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The Twelve Kingdoms
Cover of The Twelve Kingdoms DVD volume 1
十二国記 (Jūni Kokuki)
Genre	Fantasy
Light novel
Author	Fuyumi Ono
Illustrator	Akihiro Yamada
Publisher	Kodansha
English publisher	Tokyopop
Other publishers: Éditions Milan Tokyopop
Demographic	Female
Publishing label	X Bunko White Heart
Published	1991 – 2001
Volumes	11
TV anime
Director	Tsuneo Kobayashi
Studio	Studio Pierrot
Licensor	AnimeWorks
Network	NHK, Animax
English network	ImaginAsian TV
Other networks: Animax YesAnime, HotAnime GMA Network, QTV, Hero TV K3, Canal Sur
Original run	April 9, 2002 – August 30, 2003
Episodes	45
Anime and Manga Portal

The Twelve Kingdoms (十二国記, Jūni Kokuki^?, also known as “Record of 12 Countries” or “Juuni Kokki,” a common inaccurate reading) is a series of light novels by Fuyumi Ono. The first entry in the series (”The Shadow of the Moon, The Sea of Shadow“) was published in Japan in 1991; the last volume was released in 2001.

The Chinese mythology-influenced books were adapted into an animated television series in 2002. The Studio Pierrot production aired on Japan’s NHK from April 9, 2002 to August 30, 2003, totaling 45 episodes.

The novels are licensed in the United States by Tokyopop and the first volume was released in hardcover in March 2007 as part of their Pop Fiction line. The entire anime series has been released on DVD in the United States by Media Blasters.

[edit] Setting

Main article: List of kingdoms in Twelve Kingdoms

The Twelve Kingdoms tells several stories from the world of the Twelve Kingdoms, located on several islands accessible through magic. On the islands, magic works and societies similar to classical China exist. While the inhabitants of the Twelve Kingdoms are aware of the existence of our world, the reverse is not true.

[edit] Characters

Main article: List of The Twelve Kingdoms characters

One of the major stories of the series centers around a girl named Youko Nakajima from Japan, who is suddenly transported to the world and eventually discovers that she is the monarch of the kingdom of Kei. However, neither the series nor the anime concentrates solely on Youko, and they do tell stories of other characters. The anime uses Youko as a framing device for telling other stories though, while the novels do not.

[edit] Publication

There are six novels in the Twelve Kingdoms series, including one short story collection. The novels are illustrated by Akihiro Yamada. Some of the novels have been published in two volume editions such that the total number of volumes consists of eleven books.

• The Twelve Kingdoms: Sea of Shadow (月の影　影の海, Tsuki no Kage, Kage no Umi^?, “Shadow of the Moon, The Sea of Shadow”).

Youko becomes Empress of Kei.

• The Twelve Kingdoms: Sea of Wind (風の海　迷宮の岸, Kaze no Umi, Meikyū no Kishi^?, “Sea of the Wind, Shore of the Labyrinth”).

Taiki chooses the Emperor of Tai.

• Sea God in the East, Vast Sea in the West (東の海神　西の滄海, Higashi no Watatsumi, Nishi no Sōkai^?). ISBN 4-06-255168-3.

The Emperor of En suppresses a rebellion.

• A Thousand Miles of Wind, The Sky at Dawn (風の万里　黎明の空, Kaze no Banri, Reimei no Sora^?). 2 volumes. ISBN 4-06-255175-6

Youko, Suzu and Shoukei free the Wa Province in Kei

• The Aspired Wings (図南の翼, Tonan no Tsubasa^?). ISBN 4-06-255229-9.

Shushou becomes Empress of Kyou.

• The Shore at Twilight, The Sky at Daybreak (黄昏の岸　暁の天, Tasogare no Kishi, Akatsuki no Sora^?). 2 volumes. ISBN 4-06-255546-8.

Risai meets Youko to request help in summoning Taiki.

• The Dream of Prosperity (華胥の幽夢, Kasho no Yume^?). ISBN 4-06-255573-5

Five short stories, set in Tai, Hou, Kei, Sai and Sou: “Kasho” (華胥), “Toei” (冬栄), “Shokan” (書簡), “Kizan” (帰山), “Jogetsu” (乗月)

Before she started work on Twelve Kingdoms, Fuyumi Ono wrote The Demonic Child (魔性の子, Mashō no Ko^?), a horror novel about a boy from another world. She later worked certain events from this novel into the Twelve Kingdoms series. Short stories set in the various kingdoms include: Kasho (華胥, Kasho^?), Toei (冬栄, Toei^?), Shokan (書簡, Shokan^?), Kizan (帰山, Kizan^?) and Jogetsu (乗月, Jogetsu^?). In February, 2008, the first new Twelve Kingdoms short story, Hisho no Tori (丕緒の鳥) was published in Shinchosha’s Yomyom magazine.^[1]

[edit] U.S. Release

On May 11, 2006, U.S. publisher Tokyopop said in an interview with comic book news website Newsarama that it would be publishing the novels under its “Pop Fiction” imprint. The first book was slated for release in March 2007.^[2] The first book has been released under the title The Twelve Kingdoms: Sea of Shadow. The current schedule is for one book a year to be released. The second book, The Twelve Kingdoms: Sea of Wind came out in March 2008. The third book in the series, The Twelve Kingdoms: The Vast Spread of the Seas, is scheduled for a March 2009 release.

[edit] French Release

On April, 2007, French publisher Éditions Milan started to publish the novels. So far, the following volumes were released:

• La mer de l’ombre (both volumes; April 2007, ISBN 978-2-7459-2045-4 and ISBN 978-2-7459-2460-5)
• Le rivage du labyrinthe (both volumes; June 2007, ISBN 978-2-7459-2046-1 and ISBN 978-2-7459-2461-2)
• La majesté des mers (September 2007, ISBN 978-2-7459-2059-1)
• Le vent de l’infini (both volumes; June 2008, ISBN 978-2-7459-2060-7 and ISBN 978-2-7459-2462-9)
• Les ailes du destin (June 2008, ISBN 978-2-7459-2061-4)
• La rive du crépuscule (both volumes; November 2008, ISBN 978-2-7459-2062-1 and ISBN 978-2-7459-3177-1

[edit] German Release

On August, 2007, Tokyopop Germany published the first novel, which contains the first two Japanese volumes. Volume 2 will be published on March 2008.

• Volume 1: Der Schatten des Mondes ~ Das Meer der Schatten (ISBN 978-3-86719-191-3)
• Volume 2: Das Meer des Windes ~ Am Rande des Labyrinthes (ISBN 978-3-86719-192-0)

[edit] Anime adaptation

[edit] Plot

The anime casts Youko Nakajima, a Japanese girl who is suddenly transported to another world and eventually discovers that she is the empress of the kingdom of Kei, in the role of the main character; however, in the novels, Youko is only one of many main characters and her story is focused upon in only two novels.

The anime focuses on the Kingdom of Kei and the events surrounding it. Several of the other countries are introduced, the most prominent being Kou, En and Tai, while Kyou, Hou, Sai and Ryuu play a minor role compared to the other three. The rest of the countries are only introduced by name and a brief description of the current emperor and taiho. The anime also introduced the characters Asano and Sugimoto to accompany Youko to the Twelve Kingdoms. Their role is to externalize some of Youko’s problems that were internal in the novels.^[3]

[edit] Episodes

The anime closely follows Youko and is divided into the following parts:

• “Tsuki no Kage, Kage no Umi” (Shadow of the Moon, Sea of Shadow), episodes 1-13

Youko travels to the world of Juuni Kokki, develops as a person and starts to embrace her new destiny.

• “?” (Shadow of the Moon, Sea of Shadow: Chapter of Recollection), episode 14

Mostly a recap of the episodes 1-13.

• “Kaze no Umi, Meikyuu no Kishi” (Sea of the Wind, Shore of the Labyrinth), episodes 15-21

Partial story of the black Kirin, Taiki.

• “Shokan” (Correspondence), episode 22

Youko and Rakushun correspond by bird, and we see how they settle into their positions in Kei and En. Possibly based on the short story Shokan (書簡, Shokan^?).

• “Kaze no Banri, Reimei no Sora” (A Thousand Miles of Wind, The Sky of Dawn), episodes 23-39

The story of Suzu, Shoukei, and Youko as they struggle with a rebellion in Wa Province of Kei.

• “Jougetsu” (Ally of the Moon), episode 40

Short closing of past events in the Kingdom of Hou. Possibly based on the short story Jogetsu (乗月, Jogetsu^?).

• “Higashi no Wadatsumi, Nishi no Soukai” (Sea God of the East, Azure Sea of the West), episodes 41-45

A story from the past about the Emperor of En and his kirin, Enki suppressing a rebellion. 45 is mostly a recap of the previous four episodes.

[edit] Music

• Opening Theme - “Juunigenmukyoku”
  • Composed and arranged by Kunihiko Ryō
• Ending Theme - “Getsumei-Fuei”
  • Lyrics by Keiko Kitagawa
  • Composed and arranged by Tomohiko Kira
  • Performed by Mika Arisaka
• Other music in the series was composed and arranged by Kunihiko Ryō.

[edit] Media

Konami has released in Japan two games based on Twelve Kingdoms, both produced by Takashi Shimomichi. They are Juuni Kokuki: Guren no Shirobe Koujin no Michi and Juuni Kokuki: Kakukakutaru Oudou Kouryoku no Uka. Both games contain footage from the anime and many stills of the characters are used during conversation and during battle. The game is sprite-based, with small sprites used on-screen and larger, highly animated sprites used during battle.

Juuni Kokuki: Guren no Shirobe Koujin no Michi was released for PlayStation 2 on August 28, 2003. It follows Youko’s journey to becoming Empress of Kei. While classified as an RPG, it is often described as an adventure game. The game was re-released in Konami’s The Best lineup on June 9, 2004. Youko is capable of summoning Keiki’s Shirei into battle as well as having additional party members.

Juuni Kokuki: Kakukakutaru Oudou Kouryoku no Uka was released for PlayStation 2 on April 4, 2004 and is a sequel to the first game, continuing with Youko’s problems after she becomes the Kei Empress. Game data from the first game can be loaded into the second. This game contains more RPG elements than the first with party-/menu-based battles becoming standard. Many of the event scenes are pulled from the novels but there are also scenes made just for the game.

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• List of terms in The Twelve Kingdoms
• List of kingdoms in Twelve Kingdoms
• List of The Twelve Kingdoms characters

[edit] External links

Official sites

• Official U.S. site
• Official Japanese site
• Official NHK site

Unofficial sites

The Twelve Kingdoms (anime) at Anime News Network’s Encyclopedia