The "Different Winters, Us" exhibition is currently on display at Ikebukuro PARCO. We spoke with Tokoro Yori and the team behind the event—PARCO GAMES and Kodansha Game Lab—about what to look out for.

Note: the original Japanese article can be found at:
https://www.4gamer.net/games/633/G063319/20251010004/

Editorial Department: Junpoco Photographer: Hozu Akira | 2025/10/11 06:30 (UTC)

An exhibition themed around the two-player-only games “Bokura no Chigau Fuyu” and “Bokura no Chigau Hoshi,” created by indie game developer Toko Niyoriri, is currently underway at PARCO’s main building in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. The event runs from October 10 to November 3, 2025, with an admission fee of ¥500 (tax included).

Thumbnail image No.001 / “Bokura no Chigau Fuyu Exhibition” is currently on display at Ikebukuro PARCO. Insights from Toko Niyoriri and the teams behind the exhibition: PARCO GAMES and Shogakukan Games Lab

At a preview event held the day before the official opening on October 9, we were given a guided tour of the exhibition by Kento Ishii from PARCO GAMES, Yuki Kataoka from Shogakukan Games Lab (who contributed to planning), and Toko Niyoriri himself. We’ll share details about what we learned during that visit along with information on the event.

From left: Yuki Kataoka of Shogakukan Games Lab, Toko Niyoriri, and Kento Ishii of PARCO GAMES Thumbnail image No.003 / “Bokura no Chigau Fuyu Exhibition” is currently on display at Ikebukuro PARCO. Insights from Toko Niyoriri and the teams behind the exhibition: PARCO GAMES and Shogakukan Games Lab

PARCO ART Official Website – “Bokura no Chigau Fuyu Exhibition” Info Page

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This feature is an “extra round” continuation of the special front-page article in “Game Lab Magazine Vol. 2,” distributed at TGS 2025 by Shogakukan Games Lab. The discussion included Toko Niyoriri, Hafu Hafu Oden, and publishers Yuki Kataoka and Mari Hayashi—covering differences between individual and team-based indie development in Kansai region games and the perspectives of publishing houses.

[October 11, 2025, 10:00]

Upon entering the venue, visitors are first drawn to a recreated space featuring Toko Niyoriri’s actual development desk. While some details like chair type and monitor aspect ratio differ slightly from reality, it’s “almost exactly as is.” Even the creator himself joked that he might become too relaxed sitting there, making it hard to come up with good responses during interviews.

The setup evokes images of him working alone—two MacBook laptops side by side, alternating between them for testing gameplay.

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Next to the desk stands a bookshelf filled with actual books from Niyoriri’s personal library. On the upper shelf are science fiction works and films like Stand by Me, which directly influenced his creative process, while the lower shelf holds diverse paperbacks: literature he personally enjoys reading, classics of Japanese literary tradition, and theatrical works he studied during school.

Displaying one’s bookshelf is akin to exposing your inner world. When asked if it felt embarrassing, Niyoriri laughed and said, “This part feels the most awkward in this exhibition.” But then added, “At the same time, it’s also where my creative roots and thought process are most clearly visible—so I believe there’s real value in showing it.”

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As a fellow literature lover, I felt an especially strong sense of familiarity with the lower shelf. It was like looking at my own bookshelf—“I’d never want to show mine, but I can’t help peeking into others’,” I said. Niyoriri responded with a chuckle: “Same here! That’s why I found myself wondering if people would notice what parts I chose not to include this time around.”

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One of the most notable aspects of the exhibition is the display of original design documents. Visitors can follow the evolution from an initial concept—created before a single line of code was written—to the final product, using timeline comparisons.

“With corporate projects, such materials are rarely made public,” Niyoriri noted with a smile. “But because I work alone, this kind of transparency became possible.” The release of design documents is itself rare and valuable—a goldmine for indie developers seeking to learn how concepts take shape during the early stages.

Thumbnail image No.010 / “Bokura no Chigau Fuyu Exhibition” is currently on display at Ikebukuro PARCO. Insights from Toko Niyoriri and the teams behind the exhibition: PARCO GAMES and Shogakukan Games Lab

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The displayed design documents are rich in information. Niyoriri himself joked, “Reading all of it would be exhausting—just skim the parts that interest you.” He explained that these documents serve as a foundational reference for understanding how he envisioned making the game engaging—and even revisit them during promotional efforts after release.

This curated version of his original Excel-based design document was so visually clear and well-organized, Niyoriri said proudly, “It’s actually easier to read than my initial raw spreadsheet.”

Thumbnail image No.007 / “Bokura no Chigau Fuyu Exhibition” is currently on display at Ikebukuro PARCO. Insights from Toko Nyoriri and the teams behind the exhibition: PARCO GAMES and Shogakukan Games Lab

The merchandise corner is also highly appealing. Building on the success of previous pop-up shops, this exhibition introduces many new items.

For Bokura no Chigau Fuyu, pastel-colored stationery and everyday goods are featured—appealing to female fans and viewers who enjoy live streams. In contrast, Bokura no Chigau Hoshi includes more “grotesque” elements in its acrylic keychains and accessories.

Ishii explained: “There’s some spoilers involved—but visitors have already played the game thoroughly. These items are meant to become treasured mementos of shared experiences.”

Thumbnail image No.014 / “Bokura no Chigau Fuyu Exhibition” is currently on display at Ikebukuro PARCO. Insights from Toko Niyoriri and the teams behind the exhibition: PARCO GAMES and Shogakukan Games Lab

Thumbnail image No.013 / “Bokura no Chigau Fuyu Exhibition” is currently on display at Ikebukuro PARCO. Insights from Toko Niyoriri and the teams behind the exhibition: PARCO GAMES and Shogakukan Games Lab Thumbnail image No.012 / “Bokura no Chigau Fuyu Exhibition” is currently on display at Ikebukuro PARCO. Insights from Toko Niyoriri and the teams behind the exhibition: PARCO GAMES and Shogakukan Games Lab

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Additionally, attendees who spend over ¥11,000 (tax included) at the venue will receive a special bonus: Bokura no Chigau Fuyu scriptbook.

Kataoka said: “Since this is a two-player game, replaying it solo to revisit specific scenes can be difficult. This small booklet—like a pocket-sized poetry collection—is meant for players to reflect on the memories shared with their partner.” Niyoriri himself praised it highly: “I’d love to keep one myself—I really want to own a copy.”

Also available as an entry gift are trading cards (4 types, randomly selected), featuring key visuals from both games.

Thumbnail image No.019 / “Bokura no Chigau Fuyu Exhibition” is currently on display at Ikebukuro PARCO. Insights from Toko Niyoriri and the teams behind the exhibition: PARCO GAMES and Shogakukan Games Lab Thumbnail image No.020 / “Bokura no Chigau Fuyu Exhibition” is currently on display at Ikebukuro PARCO. Insights from Toko Niyoriri and the teams behind the exhibition: PARCO GAMES and Shogakukan Games Lab Thumbnail image No.017 / “Bokura no Chigau Fuyu Exhibition” is currently on display at Ikebukuro PARCO. Insights from Toko Niyoriri and the teams behind the exhibition: PARCO GAMES and Shogakukan Games Lab Thumbnail image No.018 / “Bokura no Chigau Fuyu Exhibition” is currently on display at Ikebukuro PARCO. Insights from Toko Niyoriri and the teams behind the exhibition: PARCO GAMES and Shogakukan Games Lab Thumbnail image No.015 / “Bokura no Chigau Fuyu Exhibition” is currently on display at Ikebukuro PARCO. Insights from Toko Niyoriri and the teams behind the exhibition: PARCO GAMES and Shogakukan Games Lab Thumbnail image No.016 / “Bokura no Chigau Fuyu Exhibition” is currently on display at Ikebukuro PARCO. Insights from Toko Niyoriri and the teams behind the exhibition: PARCO GAMES and Shogakukan Games Lab

At the back of the venue, a narrow passage separates the exhibition space from merchandise sales. Designed to reflect the game’s world, this corridor uses contrast between front and back sides to embody the core gameplay concept: “the difference in perspectives across two worlds.” A subtle puzzle element based on recurring symbols from the game adds another layer—designed so that those who notice it quietly discover it themselves, spreading awareness organically.

Ishii explained: “We minimized direct guidance through signage. Instead, we wanted visitors to naturally realize these details as they walk through.”

Thumbnail image No.011 / “Bokura no Chigau Fuyu Exhibition” is currently on display at Ikebukuro PARCO. Insights from Toko Niyoriri and the teams behind the exhibition: PARCO GAMES and Shogakukan Games Lab

Thumbnail image No.022 / “Bokura no Chigau Fuyu Exhibition” is currently on display at Ikebukuro PARCO. Insights from Toko Niyoriri and the teams behind the exhibition: PARCO GAMES and Shogakukan Games Lab Thumbnail image No.023 / “Bokura no Chigau Fuyu Exhibition” is currently on display at Ikebukuro PARCO. Insights from Toko Niyoriri and the teams behind the exhibition: PARCO GAMES and Shogakukan Games Lab

This exhibition was not solely organized by PARCO GAMES—the collaboration extended to Shogakukan Games Lab, which deeply contributed to theme development and content creation.

The idea for this exhibit originated from a pop-up shop held in January 2025 at the same Ikebukuro PARCO venue—featuring Bokura no Chigau Fuyu. The teams had previously discussed collaborating during an earlier exhibition, “Yokaze no Kōen,” held at PARCO in August 2024. That pop-up shop received far more attention than expected, prompting the next step: a full-scale exhibition that allows visitors to deeply immerse themselves in the game’s world.

Thumbnail image No.028 / “Bokura no Chigau Fuyu Exhibition” is currently on display at Ikebukuro PARCO. Insights from Toko Niyoriri and the teams behind the exhibition: PARCO GAMES and Shogakukan Games Lab

Kento Ishii, who proposed the exhibition theme, was already a fan of Toko Niyoriri’s work. His initial idea stemmed from wanting to “show fans what an indie creator’s actual development environment looks like”—a transparent display that would be both revealing and engaging.

This vision aligned perfectly with Yuki Kataoka’s desire: “I want to create a space where players can fully reimmerse themselves in the game world.” The convergence of these two perspectives shaped the final direction of this exhibition.

Thumbnail image No.027 / “Bokura no Chigau Fuyu Exhibition” is currently on display at Ikebukuro PARCO. Insights from Toko Niyoriri and the teams behind the exhibition: PARCO GAMES and Shogakukan Games Lab

The planning process involved close collaboration between both teams. It wasn’t a simple back-and-forth of proposals and approvals, but rather an iterative dialogue where each party deeply engaged with the creative vision.

Ishii reflected: “We kept refining details right up until the very end. From mid-stage onward, Toko Niyoriri was actively involved—making adjustments even on the day before opening.”

Niyoriri laughed in response: “At first I planned to just hand everything over and even wrote a greeting message saying ‘I did nothing.’ But by the time we opened, I realized I’d still been rearranging books on the shelf!”

Thumbnail image No.029 / “Bokura no Chigau Fuyu Exhibition” is currently on display at Ikebukuro PARCO. Insights from Toko Niyoriri and the teams behind the exhibition: PARCO GAMES and Shogakukan Games Lab Thumbnail image No.030 / “Bokura no Chigau Fuyu Exhibition” is currently on display at Ikebukuro PARCO. Insights from Toko Niyoriri and the teams behind the exhibition: PARCO GAMES and Shogakukan Games Lab

Finally, we asked Toko Niyoriri about his feelings toward this exhibition.

He said: “In Bokura no Chigau Fuyu, the essence of gameplay lies in creating opportunities for conversation between two players. My role is just a starting point—so I’ve always felt it’s slightly presumptuous to place myself too front and center.”

In other words, playing the game is an experience that unfolds through interpersonal connection—not merely following the creator’s intended path.

Nevertheless, this time he chose to display his desk, bookshelf, and design documents because “after two years since release, various player interpretations have emerged. I felt it was okay to share these private insights in a closed setting with those who are genuinely interested.”

He added: “I don’t claim there’s one ‘correct’ answer—but if visitors can catch even fragments of the thinking behind the work, that would be wonderful.”

Thumbnail image No.002 / “Bokura no Chigau Fuyu Exhibition” is currently on display at Ikebukuro PARCO. Insights from Toko Niyoriri and the teams behind the exhibition: PARCO GAMES and Shogakukan Games Lab

The “Bokura no Chigau Fuyu Exhibition” is currently on display at the special venue on B2F of PARCO’s main building in Ikebukuro, running from October 10 to November 3, 2025.

Information

Event Period: October 10 – November 3, 2025
Venue: Main Building B2F Event Space
Admission Fee: ¥500 (tax included)
Ticket Purchase URL: https://eplus.jp/bokura_exhibition/

Organizer: PARCO Co., Ltd. / PARCO GAMES
Collaboration: Shogakukan Games Creators Lab, Toko Niyoriri
Additional Info
Opening Hours: 11:00 – 21:00
※ Last day closes at 18:00
※ October 11 (Saturday) closes early at 17:00 due to event

PARCO ART Official Website – “Bokura no Chigau Fuyu Exhibition” Info Page

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[October 11, 2025, 10:00]