I = Japan, II = China, III = America!?

[Stocka]

I have a theory, which although I believe is possibly pointless , is still perhaps worth mentioning on this board, so hear me out.

Okay, so Nozomi moved to Canada, and no-one can deny that she is a major character who will almost inevitably appear again if the series does indeed continue. She was mentioned at the end of II as well (the photos Ryo showed Shenhua).

Then there's Tom, Ryo's best friend, who returned to America. Okay, Canada and America are not the same, but still...
Don't you find it a bit strange that out of all the places in the world two of the main characters from Shenmue could have moved to it was the same, North America/Canada. If all the chapters of Shenmue have already been written like some say, then surely the mentioning of America/Canada hints to Ryo going there at some point in the series.

My final piece of support for this theory is rather ridiculous but then it should be mentioned. The massive time we've had since II finished. Okay, there's loads of reasons for this, most obviously the possibility that the whole series has basically been cancelled. Perhaps III will take such a long time to create because they are trying to create a world for Canada/North America, just like how they based Shenmue II from Hong Kong.

So basically i'm saying that assuming III is being made/will come out, there's a big possibility that Ryo perhaps travels to America, and the game is based there.

[NeoShredder]

What about Canada?

[Hadoken Hazuki]

I remember it was said in an interview long ago, that the majority of the story would take place in China. Although, I think that America and/or Canada could perhaps be a fitting epilogue for the series, with an older Ryo visiting Tom and Nozomi. Though perhaps Ryo will be reunited with them before the conclusion of the story...

[ys]

I highly doubt it would be on the American continent in Shenmue III. Unused data on the discs shows Chinese places. And the Shenmue Premiere video also shows more places in China. Like Luoyang for example if I remember correctly.

[Zhouhong Kong]

i can´t see the plot in american territory, why will ryo be there? what´s the chiyumen conections or lan di, chiyu is the name of one chinese beats and a chinese emperor. The game will finish in china, not even in china town.

[St. Elmo's Fire]

Korea

[Zhouhong Kong]

maybe korea u are right

[NeoShredder]

Tibet was also mentioned once. I posted a whole topic about it, but then it was rvealed it was scrapped for Gui-lin.

Hell China borders India and Russia. Let's speculate!

[jdotaku]

It could work I suppose but I'd prefer and it makes more sense to me for it to take place in china. Other than nazomi heading to Canada I see no reason to bother with the US and Canada.

[Lan Di-sama]

Except the producers have said III would continue in China. I don't think they said it would all take place in China, but they also might have stated that the story would not go to America. Why would it?

Don't remember the exact interview, but I think it was the one where Shin Ishikawa said "look forward to more Shenmue on Xbox" where they said the story would be in China in the part 3.

[Kiyuu]

No possibility. Sorry...

[cornchipz]

But, Ryo has to reunite with Tom and Nozomi. I mean, yeah.

[VGAce]

Okay, so Nozomi moved to Canada, and no-one can deny that she is a major character who will almost inevitably appear again if the series does indeed continue.

I can.

I highly doubt we'll be seeing any more of Nozomi. She was an obligatory love interest from the first game; she was fluff. She can offer absolutely nothing to the story at this point, nor could Tom (besides maybe some comic relief). That said, it's unlikely Ryo will even cross anymore oceans, much less go all the way to the North American continent. It has been said in the past that the story will take place in China, and the oriental themes are what makes this game what it is. I'd die a little if they took the series to America...especially the America of the 1980s.

[Zhouhong Kong]

if they want to reunite nozomi with ryo, it´s more easy to kidnap her by the chiyu, and the only way to see tom again it´s if ryo need an army of friends with guizang, ren,xiuging and maybe tom.

[Stocka]

It has been said in the past that the story will take place in China, and the oriental themes are what makes this game what it is. I'd die a little if they took the series to America...especially the America of the 1980s.

I agree,. I'm not saying I want it to take place in America, I love the Chinese/Japanese theme of Shenmue and don't wish for it to be changed. It's just a possibility...