Hakuōki

Hakuōki (薄桜鬼 〜新選組奇譚〜, Hakuōki ~Shinsengumi Kitan~, Demon of the Fleeting Blossom: The Mysterious Tale of the Shinsengumi) is a video game series by Idea Factory, first designed for the PlayStation 2 and then later ported to PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS, and Nintendo 3DS. It has been adapted into two 12/10-episode anime series animated by Studio DEEN; the first began airing in Japan on the TV Kanagawa and UHF stations on April 4, 2010. The second season began airing on October 10, 2010 and ended on December 12, 2010. The series has also been adapted as two different manga series. A third series based on the prequel, Hakuōki Reimeiroku aired in summer of 2012.

Two new films are scheduled for 2013–2014. Film 1 was released in August 2013 and is set for release on DVDs February 2014. The film is supposed to be a retelling of both seasons in greater detail and with a slightly different ending. The second film is set for release on March 8, 2014. The anime series has been licensed by Sentai Filmworks in North America.^{[1] [2]}

Plot

Chizuru Yukimura heads to Kyoto to search for her father, finding herself attacked by madden men before they are cut down by members of the Shinsengumi who take her into custody for interrogation. Upon learning that she is a girl and the daughter of a doctor who developed the Water of Life elixir that turns those that drink it into invincible blood lusting berserkers called Rasetsu ( 羅刹, "Furies" in English dub), the Shinsengumi decide to keep as an aide in their search. In time, as the Shinsengumi aid the shogunate in the Bakufu, Chizuru begins to develop a bond with the Shinsengumi and its aloof member Toshizo Hijikata. However, as time passes, Chizuru and Shinsengumi confront a mysterious faction who call themselves Oni (Devils) and that Chizuru is also an Oni with father revealed to be experimenting on the Water of Life to create the Rasetsu to wipe out the human race. In time, every member of the Shinsengumi died with only Hijikata left as Chizuru accompanies him to the Republic of Ezo before his eventual death as a side effect of the Water of Life.

Characters

Chizuru Yukimura (雪村 千鶴, Yukimura Chizuru)

Voiced by: Houko Kuwashima (Japanese), Brittney Karbowski (English)

Chizuru is the heroine of the series. She comes to Kyoto in search of her missing father, Kodo Yukimura (雪村 綱道, Yukimura Kōdō), a practitioner of Western medicine. Unknown to Chizuru, her father under orders from the Shogunate develops the Water of Life (復ち水, Ochimizu), an elixir that increases the drinker's healing abilities, speed, and strength yet could turn the drinker into a mindless killing monster called a Rasetsu. At the beginning of the series, she is seen being chased by two men, who were suddenly attacked by two Rasetsu. She witnesses Hajime Saito kill off the Rasetsu and is then taken to the Shinsengumi headquarters by Toshizo Hijikata, where they allow her to stay, because they too were in search of her father. While falling in love with Hijikata Toshizo.

Chizuru has a secret unknown to herself: she is in fact a pureblood member of the Oni Ichizoku (the Demon Clan), and the head of the Oni of the East is of Yukimura descent. Because Oni have scattered and declined in numbers over the centuries, Chikage Kazama seeks her out to create a lineage of pure-blooded Oni. She is the wielder of a short sword which is a mate to with Kaoru's katana. They are part of the Yukimura Family's heirloom.

Toshizo Hijikata (土方 歳三, Hijikata Toshizō)

Voiced by: Shinichiro Miki (Japanese), Andrew Love (English)

Hijikata is the Vice-commander of the Shinsengumi and makes most of the Shinsengumi's decisions. He is called Oni-fukuchou (Demon Vice-commander) and is both feared and respected by his men. He is also often referred to as "Toshi" by Kondo. Hijikata is the one who brought Chizuru back to the Shinsengumi headquarters the night she witnessed a Rasetsu on the loose that attacked two men chasing her. He is responsible for her welfare, and even though he acts as if this were to his dismay, he cares for Chizuru's safety, and is often shown protecting her during battles. He is based on the historical Hijikata Toshizō.

Hijikata drinks the Water of Life and becomes a Rasetsu in order to defeat Chikage, fueled by rage after seeing fellow Shinsengumi warrior Genzaburo Inoue dead. Even though Inoue had been killed by Satchō warriors (Satsuma-Chōshū alliance), Hijikata takes it out on Chikage, starting a duel as Chikage goads him. At the end of Season 2 he acknowledge his love for Chizuru.

Souji Okita (沖田 総司, Okita Sōji)

Voiced by: Showtaro Morikubo (Japanese), Blake Shepard (English)

Okita is the First Division Captain and a peerless swordsman. He suffers from tuberculosis, and is later visited by Nagumo Kaoru who gives him a bottle of the Water of Life to cure his tuberculosis. Driven by guilt at being incapacitated by his illness, Okita drinks the elixir. Although he becomes a Rasetsu, the Shinsengumi discover that he does not benefit from accelerated healing when wounded by silver weapons, thus discovering the weakness of Rasetsu. Souji was sent away because his illness got worse, but he later showed up to confront Hijikata about Kondo's death. He was last seen protecting Hijikata from rogue samurais, and turned into ashes after killing all the rogues. He is based on the historical Okita Sōji.

Isami Kondo (近藤 勇, Kondō Isami)

Voiced by: Tōru Ōkawa (Japanese), David Wald (English)

Kondo is the Commander of the Shinsengumi. He is very emotional, but despite this, he has the trust, respect, and loyalty of his men. He is based on the historical Isami Kondō.

Keisuke Yamanami (山南 敬助, Yamanami Keisuke)

Voiced by: Nobuo Tobita (Japanese), David Matranga (English)

Usually called "Sannan-san" (based on an alternate reading of his surname), he is Vice-commander of the Shinsengumi, along with Hijikata. Both a scholar and a ruthless tactician, he is kind and caring, albeit a bit reserved. After an injury which resulted in him being unable to use his left arm and thus wield a katana, he becomes cold and distant; he proceeds to research and improve on the Water of Life in secret in order to overcome its side effects, eventually drinking it and becoming one of the first few Rasetsu with self control, creating the Shinsengumi's Rasetsu Corps. He is based on the historical Yamanami Keisuke.

Shinpachi Nagakura (永倉 新八, Nagakura Shinpachi)

Voiced by: Tomohiro Tsuboi (Japanese), Kalob Martinez (English)

Shinpachi is the Second Division captain of the Shinsengumi. He is usually very cheerful, especially when he is with his comrades. Shinpachi is especially close to Harada and together they often pick on Heisuke. He is very skilled with the sword, but he is also a borderline alcoholic and womanizer, as he is seen breaking the curfew one night to be out drinking. He is based on the historical Nagakura Shinpachi.

Sanosuke Harada (原田 左之助, Harada Sanosuke)

Voiced by: Kōji Yusa (Japanese), Illich Guardiola (English)

Harada is the Tenth Division Captain and prefers the spear to the sword, but he is seen carrying both. In the anime he has a fierce rivalry with Kyō Shiranui, pitting his spear against Shiranui's pistol. He is based on the historical Harada Sanosuke.

Heisuke Todo

Voiced by: Hiroyuki Yoshino (Japanese), Greg Ayres (English)

Heisuke is the Eighth Division captain of the Shinsengumi. He is around the same age as Chizuru and is very protective of her, before he died. He leaves the Shinsengumi, following Itou along with Hajime Saito, but later returns. He too has taken the Water of Life to recover from injuries. He is based on the historical Tōdō Heisuke.

Hajime Saito (斎藤 一, Saitō Hajime)

Voiced by: Kōsuke Toriumi (Japanese), Leraldo Anzaldua (English)

Saito is the leader of the Third Division who is a master of the left hand sword technique and is a skilled swordsman who evens Okita's skills. He is silent and taciturn but also very loyal, polite, and wise. He often analyzes the situation before attacking to figure out which actions are necessary to complete the mission. Saito left the Shinsengumi apparently to join Itou's group, but later it turns out that he was commanded by Hijikata to infiltrate Itou's group for information concerning Itou's plans. In the anime he is seen making a final charge against the enemy as his comrades are all slain. He is based on the historical Saitō Hajime.

Kaoru Nagumo (南雲 薫, Nagumo Kaoru)

Voiced by: Hasumi Itō (Japanese), Shannon Emerick (English)

First seen as a lovely dressed young woman who was saved by Okita from punks. Okita also notices that she resembles Chizuru, though Kaoru is more prettier, he is actually Chizuru's twin brother who was separated from her during childhood. He's made to dress as a woman but is seen as a boy near the end of the first season of the anime. He is one of the strongest Oni. He wants to make Chizuru suffer because when they were separated, he was taken in by the Nagumo family who treated him harshly for not being a girl. He also hated that Chizuru forgot about him and about her even having a twin brother at all. Because of this, he wants her to feel the pain he felt.

Later on, he admits that he truly loves Chizuru and everything he did was to meet her again. In addition, he asks Chizuru to go with him, because he thinks he is the only one who has the power to protect her. She refuses, since she had promised to the Shinsengumi that she would protect Kondo, though the main reason was because she liked Hijikata. Kaoru decides that if things had come to that, his only option would be to kill her. Right after they start fighting, Chizuru is cornered and saved by Chikage, who kills Kaoru.

Kaoru is the wielder of the long sword that with Chizuru's short sword form a set, both of which are the Yukimura clan's heirlooms.

Chikage Kazama (風間 千景, Kazama Chikage)

Voiced by: Kenjirō Tsuda (Japanese), Corey Hatzog (English)

Member of the Bakumatsu, enemies of the Shinsengumi. He is the strongest Oni of the West and is after Chizuru, so that they can mate and create stronger Oni. His reasons for this are unknown, but his attempts to take Chizuru have so far been thwarted by the interference of the Shinsengumi. Despite being arrogant and cynical, he is not entirely cold-blooded as he later saves Chizuru (although this might have been for his own purposes). Kazama is usually followed by his two demon companions Amagiri and Shiranui, and it is implied that he might be of royal blood, like Sen-hime. In his Oni form, he grows white horns and his hair fades to match. His eyes also become yellow. But later in the series and OVA he is seen to truly love Chizuru.

Kyuju Amagiri (天霧 九寿, Amagiri Kyūju)

Voiced by: Ryū Yamaguchi (Japanese), Steven Fenley (English)

Kyūju Amagiri is a very strong red-haired Oni, who prefers to fight with his fists instead of a sword. He's usually seen by Kazama Chikage's side, since he works for him. Strangely, Amagiri seems to dislike fighting needlessly and often tells his opponents not to fight him, in a polite manner. He is rather respectful of his enemies, not even taunting them when in battle. He is also a member of the Satsuma Clan.

In the second season of the anime adaptation, Kazama, Amagiri, and Shiranui unite against Kodo and his army of Rasetsu, which he manages to improve and now can fight efforlessly in broad daylight. Moreover, Amagiri reveals to Saito that, since the source of the Rasetsu's power is not of divine origin unlike the power of true Oni, the superhuman strength, reflexes and regenerative abilities of Rasetsu are fueled from life energy. Therefore, Rasetsu are simply using in advance energy that was originally meant to be expended over the decades of an ordinary human life, and their lifespans are shortened every time they use their powers.

Kyo Shiranui (不知火 匡, Shiranui Kyō)

Voiced by: Hiroaki Yoshida (Japanese), Houston Hayes (English)

Kyō Shiranui is a cocky, arrogant Oni who prefers guns to swords. He has long, purple wavy hair which he wears in a ponytail. Initially, he fights alongside Kazama Chikage and Amagiri Kyuuju against the Shinsengumi (and particularly, Harada), in order to abduct Chizuru under Kazama Chikage's orders. Later on, Harada and Shiranui call it a truce and join forces to defeat Kodo's newly created Rasetsu, after his betrayal. Shiranui serves as a rearguard so that the Shinsengumi can escape the battlefield, opening a path for them. Afterwards, he informs Harada that Kodo is willing to start a war only to get blood to feed his Rasetsu army.

Sen-hime (千姫)

Voiced by: Ayano Ishikawa (Japanese), Hilary Haag (English)

She is a pretty young girl around Chizuru's age, with long brown hair. She is a pureblood Oni, but because of Kimigiku, her bodyguard, Kazama Chikage doesn't chase after her, going after Chizuru instead. Sen is first introduced when she protects a child and is threatened by a group of men. Chizuru jumps in, forgetting that she cannot fight very well, and Saito Hajime steps in, knocking the men out with the blunt side of his blade. She later reveals Chizuru's real heritage, even offering twice for Chizuru to come with her and Kimigiku to be better protected.

Media

Video game

The Hakuōki series of otome visual novels were released for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 3, Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS by Idea Factory. Two of the games have been published in English by Aksys Games in North America on PlayStation Portable. Rising Star Games renew partnership with Idea Factory to bring two of their Hakuōki games to PAL territories. The first game will be a port of Hakuōki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom with added story content.^[3]

• Hakuōki: Shinsengumi Kitan (薄桜鬼 〜新選組奇譚〜)
  • PlayStation 2: September 18, 2008
  • PlayStation Portable: August 27, 2009
  • Nintendo DS: March 18, 2010
  • Nintendo 3DS: November 24, 2011
• Hakuōki: Zuisouroku (薄桜鬼 随想録)
  • PlayStation 2: August 27, 2009
  • PlayStation Portable: August 26, 2010
  • Nintendo DS: February 17, 2011
• Hakuōki: Yuugiroku (薄桜鬼 遊戯録)
  • PlayStation Portable: May 13, 2010
  • Nintendo DS: April 28, 2011
• Hakuōki: Junsouroku (薄桜鬼 巡想録)
  • PlayStation 3: June 17, 2010
• Hakuōki: Reimeiroku (薄桜鬼 黎明録)
  • PlayStation 2: October 28, 2010
  • PlayStation Portable: July 28, 2011
  • Nintendo DS: April 26, 2012
• Hakuōki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom (Release for North America, published by Aksys Games)
  • PlayStation Portable: February 14, 2012
• Hakuōki: Warriors of the Shinsengumi (Release for North America and Europe, published by Aksys Games (North America) and Rising Star Games (Europe))
  • PlayStation Portable: February 19, 2013
• Hakuōki: Memories of the Shinsengumi (Release for North America and Europe, published by Aksys Games (North America) and Rising Star Games (Europe))
  • Nintendo 3DS: September 19, 2013 ^[4]
• Hakuōki: Stories of the Shinsengumi (Upcoming release for North America, published by Aksys Games)
  • PlayStation 3: TBA 2014 ^[5]
• Hakuōki: Bakumatsu Musouroku (薄桜鬼 幕末無双録)
  • PlayStation Portable: March 22, 2012
• Hakuōki: Reimeiroku Nagorigusa (薄桜鬼 黎明録 名残り草)
  • PlayStation 3: June 28, 2012
• Hakuōki: Yuugiroku Ni – Matsuri Hayashi to Taishitachi (薄桜鬼 遊戯録弐 祭囃子と隊士達)
  • PlayStation Portable: October 18, 2012
• Urakata Hakuōki (裏語 薄桜鬼)
  • PlayStation Portable: June 27, 2013
• Hakuōki: Kyoukaroku
  • PlayStation Vita: December 19, 2013^[6]
• Hakuōki SSL: Sweet School Life (薄桜鬼 SSL)
  • PlayStation Vita: March 27, 2014

Manga

There are two manga adaptations of Hakuōki: Shinsengumi Kitan. The first, entitled Hakuōki Junrenka, is serialized in the shōjo manga magazine Dengeki Comic SYLPH, and is an anthology of the different endings available in the video games. Another adaptation is currently serialized in Comic B's Log Kyun!!.

Anime

The following is a list of episodes of all three seasons of the anime series: Hakuōki, Hakuōki: Hekketsuroku (the second season) anime and Hakuōki: Reimeiroku (the third season and a prequel of the original anime series). The series uses six pieces of theme music, one opening and ending per season. The first season's opening theme was "Izayoi Namida" by Yoshioka Aika and ending was "Kimi no Kioku" by Mao. The second season's opening is "Maikaze" by Yoshioka Aika and its ending theme is "Akane Sora ni Negau" by Mao. For Hakuōki Reimeiroku, the opening theme is "Reimei" (黎鳴-reimei-) by Maon Kurosaki and the ending theme is "Hana no Atosaki" (花のあとさき) by Mao.

List of Episodes

Hakuōki-Shinsengumi-Kitan

Hakuōki Hekketsuroku

Hakuōki: Hekketsuroku (薄桜鬼 〜碧血録〜, Hakuōki ~Hekketsuroku~, Demon of the Fleeting Blossom: The Record of the Jade Blood) is the second season of the previous season, opening with a recap episode of season one that is labeled "episode 00."

Hakuōki Sekkaroku OVA

1. August 5, 2011: Okita Souji
2. August 26, 2011: Saitou Hajime
3. September 30, 2011: Harada Sanosuke
4. October 28, 2011: Toudou Heisuke
5. November 25, 2011: Hijikata Toshizou
6. July 27, 2012: Kazama Chikage

Opening: Yume no Ukifune By Aika Yoshioka

第一章 玄夜の白雪 Chizuru Yukimura is goaded by Soji Okita to be an undercover geisha again. Okita’s tuberculosis starts to plague him. Commander Isami Kondo becomes worried and orders Okita to be grounded. Chizuru goes out with the gang to celebrate her successful undercover mission, and Shinpachi Nagakura gets into a drunken brawl on the way back. Kondo personally dices spring onion into the porridge he asks Chizuru to cook for Okita, and the latter finishes it all despite his distaste for the plant.

第二章 冬の埋み火 Hajime Saito is attracted by a fine sword in a display case and rattles on about the importance of a good sword to Chizuru, who starts laughing at his passionate outburst. Flashback at the Shinsengumi, Chizuru is asked to be an undercover geisha by Kondo and Toshizo Hijikata. Chizuru becomes extremely uncomfortable at the thought of the dangerous mission, but Saito immediately proffers himself and Susumu Yamazaki as bodyguards for Chizuru. Two lecherous men try to get fresh with Chizuru and are grounded by Yamazaki and Saito respectively. Upon seeing the beautifully dolled up Chizuru, Saito becomes oblivious to the surroundings and prepares to stutter a declaration of love, but is rudely interrupted by his attacker’s allies. The next day, Saito and Chizuru converse on the road about what Saito wanted to say to Chizuru, but Chizuru wanders off to the topic of whether Hijikata suits having a beard. At night, Hijikata apologises to Saito for sending him off on a long and dangerous reconnaissance mission. The next morning, Saito admires the snow together with Chizuru, who gives him a snow rabbit.

第三章 空裂く槍 Sanosuke Harada takes Chizuru out shopping for groceries and meet Bakufu inspectors on the way back ripping apart the belongings of civilians during checks and roughing them up. Chizuru becomes affected and so does Harada. When a man loses his letter for home, he is stopped by the inspectors and accused of treason. The incensed Harada attacks the officers trying to arrest the hapless man and vouches on seppuku that he will bring the letter back. Shiranui Kyo sees the commotion while on a watchtower and helps a flustered Chizuru overcome the man who stole the letter. The letter is brought back and satisfies the gruntled inspectors, who lodge a complaint to Hijikata. Harada takes a half-year pay cut as punishment, but keeps mum about the incident. Shinpachi takes Harada out for drinks.

第四章 揺蕩う舟 Heisuke Toudou gets into a brawl on the street while out with Chizuru. Chizuru tries to stop him, but Harada holds her back. Heisuke later catches a duck back for dinner and Chizuru makes stew with it. While snatching a piece of duck with Shinpachi, the meat flies into Hijikata’s forehead. Shinpachi quickly moves to another table while Heisuke makes things worse by rattling non-stop and ultimately blaming Hijikata for it. Hijikata gives Heisuke a thrashing. Flashback to the geisha episode, where Heisuke barges into Chizuru’s room in the geisha house and is overcome by her beauty. He dashes off to demand Kondo and Hijikata take Chizuru off this dangerous mission. In his absence, Kazama Chikage arrives and tries to kiss Chizuru, but is whacked by an abruptly entering Osen on the head. Chizuru flees. Meanwhile, back at Shinsengumi headquarters, Heisuke complains loudly to Kondou and Hijikata the inappropriateness of Chizuru’s mission. Kondou gives his go ahead to terminate the mission, and Heisuke runs back to Chizuru. Finding her not there, he hears the voice of Yamazaki upstairs and joins him in the fight with the drunken lechers. Next morning, Heisuke has a snowball fight with Chizuru, Shinpachi and Harada, but the latter two grab Chizuru and hide behind a tree when Hijikata appears demanding to know what happened to that the tattered screen doors.

第五章 天明の風 Hijikata wakes up to first snow, and sees Kondou inviting his comrades to leave their first foot imprint in the snow. He composes a haiku and is overheard by Chizuru and Soji, and Soji teases him about it while asking Chizuru to compliment on his poetry. Hijikata becomes embarrassed and covers it up with angry words. Chizuru and Soji leave for breakfast. At night, Kondou and Hijikata discuss about the defecting Edo, and Hijikata tells Kondou about his plan to ask Saito to defect. Heisuke barges into their room and Hijikata leaves to take care of things. He arrives at the geisha house to be greeted by chaos. Saito tells Hijikata to take Chizuru away, and her dressing causes a commotion when Hijikata is walking with her towards the door. A man demands money from Hijikata for taking away a geisha, and Hijikata flares up, declaring his status as Shinsengumi vice-captain and yanking Chizuru away. Upon return, Soji teases them at the door, and Hijikata hurriedly asks Chizuru to hide away. The next day, Souji catches Hijikata hiding in a back alley observing Harada on his gate duty with the Bakufu inspectors. Saito and Shinpachi are invited for a drink with Itou, and Shinpachi is highly irritated. Hijikata meets Kazama on the streets and draws his katana when Sannan appears and stops him. Next morning, Kondou brings dangos to Hijikata’s room, and everyone suddenly appears to share them. Soji grabs Hijikata’s haiku book on the table and starts reads the haiku of the snow from that one morning. He then compares it to the dango he has in his hand and Hijikata becomes embarrassed and tries to grab his book back from Soji, much to the amusement of everyone.

Hakuōki: Reimeiroku

A prequel to the series.

References

External links

• Hakuōki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom (Official North American Website)
• Hakuōki: Warriors of the Shinsengumi (Official North American Website)
• Hakuōki: Memories of the Shinsengumi (Official North American Website)
• Hakuōki: Stories of the Shinsengumi (Official North American Website)
• Hakuōki: Shinsengumi Kitan (PS2) (Official Japanese Website)
  • PSP Edition
  • DS Edition
  • PS3 Edition
  • 3DS Edition
• Hakuōki: Zuisouroku (PS2) (Official Japanese Website)
  • PSP Edition
  • DS Edition
• Hakuōki Yuugiroku (PSP) (Official Japanese Website)
  • DS Edition
• Hakuōki Reimeiroku (PS2) (Official Japanese Website)
  • PSP Edition
  • DS Edition
  • PS3 Edition
• Hakuōki Bakumatsu Musouroku (Official Japanese Website)
• Hakuōki Yuugiroku Ni (Official Japanese Website)
• Hakuōki SSL (Official Japanese Website)
• Official Website (anime)
• Hakuōki Mobile Network
• Hakuōki On-Stage
• Hakuōki (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
• Hakuōki (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia