(This article contains NSFW links. Reader discretion is advised.)
JAST USA have announced that they are starting a new label for releasing boys’ love/yoai visual novels for the Western market. Furthermore, JAST announced the debut title for this new label named JAST BLUE. It is the cult gothic visual novel sweet pool, which originally released in Japan in 2006 as an 18+ only title on PC. This title was developed by Nitro+CHiRAL, the boy’s love brand of Steins;Gate creator Nitro+.
Here is a description of sweet pool, via VNDB:
Yoji is a little bit nervous because he goes to school for the first time in several months. From that day, his surroundings gradually change…. Tetsuo unexpectedly approaches Yoji. Yoji asks Tetsuo why, but he never answers…. Yoji gets scared of Tetsuo. Zenya also approaches Yoji at the same time. One day, Zenya suddenly whispers Yoji, “It’s all your fault….” Strange pain…. Vivid nightmare…. Are they just illusions? What are Tetsuo and Zenya’s purpose?
Furthermore, here is what JAST USA had to say about their new brand via their official Tumblr:
We’re very excited to announce our new BL-dedicated imprint, JAST BLUE.
Boys’ Love, also known as BL or yaoi, is a popular genre depicting romantic and sexual relationships between men. The fanbase is primarily women, much like that of m/m slash readership demographics in Western fan communities.
The imprint’s debut title will be sweet pool, the cult gothic hit from internationally acclaimed BL visual novel creators Nitro+CHiRAL.
“We’re certainly excited about all the future BL visual novels that will be coming to English from JAST BLUE. We think fans will enjoy the variety of fantastic games we have in the works, starting off with Nitroplus’s dark and twisted title sweet pool.”
– Nicholas Graham, JAST USA
“sweet pool is a wild ride and an absolute masterclass in gripping horror marbled with poignant character moments. If you’re looking to dip your toe into Boys’ Love as a genre, I encourage you to take the plunge with this one.”
– Molly Lee, Translator
“sweet pool first released in Japan 10 years ago. Since then, the game has been much cherished by our fans, and we are truly honored to see it localized in time for its 10th anniversary. To all our fans out there in the West, we hope you will soon discover what makes sweet pool so special in our hearts.”
– Nitro+CHiRAL
No further details have been announced about the title including release date and whether there will be any censorship. However this gives boys’ love fans across the Western world something to look forward to in the future.
