We recently had the opportunity to submit a written interview with CTW’s CEO, Founder, and Chairman, Ryuichi Sasaki! Below is the transcript of our interview with Sasaki-san!
First off, we would like to thank Sasaki-san for taking the time to speak with us today! His time and attention are truly appreciated!
Outerhaven: First, what was the decision behind CTW’s strategy to offer games primarily on web browsers?
Ryuichi Sasaki: Our decision to focus on browser-based games comes down to one simple philosophy: great games should be as easy to access as they are to enjoy.
With G123, players can start playing almost instantly—there are no downloads, lengthy installations, or high-end hardware requirements. Whether they’re using a PC, tablet, or smartphone, they can jump straight into the experience with minimal friction.
A browser-based platform also gives us much greater flexibility in how we support our games. Because we’re not tied to traditional app store update cycles, we can deliver new content, gameplay adjustments, bug fixes, and quality-of-life improvements much more quickly. That allows us to respond to player feedback in a timely manner and continuously improve the experience without requiring disruptive downloads or updates.
Ultimately, our goal is to make anime games as accessible and enjoyable as possible, while giving players a service that continues to evolve alongside their expectations.
Outerhaven: We know that there are different browsers out there, like Chrome/Edge/Brave, which run on Chromium, as well as others like Firefox, which have their own base code. How hard is it to develop games for different browsers?
Ryuichi Sasaki: From our perspective as a game platform, supporting multiple browsers is less about developing individual games and more about ensuring the platform delivers a consistent experience across different browser engines.
Chromium-based browsers such as Chrome, Edge, and Brave generally behave similarly, while Firefox and Safari require additional compatibility testing. Our focus is on ensuring that platform services—such as game loading, user authentication, payments, cloud saves, and other core features—work reliably regardless of the browser.
To achieve this, we build on web standards, perform comprehensive cross-browser testing, and design our platform APIs to minimize browser-specific differences. This allows game developers to focus on creating great games while we handle much of the browser compatibility at the platform level.
Outerhaven: The Apothecary Diaries is very popular, and we just saw the launch of Palace Chronicles, which has over 200,000 pre-registrations. What was most interesting about making a game from this series?
Ryuichi Sasaki: What impressed us most was the incredible enthusiasm from female fans. While The Apothecary Diaries has a broad audience, the response to the game really highlighted just how passionate its female fanbase is.
Maomao and Jinshi, in particular, are immensely popular, generating significant excitement whenever new content is announced—not only for the anime, but also for merchandise and collaboration events. Knowing how deeply fans care about the series, we recognized from the outset that expectations would be high for how the game’s world, story, and characters are represented.
That’s why we’re approaching development with great care, with a strong focus on preserving the atmosphere of the original work and the unique charm of its characters. Our goal is to deliver an experience that feels authentic to the series and lives up to fans’ expectations.
Surpassing 200,000 pre-registrations has only reinforced the passion and excitement surrounding The Apothecary Diaries, and we’re incredibly grateful for the support we’ve received.
Outerhaven: Doraemon Comic Traveler has been a major success for CTW. What do you think contributed to that success the most?
Ryuichi Sasaki: Without a doubt, the biggest factor has been the enduring popularity of Doraemon. It’s a series that has been loved by generations of fans, giving it an incredibly broad audience.
Another key advantage is G123’s browser-based platform, which lets players jump into the game instantly without downloading anything. That low barrier to entry makes it easy for people who don’t typically play games to give it a try, making it an ideal fit for an IP with such a large and diverse fanbase.
Finally, we believe the game’s success comes from striking the right balance between nostalgia and long-term engagement. It captures the charm and familiarity that longtime Doraemon fans cherish while offering gameplay that keeps players coming back over time.
Outerhaven: We saw that Petals of Reincarnation BLOOM is another upcoming title that will be on the G123 platform. What went behind the decision to target that series next?
Ryuichi Sasaki: Petals of Reincarnation features a distinctive cast of characters, a unique setting, and a compelling story, all of which lend themselves naturally to a game adaptation.
The charm of its characters, the creativity of their abilities, and the strength of its narrative translate seamlessly into gameplay, making it easy to capture the series’ appeal in a format that’s well-suited to G123’s accessible browser-based platform.
Outerhaven: Anime is becoming more mainstream in the West. As CTW expands in the West (an office in New York City), what are some of your hopes and goals?
Ryuichi Sasaki: Opening a US office is a big step for us, and it really reflects our goal of growing globally while getting closer to the audiences we care about most. We see the New York office as our base for the US anime and gaming community.
Being in New York puts us right next to fans, creators, media, and potential partners. That proximity is important for us—it helps us understand what US players are looking for, stay on top of trends in real time, and build stronger relationships instead of working entirely from afar. It also gives us a chance to be more present at conventions and industry events, which are a huge part of anime culture in the US.
More than anything, we hope the office helps us become a more active part of the community there, not just a platform from overseas. In the first year, we’d love to see meaningful growth in our English-speaking user base, some strong creator and marketing partnerships taking shape, and more awareness of G123 among US anime fans and media. And internally, we want the New York team to act as a real bridge—bringing back insights from the community and helping shape what we build next.
Outerhaven: Are there any upcoming projects after Petals of Reincarnation BLOOM that you are looking forward to? (If you can talk about them) And is there any special message that you would like to send to anime fans about CTW and the G123 platform?
Ryuichi Sasaki: We have several exciting projects in the works, although we can’t share the details just yet. What I can say is that we’re placing an even greater emphasis on our goal of creating a seamless experience where anime fans around the world can jump in and start playing immediately.
Because G123 is a browser-based gaming platform that requires no downloads, we’re able to launch titles simultaneously across multiple regions, including Japan, North America, South Korea, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia. That accessibility is a key part of our mission to bring anime games to fans worldwide.
Looking ahead, we’ll continue collaborating with major anime IPs and expanding our lineup with the goal of making G123 the first place fans think of when they hear their favorite series is getting a game. Personally, I’m excited about many of the projects we have yet to announce, and I look forward to the day we can finally share them with everyone.
Thank you very much for your time, Sasaki-san. It was truly a pleasure to speak with you!
