The appeal and evaluation of the Saiunkoku Monogatari omnibus "Saiunkoku Emaki"

The Tale of Saiunkoku [Compilation] [Saiunkoku Emaki] - Enchanting Court Romance and the Dreams of Officials

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

novel

■ Broadcast period

March 2007

NHKBS2 March 2007 to September 8, 2007 (1st to 9th times)

■Broadcasting station

NHKBS2

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 9

■Original Story

Yukino Sae (Kadokawa Shoten "Kadokawa Beans Bunko")

■ Director

Jun Shishido

■ Production

・Animation production cooperation: IMAGIN
Animation Production: Madhouse Production Supervisors: Atsuko Kashiwagi, Hideo Ihara Co-production: Sogo Vision Production, copyright: NHK

■Works

©Yukino Sae, Kadokawa Shoten/NHK Sogo Vision

■ Story

I've come to support you.
By your side,
To support you as King.

The story takes place in a fictional Chinese-style country called Saiunkoku. Shuurei, the daughter of the prestigious but poor Kou family, dreams of becoming a government official who can help people due to her memories of the turmoil of her childhood, but women are not even allowed to take the civil service exam. One day, she is tasked with tutoring the newly crowned king, and this opens the way for her to take the civil service exam.
A familiar story of love between Shurei and the new king and his brother, as well as the friendship between Shurei and a classmate who is aiming to become a government official, is intertwined with the power struggle at court and the secret activities of powerful clans, creating a splendid and luxurious court romance.

■Explanation

A special compilation of the first series, "Saiunkoku Emaki," broadcast on NHK-BS2 in 2007, with newly recorded narration by a star-studded cast.

■Cast

・Hong Shuli/Kuwashima Houko/Zi Liuhui/Seki Tomokazu/Maya Seiran/Midorikawa Hikaru/Ai Shuei/Morikawa Tomoyuki/Li Kangyou/Hiyama Nobuyuki/Hong Shaoke/Ikeda Shuichi/Shao Taishi/Ishii Koji/Ai Ryuren/Kiuchi Hidenobu/Lang Yanqing/Ito Kentaro/Huang Qiren/Nakata Kazuhiro/Hong Lishen/Madono Mitsuaki/Mori Kagetsuki/Namikawa Daisuke/Kourin/Sendai Eri/Rin Chiya/Koyasu Takehito/Cha Katsun/Toriumi Kosuke/Cha Haruhime/Shishido Rumi

■ Main staff

・Original story by Yukino Sae (published by Kadokawa Shoten's "Kadokawa Beans Bunko")
・Director / Atsushi Shishido・Series Composition / Reiko Yoshida・Character Concept / Kairi Yura・Character Design / Miwa Oshima・Art Director / Chikara Nishikura・Color Design / Chiharu Tanaka・Director of Photography / Shinya Matsui・Editor / Yoshiko Kimura・Music / Kunihiko Yan・Sound Director / Fusanobu Fujiyama・Producers / Yuji Shibata, Ikuko Shimokawahara・Animation Producers / Masao Maruyama, Satoshi Yoshimoto・Animation Production Cooperation / IMAGIN
Animation Production: Madhouse Production Supervisors: Atsuko Kashiwagi, Hideo Ihara Co-production: Sogo Vision Production, copyright: NHK

■ Main Characters

・Kou Shuurei
The protagonist. The eldest princess of the direct line of the Kou family. She is the daughter of the prestigious Kou family, which is on a par with the Ai family, but she has become frugal due to years of poverty. Attracted by the high salary, she enters the harem as a consort to tutor Shi Ryuuki, the new king of Saiunkoku, who is rumored to be a useless king, and her life changes. She is a bright, reliable, hardworking 16-year-old.
・Shi Ryuuki
The young king of Saiunkoku. As his half-brothers were all killed in a battle for the throne, he was the sixth son and had no right to the throne, but he ascended to the throne six months ago after the death of the previous king. He pretended to be a useless king who had no motivation or interest in government affairs, but he changed after meeting Shurei. 19 years old.
・Shi Seiran
A servant of Shurei and his son. A guardian of Shurei, who excels in both the arts and martial arts. A young man who has let go of his past. But what is his true identity?
・Ran Shuei
Military officer. General of the Left Feather Forest Army. Born into the prestigious Lan family, which rivals the Hong family. He has been friends with Li Kangyou, who also assists Ryuuki, since their days of civil service examinations. He is always teasing Kangyou, which makes him annoyed.
・Li Kangyou
Civil servant. Official of the Ministry of Personnel. He is a capable official who is known as "the most talented man in the imperial court", but he is quick to anger due to his serious personality. He cannot stand up to his adoptive father and superior, Hong Lishen. He has a genius sense of direction.
・Hong Shaoke
The head of the Hong family. Shuuri's father. His job is to manage the palace treasury. He is a gentle intellectual, but he lacks the ability to live independently and cannot even make a proper cup of tea. At first glance, he seems like a lazy man, but in fact...
・Shou Taishi
The head of the imperial court officials. An old vassal who holds the honorary title of "Three Imperial Teachers." A strategist who hired Shurei to be Ryuuki's tutor in the harem.
・Ran Ryuren
Kyoei's younger brother. Although he has natural talent, he is often treated as a weirdo due to his eccentric clothes and unique sensibilities. He opens up to Shurei.
・Wave Ensei
Originally from Chazhou. By chance, she was found collapsed in front of the gates of Shao Ke's residence and was saved by Shuli. She has a carefree and easy-going personality, and is skilled in martial arts. She seems to have known Seiran for a long time, but...
・Huang Kijin
Minister of State for Respect. He was called a "weird man" because of his unusual behavior, such as not tying his hair up and always wearing a mask, which is unbecoming of an official. Few people know his real name, Huang Fengzhu.
・Koreishin
Minister of Personnel. Shao Ke's younger brother and head of the Hong family. Li Kangyou's adoptive father and boss. He is a sharp-witted man who shows no mercy to anyone, but he is smitten by his beloved brother Shao Ke and his niece Xiu Li. He is a contemporary of Huang Qiren.
・To Eigetsu
A boy from Seika Village, Kuroshu. He passed the national exam at the top of his class at the age of 13, the youngest in history. He developed a deep bond with Shurei, who was in the same class as him.
・Kourin
A girl who served as a maid to Shuurei when she entered the harem. After a certain incident, she formed a bond with Shuurei. She accompanied Shuurei, Kagetsuki, and the others to Chashu.
・Rin Senya
On her way to Chashu, Shurei is saved from a difficult situation by a handsome young man from a merchant family. His true identity is mysterious...
・Sa Kokujun
He is the third son and grandson of Cha Chujo, who is aiming to become head of the tea family. Cha Taiho (Cha Okinosuke), one of the three great-uncles of the Imperial Court.
・Sa Shunki
Granddaughter of Cha Taibao (Cha Yuanxun) and Hyoeinghi. She is in hiding somewhere due to her personal danger. She is childhood friends with her cousin, Ketsu.

■Subtitle

・Episode 1: Saiunkoku Emaki I ~Harem Romance~
・Episode 2: The Story of Saiunkoku II ~The Conspiracy of the Royal Palace~
・Episode 3/Saiunkoku Emaki III ~Birth of a female official~
・Episode 4: Saiunkoku Emaki IV ~The Trials of a New Government Official~
・Episode 5: Saiunkoku Emaki V ~Assigned to Chashu~
・Episode 6: The Story of Saiunkoku VI ~The Tea House's Conspiracy~
・Episode 7: Saiunkoku Emaki VII ~Intertwining Feelings~
Episode 8: Saiunkoku Emaki VIII ~Fallen Ambitions~
・Episode 9: Saiunkoku Emaki IX ~Light and Darkness~

■ Related works

・The Story of Saiunkoku Series 1 ・The Story of Saiunkoku Series 2 ・The Story of Saiunkoku: The World of Saiunkoku ・The Story of Saiunkoku: The World of Saiunkoku II

■ Theme songs and music

・OP1
・The Wind of Beginnings ・Lyrics by Himari Michikawa ・Composition by ID
・Arrangement: YAMAGIMAN
・Singer: Ayaka Hirahara

・ED1
・The Best Unrequited Love・Lyrics by Tainaka Sachi・Composition by Tainaka Sachi・Arrangement by Fujii Takeshi, Koyama Kohei・Singer by Tainaka Sachi

The Tale of Saiunkoku [Compilation] [Saiunkoku Emaki] - Enchanting Court Romance and the Dreams of Officials

The Tale of Saiunkoku [Compilation] [Saiunkoku Emaki] is a special compilation broadcast on NHK-BS2 in 2007, based on the Kadokawa Beans Bunko novel series by Yukino Sae. Set in the fictional Chinese-style country of Saiunkoku, the story follows Hong Shuli, the daughter of the prestigious Hong family, as she becomes the first woman to take the civil service exam and overcomes various obstacles. The story follows Shuli's growth and the bonds she forms with the people around her, as well as the intrigues and power struggles of the royal court, creating a fascinating story that draws viewers in.

The appeal of the story

The greatest appeal of The Story of Saiunkoku is the growth of the main character, Kou Shuurei, and the relationships that surround her. Due to memories of the turmoil of her childhood, Shuurei dreams of becoming a government official who helps people. However, women are not allowed to become government officials, so she paves the way to achieve her dream by entering the harem as a tutor to the new king, Shi Ryuuki. Shuurei's efforts and cheerfulness, as well as the trials she faces, deeply move viewers.

The relationship between Shuli and Ryuuki is also an important element of the story. Ryuuki is initially portrayed as a "useless king" who shows no interest in government affairs, but he changes after meeting Shuli. The way the two support each other and grow together warms the hearts of viewers. Furthermore, the friendships and romance between Shuli and her classmates and other characters at court also add depth to the story.

Character Appeal

Each character in The Story of Saiunkoku is unique and leaves a strong impression on viewers. The main character, Hong Shuli, is a 16-year-old girl who is hardworking and has a bright personality. Her frugal side and her determination to pursue her dream of becoming a government official resonate with viewers. Shiro Ryuuki is initially portrayed as a listless king, but his fascinating transformation through his encounter with Shuli is fascinating.

Seiran, who is Shurei's guardian, is a young man who excels in both literature and martial arts, and as his past and true identity are revealed, he brings new developments to the story. Lan Shuying and Li Jiangyou are important characters who assist Liu Hui, and their friendship and conflict add excitement to the story. Characters such as Hong Shao Ke and Xiao Taishi also play important roles in adding depth to the story.

Production background and staff

The Tale of Saiunkoku [Compilation] [Saiunkoku Emaki] is a special compilation broadcast on NHK-BS2, produced by a stellar cast and staff. Directed by Jun Shishido, with series composition by Reiko Yoshida, character design by Miwa Oshima, and animation by Madhouse. Music by Kunihiko Yanagi and sound direction by Fusanobu Fujiyama, it is a work that is both visually and aurally excellent.

Author Sae Yukino has garnered many fans through her novel series published by Kadokawa Beans Bunko. Her world of Saiunkoku is filled with detailed settings and fascinating characters, and has become even more beloved by an even larger audience thanks to its anime adaptation.

Broadcast and evaluation

The Tale of Saiunkoku [Compilation] [Saiunkoku Emaki] was broadcast on NHK-BS2 from March to September 2007, and was offered to viewers as a 9-episode compilation. This compilation condensed the essence of the first series, and offered viewers the opportunity to enjoy the story from a new perspective.

The series has been highly praised by viewers, especially for the growth of Shurei and the relationships that surround her. It has also been highly praised for its production by a stellar cast and crew, and is recognized as a work of excellent visual and auditory quality. Furthermore, it has been successful in attracting new viewers as well as fans of the original work, and has received support from a wide range of people.

Related works and recommendations

The Tale of Saiunkoku [Compilation] [Saiunkoku Emaki] is part of the Tale of Saiunkoku series and is related to the first series, second series, The World of Saiunkoku, The World of Saiunkoku II, etc. By watching these works, you can gain a deeper understanding of the world of Saiunkoku and enjoy the stories of Shurei and Ryuuki even more.

The reason I recommend this work is because of the growth of Shurei and the charm of the relationships surrounding her, the unique characters, and the visual and auditory beauty of the luxurious production team. I especially recommend it to those who like stories about court romance and the dreams of officials. In addition, the original novel is also very fascinating, and you can enjoy an even deeper world view.

Conclusion

The Tale of Saiunkoku [Compilation] [Saiunkoku Emaki] is a wonderful work that depicts the enchanting romance of the imperial court and the dreams of government officials. The growth of the main character, Hong Shuli, the relationships surrounding her, the unique characters, and the visual and auditory beauty created by the splendid production team make this work special. To gain a deeper understanding of the world of Saiunkoku and enjoy the story of Shuli and Ryuuki, be sure to watch the related works as well. This work is a must-see for those who like stories that depict the romance of the imperial court and the dreams of government officials.