It has been nearly three decades since the original Resident Evil trapped players inside the Spencer Mansion. Since then, the franchise has explored zombie‑infested police stations, decrepit Louisiana plantations, gothic castles in Eastern Europe, and rural Spanish villages. But there is one notable absence: Japan. Despite Capcom being a Japanese company, not a single mainline Resident Evil game has been set in the Land of the Rising Sun. That could finally change.
A Producer’s Telling Hint
In a recent interview with Futaman (reported by Automaton), Resident Evil Requiem producer Masato Kumazawa was asked directly about the possibility of a Japanese setting. His answer was unusually open: “I think a Japanese setting is something every Japanese Resident Evil fan has thought about, and I’ve also considered it myself. Since the development team is primarily based in Japan, I think every member has given it some thought. While Japan hasn’t appeared as a game setting so far, it might make an appearance at some point in the future.”
This is the first time a Capcom representative has so clearly acknowledged the idea. Previous entries have only hinted at Japan through minor lore – Umbrella has a branch there, and Resident Evil Outbreak featured a Japanese character named Yoko Suzuki – but the country itself has never been a playable environment.
What Could a Japanese Resident Evil Look Like?
A modern Evil set in Japan offers rich possibilities. Imagine navigating the claustrophobic corridors of an abandoned suburban apartment block in Tokyo, or escaping a contaminated research facility hidden beneath the streets of Osaka. Urban legends like the kuchisake‑onna (slit‑mouthed woman) could be reimagined as a bio‑organic weapon. A rural mountain village infected by a new variant of the T‑virus would combine Evil 4’s atmosphere with Shinto folklore.
Kumazawa’s comments suggest the idea is still in the conceptual phase. But given the series’ current trajectory – Evil Requiem received a 10/10 and the franchise is hotter than ever – a Japanese‑set entry could be a bold, refreshing direction for Evil 10 or beyond.
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When Might We See It?
Kumazawa’s phrasing (“might make an appearance at some point in the future”) indicates no immediate plans. However, with Evil 10 rumoured to be in early development, and a story DLC for Requiem reportedly bridging to that game, a Japanese setting is no longer just fan fiction. It is, for the first time, a real possibility.
For now, fans can enjoy Resident Evil Requiem – available on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2. But as we look ahead, the next biohazard may be brewing just a plane ride away.