Viola Player Kazuhide Iino, a Cast Member of “The Bachelorette 3,” Tries Out a “Live-Action Dating Game”

Who will he give the rose to?

Reincarnated as a hamster and living with three beautiful sisters—a live-action romance game with an unprecedented premise “Hamkoi: My Sweet Days as a Hamster with Three Sisters” . We invited a variety of people to try out this game, whose demo version has just been released.

This time, our tester is violist Kazuhide Iino , who appeared on the popular dating show “The Bachelorette 3.” Which of the three sisters will Iino give his rose to?

“The games I usually play are eFootball , which I play when I have time. I played ‘Tokimeki Memorial’ a little when I was a kid, but I haven’t played any dating sims at all. Plus, this is my first time experiencing a live-action one,” said Iino (all quotes within “” are his).

Iino clicks the mouse tentatively. “Hamkoi” is a game where you advance the story by watching footage from a hamster’s perspective and selecting choices that appear from time to time.

“Actually, I had a hamster when I was in elementary school. It was the biggest golden hamster at the pet store. But so this is what the hamster’s perspective feels like (laughs).”

The heroines of this game are the “Three Beautiful Sisters”: the eldest sister, Himari, who is older than the protagonist; the second daughter, Futaba, who is the same age as the protagonist; and the youngest daughter, Miyu, who is a bit of a mama’s girl. What caught your attention at first glance?

“I’m really torn. So this is what it feels like to give someone a rose. At first, I thought it might be Futaba with her glasses, but I’ll go with Himari—she has such a wide range of expressions and is so charming.”

When I clicked on Episode 1 of the eldest sister’s route, Himari appeared dressed as a detective! “I wonder what kind of job she has, ” Iino-san mused, feeling a bit bewildered, but he gradually found himself drawn to Himari as she appeared in unexpected outfits, such as a nurse or a female teacher.

“When it comes to my own love life, I usually prefer older women, but in reality, I’ve only ever dated younger people. Even though it’s just a game, it’s fun to experience what it’s like to fall in love with an older woman.”

Next, I played through the third daughter’s story. From a hamster’s-eye view, I got up close to Miyu’s sleeping face, and the word “cute” slipped out before I knew it.

“Personally, I’ve often dated younger girls like this (laughs). But the third daughter, played by Ikemoto-san, has a different kind of charm compared to the eldest daughter, played by Tomaru-san.”

Finally, I had her experience the story of Futaba, the second daughter—a job-hunting student who dreams of becoming a ballerina. Futaba is a character torn between continuing her classical ballet, which has been her dream since childhood, and focusing on her job search.

“Hamkoi: My Sweet Days as a Hamster and the Three Sisters” Steam Page —Please add it to your wishlist!

Why did you empathize with the second daughter?

“I really like this character, too… I can relate to her struggle between her dreams and job hunting.

I myself once got a job with an orchestra in Sendai, but behind that decision were feelings like wanting to put my parents’ minds at ease and wanting proof that I’d been recognized. But I couldn’t do what I really wanted to do in the orchestra, so in the end, I left to express the music that was inside me.

If I hadn’t done that, I probably wouldn’t be here today (laughs). When I think about it that way, I feel that the decision I made back then wasn’t a mistake.”

After playing the demo for about an hour, what were Mr. Iino’s impressions of “Hamkoi”?

“At first, I was— women—I was surprised, or rather, my heart started racing. But as my eyes gradually adjusted, I became curious to see how the story would unfold. Since each character has their own backstory, I’d like to play the full version while savoring those details.”

Having received numerous roses on *The Bachelorette 3*, which of the three sisters will Iino ultimately give his rose to?

“At first, I thought it might be the eldest sister, Ichimarin, but …… . Since I play the viola, I ended up empathizing with Futaba, the second daughter who does ballet. We share the same struggle of figuring out how to make a living in the arts.”

You might think “Hamkoi” is just a sexy game, but it also unfolds a story that you’ll find yourself empathizing with. If you’re interested, be sure to add it to your wishlist and try out the demo!

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Kazuhide Iino / He switched to the viola upon entering Tokyo College of Music and went on to pursue a master’s degree at the Tokyo University of the Arts after graduation. He then moved to France to further his studies at the Conservatoire National de Musique Edgar Varèse.From January 2017 to August 2019, he served as associate principal violist with the Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra, and in September 2019, he began his solo career in Tokyo. For the latest updates, follow him on X (@kAzUhIdE6318).