Ayakashi Ninden Kunoichiban
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese dating sim
by Shoeisha
, released on March 14, 1997 for Windows 95
in Japan
. A PlayStation, and Sega Saturn
version were soon released as well. It is a female ninja
dating sim
, as well as a gal game. It is said that the lesbian
elements appear to be stronger in the PlayStation version.
(ninja and kunoichi
) are recognized. The story centers around Kaede, who enters Princess Yuri
School（姫百合学園 Hime
Yuri Gakuen）, and offers assistance to three girls for one year, who happen to be guardians. The top graduate is given a special privilege to become a freelance Shinobi. After entering, Kaede strives to serve a favorite person for one year.
There are 13 different endings in all. It is known that in the best ending, Kaede can marry Tsukiha.
: Shiho Kikuchi
)
(voice actress seiyū
: Sakura Tange
)
(voice actress seiyū
: Ai Orikasa
)
(voice actress seiyū
: Kikuko Inoue
)
(voice actress seiyū
: Haruna Ikezawa
)
(CV: Emi Shinohara
)
(CV: Kyoko Hikami
)
(CV: Akio Ōtsuka )
(CV: Kenyū Horiuchi)
Dating sim
Dating sims are a video game subgenre of simulation games, usually Japanese, with romantic elements. They are also sometimes put under the category of neoromance. The most common objective of dating sims is to date, usually choosing from among several characters, and to achieve a romantic...
by Shoeisha
Shoeisha
Shoeisha Co., Ltd., sometime abbreviated SE, is a computer software publisher specializing in computer books. They have more than 1,000 publications, including programming books and application tutorials....
, released on March 14, 1997 for Windows 95
Windows 95
Windows 95 is a consumer-oriented graphical user interface-based operating system. It was released on August 24, 1995 by Microsoft, and was a significant progression from the company's previous Windows products...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. A PlayStation, and Sega Saturn
Sega Saturn
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console that was first released by Sega on November 22, 1994 in Japan, May 11, 1995 in North America, and July 8, 1995 in Europe...
version were soon released as well. It is a female ninja
Ninja
A or was a covert agent or mercenary of feudal Japan specializing in unorthodox arts of war. The functions of the ninja included espionage, sabotage, infiltration, and assassination, as well as open combat in certain situations...
dating sim
Dating sim
Dating sims are a video game subgenre of simulation games, usually Japanese, with romantic elements. They are also sometimes put under the category of neoromance. The most common objective of dating sims is to date, usually choosing from among several characters, and to achieve a romantic...
, as well as a gal game. It is said that the lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
elements appear to be stronger in the PlayStation version.
Plot
There is a world where shinobiShinobi
Shinobi is the Japanese word for male ninja. It may also refer to:*Shinobi , a series of video games**Shinobi , the original video game in the series developed by Sega**Shinobi , the PlayStation 2 sequel...
(ninja and kunoichi
Kunoichi
is the term for a female ninja or practitioner of ninjutsu .-Etymology:The term is thought to derive from the names of characters that resemble the three strokes in the kanji character for ; said in the order they are written: ku - no - ichi...
) are recognized. The story centers around Kaede, who enters Princess Yuri
Yuri
Yuri is a common first name in several languages, with alternately masculine and feminine denotations depending on the specific culture. In Russia, for example, Юрий is a common male given name meaning 'George', while in Japan it is a traditional female name meaning 'lily', and in Korea, it is also...
School（姫百合学園 Hime
Hime
is the Japanese word for princess or a lady of higher birth. Daughters of a monarch are actually referred to by other terms, e.g. , literally king's daughter, even though Hime can be used to address Ōjo....
Yuri Gakuen）, and offers assistance to three girls for one year, who happen to be guardians. The top graduate is given a special privilege to become a freelance Shinobi. After entering, Kaede strives to serve a favorite person for one year.
Gameplay
There are eight different kinds of class subjects based on (忍術) NinjutsuNinjutsu
or may be:*the arts associated with espionage and assassination in feudal Japan, see Ninja*modern schools of martial arts claiming to be based in these traditions, see Modern Schools of Ninjutsu*fictional depictions, see Ninja in popular culture...
- ①Language Studies（語学）
- ②ArithmeticArithmeticArithmetic or arithmetics is the oldest and most elementary branch of mathematics, used by almost everyone, for tasks ranging from simple day-to-day counting to advanced science and business calculations. It involves the study of quantity, especially as the result of combining numbers...
（算術） - ③PharmacyPharmacyPharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
（薬学） - ④MedicineMedicineMedicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
（医術） - ⑤JujutsuJujutsuJujutsu , also known as jujitsu, ju-jitsu, or Japanese jiu-jitsu, is a Japanese martial art and a method of close combat for defeating an armed and armored opponent in which one uses no weapon, or only a short weapon....
（体術） - ⑥MannersMannersIn sociology, manners are the unenforced standards of conduct which demonstrate that a person is proper, polite, and refined. They are like laws in that they codify or set a standard for human behavior, but they are unlike laws in that there is no formal system for punishing transgressions, the...
（作法） - ⑦Art of Concealment and EspionageEspionageEspionage or spying involves an individual obtaining information that is considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information. Espionage is inherently clandestine, lest the legitimate holder of the information change plans or take other countermeasures once it...
studies（忍術学） - ⑧Art of Concealment and Espionage practical skill（忍術実技）
There are 13 different endings in all. It is known that in the best ending, Kaede can marry Tsukiha.
Main characters
(voice actress seiyūSeiyu
Voice acting in Japan has far greater prominence than in most other countries. Japan's large animation industry produces 60% of the animated series in the world; as a result, Japanese voice actors, or , are able to achieve fame on a national and international level.Besides acting as narrators and...
: Shiho Kikuchi
Shiho Kikuchi
is a Japanese voice actress , born on 6 May 1972 in Kanagawa.-Anime and video game voice roles:*Ayakashi Ninden Kunoichiban - Kaede Hagakure*Beyblade - Hilary Tachibana*Galerians: Ash - Lilia Pascalle...
)
- As the main character, she is a daughter of the Hagakure family head. She is the type of person who is often liked very well by others. She served the Hisano at the age of 8, and lived with Tsukiha for many years. Kaede holds goodwillSocial capitalSocial capital is a sociological concept, which refers to connections within and between social networks. The concept of social capital highlights the value of social relations and the role of cooperation and confidence to get collective or economic results. The term social capital is frequently...
towards Tsukiha, and works closely with her and the other two bodyguards Kasumi, and Miyuki.
(voice actress seiyū
Seiyu
Voice acting in Japan has far greater prominence than in most other countries. Japan's large animation industry produces 60% of the animated series in the world; as a result, Japanese voice actors, or , are able to achieve fame on a national and international level.Besides acting as narrators and...
: Sakura Tange
Sakura Tange
Sakura Tange is an idol, seiyū and singer who was born in Ichinomiya, Aichi, Japan. She is best known for providing the voice of Sakura Kinomoto in the anime series Cardcaptor Sakura....
)
- One of the 3 guards. Kaede's childhood friend who is a hot springHot springA hot spring is a spring that is produced by the emergence of geothermally heated groundwater from the Earth's crust. There are geothermal hot springs in many locations all over the crust of the earth.-Definitions:...
enthusiast. She holds kind feelings toward Kaede very much, because when she was young, Kaede helped her develop and mature as a person.
(voice actress seiyū
Seiyu
Voice acting in Japan has far greater prominence than in most other countries. Japan's large animation industry produces 60% of the animated series in the world; as a result, Japanese voice actors, or , are able to achieve fame on a national and international level.Besides acting as narrators and...
: Ai Orikasa
Ai Orikasa
is a popular Japanese voice actress and singer from Tokyo. She works for Production Baobab. Orikasa is also the Japanese dub voice for Jessica Rabbit in Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Her debut work was Shoukoushi Cedie in 1988...
)
- As one of the 3 guards, her reason for entering the school is unknown. She has tomboyish demeanor, and prefers to dress like a man. She is taciturn, and doesn't care to be close with anyone. Ironically, she is popular with the other schoolgirls.
(voice actress seiyū
Seiyu
Voice acting in Japan has far greater prominence than in most other countries. Japan's large animation industry produces 60% of the animated series in the world; as a result, Japanese voice actors, or , are able to achieve fame on a national and international level.Besides acting as narrators and...
: Kikuko Inoue
Kikuko Inoue
is a popular Japanese voice actress and singer. She has been part of the singing groups DoCo and Goddess Family Club, among others, and is the manager of her voice-acting company, Office Anemone. Inoue tends to play the "perfect girlfriend" or "motherly" role in many series, but she has also played...
)
- Also one of the 3 guards. She is always sleepy, and seems to be at her happiest while asleep. She is popular with boys of other schools and often receives love letters. She is proud of her cooking skills, and enjoys housework.
(voice actress seiyū
Seiyu
Voice acting in Japan has far greater prominence than in most other countries. Japan's large animation industry produces 60% of the animated series in the world; as a result, Japanese voice actors, or , are able to achieve fame on a national and international level.Besides acting as narrators and...
: Haruna Ikezawa
Haruna Ikezawa
is a voice actress born in Athens, Greece, but raised in Kanagawa Prefecture. She was formerly affiliated with 81 Produce, but as of 2002, she is affiliated with Oscar Promotion...
)
- As a fellow classmate, she likes Miyuki, and guards Miyuki whenever Kaede appears to be busy. However, she deeply regards Kaede as her rival.
(CV: Emi Shinohara
Emi Shinohara
is a Japanese voice actress employed by 81 Produce. She was born in Fukushima Prefecture and raised in Nagano. She is married to tokusatsu actor Hiroshi Watari...
)
- Classmate. She is a popular person in the school, due to her bright character. She tends to find school life very boring, and works part-time as a waitress. She falls in love with Juzen at first sight.
(CV: Kyoko Hikami
Kyoko Hikami
is a Japanese voice actress who was born in Kobe. She is part of the voice actress trio Furil which also consists of Wedding Peach voice castmates Yūko Miyamura and Yukana Nogami.-Notable voice roles:*Sudou in Atashinchi...
)
- Another classmate with a very earnest personality. As the chairperson of the classworks, she harbors kind feelings toward Kasumi, who is sexless. She is very skilled in arithmeticArithmeticArithmetic or arithmetics is the oldest and most elementary branch of mathematics, used by almost everyone, for tasks ranging from simple day-to-day counting to advanced science and business calculations. It involves the study of quantity, especially as the result of combining numbers...
.
(CV: Akio Ōtsuka )
- Kaede's father, who happens to be the person holding the key to this story.
(CV: Kenyū Horiuchi)
- An american, who happens to be Miyuki's father. Johnny is a mysterious ninja who appears when duties are completed.
Music
- Opening theme song 『 Omoi no Hate (想いの果て)』 by Shiho KikuchiShiho Kikuchiis a Japanese voice actress , born on 6 May 1972 in Kanagawa.-Anime and video game voice roles:*Ayakashi Ninden Kunoichiban - Kaede Hagakure*Beyblade - Hilary Tachibana*Galerians: Ash - Lilia Pascalle...
- Ending theme song 『 Korekara Zutto… (これからずっと…)』 by Sakura TangeSakura TangeSakura Tange is an idol, seiyū and singer who was born in Ichinomiya, Aichi, Japan. She is best known for providing the voice of Sakura Kinomoto in the anime series Cardcaptor Sakura....