Blooming Cherry Blossoms: A Sakura Wars Retrospective: Pilot Article

Note: This is a pilot article for a possible ongoing series that, much like “That 2007 Feeling”, would be used as the basis for an ongoing book. This article will make up a healthy portion of what will appear in the book’s first chapter, though things will likely be structured, or presented differently. 

So, for now, enjoy… and feedback is most welcome!

Pilot

Maidens, armed with steel down to their very hearts and souls, rout out evil and deliver the way to justice

Allow me to set the stage:

It’s the early 20th century, and the world has been revolutionized by steam power. In Tokyo’s, Ginza ward, a cloud of black smoke belches into the clear blue sky from factories, as the whistle of a nearby train cuts through the sky with a familiar wail. In the darkness of the locomotive’s approach, signs of unease linger, watching its arrival.

In the streets, businesses buzz with countless customers. Cars and rickshaws dart by busy sidewalks, where people walk and talk, unaware of the small creatures that dart by their feet. If one were to look up, they would spy something much unlike the crows that normally pass by. But, it’s Tokyo - the land of marvels, of business! There are dealings afoot!

A young lady wanders in the bustling Ueno park, clad in a pink kimono, and carrying three parcels: a suitcase, and a white bag, and an object shrouded in a green cloth.. She pauses at the overlook to take in the sights of the sprawling Ginza skyline, as buildings and structures vastly unlike any seen through the rest of Japan spread forth without end.

A shriek cuts through the air, and a burst of wind howls as the moment of peace is broken. The maiden turns; a towering metal monstrosity rampages through the park, as countless people flee the scene. Undoing the string on her green item, the maiden reveals a scabbard, as the beast charges at her. The maiden leaps, dropping the cloth onto the abomination’s head. As she lands, unsheathing her sword before jumping forth with a mighty slash. With a panicked cry, the metallic horror is cleaved in two.

Welcome to Ginza, circa 1923. Welcome to Sakura Wars.

It was this visual that greeted Japanese gamers on the morning of September 27, 1996, when the first Sakura Wars game made its debut on the Sega Saturn. At the time, many gamers didn’t realize what they were a part of.

The title sold out within hours of its debut, and went on to sell more than 360,000 copies in its debut year[1]. Fans were witnessing the birth of a blockbuster. In the years that follow, Sakura Wars would go on to receive four sequels, each more ambitious than the last. Spinoff games and OVAs were made, and an anime TV series by Madhouse hit the airwaves in 2000. 

A semi-permanent cafe was erected in Ikebukuro, where it would stand from 1998 through 2008. And, possibly most famed of all, are the musicals. From 1997 through 2006, Sakura Wars stage shows would be held in grand venues across Japan, including the famed Budokan.

And yet, despite the celebration and pomp, the series remains relatively unknown outside of Japan. Attempts have been made to bring the anime west, and NIS America released Sakura Wars V: So Long, My Love in the west in 2010. Still, whether it was poor timing, circumstances of the market, or some other phenomenon, the franchise failed to find a lasting foothold in the west.

That’s why I’m here.

I’ve been a Sakura Wars fan and collector since the early 2000s, and have read into the franchise, as well as the stories behind it for close to ten years. It’s a series that’s very special to me, one that’s found a place in my heart, and helped me through some dark and difficult times in my life.

Though this [book/article series], I hope to share what I know, and hopefully dive into what makes this quirky, yet utterly charming series so special.

Chapter 1: Setting the Stage

Sakura Wars is the brainchild of Oji Hiroi, creator of the celebrated Far East of Eden video game franchise. Hiroi first dreamed of the idea six years prior, in 1990, after finding inspiration during a live stage presentation of Shanghai Rhapsody [2]. 

This would remain a dream for several years, remaining in the back Hiroi’s mind until 1993. It was in this year that fate would bring Hiroi together in a work with composer Kōhei Tanaka (One Piece, Diebuster) at TMS Entertainment. The two were working on an OVA based on Hiroi’s Far East of Eden: Ziria game, titled Tengai Makyō: Ziria Oboro-hen. Hiroi was working as chief director on the project, while Tanaka scored the soundtrack and wrote the theme songs.[3]

In an interview in the first volume if Sakura Wars Zennya, Hiroi recounts that he was moved by Tanaka’s music, and wanted to make a musical around them. This idea ultimately evolved into a video game, with a heavy inspiration by musical theater. With an exploratory crew at RED Company, Hiroi set to work. The team worked on a project code named Sakura, as they built out the game’s core gameplay concepts and basic elements. 

The game itself would be set in an alternate universe, with a distinct steampunk vibe. According to Hiroi, the name “Sakura” was chosen to give the game a grounding in Japan. [2]

[1] Geimin.net. Retrieved 2/1/2019

[2] Sakura Wars Zennya. MediaWorks. 1997. p. 236 - 237. ISBN 4-0730-6199-2.

[3] Project S: The People Who Created “Sakura Wars”,Red Entertainment, Overworks (2003-02-27).

Thanks for reading! If you liked or disliked this piece, please let me know in the comments.

-Samantha