Meiji Tokyo Renka Explained

Meiji Tokyo Renka
Ja Kanji:明治東亰恋伽
Ja Romaji:Meiji Tōkyō Renka
Genre:Reverse harem[1]
Type:light novel
Author:Yukiko Uozumi
Illustrator:Karu
Publisher:Kadokawa Shoten
Demographic:Female
Imprint:Kadokawa Beans Bunko
First:June 30, 2012
Last:March 30, 2013
Volumes:2
Volume List:Meiji Tokyo Renka#Light novels
Developer:Broccoli
Publisher:Broccoli
Genre:Visual novel
Platforms:PlayStation Portable
Developer:Broccoli
Publisher:Broccoli
Genre:Visual novel
Platforms:PlayStation Portable
Developer:Mages
Publisher:Mages
Genre:Visual novel
Platforms:PlayStation Vita
iOS
Android
Released:
Developer:Mages, Love & Art
Publisher:Mages., Love & Art
Genre:Visual novel
Platforms:iOs, Android
Type:tv series
Director:Akitaro Daichi
Music:Shiki
Studio:TMS/V1 Studio
Network:Tokyo MX, TV Aichi
First:January 9, 2019
Last:March 27, 2019
Episodes:12
Episode List:
  1. Anime
See also
Content:
Portal:yes

is a Japanese visual novel series produced by Mages, with character design and art provided by Karu. The series follows Mei Ayazuki, a high school girl who is sent back in time to the Meiji period and explores her relationships with spirits and Japanese historical figures.

Meiji Tokyo Renka was released as a mobile game by Dwango in 2011, with over 300,000 users playing the game. In 2013, it was ported onto the PlayStation Portable by Broccoli, and was then followed by game sequels and updated re-releases.

The original game franchise also expanded with a series of adaptations, including two theatrical animated films, musical theatre adaptations, an animated television series, and a live-action film.

Plot

On the night of the crimson moon, high school student Mei Ayazuki comes across a traveling magician, Charlie, and is transported back in time to the Meiji period, where she meets several historical figures and is invited to live with them. Though Mei has lost her memories, she begins helping the men with their own concerns through her ability to see and interact with spirits. While waiting for the next full moon, Mei comes to consider staying in the Meiji period altogether.

Characters

[2]
  • Portrayed by: Shion Aoki (Oborozuki no Chat Noir musical), Momoko Suzuki (Gekkō no Meine Liebe musical), Rikka Ihara (live-action film)
  • Mei is a high school student who is transported into the Meiji period and loses her memories. She has the ability to see spirits. Her name can be changed by the player in the games.
    [2]
  • Portrayed by: Hirofumi Araki (musical), Shuto Miyazaki (live-action film)
  • Ogai is a translator and writer who also works as a doctor for the military. After meeting Mei, he has her to pretend to be his fiancé to avoid suspicion. Later on, he asks her to pose as his fiancée and invites her to live in his house. Throughout his route, Ogai faces a spirit named Elise, a character he created based on a girl he admired while he was in Germany.
    [2]
  • Portrayed by: Shohei Hashimoto (musical), Makaha Takahashi (live-action film)
  • Shunso is an artist living with Ogai and is known for his unique art style. He acts exasperated towards Ogai and Mei, but secretly admires them. He is fascinated with cats, but falls into a slump after a black cat from one of his paintings escapes into the real world. Shunso also has problems with his vision and avoids getting examined out of fear that it may lead to the end of his career.
    [2]
  • Portrayed by: Kousuke Asuma (musical), Taiki Yamazaki (live-action film)
  • Otojirō is an actor who works as a cross-dressing geisha under the name Otoyakko. He invites Mei to train as a geisha at his okiya. He enjoys the plays that Kyōka writes and uses them for his performances.
    [2]
  • Portrayed by: Tomoru Akazawa (musical), Toman (live-action film)
  • Kyōka is a playwright. He is mysophobic and hates dogs. Like Mei, he can also see spirits, including the rabbit on his shoulder, a memento from his deceased mother.
    [2]
  • Portrayed by: Yu Yoshioka (musical), Yuki Kubota (live-action film)
  • Gorō is a policeman and a former member of the Shinsengumi. The reflection of his katana allows him to see spirits, which he fights to preserve peace in the village.
    [2]
  • Portrayed by: Ire Shiozaki (musical), Tetsuya Iwanaga (live-action film)
  • Yakumo is a researcher from Greece who came to Japan to teach English and do research on Japanese spirits.
    [2]
  • Portrayed by: Yūya Asato (musical), Yutaka Kobayashi (live-action film)
  • Charlie is a traveling magician who transports Mei into the Meiji period. His real identity is . He can only appear at nighttime.
    [2]
  • Portrayed by: Shōta Matsushima (live-action film)
  • Tōsuke was introduced as an original character for the 2015 anime film , but was integrated into the main cast following the release of Full Moon. He is an inventor with a focus on electric devices and can also see spirits. Because he believes a spirit killed his mother when he was young, he hopes to eliminate all spirits from the world.
    [2]
  • Kōyō is an author and Kyōka's mentor. He was introduced as a new character for Haikara Date.
    [3]
  • Rentaro is a prodigy pianist. He was introduced as a new character for Haikara Date.
    [4]
  • Taikan is an apprentice painter and Shunso's friend. He was introduced as a new character for Haikara Date.

    Media

    Games

    Meiji Tokyo Renka was originally a game published for mobile phones in 2011 by Dwango.[5] The characters were designed by Karu.[6] The game's theme song was "Tokyo Roman Tan" by KENN. The game was ported to the PlayStation Portable by Broccoli, which released on September 26, 2013. The game's theme song is "Kurenai no Yoru no Uta" by KENN. A sequel, Meiji Tokyo Renka: Twilight Kiss, was released for the PlayStation Portable on April 23, 2015.

    An updated re-release of the first game, titled Meiji Tokyo Renka: Full Moon, was released for the PlayStation Vita on August 25, 2016, which included a route for Tōsuke Iwasaki, an original character from and . A mobile port for the iOS and Android were released on July 20, 2017.[7]

    A fourth game developed by Mages and titled Meiji Tokyo Renka: Haikara Date was released as a mobile game app on December 14, 2018.[8]

    Light novels

    Meiji Tokyo Renka was adapted into several light novels written by Yukiko Uozumi.

    Manga

    Meiji Tokyo Renka was adapted into a manga series by Hiyori Hinata and ran in Monthly Asuka.[9] A manga anthology drawn by several artists was later released in 2016.

    Film

    See main article: Gekijōban Meiji Tokyo Renka: Yumihari no Serenade and Gekijōban Meiji Tokyo Renka: Hana Kagami no Fantasia.

    An animated film project was announced in January 2013,[6] and the cast from the original game reprised their roles.[10] Sumire Morohoshi was cast as Mei, who was unvoiced in the games, and the film also introduced a new original character, Tōsuke Iwasaki. The film was animated by Studio Deen and directed by Hiroshi Watanabe.

    The story is centered on Kyōka Izumi's route, with new plot elements introduced through Tōsuke Iwasaki.[11] The first film, , was released in theaters in Japan on July 18, 2015.[10] The theme song, "Dance in the Light", was performed by KENN.[12] The second part, was given a one-day screening event on May 6, 2016 in select theaters due to the first film's poor box office performance.[13]

    A live-action film titled Meiji Tokyo Renka was announced in January 2018 and is slated for a 2019 release.[14] Rikka Ihara was cast as Mei.[5] The film also stars Yutaka Kobayashi as Charlie, Shuto Miyazaki as Ogai, Makaha Takahashi as Shunso, Taiki Yamazaki as Otojirō, Toman as Kyōka, Yuki Kubota as Gorō, Tetsuya Iwanaga as Yakumo, and Shōta Matsushima as Tōsuke.[15] [16] To promote the film, a live-action television series featuring the same cast will air in April 2019.[14] Daisuke Namikawa, Nobuhiko Okamoto, and Toshiyuki Morikawa, who voiced Ogai, Kyōka, and Charlie respectively, will make voice-only cameos in the film. The theme song, "Ichiya no Eien ni Kimi Omou", will be performed by KENN.[17]

    Musicals

    A musical theatre adaptation titled Kageki Meiji Tokyo Renka: Oborozuki no Chat Noir ran in June 2016.[18] [19] [20] Oborozuki no Chat Noir is centered on Shunso Hishida's route.[21] [22] [23] The musical was directed by Kotaro Yoshitani and written by Sayaka Sakuragi.[24] It starred Shohei Hashimoto as Shunso, Hirofumi Araki as Ogai, Kousuke Asuma as Otojirō, Tomoru Akazawa as Kyōka, Yu Yoshioka as Gorō, Ire Shiozaki as Yakumo, and Yūya Asato as Charlie.[24] Shion Aoki was cast as Mei.[22] The musical was given a home release on Blu-ray and region 2 DVD on October 5, 2016, with the Blu-ray peaking at #175 and the DVD at #109 on the Oricon Weekly Charts.[25] [26]

    A sequel stage musical titled Kageki Meiji Tokyo Renka: Gekkō no Meine Liebe ran from August 18–19, 2018 at Morinomiya Piloti Hall in Osaka and August 25-September 2, 2018 at Theatre 1010 in Tokyo.[27] The musical focuses on Ogai Mori's route.[28] The cast from the previous musical reprised their roles, this time with Hirofumi Araki as lead, while Momoko Suzuki was recast in the role of Mei.[28] [29]

    Anime

    An anime television series adaptation was announced at a promotional event in October 2016.[30] Akitaro Daichi was announced as the director at the Haikara Date promotional event on January 21, 2018.[14] The cast from the games and the anime film reprised their roles and the show is animated by TMS Entertainment.[14] The series premiered on Tokyo MX and TVA from January 9 to March 27, 2019.[31] [32] The series is being simulcasted by Crunchyroll, and in Indonesia by Ponimu.[33] [34] It is also being given an English dub by Funimation.[35]

    The opening theme song is "Tsukiakari no Rhapsodia" by KENN.[36] The series features three ending songs, each performed by members of the cast: "Hoshikuzu no Yomibito" by KENN and Daisuke Namikawa; "Mellow na Yoru ni Odorimashō" by Shinnosuke Tachibana and Nobuhiko Okamoto; and "Yoiya Yoiya" by Kousuke Toriumi and Jun Fukuyama.[36]

    Episodes

    Reception

    Over 300,000 users had downloaded the 2011 mobile game.[5] The PlayStation Portable port of the original game sold 5,963 copies in its first week.[37]

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Meiji Tokyo Renka - The Winter 2019 Anime Preview Guide . . August 16, 2019 . January 9, 2019.
    2. Web site: [Master Thread] Meiji Tokyo Renka]. Funimation. January 8, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200127090108/https://www.funimation.com/forum/topic/17693/master-thread-meiji-tokyo-renka. January 27, 2020. dead.
    3. News: Saga . 「明治東亰恋伽～ハヰカラデヱト～」，新キャラクター・滝 廉太郎役に蒼井翔太さんを起用。サイン色紙が抽選で当たるTwitterキャンペーンも実施中 . ja . . 2018-06-11 . 2018-12-14.
    4. News: 『明治東亰恋伽』(『めいこい』）新キャラクター・横山大観のCVが前野智昭さんに決定！ 早くも4月18日のニコニコ生放送へのゲスト出演も . ja . . 2018-04-10 . 2018-12-14.
    5. News: 「明治東亰恋伽」が2019年に実写ドラマ＆映画化。主人公役は伊原六花さん . ja . . 2018-09-10 . 2018-12-24 .
    6. News: Crystalyn . Hodgkins . Meiji Tokyo Renka Romance Game Gets Anime Project . . 2013-11-04 . 2018-12-24 .
    7. News: スマホ版『めいこい Full Moon』配信開始！ キャストイベント第5弾も開催決定 . ja . . 2017-07-20 . 2018-12-24 .
    8. News: めいこい最新作アプリ「明治東亰恋伽～ハヰカラデヱト～」の配信がスタート。ガチャ5回分の"星欠片"がもらえるリリース記念キャンペーンを開催 . ja . . 2018-12-14 . 2018-12-24 .
    9. Web site: 明治東亰恋伽 朧ノ刻の戯曲 . ja . . 2020-03-24.
    10. News: Rafael Antonio . Pineda . Meiji Tokyo Renka Game Cast Returns For Anime Film . . 2015-04-15 . 2018-12-24 .
    11. News: 劇場版 明治東亰恋伽 ～弦月の小夜曲～ (2015) . ja . 2015-07-18 . 2019-03-17 . Cinema Today.
    12. News: Rafael Antonio . Pineda . KENN Performs Meiji Tokyo Renka Film's Theme Song . . 2015-04-28 . 2018-12-24 .
    13. News: 5月6日に行われた映画「明治東亰恋伽～花鏡の幻想曲～」舞台挨拶のレポートが公開 . ja . 2016-05-09 . 2019-03-17 . 4gamer.
    14. News: Egan . Loo . Meiji Tokyo Renka Historical Novels Get Live-Action Show, Film, New App . . 2018-01-21 . 2018-12-24 .
    15. News: 小林豊、久保田悠来、岩永徹也、松島庄汰が「明治東亰恋伽」映画と連ドラに出演 . ja . . 2018-09-21 . 2018-12-24 .
    16. News: Rafael Antonio . Pineda . Live-Action Meiji Tokyo Renka Series, Film Adds 8 Cast Members . . 2018-09-24 . 2018-12-24 .
    17. News: Jennifer . Sherman . Live-Action Meiji Tokyo Renka Series, Film Cast Anime's Voice Actors in New Roles . . 2019-03-07 . 2019-03-21.
    18. ミュージカル版『明治東亰恋伽』橋本祥平が菱田春草役で主演決定 . ja . . 2016-02-22 . 2018-12-24 .
    19. ミュージカル版『明治東亰恋伽』キャスト第2弾が公開、"D-BOYS"荒木宏文らが明治の偉人に . ja . . 2016-03-03 . 2018-12-24 .
    20. News: Kyle . Hallmark . Meiji Tokyo Renka Anime Film Gets Stage Musical Sequel . . 2016-01-18 . 2018-12-14.
    21. News: 歌劇「明治東亰恋伽～朧月の黒き猫～」主演決定！ 注目の俳優、橋本祥平さんが春草役で豹変!? . ja . . 2016-02-22 . 2019-03-18.
    22. News: 歌劇『明治東亰恋伽』より全キャラクタービジュアルが解禁！ なんと描き下ろしメインイラストとSDキャラも発表に . ja . . 2016-04-15 . 2019-03-18.
    23. News: 歌劇「明治東亰恋伽」より、橋本祥平さんら全キャストが集合したメインビジュアル解禁！ . ja . . 2016-04-25 . 2019-03-18.
    24. News: 歌劇「明治東亰恋伽」に荒木宏文、赤澤燈、遊馬晃祐、吉岡佑ら . ja . . 2016-03-03 . 2018-12-24 .
    25. Web site: 歌劇「明治東亰恋伽～朧月の黒き猫～」DVD . ja . . 2019-03-20 .
    26. Web site: 歌劇「明治東亰恋伽～朧月の黒き猫～」Blu-ray . ja . . 2019-03-20 .
    27. News: Karen . Ressler . Meiji Tokyo Renka Romance Games Get 2nd Stage Musical . . 2018-04-30 . 2018-12-14.
    28. News: 歌劇「めいこい」東京公演、森鴎外役の荒木宏文「成長し続ける作品でありたい」 . ja . . 2018-08-25 . 2019-03-20 .
    29. KagekiMeikoi . 1008286246676807680. ja . 2018-06-17. 鈴木桃子さんよりはじめまして！綾月芽衣役の鈴木桃子です。素敵な作品に出演させていただくことになり、緊張とわくわくが止まりません…！皆さまに芽衣ちゃんを愛していただけるよう精一杯頑張りますので、よろしくお願いします！＜PG先行は今夜23:59まで！http://kageki-meikoi.com/ ＞ #めいげき.
    30. News: Egan . Loo . Meiji Tokyo Renka Historical Visual Novels Get TV Anime, New Game . . 2016-10-09 . 2018-12-24 .
    31. News: Rafael Antonio . Pineda . Meiji Tokyo Renka TV Anime Reveals January 2019 Premiere, Visual . . 2018-08-03 . 2018-12-24 .
    32. News: Crystalyn . Hodgkins . Meiji Tokyo Renka TV Anime 2nd Promo Video Reveals January 9 Premiere . . 2018-12-13 . 2018-12-24 .
    33. Web site: Ressler. Karen. Crunchyroll to Stream Boogiepop and Others, Kemono Friends 2, Meiji Tokyo Renka, An Angel Flew Down to Me, Mini Toji Anime. Anime News Network. January 3, 2019. January 4, 2019.
    34. Web site: Pineda. Rafael Antonio. Ponimu Indonesia Streams Meiji Tokyo Renka Anime. Anime News Network. January 3, 2019. January 3, 2019.
    35. Web site: Funimation Adds Meiji Tokyo Renka TV Anime to Winter Dub Lineup. Anime News Network. February 6, 2019. February 20, 2019.
    36. News: Crystalyn . Hodgkins . Meiji Tokyo Renka TV Anime's 1st Promo Video Previews KENN's Opening Theme . . 2018-11-08 . 2018-12-24 .
    37. News: Crystalyn . Hodgkins . Japan's Video Game Rankings, September 23–29 . . 2013-10-05 . 2018-12-24 .

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