7 Seeds
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese science fiction
manga
series written and illustrated Yumi Tamura
. It has been published by Shogakukan
since 2001, first in Betsucomi
then in Flowers
. The series is set in a post-apocalyptic future long enough after a meteorite
hits
Earth that new species have evolved, and follows the struggles to survive of five groups of young adults after they are revived from cryonic preservation
. The title comes from seven caches of supplies, called "seeds," laid down by the Japanese government. In 2007, the series won the Shogakukan Manga Award
for shōjo manga.
a number of healthy young people, which would allow them to survive devastation of the impact
. After a computer determines that Earth is once again safe for human life, it would revive each group.
The Japanese government created five groups of survivors named Winter, Spring, Summer A, Summer B, and Fall. Each group consisted of seven members, who were not told what would happen before being put in cryonic preservation
, and one adult guide who is trained in wilderness survival. These groups were scattered across Japan: the Summer groups in southern and northern Kyūshū
, Fall in western Honshū
, Spring in central Honshū near Tokyo
, and Winter in Hokkaidō
. The project also prepared sealed caches containing seeds and instructional books near the "seven Fuji". These seven Fuji are not related to the famous Mount Fuji
, but are regional landmarks also named Fuji:
7 Seeds follows these five groups, as they are revived an undetermined time after the impact and come to terms with survival in a Japan that has greatly changed.
(poetic seasonal word) related to the group name—for example, all of the members of the Spring group have names traditionally associated with spring. Each group consists of seven members plus a guide trained in wilderness survival. The five groups are listed in order of appearance in the series, which is different from the order in series chronology they were revived from cryonic preservation.
off the coast of Nagasaki Prefecture
in western Kyūshū
, and travel to the seed cache at the foot of Bungo Fuji in Ōita Prefecture
.
of central Honshu
, and travel to Ogino Fuji in Kanagawa Prefecture
, where they find a note from Natsu of Summer group B. Later, Hana invites Takahiro, the surviving member of Winter group, to join the Spring group.
about fifteen years before the start of the series. Three members die during the thawing process; on the way to the cache at Mt. Meakandake, they are attacked by a sabertoothed tiger
, killing their guide and Mutsuki. The remaining three, Mitsuru, Fubuki, and Takahiro, form a close relationship as they fight for survival.
off the coast of the Kansai region of western Honshu
, and travel to Kobe Fuji in Hyogo Prefecture
. They are led by Akio and Ran, who overthrew the group guide Ryoya and keeps the rest of the members enslaved
with tasks such as raising corn, tending their livestock and weaving fabric. After they meet Arashi, Natsu, and Semimaru from Summer group B, the Fall group sets out to visit each Fuji.
. They emerge from cryonic preservation in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of southern Kyūshū
.
with Earth. As a result of the impact
, the climate of Japan has greatly changed: in the Kansai region there are only two seasons, a dry season
and a longer, heavier rainy season than the characters knew from the present day, and Takahiro of Winter group describes the winters in the northern island of Hokkaidō
as being as mild as in Kanagawa Prefecture
where he grew up. In addition, sea levels have risen greatly: downtown Yokohama
is completely underwater, only the top hand of the statue in Nagasaki Peace Park
is above the surface of the ocean. The geography of Japan has changed as well: after an eruption of Mount Aso
, Kyūshū
has been split into two islands, and the Kansai region is separated from central Honshū
by a wide strait. The series depicts a Japan in which, as a result of the new environment and mass extinctions, ecosystems have changed and several new species of animals and plants have evolved.
For example, on the island where Summer group B first lands, off the coast of Nagasaki Prefecture
, Botan notes how few of the ecological niche
s are filled, including no birds or flying insects, and that the limited number of species are still radiating
to fill empty niches. In particular, a local rodent resembling a rabbit is the process of speciation
into herbivorous and ravenously carnivorous versions, which are still visually similar. Other dangers new to the characters include swarms of carnivorous white
cockroaches and gigantic
venus flytrap
s, sundew
s, and nepenthes
. Species that are unchanged but were previously unknown in Japan include banana trees and crocodiles. Semimaru notes that neither on the island nor on the Kyūshū mainland do they see any ants, bees, or similar insects.
In the Kansai region, Fall group domesticates sheep
that have grown to resemble llama
s, which can be ridden, milked, and shorn for wool, and flightless birds about the size of a chicken. Izayoi tells Natsu that a local wasp
is deadly, killing with a single sting, and another species has a sting that sickens the victim for a day. According to Akio, corn
is the only crop from their seed cache that grows in the area's soils, but Fall group also cultivates a variety of tobacco
with a narcotic effect when smoked.
In the southern part of central Honshū, Natsu, Arashi, and Semimaru of Summer group B cross a desert with cactus scrub. Throughout the region they find remains of large reptiles, which remind Natsu of velociraptors from Jurassic Park
, that revive from estivation
during the rainy season. These "dinosaurs", as the characters call them, have grassland and woodland varieties, and during the rainy season are the dominant predator from the south coast to at least as far north as Tokyo
.
On the island where the Spring group first lands, off the coast of the Kantō region
, Hana notes that there are no vertebrates on land or in the sea, and Momotaro describes the ecology as similar to that of the Carboniferous Era. On land, there are giant insects the characters call "boat beetles" and swarms of bees with stings that are painful but not deadly, which force the group to live on rafts off-shore. In the island's swamps are giant praying mantis and giant dragonflies. While at the island, the group lives off shellfish and shallow-water nautilus
es (which are mesopelagic
in the present day), but see no bony fish. The characters find the climate changed as well, as it is too overcast to see the stars for the first two weeks after they are awake, even though it is spring, a season that in the present day is noted for clear weather.
On the mainland of the Kantō region, Spring group meets large aquatic lizards living among the submerged ruins of Yokohama, which hunt in groups. Nearby, in the ruins of central Tokyo, the party from Summer group B is attacked a giant preditory fish, which Takahiro of Winter group identifies as descended from a deep-sea fish, the only kind of bony fishes to have survived. They also meet a fungus-like growth Takahiro calls "blue mucus," which infects Hana's skin when she touches it. This growth goes dormant in the dry season, and Takahiro realizes it is intolerant of salt and uses it to cure her.
In northern Honshū near Sendai, Natsu, Arashi, and Semimaru of Summer group B find the first flowers they have seen during their journey over most of the length of Japan.
In southern Hokkaidō, Winter group encounters grassland
s populated by many mammals they do not know, including small-eared rodents, herds of unknown ruminant
s, and tigers with saber-teeth. They also meet wolves with the ability to project illusions—normally used to help hunt, but one whose injuries are tended by Takahiro pretends to be Fubuki to help him reach the seed cache at Mt. Meakandake alone.
(89959) 2002 NT7
might potentially collide with Earth.
and published by Shogakukan
. It began serialization in the November 2001 issue of the monthly shōjo (aimed at teenaged women) manga magazine Betsucomi
; in March 2002, it moved to the monthly josei (aimed at younger adult women) manga magazine Flowers
. Serial numbers have been collected in 16 bound volumes
, printed under the Flower Comics
imprint. When collected, these serial numbers are grouped in unnumbered parts called "chapters", each focusing on a different group of survivors, with part titles containing a kigo
(seasonal word) appropriate for the group name. 7 Seeds is published in French by Pika Édition
for shōjo
manga. The series is among the best-selling manga in Japan, having sold more than 10 million copies as of September 2008; volume 12 reached number 7 on the Tohan best-seller list and volume 13 reached number 10.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
series written and illustrated Yumi Tamura
Yumi Tamura
is a Japanese manga artist. Her debut short story, Ore-tachi no Zettai Jikan , was published in 1983 in Bessatsu Shōjo Comic and received the 1983 Shogakukan Grand Prize for new artists. Since then, she has completed more than 50 compiled volumes of short stories and continuing series...
. It has been published by Shogakukan
Shogakukan
is a Japanese publisher of dictionaries, literature, manga, non-fiction, DVDs, and other media in Japan.Shogakukan founded Shueisha which founded Hakusensha. These are three separate companies, but are together called the Hitotsubashi Group, one of the largest publishing groups in Japan...
since 2001, first in Betsucomi
Betsucomi
, formerly known as Bessatsu Shōjo Comic, is a monthly Japanese shōjo manga magazine published by Shogakukan, originally aimed at young girls, but increasingly marketed to older teens and young women. It is released on the 13th of each month...
then in Flowers
Flowers (magazine)
Flowers is a Japanese monthly josei manga magazine published by Shogakukan. It is issued on the 28th of every month.- Currently running manga-series:*Barbara Ikai*Fushigi Yūgi Genbu Kaiden*Iguana Girl-External links:*...
. The series is set in a post-apocalyptic future long enough after a meteorite
Meteorite
A meteorite is a natural object originating in outer space that survives impact with the Earth's surface. Meteorites can be big or small. Most meteorites derive from small astronomical objects called meteoroids, but they are also sometimes produced by impacts of asteroids...
hits
Impact event
An impact event is the collision of a large meteorite, asteroid, comet, or other celestial object with the Earth or another planet. Throughout recorded history, hundreds of minor impact events have been reported, with some occurrences causing deaths, injuries, property damage or other significant...
Earth that new species have evolved, and follows the struggles to survive of five groups of young adults after they are revived from cryonic preservation
Cryonics
Cryonics is the low-temperature preservation of humans and animals who can no longer be sustained by contemporary medicine, with the hope that healing and resuscitation may be possible in the future. Cryopreservation of people or large animals is not reversible with current technology...
. The title comes from seven caches of supplies, called "seeds," laid down by the Japanese government. In 2007, the series won the Shogakukan Manga Award
Shogakukan Manga Award
The is one of Japan's major manga awards, sponsored by Shogakukan Publishing. It has been awarded annually for serialized manga since 1955 and features candidates from a number of publishers.The current award categories are:...
for shōjo manga.
Story
In the present day, before the start of 7 Seeds, when astronomers predict that Earth will be hit by a meteorite, the world leaders met to develop a plan for human survival, called the Seven Seeds project. Each country would cryonically preserveCryonics
Cryonics is the low-temperature preservation of humans and animals who can no longer be sustained by contemporary medicine, with the hope that healing and resuscitation may be possible in the future. Cryopreservation of people or large animals is not reversible with current technology...
a number of healthy young people, which would allow them to survive devastation of the impact
Impact event
An impact event is the collision of a large meteorite, asteroid, comet, or other celestial object with the Earth or another planet. Throughout recorded history, hundreds of minor impact events have been reported, with some occurrences causing deaths, injuries, property damage or other significant...
. After a computer determines that Earth is once again safe for human life, it would revive each group.
The Japanese government created five groups of survivors named Winter, Spring, Summer A, Summer B, and Fall. Each group consisted of seven members, who were not told what would happen before being put in cryonic preservation
Cryonics
Cryonics is the low-temperature preservation of humans and animals who can no longer be sustained by contemporary medicine, with the hope that healing and resuscitation may be possible in the future. Cryopreservation of people or large animals is not reversible with current technology...
, and one adult guide who is trained in wilderness survival. These groups were scattered across Japan: the Summer groups in southern and northern Kyūshū
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
, Fall in western Honshū
Honshu
is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...
, Spring in central Honshū near Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, and Winter in Hokkaidō
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
. The project also prepared sealed caches containing seeds and instructional books near the "seven Fuji". These seven Fuji are not related to the famous Mount Fuji
Mount Fuji
is the highest mountain in Japan at . An active stratovolcano that last erupted in 1707–08, Mount Fuji lies about south-west of Tokyo, and can be seen from there on a clear day. Mount Fuji's exceptionally symmetrical cone is a well-known symbol of Japan and it is frequently depicted in art and...
, but are regional landmarks also named Fuji:
- BungoBungo Provincewas a province of Japan in eastern Kyūshū in the area of Ōita Prefecture. It was sometimes called , with Buzen Province. Bungo bordered Buzen, Hyūga, Higo, Chikugo, and Chikuzen Provinces.-History:...
Fuji in Ōita PrefectureOita Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan on Kyūshū Island. The prefectural capital is the city of Ōita.- History :Around the 6th century Kyushu consisted of four regions: Tsukushi-no-kuni 筑紫国, Hi-no-kuni 肥国, and Toyo no kuni...
is Mt. Yufudake, where the cache is marked by a statue of the BuddhaBuddhahoodIn Buddhism, buddhahood is the state of perfect enlightenment attained by a buddha .In Buddhism, the term buddha usually refers to one who has become enlightened...
DainichiFive Dhyani BuddhasIn Vajrayana Buddhism, the Five Dhyani Buddhas , also known as the Five Wisdom Tathāgatas, the Five Great Buddhas and the Five Jinas , are representations of the five qualities of the Buddha...
. - Ogino Fuji in Kanagawa PrefectureKanagawa Prefectureis a prefecture located in the southern Kantō region of Japan. The capital is Yokohama. Kanagawa is part of the Greater Tokyo Area.-History:The prefecture has some archaeological sites going back to the Jōmon period...
is Mt. Kyogatake, where the cache is marked by a statue of Monjubosatsu (the bodhisattvaBodhisattvaIn Buddhism, a bodhisattva is either an enlightened existence or an enlightenment-being or, given the variant Sanskrit spelling satva rather than sattva, "heroic-minded one for enlightenment ." The Pali term has sometimes been translated as "wisdom-being," although in modern publications, and...
ManjusriManjusriMañjuśrī is a bodhisattva associated with transcendent wisdom in Mahāyāna Buddhism. In Esoteric Buddhism he is also taken as a meditational deity. The Sanskrit name Mañjuśrī can be translated as "Gentle Glory"...
). - Kobe Fuji in Hyogo PrefectureHyogo Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region on Honshū island. The capital is Kobe.The prefecture's name was previously alternately spelled as Hiogo.- History :...
is Mount Futatabi of the Rokkō MountainsMount Rokkois a name of a group of mountains in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. This mountain is one of Hyōgo 50 mountains, Kinki 100 mountains, and also one of the 300 famous mountains in Japan.- Outline :...
. - Natori Fuji in Miyagi PrefectureMiyagi Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan in the Tōhoku Region on Honshu island. The capital is Sendai.- History :Miyagi Prefecture was formerly part of the province of Mutsu. Mutsu Province, on northern Honshu, was one of the last provinces to be formed as land was taken from the indigenous Emishi, and became the...
is Mt. Taihaku, near SendaiTaihaku-ku, Sendaiis a ward located in Sendai in Miyagi, Japan.As of 2005, the ward has an estimated population of 223,530 and the density of 979.49 persons per km²...
, where the cache is marked by a statue of Kokūzō (the bodhisattva AkasagarbhaAkasagarbhaĀkāśagarbha Bodhisattva is one of the eight great bodhisattvas. His name can be translated as "boundless space treasury" or "void store" as his wisdom is said to be boundless as space itself...
). - Akan Fuji in HokkaidōHokkaido, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
is Mt. Meakandake, where the cache is marked by a statue of Senju-Kannon (the goddess of mercy).
7 Seeds follows these five groups, as they are revived an undetermined time after the impact and come to terms with survival in a Japan that has greatly changed.
Characters
Every member of a group has a name containing a kigoKigo
is a word or phrase associated with a particular season, used in Japanese poetry. Kigo are used in the collaborative linked-verse forms renga and renku, as well as in haiku, to indicate the season referred to in the stanza...
(poetic seasonal word) related to the group name—for example, all of the members of the Spring group have names traditionally associated with spring. Each group consists of seven members plus a guide trained in wilderness survival. The five groups are listed in order of appearance in the series, which is different from the order in series chronology they were revived from cryonic preservation.
Summer group B
Summer group B was created after the other four Japanese groups as a backup, and consists of people who are healthy but rebellious or otherwise not well-adjusted to society. They emerge from cryonic preservation at the start of the series near an island in the East China SeaEast China Sea
The East China Sea is a marginal sea east of China. It is a part of the Pacific Ocean and covers an area of 1,249,000 km² or 750,000 square miles.-Geography:...
off the coast of Nagasaki Prefecture
Nagasaki Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyūshū. The capital is the city of Nagasaki.- History :Nagasaki Prefecture was created by merging of the western half of the former province of Hizen with the island provinces of Tsushima and Iki...
in western Kyūshū
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
, and travel to the seed cache at the foot of Bungo Fuji in Ōita Prefecture
Oita Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan on Kyūshū Island. The prefectural capital is the city of Ōita.- History :Around the 6th century Kyushu consisted of four regions: Tsukushi-no-kuni 筑紫国, Hi-no-kuni 肥国, and Toyo no kuni...
.
- A painfully shy, awkward and withdrawn 16-year-old girl, and the protagonist of the chapters about Summer group B. Natsu has difficulty expressing herself, and was always put down at home and bullied in school. However, she becomes essential to the group's survival by observing and writing down what they discover, such as which foods are edible. She has conflicting feelings for Arashi knowing that he has a girlfriend. She is picked on frequently by Semimaru but at the same time she has also cried when he was in trouble.Natsu means "summer" and iwashimizu means "water trickling from rocks".
- The boyfriend of Hana from the Spring group, aged 17. He acts as the protector of Natsu, and in general he is depicted as a compassionate and considerate person. He is particularily close to Semimaru and Natsu and it is them and Hana who he thinks of when he gets into trouble later on. He was on the school swim team with Hana, and is afraid of insects. Arashi means "tempestStormA storm is any disturbed state of an astronomical body's atmosphere, especially affecting its surface, and strongly implying severe weather...
" and aota means "green paddyPaddy fieldA paddy field is a flooded parcel of arable land used for growing rice and other semiaquatic crops. Paddy fields are a typical feature of rice farming in east, south and southeast Asia. Paddies can be built into steep hillsides as terraces and adjacent to depressed or steeply sloped features such...
". - A young man with a rebellious personality, aged 18. He enjoys picking on Natsu but also seems to try and cheer her up when she's feeling upset. Semi means "cicadaCicadaA cicada is an insect of the order Hemiptera, suborder Auchenorrhyncha , in the superfamily Cicadoidea, with large eyes wide apart on the head and usually transparent, well-veined wings. There are about 2,500 species of cicada around the world, and many of them remain unclassified...
", and asa means "ramieRamieRamie is a flowering plant in the nettle family Urticaceae, native to eastern Asia. It is a herbaceous perennial growing to 1–2.5 m tall; the leaves are heart-shaped, 7–15 cm long and 6–12 cm broad, and white on the underside with dense small hairs—this gives it a silvery appearance;...
". - The daughter of a farmer, aged 16. She had been running away from home prior to being cryonically frozen. Matsuri means "festivalJapanese festivalsJapanese festivals are traditional festive occasions. Some festivals have their roots in Chinese festivals but have undergone dramatic changes as they mixed with local customs....
" and tendō means "heavenly path", a poeticism for the sun. - An art college student, aged 19. Chimaki loves painting and sculpting, and he has a habit of carving and drawing murals on rock walls. Chimaki means "zongziZongziZongzi is a traditional Chinese food, made of glutinous rice stuffed with different fillings and wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves. They are cooked by steaming or boiling. Laotians, Thais, and Cambodians also have similar traditional dishes. In the Western world, they are also known as rice...
", and yamori means "geckoGeckoGeckos are lizards belonging to the infraorder Gekkota, found in warm climates throughout the world. They range from 1.6 cm to 60 cm....
". - A 12-year-old girl with a strong intuition, who always accurately predicts the weather. Hotaru means "fireflyFireflyLampyridae is a family of insects in the beetle order Coleoptera. They are winged beetles, and commonly called fireflies or lightning bugs for their conspicuous crepuscular use of bioluminescence to attract mates or prey. Fireflies produce a "cold light", with no infrared or ultraviolet frequencies...
". - A mysterious person of uncertain age (probably 37-38 years old), usually called just Mozu. He is very skilled at survival, and stands out for having a name element, , that is an autumn kigoKigois a word or phrase associated with a particular season, used in Japanese poetry. Kigo are used in the collaborative linked-verse forms renga and renku, as well as in haiku, to indicate the season referred to in the stanza...
instead of summer. In volume 6, when he meets Hana of Spring group while she is in despair, he offers to kill her. In volume 12, he tells Botan he was nephew of the Prime Minister and a leader of the Seven Seeds project, and a flashback reveals that he was responsible for the creation of the Seven Seeds program, along with the selection of the members of Summer group A. - The guide for Summer group B. She used to be a policewoman, and therefore skilled in self-defense. Very outspoken and straight-forward in her communication. Botan means "peonyPeonyPeony or paeony is a name for plants in the genus Paeonia, the only genus in the flowering plant family Paeoniaceae. They are native to Asia, southern Europe and western North America...
".
Spring group
The Spring group emerges from cryonic preservation a few months after Summer group B near an island off the coast of the Kantō regionKanto region
The is a geographical area of Honshu, the largest island of Japan. The region includes the Greater Tokyo Area and encompasses seven prefectures: Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Saitama, Tokyo, Chiba, and Kanagawa. Within its boundaries, slightly more than 40 percent of the land area is the Kantō Plain....
of central Honshu
Honshu
is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...
, and travel to Ogino Fuji in Kanagawa Prefecture
Kanagawa Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the southern Kantō region of Japan. The capital is Yokohama. Kanagawa is part of the Greater Tokyo Area.-History:The prefecture has some archaeological sites going back to the Jōmon period...
, where they find a note from Natsu of Summer group B. Later, Hana invites Takahiro, the surviving member of Winter group, to join the Spring group.
- The 17-year-old girlfriend of Arashi Aota, and the main character of the chapters about Spring group. She is depicted as beautiful, attractive and strong-willed; she is described as a tomboyTomboyA tomboy is a girl who exhibits characteristics or behaviors considered typical of the gender role of a boy, including the wearing of typically masculine-oriented clothes and engaging in games and activities that are often physical in nature, and which are considered in many cultures to be the...
by Arashi and energetic by Fujiko and Haru. Hana learned an adequate amount of wilderness survival skills from her father during her childhood when he used to frequently take her to camping trips. She was on her school swim team and dabbled in rock climbing as a hobby. When she realizes that she may never meet Arashi again, she contemplates suicide, but when she learns that Arashi has survived in Summer group B she becomes determined reunite with the love of her life. Hana means "flower" and sugurono means "burning fields to make way for new crops". - A young man with a strong body, aged 18. Mansaku is a skilled archerArcheryArchery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity...
. He is depicted as laid-back person who enjoys meditationMeditationMeditation is any form of a family of practices in which practitioners train their minds or self-induce a mode of consciousness to realize some benefit....
and Tang DynastyTang DynastyThe Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
poetry. Mansaku means "witch hazelWitch-hazelWitch-hazel is a genus of flowering plants in the family Hamamelidaceae, with three species in North America , and one each in Japan and China...
" and tsunomata means "red algaeRed algaeThe red algae are one of the oldest groups of eukaryotic algae, and also one of the largest, with about 5,000–6,000 species of mostly multicellular, marine algae, including many notable seaweeds...
". - A 17-year-old girl who aspires to become a doctor and an astronaut. She served as an overseas medical volunteer before she was put in cryonic preservation. Fujiko gets along well with Hana. Fuji means "wisteriaWisteriaWisteria is a genus of flowering plants in the pea family, Fabaceae, that includes ten species of woody climbing vines native to the eastern United States and to China, Korea, and Japan. Aquarists refer to the species Hygrophila difformis, in the family Acanthaceae, as Water Wisteria...
" and amaciya is a variety of hydrangeaHydrangeaHydrangea is a genus of about 70 to 75 species of flowering plants native to southern and eastern Asia and North and South America. By far the greatest species diversity is in eastern Asia, notably China, Japan, and Korea...
. - A 16-year-old child-prodigy pianist, who can play other instruments such as ocarinaOcarinaThe ocarina is an ancient flute-like wind instrument. Variations do exist, but a typical ocarina is an enclosed space with four to twelve finger holes and a mouthpiece that projects from the body...
. He is depicted as intelligent but bratty, snobby and reserved. When he realizes the world he knew is gone, he tells Hana he is relieved to be rid of the pressures of winning competitions and performing flawlessly to please the public. He is attracted to Koruri and begins teaching her the joys of appreciating music. Haru means "spring" and yukima means "break in snowfall". - A 12-year-old genius from Sendai. Momo means "peach", taro means "oldest/first son", and nobi means "wildfire".
- An 18-year old woman from a prestigious family with strong political influence. She is a skilled potterPotteryPottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
. She is depicted as polite and obedient, using respectful language (see Honorific speech in Japanese), and is always drawn with her eyes mostly closed. Chisa means "lettuce", tai means "sea bream", and ami means "net". - A 12-year-old girl who remains in a comaComaIn medicine, a coma is a state of unconsciousness, lasting more than 6 hours in which a person cannot be awakened, fails to respond normally to painful stimuli, light or sound, lacks a normal sleep-wake cycle and does not initiate voluntary actions. A person in a state of coma is described as...
after being revived. She is cared for by Chisa. Hibari means "skylarkSkylarkThe Skylark is a small passerine bird species. This lark breeds across most of Europe and Asia and in the mountains of north Africa. It is mainly resident in the west of its range, but eastern populations are more migratory, moving further south in winter. Even in the milder west of its range,...
", and niigusa means "new grass". - The guide for the Spring group, age unknown. Before being put in cryonic preservation, Yanagi was a member of the Japan Self-Defense ForcesJapan Self-Defense ForcesThe , or JSDF, occasionally referred to as JSF or SDF, are the unified military forces of Japan that were established after the end of the post–World War II Allied occupation of Japan. For most of the post-war period the JSDF was confined to the islands of Japan and not permitted to be deployed...
. He is depicted as an arrogant disciplinarian and a misogynist. He dies saving the others by setting himself on fire after the giant praying mantis eggs that were laid inside his body hatched. To means "to step on", sei means "green", and yanagi means "willow". Written with different kanjiKanjiKanji are the adopted logographic Chinese characters hanzi that are used in the modern Japanese writing system along with hiragana , katakana , Indo Arabic numerals, and the occasional use of the Latin alphabet...
, tousei can also mean "strength of a party".
Winter group
The Winter group emerges from cryonic preservation in the Pacific Ocean off the southern coast of HokkaidōHokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
about fifteen years before the start of the series. Three members die during the thawing process; on the way to the cache at Mt. Meakandake, they are attacked by a sabertoothed tiger
Tiger
The tiger is the largest cat species, reaching a total body length of up to and weighing up to . Their most recognizable feature is a pattern of dark vertical stripes on reddish-orange fur with lighter underparts...
, killing their guide and Mutsuki. The remaining three, Mitsuru, Fubuki, and Takahiro, form a close relationship as they fight for survival.
- The main character of the chapters about Winter group. Takahiro was a talented and famous high-school baseball player, described as the best pitcherPitcherIn baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
to appear in 50 years, and had played in KōshienNational High School Baseball ChampionshipThe National High School Baseball Championship of Japan, commonly known as "Summer Kōshien" , is an annual nationwide high school baseball tournament...
. He is attracted to Mitsuru, but when he realizes she is in love with Fubuki, helps the two get together. After Fubuki and Mitsuru's deaths, Takahiro survives on his own with two wolves named after them, which he raised from puppies, until he meets Arashi, Natsu, and Semimaru of Summer group B in the ruins of Tokyo. Later, he meets Hana of Spring group, who invites him to join them. Taka means "hawkHawkThe term hawk can be used in several ways:* In strict usage in Australia and Africa, to mean any of the species in the subfamily Accipitrinae, which comprises the genera Accipiter, Micronisus, Melierax, Urotriorchis and Megatriorchis. The large and widespread Accipiter genus includes goshawks,...
". - Also a talented and well-known high-school baseball player who, like Takahiro, played at Kōshien, and was described as the shortstopShortstopShortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
of the century. He gets together with Mitsuru shortly before being killed by a tiger while saving Mitsuru and Takahiro. Fubuki means "snowstorm". - A high-school student who studied traditional Japanese dance. She initially pretends to disdain Fubuki, but later admits to being a fan of both Fubuki and Takahiro from before being put in cryonically preservation. Unable to bear Fukubi's death, she dances in the snow and freezes to death. Tsuru means "craneCrane (bird)Cranes are a family, Gruidae, of large, long-legged and long-necked birds in the order Gruiformes. There are fifteen species of crane in four genera. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back...
". - A first-year university student majoring in journalism. He jumps off a cliff after being mortally wounded by the tiger that kills Kumakawa. Mutsuki is the first month of the former Japanese lunisolar calendar.
- One of the winter team members. She had died prior to the story through the thawing process. In the data books, she seems to be a professor as she is dressed so holding chemicals in one hand. Fushizuke is a term for pickled vegetables, and arare means "hailHailHail is a form of solid precipitation. It consists of balls or irregular lumps of ice, each of which is referred to as a hail stone. Hail stones on Earth consist mostly of water ice and measure between and in diameter, with the larger stones coming from severe thunderstorms...
". - One of the winter team members. She had died prior to the story through the thawing process. In the data books, her picture shows her sewing some clothes suggesting she may be a designer. Ayatori means "cat's cradleCat's cradleCat's cradle is a well known series of string figures created between two people as a game. The name of the entire game, the specific figures, their order, and the names of the figures vary. Versions of this game have been found in indigenous cultures all over the world—from the Arctic to the...
". - One of the winter team members. He had died prior to the story through the thawing process. In the data books, he seems to be a farmer of sorts as he is seen picking apples from a tree and collecting them in a basket. Toji means "winter solsticeWinter solsticeWinter solstice may refer to:* Winter solstice, astronomical event* Winter Solstice , former band* Winter Solstice: North , seasonal songs* Winter Solstice , 2005 American film...
", and murozaki is a term for cultivating flowers in a hothouseGreenhouseA greenhouse is a building in which plants are grown. These structures range in size from small sheds to very large buildings...
. - The guide for the Winter group. He is killed by a sabertoothed tigerTigerThe tiger is the largest cat species, reaching a total body length of up to and weighing up to . Their most recognizable feature is a pattern of dark vertical stripes on reddish-orange fur with lighter underparts...
soon after being revived. Sayuru means "freezing".
Fall group
The Fall group emerges from cryonic preservation about three years before the start of the series in the Sea of JapanSea of Japan
The Sea of Japan is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, between the Asian mainland, the Japanese archipelago and Sakhalin. It is bordered by Japan, North Korea, Russia and South Korea. Like the Mediterranean Sea, it has almost no tides due to its nearly complete enclosure from the Pacific...
off the coast of the Kansai region of western Honshu
Honshu
is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...
, and travel to Kobe Fuji in Hyogo Prefecture
Hyogo Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region on Honshū island. The capital is Kobe.The prefecture's name was previously alternately spelled as Hiogo.- History :...
. They are led by Akio and Ran, who overthrew the group guide Ryoya and keeps the rest of the members enslaved
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
with tasks such as raising corn, tending their livestock and weaving fabric. After they meet Arashi, Natsu, and Semimaru from Summer group B, the Fall group sets out to visit each Fuji.
- The leader of Fall group. In the present day, he was a young but successful Internet businessman, who had studied abroad in America and became fluent in English and Spanish. He and Ran dominate the rest of Fall group, forcing them to work to quotas. Aki means "fall", and haza is a covering of rice straw used during harvest.
- An aggressive and selfish woman who used to work as an architect. She acts as Akio's enforcer and often practices English and Spanish with Akio so they don't forget their foreign language skills. She harbors a deep grudge against the organization that chose her to be a part of the Seven Seeds Project. Ran means "orchid" and shishigaki means "boarBoarWild boar, also wild pig, is a species of the pig genus Sus, part of the biological family Suidae. The species includes many subspecies. It is the wild ancestor of the domestic pig, an animal with which it freely hybridises...
fence", which keeps vermin out of fields. - A former OlympicOlympic GamesThe Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
competitor in judoJudois a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
. Hazuki is the eighth month of the former Japanese lunisolar calendar, corresponding roughly to September. - A kind, gentle woman who has experience staying in a farm in New Zealand. She falls in love with Ryuusei in the same team and eventually becomes pregnant with his child. Kurumi means "walnutWalnutJuglans is a plant genus of the family Juglandaceae, the seeds of which are known as walnuts. They are deciduous trees, 10–40 meters tall , with pinnate leaves 200–900 millimetres long , with 5–25 leaflets; the shoots have chambered pith, a character shared with the wingnuts , but not the hickories...
", and shikano means "deerDeerDeer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
field". - A young man who acts like a playboy. Ryuusei means "meteorMETEORMETEOR is a metric for the evaluation of machine translation output. The metric is based on the harmonic mean of unigram precision and recall, with recall weighted higher than precision...
", and ogi means "Amur silver-grassMiscanthus sacchariflorusMiscanthus sacchariflorus is a grass native to temperate Asia. Culms are erect, 90–250 cm in height and 5–8 mm in diameter.- References :* * *...
". - A woman who is a skilled diver, depicted as having a strong intuition about ghosts and spirits. She and Kurumi develop a close friendship. Akane means "madderMadderRubia is a genus of the madder family Rubiaceae, which contains about 60 species of perennial scrambling or climbing herbs and sub-shrubs native to the Old World, Africa, temperate Asia and America...
". - A former law student with eidetic memoryEidetic memoryEidetic , commonly referred to as photographic memory, is a medical term, popularly defined as the ability to recall images, sounds, or objects in memory with extreme precision and in abundant volume. The word eidetic, referring to extraordinarily detailed and vivid recall not limited to, but...
. Yamaki literally means "eighth volume" and is another name for the Lotus SutraLotus SutraThe Lotus Sūtra is one of the most popular and influential Mahāyāna sūtras, and the basis on which the Tiantai and Nichiren sects of Buddhism were established.-Title:...
, and "saku" is a term for the first day of a month. - A former fireman and the irresolute guide for the Fall group. When he meets Natsu, Arashi, and Semimaru of Summer group B, he attempts to poison them all but is prevented by Semimaru and Arashi. Ryoya is another name for the Mid-Autumn FestivalMid-Autumn FestivalThe Mid-Autumn Festival , also known as the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival or Zhongqiu Festival, is a popular lunar harvest festival celebrated by Chinese and Vietnamese people. A description of the festival first appeared in Rites of Zhou, a written collection of rituals of the Western Zhou...
and izayoi means "waning moon".
Summer group A
The members of Summer group A were specially chosen for the Seven Seeds Project by the Japanese government. This project genetically engineered and conceived more than 100 babies, then raised them on an island and taught wilderness survival until they reached the age of 17, at which time seven of them were chosen and put in cryonic preservation. "Failures" from this project were said to have left the island to join the rest of society, but later it is revealed that they were actually killed and disposed. Each child was instructed in seven classes of technologies: water, fire, wind, earth, vegetation, animal, and medical, and at age 13, they chose to specialize in two classes; In the end, one survivor was selected to represent each class. None of the members of Summer group A have a family nameFamily name
A family name is a type of surname and part of a person's name indicating the family to which the person belongs. The use of family names is widespread in cultures around the world...
. They emerge from cryonic preservation in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of southern Kyūshū
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
.
- A specialist in fire and water classes, and the main character of the chapters about Summer group A. He was the top student of the project, and a rival of Ryou's. He and Ryou reluctantly respect each other. Ango is attracted to Ayu and possibly Hana. He is close friends with Koruri, Mayu, Nobara, and Shigeru. Ango unconsciously sees Natsu as Shigeru because of their similar personalities. Ango means "calm and firm existence".
- A specialist in wind and medical classes. She seems interested in Haru and enjoys listening to his music. She has naturally curly hair, and is a good hang-glider. Koruri is a kind of robinSiberian Blue RobinThe Siberian Blue Robin, Luscinia cyane, is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but is now more generally considered to be an Old World flycatcher, family Muscicapidae. It, and similar small European species, are often called chats...
. - A specialist in fire and water classes. Ryou is a top student and Ango's rival. He is depicted as rebellious with a cold demeanor, capable of evaluating situations dispassionately, but he shows glimpses of compassion at times. Though he may not seem like it on the surface, Ryou cares a lot about Ango. Ryou means "cool".
- Also known as Madonna for her beauty, Ayu is the best specialist in the plant class and also specialized in earth classes. She is sometimes bullied by other girls because they are jealous of her appearance and the attention she attracts from boys. She looks down on other human beings, frequently referring to them as idiots and filthy creatures. Ayu means "sweetfish".
- A specialist in animal and plant classes. Gengorou is depicted as a kind and mature person, and him and Ango respect each other as peers. Gengorou is a kind of beetleDytiscidaeDytiscidae – based on the Greek dytikos , "able to dive" – are the predaceous diving beetles, a family of water beetles. They are about 25 mm long on average, though there is much variation between species. Dytiscus latissimus, the largest, can grow up to 45 mm long...
. - A specialist in animal and medical class. Ban is depicted as seeming slow and socially awkward, but he is quick on his feet when treating an injured person. Ban means "moorhenCommon MoorhenThe Common Moorhen is a bird in the Rallidae family with an almost worldwide distribution. The North and South American Committees of the AOU and the IOC have voted on or before July 2011 to split the American forms into a new species Common Gallinule, however, no other committee has voted to...
". - A specialist in earth and water classes, Nijiko is depicted as always calm and collected. She's with Ryou, but appears to not truly care for him. Aside from getting along decently with Ryo, Nijiko seems to grudgingly respect Ran. Niji means "rainbow".
- The guide of Summer group A. He is an overpowering jerk and has no qualms about hitting his students. After their revival, he becomes the target of revenge by Summer group A and is killed by all members aside from Ban who does not participate but does not attempt to stop his group either.
Setting
7 Seeds takes place an unknown number of years after the collision of a large meteoriteMeteorite
A meteorite is a natural object originating in outer space that survives impact with the Earth's surface. Meteorites can be big or small. Most meteorites derive from small astronomical objects called meteoroids, but they are also sometimes produced by impacts of asteroids...
with Earth. As a result of the impact
Impact event
An impact event is the collision of a large meteorite, asteroid, comet, or other celestial object with the Earth or another planet. Throughout recorded history, hundreds of minor impact events have been reported, with some occurrences causing deaths, injuries, property damage or other significant...
, the climate of Japan has greatly changed: in the Kansai region there are only two seasons, a dry season
Dry season
The dry season is a term commonly used when describing the weather in the tropics. The weather in the tropics is dominated by the tropical rain belt, which oscillates from the northern to the southern tropics over the course of the year...
and a longer, heavier rainy season than the characters knew from the present day, and Takahiro of Winter group describes the winters in the northern island of Hokkaidō
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
as being as mild as in Kanagawa Prefecture
Kanagawa Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the southern Kantō region of Japan. The capital is Yokohama. Kanagawa is part of the Greater Tokyo Area.-History:The prefecture has some archaeological sites going back to the Jōmon period...
where he grew up. In addition, sea levels have risen greatly: downtown Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
is completely underwater, only the top hand of the statue in Nagasaki Peace Park
Nagasaki Peace Park
Nagasaki Peace Park is a park located in Nagasaki, Japan, commemorating the atomic bombing of the city on August 9, 1945 during World War II.-History:...
is above the surface of the ocean. The geography of Japan has changed as well: after an eruption of Mount Aso
Mount Aso
is the largest active volcano in Japan, and is among the largest in the world. It stands in Aso Kujū National Park in Kumamoto Prefecture, on the island of Kyūshū. Its peak is 1592 m above sea level. Aso has one of the largest caldera in the world...
, Kyūshū
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
has been split into two islands, and the Kansai region is separated from central Honshū
Honshu
is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...
by a wide strait. The series depicts a Japan in which, as a result of the new environment and mass extinctions, ecosystems have changed and several new species of animals and plants have evolved.
For example, on the island where Summer group B first lands, off the coast of Nagasaki Prefecture
Nagasaki Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyūshū. The capital is the city of Nagasaki.- History :Nagasaki Prefecture was created by merging of the western half of the former province of Hizen with the island provinces of Tsushima and Iki...
, Botan notes how few of the ecological niche
Ecological niche
In ecology, a niche is a term describing the relational position of a species or population in its ecosystem to each other; e.g. a dolphin could potentially be in another ecological niche from one that travels in a different pod if the members of these pods utilize significantly different food...
s are filled, including no birds or flying insects, and that the limited number of species are still radiating
Adaptive radiation
In evolutionary biology, adaptive radiation is the evolution of ecological and phenotypic diversity within a rapidly multiplying lineage. Starting with a recent single ancestor, this process results in the speciation and phenotypic adaptation of an array of species exhibiting different...
to fill empty niches. In particular, a local rodent resembling a rabbit is the process of speciation
Speciation
Speciation is the evolutionary process by which new biological species arise. The biologist Orator F. Cook seems to have been the first to coin the term 'speciation' for the splitting of lineages or 'cladogenesis,' as opposed to 'anagenesis' or 'phyletic evolution' occurring within lineages...
into herbivorous and ravenously carnivorous versions, which are still visually similar. Other dangers new to the characters include swarms of carnivorous white
Albinism
Albinism is a congenital disorder characterized by the complete or partial absence of pigment in the skin, hair and eyes due to absence or defect of an enzyme involved in the production of melanin...
cockroaches and gigantic
Island gigantism
Island gigantism or insular giantism is a biological phenomenon in which the size of animals isolated on an island increases dramatically in comparison to their mainland relatives....
venus flytrap
Venus Flytrap
The Venus Flytrap , Dionaea muscipula, is a carnivorous plant that catches and digests animal prey—mostly insects and arachnids. Its trapping structure is formed by the terminal portion of each of the plant's leaves and is triggered by tiny hairs on their inner surfaces...
s, sundew
Sundew
Drosera, commonly known as the sundews, comprise one of the largest genera of carnivorous plants, with at least 194 species. These members of the family Droseraceae lure, capture, and digest insects using stalked mucilaginous glands covering their leaf surface. The insects are used to supplement...
s, and nepenthes
Nepenthes
The Nepenthes , popularly known as tropical pitcher plants or monkey cups, are a genus of carnivorous plants in the monotypic family Nepenthaceae. The genus comprises roughly 130 species, numerous natural and many cultivated hybrids...
. Species that are unchanged but were previously unknown in Japan include banana trees and crocodiles. Semimaru notes that neither on the island nor on the Kyūshū mainland do they see any ants, bees, or similar insects.
In the Kansai region, Fall group domesticates sheep
Domestic sheep
Sheep are quadrupedal, ruminant mammals typically kept as livestock. Like all ruminants, sheep are members of the order Artiodactyla, the even-toed ungulates. Although the name "sheep" applies to many species in the genus Ovis, in everyday usage it almost always refers to Ovis aries...
that have grown to resemble llama
Llama
The llama is a South American camelid, widely used as a meat and pack animal by Andean cultures since pre-Hispanic times....
s, which can be ridden, milked, and shorn for wool, and flightless birds about the size of a chicken. Izayoi tells Natsu that a local wasp
Wasp
The term wasp is typically defined as any insect of the order Hymenoptera and suborder Apocrita that is neither a bee nor an ant. Almost every pest insect species has at least one wasp species that preys upon it or parasitizes it, making wasps critically important in natural control of their...
is deadly, killing with a single sting, and another species has a sting that sickens the victim for a day. According to Akio, corn
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
is the only crop from their seed cache that grows in the area's soils, but Fall group also cultivates a variety of tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
with a narcotic effect when smoked.
In the southern part of central Honshū, Natsu, Arashi, and Semimaru of Summer group B cross a desert with cactus scrub. Throughout the region they find remains of large reptiles, which remind Natsu of velociraptors from Jurassic Park
Jurassic Park (film)
Jurassic Park is a 1993 American science fiction adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Michael Crichton. It stars Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough, Martin Ferrero, and Bob Peck...
, that revive from estivation
Estivation
Aestivation is a state of animal dormancy, characterized by inactivity and a lowered metabolic rate, that is entered in response to high temperatures and arid conditions...
during the rainy season. These "dinosaurs", as the characters call them, have grassland and woodland varieties, and during the rainy season are the dominant predator from the south coast to at least as far north as Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
.
On the island where the Spring group first lands, off the coast of the Kantō region
Kanto region
The is a geographical area of Honshu, the largest island of Japan. The region includes the Greater Tokyo Area and encompasses seven prefectures: Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Saitama, Tokyo, Chiba, and Kanagawa. Within its boundaries, slightly more than 40 percent of the land area is the Kantō Plain....
, Hana notes that there are no vertebrates on land or in the sea, and Momotaro describes the ecology as similar to that of the Carboniferous Era. On land, there are giant insects the characters call "boat beetles" and swarms of bees with stings that are painful but not deadly, which force the group to live on rafts off-shore. In the island's swamps are giant praying mantis and giant dragonflies. While at the island, the group lives off shellfish and shallow-water nautilus
Nautilus
Nautilus is the common name of marine creatures of cephalopod family Nautilidae, the sole extant family of the superfamily Nautilaceae and of its smaller but near equal suborder, Nautilina. It comprises six living species in two genera, the type of which is the genus Nautilus...
es (which are mesopelagic
Mesopelagic
The mesopelagic is that part of the pelagic zone that extends from a depth of 200 to 1000 metres below the ocean surface. It lies between the photic epipelagic above and the aphotic bathypelagic below, where there is no light at all...
in the present day), but see no bony fish. The characters find the climate changed as well, as it is too overcast to see the stars for the first two weeks after they are awake, even though it is spring, a season that in the present day is noted for clear weather.
On the mainland of the Kantō region, Spring group meets large aquatic lizards living among the submerged ruins of Yokohama, which hunt in groups. Nearby, in the ruins of central Tokyo, the party from Summer group B is attacked a giant preditory fish, which Takahiro of Winter group identifies as descended from a deep-sea fish, the only kind of bony fishes to have survived. They also meet a fungus-like growth Takahiro calls "blue mucus," which infects Hana's skin when she touches it. This growth goes dormant in the dry season, and Takahiro realizes it is intolerant of salt and uses it to cure her.
In northern Honshū near Sendai, Natsu, Arashi, and Semimaru of Summer group B find the first flowers they have seen during their journey over most of the length of Japan.
In southern Hokkaidō, Winter group encounters grassland
Grassland
Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
s populated by many mammals they do not know, including small-eared rodents, herds of unknown ruminant
Ruminant
A ruminant is a mammal of the order Artiodactyla that digests plant-based food by initially softening it within the animal's first compartment of the stomach, principally through bacterial actions, then regurgitating the semi-digested mass, now known as cud, and chewing it again...
s, and tigers with saber-teeth. They also meet wolves with the ability to project illusions—normally used to help hunt, but one whose injuries are tended by Takahiro pretends to be Fubuki to help him reach the seed cache at Mt. Meakandake alone.
Development
In an author's note, Tamura says that 7 Seeds was inspired by news reports that near-Earth objectNear-Earth object
A near-Earth object is a Solar System object whose orbit brings it into close proximity with the Earth. All NEOs have a perihelion distance less than 1.3 AU. They include a few thousand near-Earth asteroids , near-Earth comets, a number of solar-orbiting spacecraft, and meteoroids large enough to...
(89959) 2002 NT7
(89959) 2002 NT7
' is a near-Earth object with a diameter of 1.2 miles that became the first object observed by NASA's NEO program to be assigned a positive rating on the Palermo Technical Impact Hazard Scale, for a potential impact on February 1, 2019...
might potentially collide with Earth.
Manga
7 Seeds is written and illustrated by Yumi TamuraYumi Tamura
is a Japanese manga artist. Her debut short story, Ore-tachi no Zettai Jikan , was published in 1983 in Bessatsu Shōjo Comic and received the 1983 Shogakukan Grand Prize for new artists. Since then, she has completed more than 50 compiled volumes of short stories and continuing series...
and published by Shogakukan
Shogakukan
is a Japanese publisher of dictionaries, literature, manga, non-fiction, DVDs, and other media in Japan.Shogakukan founded Shueisha which founded Hakusensha. These are three separate companies, but are together called the Hitotsubashi Group, one of the largest publishing groups in Japan...
. It began serialization in the November 2001 issue of the monthly shōjo (aimed at teenaged women) manga magazine Betsucomi
Betsucomi
, formerly known as Bessatsu Shōjo Comic, is a monthly Japanese shōjo manga magazine published by Shogakukan, originally aimed at young girls, but increasingly marketed to older teens and young women. It is released on the 13th of each month...
; in March 2002, it moved to the monthly josei (aimed at younger adult women) manga magazine Flowers
Flowers (magazine)
Flowers is a Japanese monthly josei manga magazine published by Shogakukan. It is issued on the 28th of every month.- Currently running manga-series:*Barbara Ikai*Fushigi Yūgi Genbu Kaiden*Iguana Girl-External links:*...
. Serial numbers have been collected in 16 bound volumes
Tankobon
, with a literal meaning close to "independently appearing book", is the Japanese term for a book that is complete in itself and is not part of a series , though the manga industry uses it for volumes which may be in a series...
, printed under the Flower Comics
Flower Comics
is an imprint label for bound volumes of shōjo manga and lady's comics published by Shougakukan in Japan. They are usually released around the 26th of each month...
imprint. When collected, these serial numbers are grouped in unnumbered parts called "chapters", each focusing on a different group of survivors, with part titles containing a kigo
Kigo
is a word or phrase associated with a particular season, used in Japanese poetry. Kigo are used in the collaborative linked-verse forms renga and renku, as well as in haiku, to indicate the season referred to in the stanza...
(seasonal word) appropriate for the group name. 7 Seeds is published in French by Pika Édition
Pika Édition
Pika Édition is a French publisher headquartered in Boulogne-Billancourt, specializing in manga. Founded as a daughter company of Media System Editions, it was taken over by Hachette Livre in 2007.-Distribution:...
Radio drama
7 Seeds was adapted as a radio drama that was broadcast from 2003-12-09 to 2004-02-06. The nine episodes were collected on three drama CDs:- 7 Seeds 1, released on 2004-03-26, focuses on Summer group B and dramatizes the events of volume 1 of the manga.
- 7 Seeds 2, released on 2004-04-23, focuses on Winter group and dramatizes events of volume 4 of the manga.
- 7 Seeds 3, released on 2004-05-21, focuses on Spring group and dramatizes events of volumes 2 and 3 of the manga.
Reception
7 Seeds won the 2007 Shogakukan Manga AwardShogakukan Manga Award
The is one of Japan's major manga awards, sponsored by Shogakukan Publishing. It has been awarded annually for serialized manga since 1955 and features candidates from a number of publishers.The current award categories are:...
for shōjo
Shojo
The term refers to manga marketed to a female audience roughly between the ages of 10-18. The name romanizes the Japanese 少女 , literally: "little female". Shōjo manga covers many subjects in a variety of narrative and graphic styles, from historical drama to science fiction — often with a strong...
manga. The series is among the best-selling manga in Japan, having sold more than 10 million copies as of September 2008; volume 12 reached number 7 on the Tohan best-seller list and volume 13 reached number 10.