Sakura Wars (サクラ大戦 Sakura Taisen) is a Japanese multimedia franchise created by Oji Hiroi, and is developed by Sega and Red Entertainment. The franchise began as a series of video games, first released on the Sega Saturn video game console in 1996. As the series grew in popularity it was expanded to other markets such as manga, animation, stage shows, drama CDs, food products, and various merchandise.

Setting

Ichiro Ogami, having just been informed that he will be taking command of the secret corps known as the Imperial Combat Revue: Flower Division (帝国華撃団: 花組 Teikoku Kagekidan: Hanagumi?), arrives in Teito (Imperial Capital Tokyo) and is taken to the Imperial Theater by Sakura Shinguji, who is herself new to the team. Ogami is greatly surprised to find that he has been posted to a theater, and doubly so when he's informed that he'll be filling the vital role of clipping tickets of patrons as they come in. Fortunately for his patience, it doesn't take long for the city to come under attack by evil forces, and he's quickly informed of his real role and given a quick course on operating the Koubu. Combat ensues, but he is able to push them back, with the aid of the Flower Division members.

Shortly after, Kohran Li arrives from the Hanayashiki branch of the Imperial Assault Force, where she's been working on the development of the Koubu. Ohgami is also introduced to Ayame Fujieda, a woman of surpassing beauty and an air of serenity, and who incidentally happens to be the Vice Commander of the Flower Division. Ogami winds up mooning over Ayame a bit, making Sakura instantly jealous. A battle at Teito Tower is won, thanks to timely fire support from the Flower Division's flying battleship, the Shougeimaru.

In the background of a comedic play starring Kohran and Iris, Ogami learns the rest of the history of the Kouma War. Yoneda also reveals to him the final trump card of humanity, the Majinki, which is three magical items capable of releasing immense spiritual power. Ayame falls under the influence of Aoi Satan and nearly strangles Ogami, but recovers at the last second, and orders Ogami to shoot her if it happens again. The Imperial Theater is again attacked by one of Aoi Satan's subordinates, Shika, who is promptly killed. However, Ayame once again turns traitor, steals the Majinki, and reveals herself as a demon in alliance with Aoi Satan.

After doing some much-needed cheering up of the rest of the Division, Ogami learns that Aoi Satan is about to use the Majinki to summon the Seima Castle from Tokyo Bay - a gigantic floating city equipped with a massive cannon that is fueled by negative human energies. However, they are forced to first deal with the final one of Aoi Satan's three henchmen, Cho, but they do not beat him in time to prevent the Seima Castle's revival.

Knowing that they don't have a chance, the Flower Division boards the Shougei-Maru and heads for the Seimajou (Seima Castle). However, Yoneda has one last trick to play, and he orders the launch of the Aerial Battleship Mikasa a steam-driven flying dreadnought over five miles long. The main cannon of the Mikasa blows away the gates of the Seima Castle, and the Flower Division infiltrates.

There, they find the three underlings of Aoi Satan once again revived, and the Flower Division girls sacrifice themselves one by one so that the rest of the group can advance. In the end, nobody is left but Ogami and whichever girl is most attracted to him. They are confronted by Ayame, who refuses to return to normal despite Ogami's entreaties, and Ogami duels her and wins. He refuses to finish her off, though, and Ayame in turn saves him from Aoi Satan's attack. Aoi Satan is destroyed, but first he activates the fearsome main cannon of the Seima Castle. Yoneda is forced to ram the Mikasa into the Seimajou to prevent the destruction of Teito.

Aoi Satan reveals his true identity - as Satan - and challenges Ogami to a final showdown. Ayame rises, and tells Ogami that her real name is Michael, the Archangel Michael and that he has to stop Satan. She revives the members of the Flower Division, and Satan is destroyed. At the end, Michael offers Satan the forgiveness of Heaven, but he refuses, promising to return one day to afflict humanity once more.

Second Conflict

The Second Conflict takes place in Tokyo two years after the events of Sakura Taisen. Having returned from training overseas, Imperial Japanese Army Ensign Ichiro Ogami reunites with his companions in the Imperial Combat Revue's Flower Division, a section of the Imperial Army who uses their spiritual power to defend Tokyo from supernatural threats while also performing as a theater troop. Soon after Ogami's return, the Flower Division are confronted by a group of black magicians dubbed the Black Demons, led by their earlier nemesis Aoi Satan. Satan is revealed to be Shinnosuke Yamazaki, a former comrade of Imperial Combat Revue commander Ikki Yoneda from earlier conflicts with demons who was presumed killed but in fact corrupted by evil forces. The group defeat Yamazaki, who is then killed by the Black Demons' true leader, a masked man dubbed the Demon King. The Flower Division recruit two new members during their fight—the aristocratic Japanese-Italian Orihime Soletta, and the emotionally-distant Reni Milchstrasse.

During their continued efforts against the Black Demons, Yoneda is shot by a sniper and incapacitated. While he recuperates, Yoneda' place is filled by Kaede Fujieda, sister of Sakura Wars protagonist Ayame Fujieda. With its position weakened, the Imperial Assault Force come under political pressure from a military faction opposed to their existence. The faction is led by Keigo Kyogoku, a former Imperial Army officer turned formidable and callous politician. Kyogoku is revealed as the secret leader of the Black Demons, and the Flower Division is forced into hiding when Kyogoku launches a military coup d'état against Tokyo's government and the group's theater base.

As the Imperial Combat Revue continues to fight against the Black Demons, they learn that Kyogoku has orchestrated events to reactivate a dormant magical weapon and rule as Japan's emperor. The Flower Division, supported by Yoneda and Kaede leading the remains of the Imperial Assault Force, launch an assault on the weapon. Sakura faces off against the Demon King himself—his defeat reveals him to be Sakura's resurrected father Kazuma Shinguji. The combined power of Sakura and Ichigo disables the weapon, and the Imperial Combat Revue then destroy Kyogoku. Following a promotion to Lieutenant in honor of his actions, Ogami is sent overseas to train a new Combat Revue.

Is Paris Burning?

These events open in Paris in 1926. Imperial Japanese Army Lieutenant Ichiro Ogami arrives to train a new fighting unit established by the government to combat supernatural threats. Dubbed the "Paris Combat Revue" and modeled on Ogami's original group from Tokyo, the all-female group maintains its cover as a cabaret act at the nightclub Les Chatte Noir. Their main fighting unit is called the Paris Division, its members acting as both cabaret stars and magically-imbued warriors able to pilot Koubu mecha. Its initial members are clumsy nun Erica Fontaine, and cold French noble Glycine Bleumer. In his efforts to build the group, Ogami helps recruit three more members—Coquelicot, a Vietnamese traveling circus performer; French-Japanese widow Hanabi Kitaoji; and Romanian master thief Lobelia Carlini.

As the Paris Division grows, Paris is attacked by a group of black magicians dubbed the Phantoms of Paris, many of whom torment members of the unit in attempts to break them. The Paris Phantoms are revealed to be controlled by the clown Salut; the last of an ethnic group who communed with Paris' dead and were hunted to near-extinction, Salut intends to use the Great Oak Tree, a god-like being which guards Paris, to resurrect his people using Paris' population as sacrifices. Using their united spiritual power, the Paris Division are able to defeat Salut, restoring Paris and the Great Oak Tree.

Alongside these events, Ogami experiences Parisian city life and culture while training the group to function with the same ability as the Imperial Combat Revue's Flower Division alongside their roles as cabaret performers at Les Chatte Noir. During his interactions with each member, he has the option of pursuing a romance with them. The flow of events is broken slightly when the Flower Division arrives in Paris during summer holidays, and demonstrates their comradeship and unity to the Paris group during a dance competition. Following Salu's defeat, Ogami decides that the group is able to fend for itself and sets off on his travels once again. The final scenes alter depending on whether Ogami pursued a romance with a member of the Paris Division.

Maidens in Love

These events begin in Tokyo in 1927, six months after the events of Sakura Wars 3: Is Paris Burning?. Imperial Army Lieutenant Ichiro Ogami has returned from Paris and reunited with the Flower Division of the Imperial Assault Force. All is quiet until a powerful spirit breaks free of its imprisonment in Ginza and begins terrorizing the city using a powerful golden Koubu. Immobilized by a golden mist produced by the Koubu, the Flower Division are easily beaten back and their theater base damaged. The ghost belongs to Okubo Nagayasu, a corrupt samurai daimyo enraged at his vilification by the people following his death. When Nagayasu is about to kill the Flower Division in another attack, the Paris Division from Sakura Wars 3 arrives and rescues them, answering the Imperial Assault Force's call for aid. Working together, the two groups weaken Nagayasu, then Ogami and his chosen companion use a powerful Koubu to exorcise the ghost, restoring peace to Tokyo.

In their role as a theatre troupe, the Flower Division are preparing a stage adaptation of Les Misérables, which Ogami is tasked with directing. The need to properly portray the marriage scene leads to widespread misunderstandings as both Ogami and Flower Division members think each is proposing to the other. This is further complicated if Ogami had previously romanced any member of both the Flower and Paris Divisions. When the Paris Division arrives, if Ogami romanced any of them during the events of Sakura Wars 3, a love triangle situation is created. Ogami must choose which character he wishes to commit to. The production of Les Misérables is a resounding success, and Ogami is left as the sole figure of authority after the Imperial Assault Force's original manager Ikki Yoneda retires, satisfied that Ogami can succeed him. The final scenes vary depending on whether Ogami romanced any member of the Flower or Paris Divisions, and which character Ogami chooses to commit to.

New York Adventure

These events begin with Shinjiro Taiga departing from Tokyo to New York City. Shortly after arriving there, Shinjiro witnesses a bank robbery being foiled by Gemini Sunrise, a samurai cowgirl. Shinjiro is apprehended but is bailed and led to the Little Lip Theater to meet Shinjiro's captain, Ratchet Altair, and the Star Division's commander, Michael Sunnyside. Taiga and Gemini meet each other in Midtown, and then head to a district known as "The Village", where Shinjiro's apartment is based. Ratchet then introduces Shinjiro to the rest of the Combat Revue. Shinjiro then learns that his uncle, Imperial Assault Force Commander Ichiro Ogami, was to be in New York in place of Shinjiro. Shinjiro is assigned by Sunnyside to be an usher until he is able to return to Japan. While at Central Park, Shinjiro meets Diana Caprice, who helps Shinjiro acclimate himself with the city. Following an attack on the Statue of Liberty, Shinjiro becomes a member of the Star Division. The New York Combat Revue engages demon forces at the Statue led by Ranmaru, a recurring antagonist in the game. During the battle, Ratchet is wounded, forcing Shinjiro to assume command.

After thwarting Ranmaru's invasion, Shinjiro becomes the New York Combat Revue's Captain-in-Training and Ratchet fills the role of Vice Commander. In between subsequent missions against powerful demonic beings allied with Ranmaru, Shinjiro becomes involved in the personal lives and struggles of the growing New York Combat Revue—which grows to include Diana and Mexican bounty hunter Rikaritta Aries. He gains their trust and can optionally romance one of the members. Gemini is brought into the group once her connection to a group called the Five Star Warriors is revealed. After learning of Ranmaru, who defeated and killed most of the Five Star Warriors, Gemini's sister Geminine—who resides in her body as an alter-ego—plots to exact revenge for her master's death. Shinjiro persuades Geminine not to go through with it. Afterwards, subduing an attack led by Ranmaru, Geminine decides to rest inside Gemini after using too much of her influence to dominate Gemini's body.

Following Christmas, Ranmaru's master Oda Nobunaga summons his base Azuchi Castle in an attempt to dominate the city. Assaulting Azuchi Castle, the Combat Revue destroy the remains of Ranmaru's robot, only for Shinjiro to be severely injured by Nobunaga. After he recovers and helps the Star Division repel an attack on Little Lip Theater, a plain dubbed the Sixth Heaven appears over New York. After resolving to fight Nobunaga without sacrificing anyone to the Five-Ring Mandala, the only known method to seal Nobunaga, Shinjiro is promoted to the rank of Captain and leads the assault. Making a final stand against Nobunaga, the Star Division defeats him, then Nobunaga decides to rest inside Shinjiro to better understand human feelings. Shinjiro accepts the offer, Nobunaga disappears and his castle disintegrates into cherry blossoms. The final celebration and ending vary depending on whether Shinjiro romanced a member of the Combat Revue.

Factions

Imperial Combat Revue

The Imperial Combat Revue (帝国華撃団 Teikoku Kagekidan) is the Japanese military unit dedicated to fighting demonic crisis against Tokyo while maintaining cover as a theater troupe under the homonym called the Imperial Revue (帝国歌劇団 Teikoku Kagekidan?). Being the founding Combat Revue, it has a number of divisions both mostly inside and out in which most of its members are all-female, most notably the Flower Division and Wind Divisions.

Ikki Yoneda	Ayame Fujieda Ascended.	Kaede Fujieda

Flower Division

The Flower Division (花組 Hanagumi) is the main force of the Imperial Combat Revue in the Sakura Wars series, as stars to the public and aces on the battlefield.

As part of the Imperial Army's anti-demon subjugating program the Flower Division stands as the frontline unit to combat demons with their spiritual power. The division is comprised of mostly as they possess the high capacity of spiritual power which is amplified through performance arts. The reasoning behind this was both spiritual and mental: song and dance were considered to be traditional methods that could suppress evil, and the stage was likened to a battlefield where self-confidence is built. Thus for the double entendre of the Grand Imperial Theatre's foundation as the Revue HQ, the division members perform on the theatre as their undercover alias.

Ichiro Ogami	Maria Tachibana	Sakura Shinguji	Sumire Kanzaki	Kanna Kirishima

Iris Chateaubriand	Kohran Li	Reni Milchstrasse	Orihime Soletta

Wind Division

Kasumi Fujii	Tsubaki Takamura	Yuri Sakakibara

Rose Division

Kotone Seiryuuin	Kikunojo Ota	Yokihiko Ota

Paris Combat Revue

Similar to the Imperial Combat Revue and the New York Combat Revue, but located in Paris. Dubbed the "Paris Combat Revue" and modeled on Ogami's original group from Tokyo, the all-female group maintains its cover as a cabaret act at the nightclub Les Chatte Noir.

Grand-Mere Isabel Lilac	Ci Caprice	Mell Raison	Norimichi Sakomizu

Fleur Division

The Fleur Division (Flower Division) (花組 Hanagumi) is the main force of the Paris Combat Revue and foreign branch of the original Flower Division starting from Sakura Wars 3.

With Demons even appearing in other locations, the local governments decided to follow Tokyo's example and establish their own cover operations. The Paris Combat Revue was founded with their star actors gathered into a division of the same name, mimicking Tokyo in adoration.

Erica Fontaine	Lobelia Carlini	Glycine Bleumer	Coquelicot	Hanabi Kitaoji

New York Combat Revue

he New York Combat Revue (紐育華撃団, Nyūyōku Kagekidan) is an American military unit dedicated to fighting demonic crisis against the U.S. while maintaining cover as a theater troupe under the homonym called the Little Lip Theater (リトルリップシアター, Ritorurippushiatā). Michael Sunnyside serves as the Commander while former Star Division Captain Ratchet Altair serves as Vice-Commander.

Commander Michael Sunnyside

Star Division

The New York Combat Revue's main frontline unit. The Star Division was originally commanded by Ratchet Altair before her own STAR gets destroyed in the first battle against Ranmaru at Liberty Island. Shinjiro Taiga becomes Captain-in-Training following Ratchet exiting the team to become Vice-Commander. After uniting all of the Five-Ring Warriors, Shinjiro is officially promoted to Captain of the Star Division.

Shinjiro Taiga	Ratchet Altair	Gemini Sunrise	Sagitta Weinberg	Rikaritta Aries

Diana Caprice	Subaru Kujou

Rainbow Division

The New York Combat Revue's main support team. The Rainbow Division's main function is to offer support and battle information to the Star Division.

Plum Spaniel	Anri Yoshino

Kouma

The Kouma are evil entities said to be born from the maliciousness, grudges and negative emotions of humans of extended history.

They come in various forms while ranked with common appearances. The lower class are serpentine-like functioned only by the head. Average-class and above are more alien-like with bat wings. Greater demons come out more monstrous even with intelligence, which makes them the game bosses.

While the demons are birthed from various origins, their existence has been confirmed starting from the Warring States period. Under calculation that the Kouma's powers are stronger from the longer their history, only those of high spiritual levels have the means to destroy them.

Aya-Me	Ranmaru	Ciseaux	Salut	Dokuro-Bou

Patrick Hamilton

Hive of Darkness

The Hive of Darkness are a mysterious organization that first appeared in Tokyo at 1923 (Taisho 12). They control kouma and mechanized drones bringing fear and terror to the Teito citizens with their motives unclear.

Lead by the mysterious Tenkai, the organization is generalized by four executives called the Four Deathlords (死天王 Shitennō?) and the Twilight Knights (黄昏の三騎士 Tasogare no Sankishi?), three resurrected demons who serve under Satan Aoi.

Tenkai	Aoi Satan	Crimson Miroku	Jade Setsuna	Silver Rasetsu

Inoshishi	Shika	Chou

Technology

The general technology level of early 20th century Earth, but with very notable advances in Steam-Powered technology, including advanced computing techniques and combat robot armors.

Sylusium

Sylusium (シルスウス鋼 Shirususu) is the fictional alloy of steel and lead discovered in the history of the Sakura Wars series. Because of its spiritual properties in dispelling demonic aura, it became the infrastructure of all the Combat Revue's military.

The Sylusium was first discovered during the American Civil War back in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, 1863. The Confederate Forces plunged the Unions Forces near elimination with their voodoo attacks until the only survivor left behind was a young baby shielded by its parents in an agricultural steam tractor. Noticing the baby was unharmed without a scratch, the Union analyzed the tractor believing it had something to do with the "miracle". The alloy was then discovered after researching the key was the traction engine's material, where scientists experiment and refined the allow to be of modern usage at present time.

Externally, the metal is able to block spiritual power from the outside, but acts as the medium to channel the user 's spiritual energy.[1] But like most metals, it has an inferior density which leaves it still damageable against regular conventional weapons.

As mentioned above, the alloy is the key material to fight the Kouma thus became widespread within the military to develop anti-demon weaponry. This lead to the core innovation of the Spiricle Armors (later the Spiricle Fighters), and such related armament support.

Spiricle Armor

First originated in Japan of its fictional Taisho period in Sakura Wars, the Spiricles are fictional steampunk mechanics generated by steam power as part of the world's commonplace industrialization. The armored power suits were founded by the Japanese government and military to combat the demons, and continue to improve with upgrades while following the exoskeleton frame from the blueprints left behind by Shinnosuke Yamazaki, Imperial Major of the army's anti-demon batallion.

Obu
The Obu (桜武 Oubu) is the first Japanese Spiricle Armor developed by Kanzaki Heavy Industries prior to the Sakura Wars series. No one could move the test pilots who participated in the start-up experiment, but they got out of control due to the strong spiritual power of the Kanzaki family's daughter, Sumire Kanzaki.

The Obu is the first Spiricle Armor project headed by Kanzaki Heavy Industries under President Tadayoshi Kanzaki's orders in conjunction with the Teigeki Plan. The project became a dead end when no other test pilot could activate the Zero Obu (桜武零番機?) in the initiation stages, but jumpstarted back into action when it was discovered the president's granddaughter, Sumire Kanzaki had more than just enough spiritual power to meet the requirements. As of result, that breakthrough displayed the possibility of females being the best pilot candidates and the armor production processed onto the Koubu development.

In Sakura Wars: Taisho Roman Gakuentan, the Obus became domestic are were transferred to the Grand Imperial Academy for its students to master the basics.

Obu Kai
The Obu Kai (桜武・改) are modified Obu units and next-in-line Spiricle Armor prior to the Sakura Wars series.

With the first Obu a remarkable success, Kanzaki Heavy Industries soon began mass-production of the armor with improved modifications. Only 3 units were produced to which Sumire named them the Sanshiki Sumire (三色スミレ Three-Colored Sumire?) in white, yellow and violet respectively.

In Sakura Wars: Taisho Roman Gakuentan, the units were continued in its production line and commissioned for the students at the Grand imperial Academy to utilize. In comparison with the new Koubu units, their performance statistics remain largely inferior as they were constructed for data gathering

Tenbu
The Tenbu is the first and original unit co-developed by Kohran Li and the Imperial Combat Revue's Hanayashiki branch not based off from Shinnosuke Yamazaki's blueprints. It functions on a new Type-3 Spiritual Steam Engine, which converts not only the pilot's spiritual power, but also the city's leylines into its own energy, boasting high output far superior to the Jinbu.

Kobu
The basic model of the Kobu, a Spiricle Armor used by the Flower Division.

Kobu Kai
After the Koubu were wrecked by the Kouma in the first game, they were overhauled with new spiritual steam engines, extended its operational limits. The most notable feature is the number of rear scarfs increased from 4 to 6, proving its improved specifications which succeed its predecessors. But like before, its exceeding performance and output depend on its pilot's spiritual power.

Jinbu
A new spiricle armor co-developed by Kohran Li and the Imperial Combat Revue's Hanayashiki Branch to replaced the destroyed Koubus.[1] They are more superior due to having 2 Spiritual Engines installed, allowing 8 times its output wile 4 times heavier from the originals. However, the development and maintenance of the units were over the budget, and thus mass-production was halted in favor of the feasible Koubu Kai.

Kobu F
The Koubu (光武F) is a next-generation Spiricle Armor succeeding the Koubu Kai, and piloted by the Paris Combat Revue. Developed in 1926 (Taisho 15), the Koubu F are the successors to the Koubu Kai based on their battle data. They are co-developed units between France and Japan where they were constructed within the Le Chattes Noires hangar and new spiricle steam engine modules provided by Kanzaki Heavy Industries.

Kobu F2
The Koubu F2 (光武F2) Spiricle Armors are the improved successors of the Koubu F, piloted by the Paris Combat Revue. Developed in 1926 (Taisho 15), the Koubu F are the successors to the Koubu Kai based on their battle data. They are co-developed units between France and Japan where they were constructed within the Le Chattes Noires hangar and new spiricle steam engine modules provided by Kanzaki Heavy Industries.

Kobu Type 2
The Koubu Type-2 (光武二式 Koubu Nishiki) is a second-generation Spiricle Armor succeeding the Koubu Kai, and piloted by the Imperial Combat Revue. Developed in 1927 (Taisho 16).

Soubu
The Soubu (双武) is a dual-pilot Spiricle Armor that appears only in Sakura Wars 4. Developed in 1927 (Taisho 6).

Star
The Star (スタア) is the very first Spiricle Armor developed by the US in Sakura Wars history in 1864. Upon the discovery of Sylusium from the American Civil War, it was the first humanoid prototype to function but faced a lot of technical difficulties due to its design flaw. The huge steam engine on its back imbalances the machine to make it fall after a few steps. But the flaw was remedied after the legs were removed and redesigned into an armored car before it was deployed into the US Military, and later becoming the basis for future schematics.

Steam Power World Spiricle Armor

Masou Kihei

Masou Kihei (魔操機兵 lit. "Demon Armed Mechasoldier") are the enemy mecha units powered by demonic energy, as the counterparts towards the Spiricle mechanics in the Sakura Wars franchise.

Hive of Darkness Masou Kihei

Kamui (神威?) is Satanaoi's personal mecha built from his former self's blueprints as Shinnosuke Yamazaki
Yami Kamui (神威?) is presumable an enhanced version of the Satanaoi's Kamui after his resurrection by the Black Demon Society.
Soukaku (蒼角?) is Jade Setsuna's personal mecha.
Ginkaku (銀角?) is Silver Rasetsu's personal mecha.
Kujaku (孔雀?) is Crimson Miroku's personal mecha.
Amaterasu (天照?) is Tenkai's personal mecha.
Karin Fudou (火輪不動?) is Inoshishi's personal mecha.
Hyojin Fudou (氷刃不動?) is Shika's personal mecha.
Shiden Fudou (紫電不動?) is Cho's personal mecha.
Wakiji (脇侍?) are the legion foot soldiers.[2] Kakukuri soldiers designed during the Tokugawa era until Satanaoi discovered and completed the blueprints where they are remotely controlled by Yoryoku (妖力?)

Black Demon Society Masou Kihei

Dainichiken (大日剣?) is Kongou's personal mecha.
Chiken (智拳?) is Mokujiki's personal mecha.
Hachiyo (八葉?) is Tsuchigumo's personal mecha.
Goko (五鈷?) is Kasha's personal mecha.
Hougyo (宝形?) is Suiko's personal mecha.
Shinnou (新皇?) is Keigo Kyogoku's personal mecha.
Wakiji Kai (脇侍・改?) are the customised versions of the above after revering and analyzing a Mokujiki (木喰?) sample.

Trivia

Steam Power World