[Team Yu]

The creator of Shenmue has announced his return to Twitter, posting his first tweet in two years.

Suzuki-san later followed up with a recent picture of himself alongside Baji Quan Grandmaster Wu Lianzhi, reunited after ten years. Suzuki developed a keen interest in the martial arts when designing Virtua Fighter, and later of course Shenmue.

His return to the social media platform has been met with tremendous support from his fans, who know Twitter well as the host of the monthly #SaveShenmue Tweetathon. If Yu's renewed visibility has convinced you to finally create an account, then please make sure to use it in aid of the campaign.


Footnote: Suzuki's last meeting with Wu Lianzhi was captured on film in 2004 during the run-up to what would have been Shenmue Online: https://youtu.be/rL2pweiXqhU?t=5m14s

[Team Yu]

Thanks to Shenmue fan De ville David we have more information on Yu Suzuki's second tweet, about his recent meeting with Master Wu Lianzhi.

The Chinese martial artist is teaching Baji Quan in Japan, and this was the setting for reuniting with his game developer friend.

The picture tweeted by Yu shows Wu presenting him with a gift reading "Father of Games" in Chinese. Hard to argue with that.

Below are some more pictures from the occasion, including students who seem to be progressing nicely towards the counter elbow assault...

[Team Yu]

It hasn't taken Yu long to notice what you're all getting up to on Twitter. And he likes what he sees.

[Team Yu]

Yu Suzuki's at E3, and he's tweeting about forklifts.

Since returning to Twitter late last month, the creator of Shenmue has "favorited" only two tweets - one simply saying "#SaveShenmue" and the other a link to our recap of the latest Tweetathon.

He has also shared a new fan-made video recreating a fight from the first game in a live action martial arts scene.

And now he's at E3 tweeting about forklifts.

Read into this what you will, but it gives us an excuse to address the industry event that has Shenmue fans on the edge of their seats every year.

The Electronic Entertainment Expo is the biggest week on the business calendar for videogame companies seeking to wow the crowds with sneak previews, hands-on demos and blockbuster announcements. Journalists fly in from far and wide to attend press conferences from all the big hitters, and try out the software and hardware that will be vying for consumers' incomes in the months or even years ahead.

And amongst all the smoke and mirrors and flashing lights, the candle being held for Shenmue's revival always burns the brightest.

Every year is THE year for a Shenmue reveal at E3, in the minds of many who've been anxiously awaiting closure for the series since 2001. And for some, it's always now or never. The last gasp. The be all, end all for any hope of salvation.

The advice we always give is to cross your fingers but not hold your breath. To hope for the best, but be prepared for - not the worst - but for the best to be held back for another day. Because if Shenmue isn't unveiled at E3 this week, it doesn't mean it won't be at the next event, or the one after that. There's always another show.

So it's intriguing to see what Suzuki's up to, but we're not about to deviate from the message we've espoused throughout this campaign. Let's watch on with excitement, our hearts in our mouths, but with both feet on the ground, ready to keep marching if we don't hear what we wanted this time around.

Because if Yu's uplifting photo tells us one thing, it's that we must always be ready to rise to the occasion and #SaveShenmue.

[xiuying hong is brill]

Couldn't have put it any better myself!it is certainly a positive sign! In fact, we've had nothing but positive signs from Yu recently. But as always, let's treat these tweets with a certain sense of lightness, and remember that no matter what is or isn't announced at E3, Yu clearly hasn't and won't give up on Shenmue, and nor should we, not if we want to see it become a reality.

[tomlee80]

This picture, apparently taken at E3 along with Yu's recent return to Twitter, re-tweeting of a Rising Tiger's fan-film Suka High, not to mention the #SaveShenmue tags can only lead me to think that SOMETHING is happening behind the scenes!  We live in hope.  If not today then someday it will come!

[agamil]

It's all SO positive! Hoping and praying! I don't want to get my hopes up...  but I'm hopeful I've got a feeling

[jameswalker85]

If anything is going to happen, it'll be during Sony's conference. Sadly, I will be asleep. I'm too drained, both mentally and physically, to hop aboard the hype train (I've had a really rough day), but a part of me is getting ahead of itself. We can only wait and see.

[jameswalker85]

If anything is going to happen, it'll be during Sony's conference.

Called it.

Sadly, I will be asleep.

Called that, too. 

[agamil]

It's alright James. I was asleep too. While it would have been cool to see it live, what matters is that it happened