Celebration! New "New Sakura Wars" released after 14 years! A look back at the history of "Sakura Wars" which changed the history of Japanese media mix [Games, Legendary Storytelling! Part 1]

In 1996, Sega's Sega Saturn, Sony's PlayStation, and Nintendo's Nintendo 64 were engaged in a three-way war of video game consoles. While each company was releasing elaborate software, Sega was the first to launch "Sakura Taisen".

The original story and general producer was Oji Hiroi, a creator known at the time for anime and video games such as "The Magical Heroes: Wataru" and "Tengai Makyou" series. Shoichiro Irimajiri, then vice president of Sega, asked him to "create a character. Mr. Hiroi was on a trip to Saipan, and Mr. Irimajiri followed him across the sea to seduce him, which shows how serious Sega was about the project.

One of the main characteristics of "Sakura Taisen" is the fusion of the characterization expressed in the adventure game and the combat in the simulation game. While attempts to combine characterization and simulation had already been made in "Master of Monsters," "Fire Emblem," and "The Legend of Ogre Battle," "Sakura Wars" was very different from these works, being structured like a 30-minute TV show, with the characters' responses to the adventure game being the main focus, It was a very sharp simulation game for its time, as the characters' abilities were affected by the answers they received in the adventure game. This was also due to the fact that the project was based on the creation of characters, and the clarity of the vision to be achieved and the choices that were made along the way. The clarity of the vision and the choices that were made in the process, as well as Mr. Irimajiri's keen eye in placing Mr. Hiroi, a person with a wealth of animation experience, at the center of the project, are also evident in this project.

At this time, Sega had a particularly hard-core image, and fans (at least the author and those around him) were self-aware of this. Before the Sega Saturn, Sega had released the Mega Drive, known for its hardcore action games, and had also developed Virtua Fighter, an intense 1/60th-second battle game in video arcades. The fact that Sega was going to release "Sakura Taisen" software filled with cute girls made me and other long-time Sega fans a bit puzzled by the different image of the company. However, as I read articles in game magazines, I began to think that the "Sakura Taisen" game was not quite what I had in mind (......). In a retro-modern era like the Taisho Era (1912-1926), with cherry blossoms dancing in the air, beautiful girls with two faces, one is the "Imperial Opera Troupe" who sing and dance, and the other is the "Imperial Blowout" who fight against demons using steampunk powered suits called "Reiko Armor". Ultimately, it was my faith in Sega as a manufacturer that encouraged me to purchase the game. Sega has always been a company that has done its best to entertain us with its games, so I knew that "Sakura Wars" would be fun to play. Even so, I was still somewhat embarrassed, and I remember feeling strangely anxious while waiting my turn at the cash register.

What surprised me when I actually played the game was that the game was going down the high road. If the members of the team, such as the lively heroine Sakura, the proud Sumire, the calm and collected Maria, the innocent Iris, the strange inventor Kuran, and the mood-maker Kanna (......), are all on the high road, then it is no wonder that they jump into the shooter and are automatically changed into new clothes and become the heroines of the game. The preparation for their departure, in which they jump into the shooter, are automatically changed, and emerge from the exit behind the portrait, is also royal and reminiscent of special effects. The "Koumu," a reiko armor, is loaded onto the "Todoroki Rai-go" bullet train and the "Shougei Maru" airship, and heads for the enemy's location. There are many incidents, but justice always prevails, the members strike a "victory pose" and the story is settled, and the next preview begins. The "standard" gimmicks and effects are always beyond the player's imagination. In fact, "Sakura Taisen" is not the first time that a TV anime has been reproduced in a game. The game tackles the theme of playing an animated TV series on a video game console head-on, and its full commitment is truly typical of Sega's approach. I remember rushing to the game store on the release date of "Sakura Wars 2" without any worries.

There is a debate about whether or not "Sakura Wars" is a "gal game." Some say it is a "gal game" because of the heroines' charms, while others say it is not a "gal game" because it is officially described as a "dramatic adventure. Both have a point, but personally, I would vote for the latter. The reason for this is the existence of the main character, Ichiro Ogami. In many gal games, the main character is the player's alter ego, and in the 1990s gal games in particular, the main character had no official name and was portrayed with hidden eyes, making him as transparent as possible. Ichiro Ogami, however, has a character and a voice, and his efforts bring together the previously disparate members of the Imperial Kagekidan, Hana-gumi. He is a straightforward, hot-blooded man, but he is somewhat outgoing, and when he goes to the locker room or shower room, his "body moves on its own" and he ends up peeping on people. However, when it comes time to fight, he is a fierce fighter who uses the Niten Ichiryu style, and if a member is in danger, he will take a stand and "protect" him. He is also a true master of the art of combining techniques to suit the unique personalities of each member of the team. The ideal boy, the protagonist of shounen manga and anime, is a character that is difficult to portray. This is a big difference considering the fact that the argument that the main character's personality is unnecessary was common in gal games at the time, but since "Sakura Wars" started with "creating characters," the main character must stand out. That is why players began to call Ichiro Ohgami "Mr. Ohgami" instead of "the main character" without saying "why can't I change my default name? And they looked forward to seeing Mr. Ogami's turn as much as they looked forward to seeing the members of the squad, and were able to congratulate him no matter who he ended up with. In "Sakura Wars 3," fans did not object to the title of "the black-haired noblewoman" if she fulfilled strict requirements. It is no longer the gaze of a heroine looking up to her hero. Mr. Ookami has grown into such a person.

Particularly impressive is "Sakura Wars 3" (Dreamcast exclusive title) in 2001. I remember that there was a lot of discussion in the pre-release stage. The story takes place from the Imperial capital of Japan to Paris, France. And the heroines were to be completely replaced, so fans were not at ease. However, "Sakura Wars 3" exceeded all expectations. The flamboyant character designs by Kosuke Fujishima were perfectly suited to the mood of the flower city of Paris. The members of the group, such as the cheerful Sister Erika, the proud aristocrat Grisine, the circus performer Coquelico, the criminal Lobelia who has been sentenced to 1000 years in prison, and the mysterious Hanabi, are all fashionable and gorgeous, and have a different charm from the members of the Imperial Guards. The Imperial Guards' members are also exquisitely treated, and although they cannot be conquered, their presence as "dependable seniors" cannot be overlooked. The turning point in a series of movies and games is the third film. In the case of "Sakura Wars," it is not so much that a generational "shift" has succeeded, but rather that the Imperial Blowout Army and the Paris Blowout Army have been "accepted" side by side. This is an ideal for the continuation of content, and one that is rarely seen. It is a strange setting in which they are not a new generation of the Imperial Hagekidan, but a separate group in a geographically isolated place called the Tomari Hagekidan. The city of Paris is also depicted realistically, with its customs and various landmarks of the time, giving the player a sense of exploring a new land. I am sure that I am not the only one who enjoyed seeing the scenery and fine details of Paris, not to mention interacting with the members of the team. It was easy to become emotionally involved in the story of Mr. Ookami's struggle to lead his team members in a foreign land, and to gain the respect of those around him.

The combat has also evolved significantly. The field is no longer marked with squares, and players can move freely until the "ARMS Gauge," which indicates their power of action, runs out. When attacking, the player does not simply select a command and that is the end of it; instead, a series of attacks are launched by repeatedly pressing a button, just like in an action game. As a result, the game has succeeded in creating a system that is more intuitive to play while maintaining the strategic nature of a simulation game. The simulation game format is ideal for "Sakura Taisen," in which a large number of members appear simultaneously and are commanded by Ookami-san. However, it had the fate of looking complicated at first glance. Normally, this would have ended with "that's just the way simulations are," but Sega's greatness lies in the fact that it doesn't end there. Sega has done everything in their power to ensure that there is not even a loading screen, which is a normal part of a game, through their various innovations. The quality of the mini-games has also been improved. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the contents of these games are gorgeous, and the hospitality is just like that of a theater. In "Sakura Taisen" and "Sakura Taisen 2," the Sega Saturn was turned into a TV with animation. In "Sakura Wars 3," it would be no exaggeration to say that the Dreamcast became the theater for the Tomari Kagekidan.

After this, the story of Ogami-san was completed in "Sakura Wars 4," in which the Imperial and Bari Kagekidan joined forces. In "Sakura Taisen V" (a PlayStation 2 exclusive title), which takes place in Stringiku, Mr. Ohgami's nephew Shinjiro Ohkawa is the captain, and the following unique characters are active: Gemini, a swordsman, cowgirl, and dual personality; Sagita, a talented lawyer; Rika, a bounty hunter; Diana, an invalid; and Subaru, whose gender is unknown. The release of the action game "Sakura Wars V EPISODE 0" as a prequel also attracted attention. The "Sakura Wars" series then went on a 14-year hiatus, but was revived in 2019 as "New Sakura Wars" (a PlayStation 4 exclusive title).

One of the major influences of "Sakura Wars" on later generations has been the development of the media mix. The voice actors themselves play the characters, singing and dancing in a way that predates the current 2.5-dimensional development by 20 years. Hiroi was so thorough in his search for the voice actors for the first production that he went around to stages and live performances to find them, with a view to having them play the characters themselves in stage performances. Thanks to his efforts, the "Song Show" has become an established summer event, followed by the "New Year Song Show" in the spring, the more dynamic "Super Song Show," the Christmas "Dinner Show," and various live performances. In other words, you can see the "real" Kagekidan show in real life, where you can hear the voices you heard in the game, and experience the game and reality as if they were one. One of the most surprising features of these venues is the large number of women in the audience. This may be one of the reasons why "Sakura Wars" has been loved for so long. Original characters such as Dan Kosuke, the boss of the gangsters who love the Hanagumi, and Vero Mucho Takeda, a member of the gang, are also active in the show, which is a testament to its high level of perfection as a stage performance.

It should not be overlooked that the performances have created a psychological connection between the theater and its fans. For example, in the "Corded Hoshigumi Show," the venue was called the "Little Lip Seinenkan" because the performances were held at the Nippon Seinenkan Main Hall and the Corded Hoshigumi's home base was the "Little Lip Theater. It is this kind of attachment that has allowed "Sakura Wars" fans to endure the 14 years of dormancy.

Another element of "Sakura Wars" that cannot be overlooked is the music composed by Kohei Tanaka. Among them, the theme song "Proclamation! Teikoku Kagekidan" is an unforgettable introduction that gives an overview of the story and the passion of the members of the Kagekidan, making it a "theme song of disguise. It is a masterpiece of a game and anime theme song that even those who have never heard of "Sakura Wars" will be able to understand the content after listening to this song. The song is a masterpiece of game and anime theme songs, and even those who are not familiar with "Sakura Wars" can understand its contents by listening to it! Teikoku Kagekidan <New Chapter>" of "New Sakura Wars" is basically the same as "Proclamation! Teikoku Kagekidan," but the introduction and chorus are so complete that one would be afraid to touch them, but by adding trumpets and a chorus, the density of the sound and the tension of the song as a whole are heightened. The intro to the song is played when the new commander Seijuro Kamiyama receives an incoming call on his "Smaratron," a device used for communication, and many players may find themselves getting excited every time this happens.

The idea for the Teikoku Kagekidan came from Hiroi's aunt, who was a member of the Shochiku Revue. There is no doubt that a secret squadron that sings, dances, and fights would not have been created without Mr. Hiroi. It is not only a novel idea, but the reasoning behind it, which goes into the essence of Utamai Onkyoku (song and dance to exorcise evil and quell demons), is as precise as "Sakura Taisen" can be.

In 2019, we are enjoying media mixes and 2.5-dimensional developments that combine games and reality as if it were a matter of course. However, if Mr. Irimajiri had not made a move on Mr. Hiroi in Saipan, and if Mr. Hiroi had not created "Sakura Wars," the current media mix scene itself might not exist. In this sense, the influence of "Sakura Wars" has been very significant. And all of the previous works have a timeless appeal. I hope that "New Sakura Wars" will be a starting point for you to think about the history of "Sakura Wars" and its media mixes.

(Text by Shinichi Yanamoto)