Legend of Himiko

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Legend of Himiko
火魅子伝 (Himiko-Den)
Genre	Adventure, Fantasy
Game: Himiko-den
Developer	Hakuhodo
Genre	Adventure, Fantasy
Platform	PlayStation
Released	March 11, 1999
TV anime
Directed by	Ayumi Tomobuki
Studio	Amuse Video
Network	TV Tokyo
Original run	January 7, 1999 – March 31, 1999
No. of episodes	12
Manga: Himiko-den
Authored by	Oh! Great
Publisher	Kadokawa Shoten Panini Comics Planet Manga
Serialized in
Original run	1999 – 1999
No. of volumes	1

Legend of Himiko (火魅子伝, Himiko-Den^?) is an anime series, manga book, and PlayStation game. All three were released in early 1999.

The PlayStation game was created by Hakuhodo and was released in Japan on March 11, 1999. The manga is a single volume series created by Oh! Great and released in Japan by Kadokawa Shoten in early 1999. It has been licensed in France by Panini Comics and Germany by Planet Manga.

The 12 episode television series aired on TV Tokyo between January 7, 1999 and March 31, 1999. It was released in Japan by Amuse Video. The anime has been released in the US in a 3-disc release by Central Park Media. The anime is technically based on the PlayStation game, even though the anime started airing before the game was officially released.

[edit] Plot summary

The Legend of Himiko is probably based on an ancient Japanese tale told in the Chinese history book Sanguo Zhi. The nation of Yamatai (probably based off the nation of Yamataikoku in the Chinese legend) is under threat from the overseas kingdom of Kune (probably based off the nation of Kunekoku)^[1]. In an attempt to stave off an invasion, the people of Yamatai attempt to install a Queen to rule over their kingdom, which is to be chosen by the mysterious Bokka.

However, the Kune army attacks Yamatai before the selection of the Queen can be completed, and the Bokka disperse the six queen candidates across the nation. The Bokka themselves take shelter in a newborn girl named Himiko and the pendant she is wearing and transport her to modern times, where she is found by Masahiko Kutani.

Several years in the future, Himiko and Kutani attend high school together. When the two are wondering around an archeological dig, Himiko's pendant activates, sending both back into ancient Japan where they are found by Imari, one of the queen candidates, and Iga within Kune's place in Yamatai, three years after Kune's initial attack.

Both Himiko and Kutani learn about the Bokka and what relationship they have with it. The six queen candidates also finally all join back together, for the first time since they were dispursed when Kune first attacked. They eventually fight against Shikara, the governor-general of Yamatai and the son of the king of Kune, in order to free Yamatai from Kune's rule.

[edit] References