Interview conducted by PlayOline, translated by Brian Dunn. copyrighted by Square-Enix.

Interviewer ("S"): Hobbies?
Mr. Uematsu ("U"): Fun stuff.

S: Treasures?
U: Nothing special.

S: Favorite phrase/saying?
U: "Fortune comes in at the merry gate"

S: What's one word to describe your personality?
U: Lazy

S: What are you unbeatable at?
U: Nothing (that's why I do the best I can).

S: Movies, novels, illustrations, etc..., that you like? Things that influences you?
U: I think works that I like and works that influence me are different. At any rate, there are too many to write here

S: From games already released on the market, games you like and things about games you like?
U: Iihatoobo Monogatari (I think that's what it was called) [SNES game]. I liked how it was heartwarming.

S: History in the game industry?
U: Probably 14, 15 years.

S: Job history in the game industry?
U: A musician at Squaresoft the whole time

S: How'd you get into the game industry?
U: A friend of mine was working at Square part time.

S: Your first (literally "maiden") game?
U: I contributed a few songs to the PC version of "Blasty."

S: The work that you're most confident in, and the work that has impressed you the most?
U: I don't have anything that I'm that confident about yet. I guess what I'm most impressed with is around FF7, FF8. I felt like I started heading in a different direction from what I had been doing up until then.

S: Including part time work, what other occupations have you been in?
U: Nikkatsu Roman XXXX music. If there is any film left, I want you to burn it. (note: they always put in XXXX's over part of the names when they list other companies)

S: If you weren't working in this occupation, what would you be doing?
U: Maybe a school teacher.

S: Any current creators you're keeping an eye on?
U: For music, since all musicians become the target, not just game music creators, it's hard to answer this question. Getting away from games, I think "Spitz" is good. I really like the unique melodies.

S: Any creators you consider rivals?
U: No. I'm too busy (literally "my hands are full") just controlling myself. I'd like to have the leeway to be able to have a rival and go on in a friendly competition.

S: Anything you endeavor to do above and beyond making music?
U: I challenge myself to see how far I can go.

S: What do you find fun about making games?
U: Lots of people pick it up (buy it / experience it).

S: What's tough about making games?
U: Losing your personal life. Maybe the development periods are too short.

S: After this, what game to you want to make?
U: Asking me that at this time is what they call cruel, isn't it. Just let me rest a little. I'm bringing the next thing I want to do musically into shape, but it's still a secret.

S: How do you think game (industry) will develop from here on out?
U: The online things that Square is aiming at with PlayOnline are essential. What I'm the most apprehensive about personally is my own physical strength.

S: What part about FF9 do you want people to pay the most attention to?
U: The worldview that after a long time finally goes back to the old FF's. But, it's not just a rehash. I think that the massive impression is related to the end result of our reexamining everything, by going back to the basics on a lot of things.

S: Any inside stories from during the making of FF9?
U: On NGN (the Japanese broadcast in Hawaii), I heard that they show Japanese adult videos sometimes. Ask Mr. Takemoto for more details. I heard that if you give $100 to one of the girls dancing at the strip club she'll take you to the Shower Room. Ask Mr. "I," in charge of (sound) tracks, for more details

S: What about the gap between the work produced in Hawaii and the work produced in Japan?
U: As far as the job being tough, there's no difference between doing it in Japan and doing it in Hawaii. Personally I like Hawaii, but just the lack of flavor in the food is unforgivable.

S: What part about FF9 did you have the most trouble with?
U: On top of the problem of distance there was also the problem of the time difference, so I/we were uneasy about exchanging the videos to some extent. It really helped having Mr. Kuwabara at the home office all the time (Does he go home at all?)

S: What does the existence of the FF series mean to you?
U: The graduation exams at different ages. The difficulty increases with every new release.

S: What's one thing you want to say to the all of the fans?
U: Thanks for waiting so patiently. The ultimate game in the Final Fantasy series is complete