed into the project, adding a personal touch to it.

③We hold multiple meetings and proceed with the production!

Until the purchase order is completed, various departments are involved in the production of the gacha. This includes 3D artists, planners, managers, and in some cases, engineers, who are needed to progress the production.

■ Secrets behind the production of the Archangels and Archfiends Gacha

ーPersonally, among the recent releases, the "Archangels and Archfiends" gacha was particularly impressive.

ーI didn't expect a gacha with a completely different angle like "Archangels and Archfiends" instead of a revival of angels and demons. It pleasantly surprised me in a really good way! (laughs)

SHARI: If there are any behind-the-scenes stories about its production, I would love to hear them!

Yoshikawa: Regarding this gacha, it's not meant to be an upgraded version of the Angels and Demons gacha. The first edition of the Angels and Demons gacha (and, of course, most others as well) had a special place in the hearts of the team members. We designed and created it while having conversations together, and the discussions and details from that time are still vividly remembered.

Yoshikawa: With the new gacha, we wanted to approach the concept of angels and demons from a different perspective, in a way that aligns with the uniqueness of REALITY. We hoped it would bring joy to the players as well, just like the previous one!

Comparing it to the previous gacha…

■F-type
Previous work: Cute impression
Current work: The concept was changed to have a sense of elegance

■M-type
Previous work: It had a fantasy theme, designed to be able to interpret both angels and demons.
Current work: This time, we completely focused on the concept of "Archfiend"

Yoshikawa: It was really delightful when users noticed it without any explicit mention, but both the wings from the previous work and the wings from the current work can be equipped, allowing users to have four wings! This was something the art team was really eager to do.

SHARI: It's wonderful to see that the desire for users to enjoy both aspects is reflected in these details. There have been many positive responses about the wig appearing separately from the accessories, and the increased options for adjustability, which allow for more customization. Everyone is happy with the additional possibilities!

Yoshikawa: I believe that this direction is a result of aligning with the needs of the users. We want to be user-friendly and enjoy the experience together with our users.

SHARI: Thank you for sharing that with us! When I see the design ideas, it feels like an art exhibition, and I also feel happy just looking at them.

■What is the most enjoyable moment for you when working?

ーI believe there are many challenging aspects in the production process, but could you please share the moments that make you feel excited or raise your spirits, Ms. Yoshikawa?


Yoshikawa: I have several moments that make me feel excited:
・When I see something I specified "I want it to be like this" coming to life in 3D and moving.
・When the design team creates the gacha banners, I'm often moved by their work.
・The most exciting moment is seeing the reactions from users when the gacha is released! I actually check them out a lot! 👀

SHARI: I totally understand that! I also check the user's reactions a lot, and when we receive positive feedback, it genuinely motivates me like, "Wow! Let's work even harder!" It's really encouraging!

■ How I came to work for REALITY

ーI think designing avatars for a streaming app is a very specialized job. What is the origin of how you came to work at REALITY, Ms. Yoshikawa?

Yoshikawa: My roots, huh? I've been in the IT industry for about 10 years now. I used to work on creating mobile games. In my previous job, I had the opportunity to work on VR-related designs, and that's when I started finding this industry interesting. Around that time, the term "metaverse" started to emerge and gain traction. You know, there are those moments when new cultures are on the verge of being born.

SHARI: New cultures on the verge of being born？

Yoshikawa: Exactly. It's like the transition from the time when mobile phones weren't widespread to the era when they became ubiquitous. I wanted to jump into those moments of transition, where new cultures are emerging and evolving.

SHARI: It's impressive to have the willingness to take a leap, but making the decision to actually jump in is also a significant step, isn't it?

Yoshikawa: It seems like the timing was just right since there was a job opening, and then I applied, leading to an interview. By the way, when I applied, the manager at the time was wearing a T-shirt with "Don't Speak!" written in large letters on it, and it made me laugh.

SHARI: What?!?! (laughs)

Yoshikawa: (Hmm, am I not supposed to speak? Is this one of those intimidating interviews?!) I thought that and laughed. At that time, there was another person in charge of the interview, so I ended up looking at them and talking mostly to them.

SHARI: Yes, it's true that even back then, you could sense REALITY's free and relaxed company culture! (laughs) Speaking of REALITY, it has been globalizing, so would you like to share some stories about your experiences abroad?

Overseas Talk

■ Have you ever been abroad before?

I have been to Guam, Saipan, Dallas, and California in the United States. Also, I've been to Malaysia, Taiwan, Australia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Austria, and some other places...

SHARI: Wow, you traveled a lot!! Do you have any episodes to share with us?!

Yoshikawa: The moment when the Reiwa era began (2019), I was staying very close to Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany (which is said to be the inspiration for Cinderella's Castle). For Japanese people, it's quite a significant moment, but for some reason, I intentionally chose to spend it in Germany.

SHARI: That’s quite a rare experience…! It seems you enjoy going abroad a lot!


Yoshikawa: The people in Germany and Taiwan were so kind that I felt like I didn't need a map at all. They helped me a lot during my travels. Even though we couldn't understand each other's languages, I've always admired people from different countries who live true to themselves. That's why I love the idea of living authentically in those places.

Yoshikawa: I think this might be a commonality, but I'm really drawn to the idea of creating an identity in the form of an avatar in REALITY, one that is different from my real-life self, and living more and more through that. If I could contribute to creating this metaverse culture and help others in doing so, I would be incredibly happy, and I'm really looking forward to it.

SHARI: I’m looking forward to that too! Let’s do our best. And lastly…

One last word to all users out there!

Please answer the surveys!!

Yoshikawa: I really want to be user-friendly and responsive to your needs. I know there are areas where we haven't caught up yet, and I apologize for that. But at least, when it comes to creating gachas and other future content, I want to provide what you all desire and want. Your feedback, like tweets or comments saying "I want this," can also be really helpful!

Yoshikawa: If I hear opinions like "I want something like this," I'll do my best to create various things that cater to your preferences as much as possible. I will continue to work hard, so please continue to support us! Thank you!

SHARI: With that being said, we’re waiting for your survey replies!
Ms. Yoshikawa, thank you very much for joining us today!


The art team is currently publishing a note that includes behind-the-scenes stories about gacha!

▼Check it out here (Japanese)
https://note.com/reality_eng/m/m69e90339b209