Journal du Japon recently spoke with Julien Bouvard and Mathieu Triclot, authors of The Keyboard and Tears: Understanding Japanese Popular Cultures through Clannad, about their book and the visual novel genre. Bouvard, who has been involved with video games for many years, shared his early experiences with 8-bit consoles and his passion for collecting rare Japanese games, including the untranslated series Fûraiki. Triclot, who started with computer gaming and focused on programming, later discovered visual novels through titles like 999 and Clannad. He mentioned that he initially did not see visual novels as a separate genre, often linking them to other game types such as Fire Emblem or Persona. The authors explored the unique features of visual novels, emphasizing their minimalist approach, which relies heavily on text and static images, and the special form of interactivity that involves little action beyond reading and making choices. They contrasted this with traditional video games, which usually require continuous interaction and exploration. The authors highlighted Clannad as a key example of Japanese popular culture, noting its influence on media mix and its impact on animation, especially through the studio Kyoto Animation. Bouvard and Triclot also examined the cultural significance of Clannad, drawing comparisons to Western literary experiences, such as those described by Marcel Proust. They discussed the concept of media mix, where fictional elements from games and other media extend into real life through merchandise, fan creations, and interactive storytelling. The authors stressed the importance of characters in visual novels, referring to them as "persos" that can be reinterpreted and adapted across different forms of media. The Keyboard and Tears is the result of a decade-long research project that began with an academic study on visual novels. The authors discussed the challenges of researching the genre, including the need to understand various aspects of Japanese subculture and the influence of visual novels on Western game design. They expressed interest in future research on otome games and the reception of melodrama in Western video games.