RE:9 Requiem producer Masato Kase opens the door to a long-held fan dream — a mainline Resident Evil game set in Japan — in a revealing new interview about the series' future direction.
For decades, Resident Evil fans have dreamed of a mainline entry set in Japan — and that dream may finally be on the horizon. In a recent interview with Japanese gaming media, RE:9 Requiem producer Masato Kase (熊泽雅登) hinted that the series could absolutely explore a Japanese setting in future installments, marking one of the most direct acknowledgments of this possibility from Capcom's leadership.
"The Resident Evil series has always been about the fusion of horror and different cultural backdrops," Kase said during the interview. "We've explored American small towns, European Gothic castles, African villages, and Southeast Asian islands. Japan as a setting is absolutely something we're completely open to exploring when the right story and the right vision come together."
This statement is significant because it goes beyond the typical non-committal developer responses to fan questions. Kase specifically detailed why a Japanese setting could work: "Japanese horror has a unique texture — the combination of urban legends, traditional folklore, and the contrast between ultra-modern cityscapes and ancient shrines creates an atmosphere that's distinctly unsettling. It's a palette we haven't fully touched in the main series."
The prospect of a Japan-set Resident Evil opens up fascinating creative possibilities. Imagine navigating the claustrophobic alleyways of Shinjuku's Golden Gai district while pursued by B.O.W.s, or exploring an abandoned Japanese castle in the mountains where Umbrella conducted secret experiments during the bubble era. The classic Japanese horror tropes — yurei (ghostly apparitions), cursed objects, and the blurring line between folklore and bio-organic weaponry — could give the series a fresh identity while staying true to its survival horror roots.
Of course, Kase was careful to note that no concrete plans for a Japan-set Resident Evil game are currently in active development. The immediate focus remains on supporting RE:9 Requiem, which continues to perform exceptionally well with over 8 million copies sold, and the upcoming story DLC expected later this year. However, with Capcom's recently revealed five-year franchise roadmap extending through 2031, there is ample room for new directions.
For now, the message is clear: Capcom hears the fans, and a Japanese Resident Evil is no longer a question of 'if' but 'when.' As the series approaches its 30th anniversary, returning to the country of its creators might be the most natural evolution of all.