Ryukishi07 (born November 19, 1973; real name unknown) is a Japanese horror writer and an artist, the founder of 07th Expansion game development studio, best known for the When They Cry series of "sound novels". A regular at Comiket Fan Conventions, where most of his early works were sold on CD.
Before breaking into a career as a writer, Ryukishi07 made a living as a social worker within Japan's child welfare system, which he has cited as a reason why child abuse and dysfunctional families tend to be recurring themes many of his works. During this time, he also produced the Leaf Fight card game as a side-gig.
Tsukihime has served as the inspiration to start the writing career. In 2000 Ryukishi07 wrote Hinamizawa Bus Stop, which was later expanded and remade as Higurashi: When They Cry.
His name is a Goroawase Number pun on a Final Fantasy V character Lenna Charlotte Tycoon.
Works that Ryukishi07 and 07th Expansion were involved in:
- When They Cry
- Higurashi: When They Cry (2002)
- Higurashi Daybreak (2006)
- Higurashi: When They Cry Mei (2020)
- Umineko: When They Cry (2007)
- Umineko: Golden Fantasia (2010)
- Ciconia: When They Cry (2019)
- Higurashi: When They Cry (2002)
- Kaidan To Odorou Soshite Anata Wa Kaidan De Odoru (2012)
- Ookami Kakushi (2009, collaborative work with Peach-Pit)
- The Unforgiving Flowers Blossom in the Dead of Night (2010)
- Rewrite (2011, collaborative work with Key/Visual Arts)
- Rose Guns Days (2013)
- Iwaihime (2016)
- Hotarubi no Tomoru Koro ni (2016)
- TRianThology ~Sanmenkyou no Kuni no Alice~ (2016, collaborative work with Yuuto Tonokawa and Romeo Tanaka)
- Harem Royale - When the Game Ends - (2016)
- Banshee's Last Cry (2017, additional writer for Updated Re Release)
- Gensou Rougoku No Kaleidoscope (2020)
- Loopers (2021, collaborative work with Key/Visual Arts)
- Silent Hill F
