* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Sakura Wars Series
サクラ大戦シリーズ
A multimedia franchise originating with the dramatic adventure game that Sega (formerly Sega Enterprises) released for the Sega Saturn in 1996. Set in a Taisho-style Japan, the story follows the Imperial Assault Force, a secret unit of young women with spiritual power who pilot the reishi-kacchū known as the Koubu to confront demons that disturb the peace of the capital. As of December 2019, cumulative domestic shipments of the series and related titles had surpassed 4 million units.
Description
Overview
The Sakura Wars series is a multimedia franchise of dramatic adventure and tactical RPG games, with Oji Hiroi in charge of the original concept and original work, developed and published by Sega (formerly Sega Enterprises). The first title was released for the Sega Saturn on September 27, 1996. It was followed by Sakura Wars 2 (SS, 1998), Sakura Wars 3 (DC, 2001), Sakura Wars 4 (DC, 2002), Sakura Wars V (PS2, 2005), and Shin Sakura Wars (PS4, 2019). The franchise has also expanded into an OVA series, a TV anime (2000), a film (2001), and "kayō shō" stage shows in which voice actresses of the Imperial Grand Theater's Flower Division perform their characters live on stage.
The Imperial Assault Force and Swords
The story is set in a Taisho-style Japan (the fictional "Teito Tokyo"). On the surface, the Imperial Grand Theater, a troupe popular in the capital, serves as a front for a secret unit of young women chosen for their spiritual power, the Imperial Assault Force, Flower Division. The unit protects the capital from demons that disturb its peace, including the evil organization Kuronosu-kai. The weapon they pilot into battle is the reishi-kacchū known as the Koubu.
Swords are also central to combat. Sakura Shinguji uses the finishing attack "Hajaken-sei Ōka Hōshin," swinging her blade downward to release a shockwave, while squad leader Ichiro Ohgami uses the slashing technique "Rōko Metsukyaku Kaitō Ranma."
Historical Facts and Japanese Sword Culture
While referring to the Taisho era (1912–1926), the series adopts the fictional premise that swords remained living weapons in Japan even after the Sword Abolition Edict of 1876.
Cultural Impact
The original Sakura Wars drew enthusiastic support right after its release in 1996, and its three-way media mix of games, anime, and live stage performance became a model for bringing the elements of girls' opera and sword drama to modern audiences. The kayō shō, in which the voice actresses of the Imperial Grand Theater's Flower Division performed their characters live on stage, became one of the series' signature developments. The series also achieved a certain popularity in Europe and the Americas, playing a role in introducing Japan's Taisho culture, steampunk aesthetics, and Japanese-sword motifs to gamers around the world.
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Film七人の侍
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Video Game仁王2
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Game信長の野望
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This page is intended to introduce Japanese sword culture and is not affiliated with any of the works mentioned.