At this year's edition of the Game Japan Festa 2005 in Osaka RED Entertainment president Ouji Hiroi said, he might leave the Sega subsidiary and become a freelancer next year. The mastermind behind Tengai Makyou (Far East of Eden) and Sakura Taisen mentioned that it was his dream to go freelance and then manage to surprise the entire world.

Since Hiroi did not elaborate any further on his dream, it remains to be seen what becomes of his most popular brainchild Sakura Taisen. After the July release of Sakura Taisen V: Saraba Itoshiki Hito yo, three more previously announced Sakura Taisen titles have yet to be released for PlayStation 2: Sakura Taisen Monogatari: Teito-hen, Kouma and Sakurahime Nishiki Emaki. Sega however does not even list Sakura Taisen Monogatari: Teito-hen in its current release schedule, while the release dates of the latter two titles are still listed as "tba". The next Sakura Taisen game to hit Japanese retail store shelves will be Sakura Taisen 1 and 2 for PlayStation Portable in spring 2006.

• Mainichi Interactive