Thick Thighs: A Comfort in Recession Blues, Says Atelier Yumia Producer

They say that thick thighs save lives, and Junzo Hosoi, a producer on the Atelier series, amusingly implies they’re quite trendy during economic downturns too, when referring to the beloved character Reisalin “Ryza” Stout.

Having weathered a “lost decade” in the 1990s and still showing signs of economic struggles, Japan seems to have been an ideal audience for a character like Ryza. Plus, Ryza’s trilogy holds its own quite well—at least from what I’ve gathered. In a conversation with 4Gamer, Hosoi offered his insight into this phenomenon.

“There’s a connection between the state of the economy and the designs that gain traction,” Hosoi said. He believes that the types of characters people gravitate towards can vary based on economic conditions. In harder economic times, designs portraying fuller figures seem to hold more appeal.

This might sound a bit peculiar, but a quick search can lead you to academic studies that back it up. Take the 2005 study by Leif Nelson and Evan Morrison, titled “The Symptoms of Resource Scarcity: Judgments of Food and Finances Influence Preferences for Potential Partners.” Simply put, in tough times, people might find physical traits suggesting someone isn’t skipping meals more attractive.

Hosoi’s interview also touched on Atelier’s upcoming protagonist, Yumia. Unlike Ryza, Yumia doesn’t share her fuller figure but instead has a more slender appearance, reflecting more global preferences.

Interestingly, economics plays a role here, too. Japan’s persistent financial woes have pushed local gaming companies to expand their horizons to attract global players. For instance, Sony is now launching games for PC—a move not hugely impactful at home but significant for markets in the U.S. and Europe.

Gust, the creators of Atelier, found tremendous success with the Ryza trilogy, both in Japan and internationally. They’ve acknowledged this broader audience, which has potential dollars to spend. It’s noteworthy that Poland is on track to surpass Japan’s GDP soon, highlighting the growing importance of international markets.

And there you have it—a dive into why Ryza sports thicker thighs in her trilogy and the shift back to slimmer designs. How fascinating it is that my job connects economic studies from 2005 and anime character designs, all while exploring these intriguing links.