The Okamiden official blog got its second update today. I was hoping for some sort of release information, given that the game is now officially announced for release outside of Japan. Alas, the word "release date" is nowhere to be found in the post. But director Kuniomi Matsushita does share some sweet development secrets.

Last week, producer Motohide Eshiro detailed how he first learned about the Okamiden project. This was after some Okami fans in the company, lead by Matsushita, had already created a running DS prototype of the game.

Matsushita goes back a little further. While he showed Eshiro the prototype towards the end of 2008, he and his fellow Okami fans were working on it in secret long before that.

Work started with a background using the series' eye-catching black ink art style. All the involved parties were impressed to see this. Next, they displayed a character, and everyone continued to be impressed.

That first character wasn't actually the "Chibiterasu" baby wolf you see in Okamiden now. Originally, they had the fully grown up Amaterasu running in the game. At this time, Matsushita felt pressure about finalizing a project plan for the game. One day, the game's lead character designer said jokingly that he'd created Amaterasu's child. Once Matsushita saw the baby Amaterasu, the game's full plan solidified.

Matsushita also provided a look at a piece of artwork drawn by a Mr. Endo, the game's main designer.

Matsushita plans on having the whole staff sign it once Okamiden is complete.

That hopefully won't be too far from now.