WEBMASTER Q & A

Q: How did you get into the Ring?

A: I was living in Japan when it first hit theaters in 1998. I was intrigued by all the hooplah, but didn't actually sit down to watch it until just over a year later. Needless to say, I was hooked.

Q: Why did you build this site?

A: In 1999, information about the Ring on the Internet was sparse to say the least. Those sites that did exist focused mainly on the film, with nary a mention of the novels, TV series and so on. Thus, my initial goal was simply to make people aware of the many different incarnations of  the Ring. (Actually, the information was intended to be just one section of a website covering Japanese horror cinema as a whole; as time went on, however, the Ring part of the site took on a life of its own.)

The initial -- and painfully bad -- site, called norowareta, was launched in late 2000 on a free Internet server, and then re-launched as ringworld in a more coherent (but still bad) form in 2001. Now known as the ringworld, this site has grown by leaps and bounds to become the monster that it is today.

Q: Why did you give this place the name of a Larry Niven novel?

A: I actually hadn't heard of the novel when I began work on this site. The name was a nod to ringuwaarudo, an English-based buzzword used in the Japanese media when the Ring was at the height of its popularity. The word was meant to convey the sheer breadth of the franchise, which is what I wanted to capture with this site.

Q: Why don't you have more pictures on your site?

A: Because other great sites like Snowblood Apple and inteferon's viral vestibule already have these. As this website took shape, an emphasis was quickly placed on unique material, in the form of translations, FAQs, analyses and other information you won't find elsewhere.

Q: Which Ring film do you like more, the American or the Japanese one?

A: I like them both, but Sadako had me before I'd ever heard of Samara.

Q: Is the Ring your favorite film?

A: It's definitely up there. Others include Fight Club, The Eye, Memento, Dawn of the Dead (original version) and Citizen Kane, though I'm leaving out a lot of other good ones.

Q: Are you a professional translator?

A: Yes. It's how I make my living.

Q: How should I start learning Japanese?

A: Conversation is a must. I highly recommend you take some classes, if they're available. For self-learning, the Kanji Learner's Dictionary is a great resource (beg - inter) for studying the Chinese-based writing system. And reward yourself by reading the occasional manga.

Q: I'm thinking of going to Japan to teach English. Any advice?

A: Check out O-Hayo Sensei and Dave's ESL Cafe for some good leads. Be sure to do some research into your prospective employer, and that you get visa sponsorship and at least 250,000 yen / month (as per Japanese law). There's also the JET Programme, with its government sponsorship and penchant for sending people to rural areas of Japan.

SPECIAL THANKS

There are many, many people I owe debts of gratitute toward (please forgive me for not mentioning everyone by name). Briefly, there's inteferon for being a good friend and for helping me to re-code this site. Mandi and Alex Apple. Tommy Bergskold for always being there. All the moderators and regulars on the Ring Forum. Far East DVD. Everyone that's written in and contributed. My wife and son. Thank you all for pushing me to keep going.