Tetsuya Nomura Commemorates Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep's 15th Anniversary in New Message Discussing the Crossroads

Kingdom Hearts series director Tetsuya Nomura has shared a new message to fans commemorating the 15th anniversary of Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep.

This secret anecdote extensively discusses the crossroads that have been present throughout the series since its debut in the original secret ending of Kingdom Hearts II, "The Gathering." 

Throughout this message, Nomura details the location's appearances in Kingdom Hearts II, Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories, Kingdom Hearts χ [Chi], and Kingdom Hearts III. 

The crossroads always indicate losing something to then gain something else. So, the natural question is what this means for the Fortellers' return in the epilogue of Kingdom Hearts III.

You can view Tetsuya Nomura's full message to fans below:

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It’s been 15 years since the release of Birth by Sleep (BBS), so I’ve been asked to give you a secret anecdote about how the game itself was born. I’ve already revealed quite a lot, so I had a think about what would be best.

Apparently, the plan is to release my comment alongside the teaser trailer for BBS from the secret movie in KH2. So, taking my cue from that video, I’d like to give you an insight into the crossroads.

In this video, three Keyblade wielders clad in armour wait for someone at a crossroads. Meeting someone at a crossroads is actually a recurring motif in KINGDOM HEARTS.

At the beginning of KINGDOM HEARTS: Chain of Memories (COM), Sora meets someone in a black coat and is invited to Castle Oblivion.

During the climax of BBS, the three protagonists wait at a crossroads for two Keyblade wielders, linked to them by fate. It is where the opposing Unions come together and the Keyblade War breaks out in the KINGDOM HEARTS X series. Those who wish to become the new leader of the Unions in place of the Master gather here in KINGDOM HEARTS Union x. And in KINGDOM HEARTS III, the ancient Foretellers known as the Lost Masters gather at these crossroads.

As you can see, whenever there’s something going on, crossroads act as an important point of divergence. To trace it right back, the motif was inspired by the well-known crossroad myth from American folklore.

The story goes like this: a young man makes a deal with the devil at a crossroads, trading his soul for the ability to play the guitar.

The first time a crossroads appears in KINGDOM HEARTS is in CoM, which is about losing something to gain something. And in fact, all subsequent appearances of crossroads have the same significance.

The greatest example is BBS: a story where all three protagonists pay a heavy price to obtain something.

But wait… when the Lost Masters gather at the crossroads in KH3, what is gained and what is lost?

That’s a story for another time.

Tetsuya Nomura
KINGDOM HEARTS Series Director