Kannazuki no Miko

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Kannazuki no Miko
Chikane & Himeko
神無月の巫女
(Kannazuki no Miko)
Genre Magical girl, Mecha, Shojo-ai, Shōnen
Manga
Authored by Kaishaku
Publisher Japan Kadokawa Shoten
Serialized in Japan Shonen Ace
Original run October 1, 2004 – June 25, 2005
No. of volumes 2
TV anime
Directed by Tetsuya Yanagisawa
Studio Japan Rondo Robe, TNK
Network
Original run October 2, 2004 – December 18, 2004
No. of episodes 12

Kannazuki no Miko (神無月の巫女 lit. Shrine Maidens of the Godless Month?, also known as Kannaduki no Miko) is a fictional series created by Kaishaku centering around two girls and the shōjo ai relationship they share. Although the series primarily follows the relationship of the two main characters, elements of magical girl and mecha themes help carry the plot.

The series began as a manga in 2004, enjoying a very short run in Japan, as only 14 chapters were published by Kadokawa Shoten and serialized in the Shonen Ace manga magazine during the course of 8 months. Following the manga, an anime series was created spanning 12 episodes, airing while the manga barely started serialization. Geneon Entertainment quickly announced at Anime Expo 2005 that they have licensed the North American distribution rights to the anime, however the manga remains unlicensed.

Finally, a drama CD was released on November 25, 2004 by Geneon based on the anime version.

There has been news that a sequel or spin-off of Kannazuki no Miko, entitled Kyoshiro to Towa no Sora, will air in January 2007.

Contents

[edit] Plot

Kannazuki no Miko is the story of Himeko and Chikane, the reincarnations of the Solar and Lunar Miko, respectively. They are two high school girls going to the prestigious Ototachibana Academy of Mahoroba, Japan. When an ancient evil rises once more, the girls are plunged into destiny as their long-sealed personas awaken to defend the world against the Orochi.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

When the Orochi awaken, the first day of October, the godless month, the one who first tries to kill the Miko is Sōma Ōgami, the boy in love with Himeko. However, after a blinding flash of light brings him to his senses, he rejects his fate and defends the Miko against the other Orochi. The Miko must awaken Ame no Murakumo in order to combat the threat while Sōma repels the Orochi efforts to kill them. Midway into the series, Chikane witnesses an agonizing scene between Himeko and Sōma, which revives poignant memories within her. At this point, she turns sides and fights against Himeko. Many consider this aspect of the story very difficult to follow, as no explanation of Chikane's motivations or the nature of the Priestess' roles, is revealed until the end. Furthermore, nothing conclusive is revealed about the growing romance between Himeko and Chikane until after the end credits of the last episode, where it is implied — though revealed only by the most symbolic item of the couples' bonding — that they are finally free to be with one another.

The manga goes into more detail on their relationship, though it is not as focused on it as the anime is. In the end, Himeko and Chikane are reborn as sisters in their next life and are still very much in love.

[edit] Characters

[edit] Miko

Himeko Kurusugawa (来栖川 姫子 Kurusugawa Himeko?)
Voiced by: Noriko Shitaya (Japanese), Stephanie Sheh (English)
The Solar Priestess, Himeko is a very shy, innocent 16-year-old girl, and the character that receives most of the anime's attention. She has known Chikane for many years, unknowing of Chikane's affections towards her. At first, Himeko has affections for Sōma Ōgami, who is her childhood friend. When the two date, their relationship puts Chikane's heart into turmoil. She starts off considering Chikane a very close friend, although the two very rarely meet outside of secrecy. Himeko is an amateur photographer of some skill, a hobby she developed thanks to the support she receives from Chikane Himemiya. Himeko is initially a shy and timid girl, uncertain of her own worth and abilities. This is mainly because after the death of her birth parents, she was initially adopted by abusive relatives before being moved to other relatives. At school, Himeko seems to have only one (non-romantic) friend, her dorm roommate Makoto. After the destruction of the dorms, when Himeko comes to live with Chikane, she soon gains the enmity of Chikane's female fans at school, a fact she does not deal with well. Despite her timidness, Himeko gradually starts to display great determination and courage.
Chikane Himemiya (姫宮 千歌音 Himemiya Chikane?)
Voiced by: Ayako Kawasumi (Japanese), Michelle Ruff (English)
The Lunar Priestess; in sharp contrast with Himeko, Chikane is a very commanding girl of the same age. She has a very noble and elegant aura, lives in a large mansion with many maids, and is considered to be of the highest standing at their school; she has a considerable fan following of both genders and is the frequent target of love confessions. She is a member of the prestigious kyudo (Japanese archery) club and frequently uses the bow as her weapon of preference during confrontations with the Orochi. Later events show that she is also skilled in the use of the tanto. Her combat skills are somewhat reminiscent of those taught to the brides of samurai, possibly another indication of Chikane's family's high standing. Chikane is also exceptionally skilled in the areas of tennis and, more significantly, the piano; she apparently enjoys playing for Himeko, who enjoys listening to her perform. Many at school believe she has a relationship with Sōma, though this is proven to be untrue. She has been in love with Himeko since they first met, although she does not reveal it until much later on. She eventually appears to "turn evil", vanquishing all but two of the other Orochi heads and assuming their place, after attacking and sexually assaulting Himeko in an effort to force Himeko to hate her. The truth behind her actions is more complex than at first meets the eye.

[edit] Orochi

The great villain of the series is Orochi, an evil god who wishes to destroy the world of humanity and create its own realm, a place of darkness and nihilism. Like its counterpart from Japanese mythology, the Orochi of Kannazuki no Miko has eight 'necks', its eight worshipers and followers, who are also named Orochi (オロチ衆?) as a title. Each of the eight possesses a mecha, which is actually a lesser god (which means they will return even from destruction), which forms part of the evil deity Orochi's body. Each individual follower has exaggerated personal characteristics; there is some indication that the evil deity granted its followers great physical strength and endurance, limited teleportation and levitation powers, as well as a unique power or weapon to suit their individual character. While Sōma, Chikane, and Tsubasa are very significant characters, it is revealed that all followers became Orochi's followers because they have experienced great pain in their lives and have given in to despair. The six evil Orochi fit easily into archetypes, consisting of a sociopathic criminal, an unintelligent brute, a former pop idol, an anti-social manga artist, a catgirl, and a disillusioned nun. They are not very cooperative with each other and do not organize their attacks on the two Miko, which leads to their demise.

Tsubasa (ツバサ?)
Voiced by: Yasunori Matsumoto (Japanese), Liam O'Brien (English)
The First Neck (一の首 Ichi no kubi?), he is considered to be the leader and the most powerful of the Orochi. Tsubasa is a tall teal-haired bishōnen, as well as a (presumed) sociopathic criminal with a long record, starting with the murder of his abusive father, whom he killed in order to protect his younger brother. Tsubasa is also Sōma's biological older brother, having left the young child in the care of the Ōgami family when he went on the run. When all the other necks failed at taking his brother down, Tsubasa was ultimately successful. Sōma has few memories of him, and Tsubasa is hesitant to harm him seriously when they first fight; he is more focused on totally "converting" Sōma to the Orochi cause than killing the Priestesses.
His mech, Take no Yasukunazuchi, has deployable wing-like structures which it uses to fly, and attacks with swords mounted on its arms. He is the only one of the Orochi who puts up a serious fight against Chikane after she "turns Orochi", but the battle ends in a Mexican standoff. However, he successfully (though only temporarily) destroys Take no Yamikazuchi and ends up abandoning the fight instead, not feeling the need to finish it. It is worth noting that Tsubasa waited until Chikane defeated the other Orochi before attacking, another sign of his sociopathic nature. In personal combat, Tsubasa mainly uses a sword, although he has shown some skill with throwing knives as well.
Tsubasa eventually proves that his feelings for his brother are stronger than any attachment he might have felt to the Orochi's nihilistic vision of global destruction.
Sister Miyako (ミヤコ?)
Voiced by: Ikue Ohtani (Japanese), Melissa Fahn (English)
The Second Neck (二の首 Ni no kubi?), she is a purple-haired nun who is the first Orochi to appear and attack, having lost her faith due to living through a terrible war (presumed somewhere in South America due to her tanned skin color which is a common stereotype in manga and anime). Although there is little co-operation among the Orochi, she seems to be the closest thing therein to a second-in-command and the most cool-headed of the lot; she can control Girochi and induce some semblance of cooperation among the three other female Necks. Her influence appears to be what turns Chikane to the Orochi cause, though it is later revealed that the Lunar Miko went to them of her own accord.
Her mech, Yatsu no Onokoshizuchi, vaguely resembles a lightning demon in appearance, having no arms but an array of tentacles and a giant circle of electrodes on its back which fire deadly beams. In personal contact, Miyako can make use of enchanted mirrors to create complex illusions and to spy on others over distances. She is a skilled manipulator and a keen observer.
She is the last of the Orochi to fall in combat against Chikane.
Girochi (ギロチ?)
Voiced by: Yasuyuki Kase (Japanese), Kirk Thornton (English)
The Third Neck (三の首 San no kubi?), he is one of the first Orochi to attack the Miko. He is a very large man with heavy chains hanging off him, which he uses as weapons. He is attracted to Himeko and wishes to go on a date with her, which only fuels Chikane's jealous protectiveness of the Solar Miko. Girochi is said to be Miyako's younger brother. In a flashback scene, he is shown in a scene of destruction as a young boy, crying near a body crushed under a collapsed building. Presumably, the same war that destroyed his sister's church claimed the life of their parents and left Girochi traumatized and disillusioned.
His mech, Hi no Ashinazuchi, is nicknamed Gungal, and it is characterized by an excessively large left arm — so large that the entire mech's body can fit inside it when he uses it as a weapon (the "Megaton Knuckle" attack). He is the first to be petrified by Chikane.
Corona (コロナ Korona?)
Voiced by: Ueda Kana (Japanese), Rebecca Forstadt (English)
The Fourth Neck (四の首 Shi no kubi?), she is a delusional pop idol whose dismal sales (68th, though Reiko constantly taunts her with "69th") are partly responsible for her becoming one of the Orochi. She is almost manic in her behavior, constantly trying to impress the other Orochi with her showmanship, but her energetic exterior hides a dark past. Corona's flashback scene may indicate that she had to have sex with someone to get her first big break in show business. It is likely that the event involved considerable violence and left Corona emotionally damaged.
Her mech, Ooube no Senazuchi, nicknamed Final Stage, takes on the forms of a wheel with a demonic eye in its center and of a giant centipede with an anthropoid head and arms. In personal combat, Corona throws lipsticks at her target. This attack is not as harmless as it might sound, since these lipsticks apparently carry a kinetic charge capable of causing explosions. Corona is eventually petrified by Chikane.
Reiko Ōta (大田 レーコ Ōta Reiko?)
Voiced by: Mamiko Noto (Japanese), Dorothy Elias-Fahn (English)
The Fifth Neck (五の首 Go no kubi?), she is an antisocial mangaka of few words. Reiko continues her "day job" as a member of the Orochi and has in fact done better on the market since joining, though her manga have taken on very dark themes since then. She barely interacts with the other Orochi and is stone-cold in battle, though her level-headedness is more the product of cynicism and numbness than Miyako's. Some sources have suggested that Reiko had to abandon her own artistic vision and aspirations to commercialism in order to achieve the status of mangaka. If this is correct, the experience left her embittered and emotionally stunted, as she's been forced to continue a series she personally loathes wholesale to maintain her success.
Her mech, Ho no Shuraizuchi, takes on the forms of a Jomon-style (straw-rope pattern) fired pottery jar and an anthropoid shape. In personal combat, Reiko throws fountain pens at her targets. Like Corona's lipsticks, these apparently carry a kinetic charge capable of causing explosions.
Interestingly, Himeko adores Reiko's work and is apparently an avid reader of hers. Reiko is eventually petrified by Chikane.
Nekoko (ネココ?)
Voiced by: Ai Nonaka (Japanese), Sandy Fox (English)
The Sixth Neck (六の首 Roku no kubi?), she is a small, squeaky-voiced catgirl (her name is derived from neko, the Japanese word for cat) who is often seen wearing a nurse's outfit and wielding a giant syringe. She appears to fit the stereotypical, cheerful catgirl archetype, but it is later revealed that she was the subject and victim of horrible medical experiments, which is most likely what made her an Orochi follower. Nekoko's syringe contains some form of medication that can heal injuries and sickness, but the injection causes horrible pain, as noted by Girochi. Alternatively, Nekoko can launch the syringe like a rocket, carrying the same kind of kinetic charge displayed by Tsubasa's knives, Corona's lipsticks and Reiko's fountain pens.
Her mech, Izuhara no Tamazuchi, nicknamed Meow Meow (Nya Nya), is a large mechanical ball with many cannons on it that is capable of destroying buildings easily. Chillingly, Nekoko went on a rampage that wound up destroying several Japanese landmarks, acting the whole time like a stereotypical cute little girl having fun. She is later petrified by Chikane.
Sōma Ōgami (大神 ソウマ Ōgami Sōma?)
Voiced by: Junji Majima (Japanese), Steve Staley (English)
The Seventh Neck (七の首 Nana no kubi?), he is the only Orochi who was able to resist becoming completely evil. Sōma is the lone protector of Himeko and Chikane for most of the series and later plays a part in bringing the Orochi down. He has a very high social standing at their school, comparable to Chikane's, and most of their fellow students believe they are dating, though in truth they rarely interact until the Orochi events. Like Chikane, he is in love with Himeko and is incredibly protective of her, fighting to keep her safe until he is overwhelmed by the Orochi curse and put out of action, though he is later rescued by his brother Tsubasa.
Sōma's mech, Take no Yamikazuchi, is a humanoid robot that possesses more varied attacks than most of the other mecha, which it conceals within its own body. In personal combat, Sōma initially uses his own body and sometimes his motorcycle. Later on, he adopts the sword and fighting-style of his brother Tsubasa, significantly increasing his power.
The Eighth Neck (八の首 Hachi no kubi?)
The Eighth Neck is originally a mysterious figure, who the other Orochi believe is hiding from the public eye. Later, the position turns out to actually belong to Chikane, once she joins the Orochi. It is uncertain whether the evil deity Orochi always knew Chikane would come to it, but it does not speak again until Chikane has defeated the other Orochi.
Chikane takes over and uses Sōma's mecha, transforming it to look rather demonic. She then uses the mecha to obliterate all of the other Orochi before becoming the Miko of the Orochi and the only and most powerful head of Orochi, forcing Himeko to make a very drastic decision.
The mecha supposedly belonging to the Eighth Neck is Yokusemi no Mizuchi, which takes the forms of a fast-flying bird to rescue Orochi members from defeat and the form of a humanoid with a huge drill as its lower body for combat.

[edit] Other characters

Ame no Murakamo
In Kannazuki no Miko, Ame no Murakamo is the god of swords. When Orochi rises, it is prophesied that only the god of swords will stand against it and be able to undo the damage that Orochi causes. Ame no Murakamo, who shares the name of the legendary sword Kusanagi, rests inside its shrine on the moon until it is brought forth by the Miko of Sun and Moon. Ame no Murakamo takes the shape of either a giant sword or a humanoid mecha, which can be piloted like the Orochi mecha.
None of the legends warn those who summon Ame no Murakamo of the terrible price that the god of swords demands to restore the world. Also, the god of swords does not appear to be the subject of unambiguous appreciation; when Ame no Murakamo lay dormant after its previous battle against Orochi, its shrine on Earth was placed under a seal of six swords. Unless Ame no Murakamo and its priests set this arrangement up themselves to test the powers and determination of the future Miko of Sun and Moon, this means someone felt Ame no Murakamo was best kept locked away unless it was absolutely needed.
During their most recent battle, Orochi displayed a great hatred for Ame no Murakamo. The god of swords itself did not address its enemy however; the only times it possibly spoke, it was addressing one or both of the Miko of Sun and Moon.
Kazuki Ōgami (大神 カズキ Ōgami Kazuki?)
Voiced by: Moichi Saito (Japanese), Lex Lang (English)
Sōma's adoptive older brother and legal guardian, as well as priest of the temple of the Solar and Lunar Miko. His duties are to care for and maintain the legacy of the Miko, as well as to prepare them for battle. Calm and collected, he is especially worried about Sōma and what his Orochi blood will do to him; he also worries to an extent about Himeko and Chikane and what their duties will do to them. Even still, there are some indicators that imply he's not telling everyone the full extent of what is going on.
Yukihito (ユキヒト?)
Voiced by: Omi Minami (Japanese), David Keifer (English)
The temple assistant, his duties are to assist the priest and Miko in readying the weapon that will defeat the Orochi. It is unclear if he is a hired employee, relative of the Ōgami family, or a junior priest-in-training (the last is unlikely, as he is never seen wearing Shinto clerical robes). He is also Sōma's best friend and confidant, though the latter is shown more in the manga than the anime.
Otoha (オトハ?)
Voiced by: Chinami Nishimura (Japanese), Kate Higgins (English)
Chikane's personal maid, Otoha is loyal and devoted to Chikane to the point where it is heavily implied that the former may be in love with the latter. When Himeko comes to live with Chikane, Otoha immediately notices the bond between the pair and grows intensely jealous, angered at Himeko for taking Chikane away from her and hurting her mistress. Aside from playing a humorous role and some very weighty scenes of her own in the series, she is a support character who clarifies how Chikane reserved her feelings for Himeko alone.
Makoto Saotome (早乙女 マコト Saotome Makoto?)
Voiced by: Ikue Ohtani (Japanese), Julie Ann Taylor (English)
Himeko's friend and roommate, "Mako-chan" is an athletic girl, one of the best runners on the Ototachibana track team. On the day Sōma attacked Himeko, she was severely injured in the collapsing dormitory. Her competing in the Interhigh competitions was shot to pieces. She pushed Himeko away, possibly blaming her for the injuries, but more likely distraught over not being able to run anymore. She no longer appears in the series until near the climax, where she helps Himeko to come to a final decision regarding the events surrounding her.

[edit] Theme

The series has very obvious yuri themes, and much like Yami to Bōshi to Hon no Tabibito or Maria-sama ga Miteru, the leads are closely designed after the archetypal oneesama/kōhai pairing. At first, Himeko is a somewhat clumsy and self-conscious girl who idolizes the cultured, graceful and aloof Chikane, who in turn adores Himeko's informality and kindness and is very much in love with her. These themes are exacerbated in the manga version whereas events that are implied in the anime are made explicit in the manga, sometimes even graphically.

Kannazuki no Miko is considered by many to be the spiritual successor of Yami to Bōshi to Hon no Tabibito since Chikane and Himeko look almost exactly like Hazuki and Hatsumi, respectively. Similarily, the personalities of the two characters resemble those of Yumi and Sachiko from Maria-sama ga Miteru. Kannazuki no Miko goes where its predecessors did not, however, and remains on record as the first series with a conclusive happy ending for a shojo ai couple, though the final resolution occurs after the credits of the final episode - a placement that most viewers miss as a result. This same example of a conclusive happy ending can also be seen at the ending of anime such as Kashimashi and Strawberry Panic! though the ultimate conclusions held for the shoji ai couples in those anime were much more obvious in nature.

Spoilers end here.

[edit] Media

Kannazuki no Miko first started as a manga series which was quickly adapted into an anime. Lastly, a drama CD was made based on the anime version.

[edit] Manga

The Kannazuki no Miko manga, written by the manga group Kaishaku, was first serialized in the Japanese mangazine Shonen Ace, published by Kadokawa Shoten, in 2004. The series was very short, ending at 14 chapters which were later collected into two tankōbon.

[edit] Anime

The anime series of Kannazuki no Miko aired in Japan between October 2, 2004 and December 15, 2004, ending with a total of 12 episodes.

[edit] Episodes

Screenshot Title Original air date #
"Country of this World"
(常世の国)		 October 2, 2004 01
Chikane and Himeko share the same birthday and it's rapidly approaching. On the day of their birthday, the Orochi are awakened and at first Sōma attacks the Solar Miko. Eventually, he comes to his senses and is able to fight back against another one of the Orochi, the Second Neck, Sister Miyako. 
"Overlapping Sun and Moon"
(重なる日月)		 October 9, 2004 02
The story of the Orochi and the Miko is revealed to the unsuspecting Solar and Lunar Miko. Later, Himeko contemplates on leaving the town, but first a fight ensues between the Miko and the Third Neck of the Orochi, Girochi. Finally, before things get too out of hand, Sōma comes to the Mikos' aide. 
"Secret Love Shell"
(秘恋貝)		 October 16, 2004 03
With no where else to stay, Chikane offers for Himeko to stay at her mansion for the time being. Later, Kazuki Ōgami reveals more about the Miko's past and what they are meant to do to protect the world from the Orochi. Also, the Sixth Neck of the Orochi, Nekoko, attacks the Miko. 
"Direction of Affection"
(思い賜うや)		 October 23, 2004 04
Sōma invites Himeko to the amusement park on a date and Chikane tries her best to help Himeko prepare for her outing. With on their date, Tsubasa, the First Neck of the Orochi, attacks the couple as Sōma tries his best to protect Himeko. 
"Over the Darkness of Night"
(夜闇を越えて)		 October 30, 2004 05
Sōma initially gets defeated by Tsubasa in their first fight and Tsubasa promises to return again. In the meantime, Sōma trains to get even stronger for their next fight. It is also revealed that Tsubasa is in fact Sōma's biological older brother. 
"You Who are the Sun"
(日溜まりの君)		 November 6, 2004 06
Some of the past is revealed on when Chikane and Himeko first met and how they became friends. Later, the Miko continue their training to become stronger, but fail once again. Finally, Himeko goes on her second date with Sōma. 
"Rainfall in the Hell of Love"
(恋獄に降る雨)		 November 13, 2004 07
While Sōma and Himeko are on their date, it begins to rain and they take shelter in an abandoned warehouse. Meanwhile, Chikane has an encounter with the Second Neck of the Orochi who also begins playing with Chikane's feelings for Himeko. Later, the Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Necks of the Orochi all attack Sōma while on his date with Himeko. 
"Storm of the Silver Moon"
(銀月の嵐)		 November 20, 2004 08
During yet another outing between Sōma and Himeko, the Solar Miko searches for a present to give to Chikane since Himeko knows something is not right with her. Upon returning to Chikane's mansion, Himeko is shocked to find that the Lunar Miko has joined the Orochi, becoming the Eighth Neck. 
"To the Edge of Hell"
(黄泉比良坂へ)		 November 27, 2004 09
After the previous night, Himeko is still shaken up by what happened between her and Chikane. Later, her friend Makoto Saotome comes back to school and their friendship is finally healed. Meanwhile, Chikane begins fighting and in the process defeating each of the Orochi one by one until the only one left is Sōma. 
"Invitation of Love and Death"
(愛と死の招待状)		 December 4, 2004 10
While doing the ritual alone, Himeko finally is able to revive Ame no Murakumo. Later, Chikane comes back home and the two Miko spend time together just as before everything began. However, it was shown all to be a ruse by Chikane who warns Himeko that she will kill her very soon. 
"Dance of Swords"
(剣の舞踏会)		 December 11, 2004 11
Himeko and Sōma enter into the final battle between the Orochi which ultimately leads Himeko to leave Sōma behind in order to find Chikane again. In the end, the two Miko have a battle together where the fate of the world rests in the balance. 
"Priestesses of the Godless Month"
(神無月の巫女)		 December 18, 2004 12
After Himeko strikes down Chikane with her sword, they share a tender moment which ultimately reveals the unpleasent past the two Miko have shared in their past lives. The Orochi are finally defeated and everything goes back to normal, but at a price the two Miko were not ready to accept. 

[edit] Music

Main article: Kannazuki no Miko OST

[edit] Drama CD

On November 25, 2004, a drama CD simply called Kannazuki no Miko drama CD was released in Japan by Geneon based on the anime version of Kannazuki no Miko.

[edit] Trivia

  • The idea of the twin holy swords, that are part of Ame no Murakumo, is similar to the concept of Shinken, as used in X/1999.
  • Kannazuki (神無月 lit. the month where gods are not present?) is the archaic name of the month of October. In Japan, the time indicated the gathering of all Shinto gods at Izumo province, where the month is instead called Kamiarizuki (神在月 lit. the month where gods are present?). The namesake is significant with the arising of evil when the gods are away.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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