Raimuiro Senkitan
Encyclopedia
is a 13 episode anime
that aired in Japan between January 5, 2003 and March 30, 2003. It is based on a hentai
game
by ELF
, giving the series heavy doses of sexual innuendos as well as girls in both their underwear and fully nude (although covering themselves).
It has two sequels: a second season Raimuiro Ryukitan X; and a 2 episode OVA Raimuiro Senkitan: The South Island Dream Romantic Adventure.
in which former Japanese diplomat, Shintaro Umakai, becomes the teacher of a secret group of teenage girls, the Raimu Unit, who are based on the flying battleship Amanohara. The girl's Konjiki (supernatural powers) enables them to operate unmanned mecha
named Raimu against Russian Raimu units led by Grigori Rasputin
who often attack the Amanohara while it is travelling towards Port Arthur
for the final battle.
A former Japanese diplomat for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Russia. He received his degree in teaching in Sapporo, Hokkaidō
which led him to being hired as teacher for the Raimu Unit. His leaving of Russia caused his former fiancée, Sophia, to join with the Russian Spiritual Corps. Early on, and after the death of Lt. Commander Date, he became the commander of the Raimu Unit, even though he is a civilian.
A young girl who comes from a poor family, she leaves home to find work in a nearby city, and finally ends up joining the Raimu Unit instead. Momen calls Shintaro brother because of his similarities shared with her brother. She is very active and ready to do anything for Shintaro. Momen controls the red Raimu, Yukimura (wields a sword).
A girl who grew up under her father as a military child and as such is a very commanding and tough person. She practices kendo
and has shared a special bond with Lt. Commander Date, whom she loved as a brother. Asa controls the green Raimu, Kiyomasa (wields a staff).
Sarasa has a fascination with Western culture
, which causes her to buy, wear, and use "western" products, but which are actually made mostly in Osaka
. She acts overconfident, and often hides various things about herself which may make her appear weaker to other people, such as claiming people in the West make dolls instead of origami
cranes as gifts because she can't make them herself. She also has a dog named Antionette Gandhi XIII, or Angie for short. she also falls in love with her teacher. Sarasa controls the blue Raimu, Taiga (wields a pole-arm/lance).
The best friend with Asa but has a low self confidence which causes her to cry when Asa becomes forcefully verbal with her. She has special connections to the spiritual world which had enabled her to talk with spirits until Shintaro broke the bond. She also makes use of voodoo dolls quite frequently. Kinu controls the yellow/orange Raimu, Masanori (wields a gun).
A very quiet girl, most likely from her tragic experiences early on in which her father kept her locked up like a bird in a cage after the rest of her family died. Shintaro helped Rinzu break free of her sorrow by revealing that her father had died trying to save her, instead of actually committing suicide. Rinzu controls the purple Raimu, Nagamasa (wields a bow, and is displayed as a centaur).
The commanding officer aboard the Amanohara.
The head doctor aboard the Amanohara. She often tries to seduce Shintaro, especially against the Raimu Unit girls.
A benevolent, human form demon
who gives the Amanohara the ability to fly. She is accompanied by human form Shikigami
triplets who are cast as little girls.
The previous commander of the Raimu Unit until he sacrificed himself to defend Sarasa from an enemy Raimu. He had a special brother-sister style bond with Asa and they often practiced kendo
with each other.
The leader of the Russian Spiritual Corps. He later found and recruited Sophia, Rasha, and Saten into the organization. It is believed he survived a large boulder that fell on him in the final episode, which would allow for his real death in 1916. He controlled the large black Raimu, Pyotr.
The former fiancée of Shintaro. After he left her to return to Japan, she was found by Rasputin who realized her ability to manipulate her Konjiki. She was sent to the Amanohara to disrupt their activities and eventually cause Shintaro to kill the Raimu Unit girls. She failed her mission however, and was greatly injured when she was crushed by a large boulder in the final episode. In order to protect Shintaro, she uses the last of her strength to send her Raimu to intercept a blast from Rasputin's Pyotr. Her last wish, before dying, was that Shintaro live on without her. She controls a light blue Raimu and goes by the codename Veludo.
Her parents were believed to be rebellious Russians around the beginning of the 20th century. Her parents were thus killed by Russian soldiers or police. She was however saved by Rasputin from certain rape and death by the hands of her parents murderers. She controls a light purple Raimu as well as several minor Raimu.
The only survivor of a famine and was saved by Rasputin while she lay in the street starving and barely alive. She controls a dark red Raimu as well as several minor Raimu.
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
that aired in Japan between January 5, 2003 and March 30, 2003. It is based on a hentai
Hentai
is a Japanese word that, in the West, is used when referring to sexually explicit or pornographic comics and animation, particularly those of Japanese origin such as anime, manga, and computer games. The word hentai is a kanji compound of 変 and 態...
game
Eroge
An or Ero-ga is a Japanese video or computer game that features erotic content, usually in the form of anime-style artwork. Eroge originated from galge, but unlike galge, they feature erotic/pornographic content.-History:...
by ELF
ELF Corporation
ELF Corporation is an eroge studio. One of its most popular games is Dōkyūsei, a pioneering dating sim, which has had a sequel, and been turned into video and TV series. The character design of the main villains from the -saku series is the company mascot...
, giving the series heavy doses of sexual innuendos as well as girls in both their underwear and fully nude (although covering themselves).
It has two sequels: a second season Raimuiro Ryukitan X; and a 2 episode OVA Raimuiro Senkitan: The South Island Dream Romantic Adventure.
Story
The story takes place in 1904 (37th year of the Meiji Era) during the Russo-Japanese WarRusso-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was "the first great war of the 20th century." It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea...
in which former Japanese diplomat, Shintaro Umakai, becomes the teacher of a secret group of teenage girls, the Raimu Unit, who are based on the flying battleship Amanohara. The girl's Konjiki (supernatural powers) enables them to operate unmanned mecha
Mecha
A mech , is a science fiction term for a large walking bipedal tank or robot, including ones on treads and animal shapes.-Characteristics:...
named Raimu against Russian Raimu units led by Grigori Rasputin
Grigori Rasputin
Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin was a Russian Orthodox Christian and mystic who is perceived as having influenced the latter days of the Russian Emperor Nicholas II, his wife Alexandra, and their only son Alexei...
who often attack the Amanohara while it is travelling towards Port Arthur
Lüshunkou
Lüshunkou is a district in the municipality of Dalian, Liaoning province, China. Also called Lüshun City or Lüshun Port, it was formerly known as both Port Arthur and Ryojun....
for the final battle.
Characters
Note: No company has produced an English version as yet, therefore some of these character and episode spellings may differ depending on the translator.Main characters
- Shintaro Umakai
A former Japanese diplomat for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Russia. He received his degree in teaching in Sapporo, Hokkaidō
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
which led him to being hired as teacher for the Raimu Unit. His leaving of Russia caused his former fiancée, Sophia, to join with the Russian Spiritual Corps. Early on, and after the death of Lt. Commander Date, he became the commander of the Raimu Unit, even though he is a civilian.
Raimu Unit
- Momen Sanada
A young girl who comes from a poor family, she leaves home to find work in a nearby city, and finally ends up joining the Raimu Unit instead. Momen calls Shintaro brother because of his similarities shared with her brother. She is very active and ready to do anything for Shintaro. Momen controls the red Raimu, Yukimura (wields a sword).
- Asa Katou
A girl who grew up under her father as a military child and as such is a very commanding and tough person. She practices kendo
Kendo
, meaning "Way of The Sword", is a modern Japanese martial art of sword-fighting based on traditional Japanese swordsmanship, or kenjutsu.Kendo is a physically and mentally challenging activity that combines strong martial arts values with sport-like physical elements.-Practitioners:Practitioners...
and has shared a special bond with Lt. Commander Date, whom she loved as a brother. Asa controls the green Raimu, Kiyomasa (wields a staff).
- Sarasa Honda
Sarasa has a fascination with Western culture
Western culture
Western culture, sometimes equated with Western civilization or European civilization, refers to cultures of European origin and is used very broadly to refer to a heritage of social norms, ethical values, traditional customs, religious beliefs, political systems, and specific artifacts and...
, which causes her to buy, wear, and use "western" products, but which are actually made mostly in Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
. She acts overconfident, and often hides various things about herself which may make her appear weaker to other people, such as claiming people in the West make dolls instead of origami
Origami
is the traditional Japanese art of paper folding, which started in the 17th century AD at the latest and was popularized outside Japan in the mid-1900s. It has since then evolved into a modern art form...
cranes as gifts because she can't make them herself. She also has a dog named Antionette Gandhi XIII, or Angie for short. she also falls in love with her teacher. Sarasa controls the blue Raimu, Taiga (wields a pole-arm/lance).
- Kinu Fukushima
The best friend with Asa but has a low self confidence which causes her to cry when Asa becomes forcefully verbal with her. She has special connections to the spiritual world which had enabled her to talk with spirits until Shintaro broke the bond. She also makes use of voodoo dolls quite frequently. Kinu controls the yellow/orange Raimu, Masanori (wields a gun).
- Rinzu Kuroda
A very quiet girl, most likely from her tragic experiences early on in which her father kept her locked up like a bird in a cage after the rest of her family died. Shintaro helped Rinzu break free of her sorrow by revealing that her father had died trying to save her, instead of actually committing suicide. Rinzu controls the purple Raimu, Nagamasa (wields a bow, and is displayed as a centaur).
Amanohara crew
- Captain Kaji Hyōko
The commanding officer aboard the Amanohara.
- Sumi Ichijōji
The head doctor aboard the Amanohara. She often tries to seduce Shintaro, especially against the Raimu Unit girls.
- Kuki
A benevolent, human form demon
Yokai
are a class of supernatural monsters in Japanese folklore. The word yōkai is made up of the kanji for "otherworldly" and "weird". Yōkai range eclectically from the malevolent to the mischievous, or occasionally bring good fortune to those who encounter them...
who gives the Amanohara the ability to fly. She is accompanied by human form Shikigami
Shikigami
Shikigami are a kind of spirit, found in Japanese Mythology summoned to serve a practitioner of onmyōdō, much like a western familiar. Shikigami cannot be seen by most people, but according to the Heian period onmyōji who were said to control them, shikigami often looked something like a...
triplets who are cast as little girls.
- Lieutenant Commander Date Masanosuke
The previous commander of the Raimu Unit until he sacrificed himself to defend Sarasa from an enemy Raimu. He had a special brother-sister style bond with Asa and they often practiced kendo
Kendo
, meaning "Way of The Sword", is a modern Japanese martial art of sword-fighting based on traditional Japanese swordsmanship, or kenjutsu.Kendo is a physically and mentally challenging activity that combines strong martial arts values with sport-like physical elements.-Practitioners:Practitioners...
with each other.
Russian Spiritual Corps
- Grigori RasputinGrigori RasputinGrigori Yefimovich Rasputin was a Russian Orthodox Christian and mystic who is perceived as having influenced the latter days of the Russian Emperor Nicholas II, his wife Alexandra, and their only son Alexei...
The leader of the Russian Spiritual Corps. He later found and recruited Sophia, Rasha, and Saten into the organization. It is believed he survived a large boulder that fell on him in the final episode, which would allow for his real death in 1916. He controlled the large black Raimu, Pyotr.
- Sophia
The former fiancée of Shintaro. After he left her to return to Japan, she was found by Rasputin who realized her ability to manipulate her Konjiki. She was sent to the Amanohara to disrupt their activities and eventually cause Shintaro to kill the Raimu Unit girls. She failed her mission however, and was greatly injured when she was crushed by a large boulder in the final episode. In order to protect Shintaro, she uses the last of her strength to send her Raimu to intercept a blast from Rasputin's Pyotr. Her last wish, before dying, was that Shintaro live on without her. She controls a light blue Raimu and goes by the codename Veludo.
- Rasha
Her parents were believed to be rebellious Russians around the beginning of the 20th century. Her parents were thus killed by Russian soldiers or police. She was however saved by Rasputin from certain rape and death by the hands of her parents murderers. She controls a light purple Raimu as well as several minor Raimu.
- Saten
The only survivor of a famine and was saved by Rasputin while she lay in the street starving and barely alive. She controls a dark red Raimu as well as several minor Raimu.
Episodes
- The Girl's Academy on the Battleship
- Amanohara, Weigh Anchor!
- As a Soldier, and as a Teacher
- Detective Sarasa?!
- The Other Homeland
- The Peaceful Day Off
- A Thousand Paper Cranes
- I'm not Afraid of Bad Luck
- Little Step
- The Closed Heart
- Onii-chan's Day
- The Last Class
- Victory Bell, Echo Towards the Future