Kaguyahime
Encyclopedia
is a science fiction
manga
series by Reiko Shimizu
. This 27-volume series was serialized in Lala
from 1994 to 2005. The story is based on the Japanese legend of Kaguyahime
(The Tale of the Bamboo cutter).
In 2002, the series received the 47th annual Shogakukan Manga Award
for shōjo
. A Drama CD was released in 2003.
, this manga takes place around the mysterious Kabuchi Island where children were raised in an orphanage as sacrificial victims. Some of the children manage to leave the island and think they have escaped their fates. But then they all start to die at age sixteen, in the order and at the time they were originally arranged to be sacrificed. The only way to stop the deaths is to return to the island, seek out the cause - Kaguya Hime - and destroy it.
The children later realize that they are clones of famous or influential humans, a fact which further complicates their quest to figure out their mysterious past and save their futures.
Donor
Camp U.G. (Underground)
Kabuchi Island (Kabuchijima)
Moon Stone
Moon Stone Mold
Li Plutocracy
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 by Reiko Shimizu
Reiko Shimizu
is a Japanese shōjo manga writer and illustrator. She made her professional debut in 1983 with Sansaro Monogatari in LaLa, and has written primarily for the publisher Hakusensha...
. This 27-volume series was serialized in Lala
Lala
Lala VC was an Indian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth soldiers.-Details:...
from 1994 to 2005. The story is based on the Japanese legend of Kaguyahime
Kaguyahime
is a science fiction manga series by Reiko Shimizu. This 27-volume series was serialized in Lala from 1994 to 2005. The story is based on the Japanese legend of Kaguyahime ....
(The Tale of the Bamboo cutter).
In 2002, the series received the 47th annual 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
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...
. A Drama CD was released in 2003.
Story
Based on The Tale of the Bamboo CutterThe Tale of the Bamboo Cutter
, also known as , is a 10th century Japanese folktale. It is considered the oldest extant Japanese narrative and an early example of proto-science fiction....
, this manga takes place around the mysterious Kabuchi Island where children were raised in an orphanage as sacrificial victims. Some of the children manage to leave the island and think they have escaped their fates. But then they all start to die at age sixteen, in the order and at the time they were originally arranged to be sacrificed. The only way to stop the deaths is to return to the island, seek out the cause - Kaguya Hime - and destroy it.
The children later realize that they are clones of famous or influential humans, a fact which further complicates their quest to figure out their mysterious past and save their futures.
Terminology
Sacrifice- A child orphan raised on Kabuchi Island for the purpose of becoming the victim of the Kaguya-hime "festival".
Donor
- A human who was cloned for the purpose of offering organs or spare parts to a VIP of financial or political power (the "recipient"). Clones can be created for insurance purposes (Akira, Midori, Sutton, Satoshi, Katsura, Kaede, Mamoru) and for crucial organ parts (Miller) in transplant surgeries.
Camp U.G. (Underground)
- A U.S. Armed Forces military campMilitary campA military camp or bivouac is a semi-permanent facility for the lodging of an army. Camps are erected when a military force travels away from a major installation or fort during training or operations, and often have the form of large campsites. In the Roman era the military camp had highly...
whose target recruits were young men. A large cash prize and citizenship under any country was promised to four participants who successfully completed the mission. This incentive was necessary because the military takes no legal responsibilities for participants, and every year there are deaths. The camp's location changes every year; in this case it was held at Kabuchi Island.
Kabuchi Island (Kabuchijima)
- An island on the Amami archipelago where Akira and the orphans grew up. Its creatures and plants seem to be endemic. The island's history and cultural practices remain shrouded in mystery.
Moon Stone
- A moon rockMoon rockMoon rock describes rock that formed on the Earth's moon. The term is also loosely applied to other lunar materials collected during the course of human exploration of the Moon.The rocks collected from the Moon are measured by radiometric dating techniques...
brought to Earth through the Apollo mission program. Its appearance differs from other moon rocks, and was believed to have been "created" over seven billion years ago. Its pieces were distributed to six different countries (Japan, China, America, Britain, Russia, and Thailand), and the existence of these stones is not known to the public.
Moon Stone Mold
- Mold that is spread through contact with the moon stone. When a human is infected and not immediately quarantined the disease can become an airborne pathogenPathogenA pathogen gignomai "I give birth to") or infectious agent — colloquially, a germ — is a microbe or microorganism such as a virus, bacterium, prion, or fungus that causes disease in its animal or plant host...
. A cure is being researched but it is currently fatal to all who catch it. The sacrifices are immune to the mold due to the environment in which they were raised and their genetic makeup.
Li Plutocracy
Plutocracy
Plutocracy is rule by the wealthy, or power provided by wealth. The combination of both plutocracy and oligarchy is called plutarchy. The word plutocracy is derived from the Ancient Greek root ploutos, meaning wealth and kratos, meaning to rule or to govern.-Usage:The term plutocracy is generally...
- The main branch of the Li clan. They possess so much wealth and influence that they are referred to as an empire. They are known for their harsh rules of succession under which the empress is bound. A female successor must live within the palace walls until they are an adult. At the age of 18 there is a ceremony in which her suitors are revealed. The characteristic style of marriage is the successor chooses one of her five suitors every night as her companion, and when a child is conceived marriage arrangements are made.
Characters
- The main protagonistProtagonistA protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
, Akira is a woman of androgynous beauty. She is dignified and strong-willed. While attending high school she was more popular with the girls than boys and was often mistaken for a man (for example: she won a magazine's bishōnenBishonenis a Japanese term literally meaning "beautiful youth ". The equivalent English concept is a "pretty boy".The term describes an aesthetic that can be found in disparate areas in East Asia: a young man whose beauty transcends the boundary of gender or sexual orientation...
contest that her classmates entered her in as a joke). As time passes, she flourishes into a young lady. When she was a baby, she was found in a bamboo thicket and taken in by the Kashiwagi family, but the couple divorced when she was three and Akira was abandoned to Kabuchi Island. At the age of five she was adopted by Shoko Okada, an artist who received child support to raise her. By junior high school Akira was forced into a homosexual relationship with her stepmother. To escape the situation with her adopted family, she decides to participate in Camp U.G. She is kidnapped from the camp and forced to assume her role as the donor of a Chinese empress, .She was in love with Yui. But in the end, Yui died and she became Miller's wife. but years later when she was at death's door Yui came for her and took her back to the moon, meaning that she was a tennyo from the beginning.
- Possesses superhuman abilities, such as superior eyesight and strength. He, Midori, and Akira were particularly good friends during their childhood. Since their escape from Kabuchi island he has been known to suppress his emotions and is weak in communicating with others. He is gentle but lonely, and gets anxious when separated from Midori. He returns to the island through Camp U.G. with them to break the island's curse and protect his two friends from harm. He is revealed to be the son of the legendary Kaguya-hime and a human.
- Donor for the 9th generation foremost Prince of Thailand. The age difference between him and his "true body" is 10 years. He has a calm and kind personality and harbors strong feelings for Akira. He also deeply cares for Yui, but sees him as a romantic rival, often acting out coldly when he feels Yui is being extremely affectionate or overprotective. He is diagnosed with stomach cancer and is given the option of having an operation, but instead leaves for Camp U.G., despite his weak medical condition.
- Daughter of Shoko Okada and Akira's classmate. She is very possessive of Akira, and doesn't let anyone near her. She has a sweet appearance but will do anything to get her way (such as pretending to be sick and fainting on the spot to get attention).
- Donor for NBA star player . He also wanted to become a basketball player like his "true body." He has strong leadership skills and becomes leader of Camp U.G. during their stay (despite Kaede's rejection of the idea). He courted Akira and the other Donors until he realized his strong feelings toward Miller.
- Donor for Julian, a blood relative of the British Royal FamilyBritish Royal FamilyThe British Royal Family is the group of close relatives of the monarch of the United Kingdom. The term is also commonly applied to the same group of people as the relations of the monarch in her or his role as sovereign of any of the other Commonwealth realms, thus sometimes at variance with...
. He was used for a kidney transplant at the age of 5. He is a famous Hollywood actor known for his gorgeous looks, but his personality is inconsiderate and rough. He gets upset when he is mistaken for a lady (which happens often) and a director was hospitalized after being assaulted by him in the past. Because of his failing eyesight he had to quit the acting business and cut all ties with his agents before leaving for Camp U.G. His goal was to receive an eye transplant and live as Julian. Later, he became Akira's husband and they had one child. They lived together for many years. Then, as Akira was at death's door, Yui came and took her 'back' to the moon.
- Donor of , son of a Korean Nobel Prize recipient. Twin of Katsura. Obstinate and childish, and seemingly aware of these personality flaws. Participated in Camp U.G. in hopes of winning the money to repay a failed business debt.
- Donor of , son of a Korean Nobel PrizeNobel PrizeThe Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
recipient. Twin of Kaede. Steady in character and keeps Kaede out of trouble.
- Donor of , son of an American Congressman of Japanese descent. Was adopted by a loving Japanese family and did well in school, but killed a classmate just before leaving for Camp U.G. He is quick on comebacks and develops intelligent schemes to get what he wants.
- Donor of , a high-ranking member of the Russian mafiaRussian MafiaThe Russian Mafia is a name applied to organized crime syndicates in Russia and Ukraine. The mafia in various countries take the name of the country, as for example the Ukrainian mafia....
. Mamoru is wanted by the law for cheating and stealing, and wishes to have a fresh start at life through Camp U.G. Because of his nearsightedness, he kept a distance from people and never took the time to properly take notice of them.
Drama CD
The Drama CD was released on July 25, 2003. It was sold along with another CD containing illustrations in slide show format from the series.Cast
- Akira Okada: Yumi KakazuYumi Kakazuis a female seiyū from Kamifukuoka, Saitama . She is currently affiliated with Genki Project...
- Yui: Akira IshidaAkira IshidaAkira Ishida is a prolific male seiyū born in Nisshin, Aichi, Japan.He was a part of Mausu Promotion from 1988 until March 2009...
- bodyguard: Jurota KosugiJurota Kosugiis a Japanese voice actor. His deep voice is often used for rough and imposing characters. He is well known for playing the role of Sukashii from Kyattou Ninden Teyandee and Asuma Sarutobi from Naruto....
- Mamoru: Jin YamanoiJin Yamanoiis a Japanese voice actor.-Anime:* Legend of the Galactic Heroes , Hauf * Slam Dunk , Mikoshiba* Dirty Pair Flash , Transvestite * Romeo and the Black Brothers , Lanbert...
- Midori Matsuzawa: Yuki Matsuda
- Satoshi Oda: Hirofumi NojimaHirofumi Nojimais a Japanese voice actor. He is represented by Sigma Seven. He is the son of voice actor Akio Nojima and elder brother of voice actor Kenji Nojima.-TV anime:*Agatha Christie no Meitantei Poirot to Marple *ARIA The ANIMATION...
- Kaede: Hiroyuki YoshinoHiroyuki Yoshinois a Japanese voice actor. He is part of Sigma Seven.-Anime:*Allison & Lillia *Angel Tails *Aquarian Age *Azumanga Daioh *Baccano! *Black Jack...
- Sutton: Yuji Kishi
- Brett Miller: Yasuyuki KaseYasuyuki Kase' is a Japanese voice actor who works for Ōsawa Office.-Notable voice roles:*Air Gear *Bleach *Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo *Code Geass...
- Mayu Okada: Maria YamamotoMaria Yamamotois a Japanese voice actress and singer.-Voice actress roles:Maria Yamamoto's roles as a voice actress include the following.* Amazing Nurse Nanako, as Nanako* Cinderella Boy, as I Lyan Rain* Chance Pop Session, as Nozomi Kaihara...