is a
free-to-play
"Free-to-play" ("F2P" or "FtP") video games are games that give players access to a significant portion of their content for free. The term "free-to-play business model" or simply, "free-to-play model", refers collectively to business models tha ...
collectible card browser video game developed by
Nitroplus
Nitroplus Co., Ltd., currently styled as NITRO PLUS, formerly stylized as nitro+, and formerly known as "OKStyle", is a Japanese visual novel video game developer that has developed a number of visual novels, including eroge. They have also coll ...
and
DMM Games
is a Japan-based electronic commerce and Internet company with a diversified group of businesses that includes online shopping, eikaiwa, and video on demand service. The company manages DMM.com, an online entertainment site that allows users to ...
. The game was launched in Japan in January 2015,
in mainland China in 2017, and worldwide in April 2021.
The franchise has inspired and been adapted as four
anime
is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
productions, a two separate productions of a long-running stage play series, a Kabuki theatre production, two live-action films, and a spin-off game.
There are also several official
comic anthologies
A comics anthology collects works in the medium of comics, typically from multiple series, and compiles them into an anthology or magazine. The comics in these anthologies range from comic strips that are too short for standalone publication to co ...
and three manga series that use an anthology format.
Gameplay
Players assume the role of a who travels into the past to defeat evil forces, and has the ability to animate legendary swords, which are depicted as
attractive young men. ''Touken Ranbu'' is essentially a gender-swapped
clone of ''
Kantai Collection
, abbreviated as , is a Japanese free-to-play web browser game developed by Kadokawa Games and published by DMM.com.
The central theme of the game is the representation of World War II warships Moe anthropomorphism, personified as teenage girls ...
'', another game by DMM, which uses
moe anthropomorphism
is a form of anthropomorphism in anime, manga, and games where '' moe'' qualities are given to non-human beings (such as animals, plants, supernatural entities and fantastical creatures), objects, concepts, or phenomena. In addition to ''moe' ...
to portray historical warships as young girls. Character designs in ''Touken Ranbu'' are inspired by the type of sword they portray as well as the period of history they come from. Combat is largely automated, with progress mainly dependent on
resource management
In organizational studies, resource management is the efficient and effective development of an organization's resources when they are needed. Such resources may include the financial resources, inventory, human skills, production resources, or ...
and
grinding. Farming the four types of materials available in the game is required to forge and collect more swords. A number of actions in game are controlled by real time countdowns, such as repairs and forging or collecting new swords.
''Touken Ranbu'' can be played in a
web browser
A web browser, often shortened to browser, is an application for accessing websites. When a user requests a web page from a particular website, the browser retrieves its files from a web server and then displays the page on the user's scr ...
or in a phone application. The worldwide version of the game was hosted on the website of Chinese game developer Johren, but ended service in 2023. However, the mainland China version of the app is still available.
Reception
''Touken Ranbu'' quickly became very popular in Japan, particularly with young women, and had over 1.5 million registered players by 2016. The game has been credited with accelerating the Japanese cultural trend of – women who are interested in, and who pose with, historical Japanese swords. That trend had been started a few years previously with the ''
Sengoku Basara
is a series of video games developed and published by Capcom, and a bigger media franchise based on it, including three anime shows, an anime movie, a live action show, and numerous drama CDs, light novels, manga, and stage plays. Its story ...
'' video games, which made katana fans a distinct part of the Japanese subculture of female history aficionados (''
reki-jo
are Japanese female history buffs, who may also use the speech and mannerisms of pre-industrial Japan in their social gatherings. ''Reki-jo'' are a kind of otaku, people obsessed with a particular interest. Economic activity relating to the fad g ...
'').
The popularity of ''Touken Ranbu'' was such that a Japanese women's interest magazine published an article about exercise routines based on sword fighting techniques from the game, and the 2015 Tokyo
Wonder Festival
The , or , is a semiannual (February and August) event held in the Makuhari Messe, in Chiba, Japan. It is sponsored by the Kaiyodo manufacturing company. The main focus is to display and sell " garage kits", which are sculptures that usually rep ...
's figure exhibition was reportedly "completely dominated by hot male swordsmen".
Based on a December 16, 2023 survey conducted by ''
Nikkei Entertainment'' with almost 50,000 responses, the fanbase of ''Touken Ranbu'' within Japan has an average age of 34 years, and is almost exclusively female-dominated.
''Touken Ranbu'' has inspired various
restoration campaigns for swords represented in the game which were destroyed or damaged in real life. Donors contributed 45 million
yen
The is the official currency of Japan. It is the third-most traded currency in the foreign exchange market, after the United States dollar and the euro. It is also widely used as a third reserve currency after the US dollar and the euro.
T ...
to a
crowdfund
Crowdfunding is the practice of funding a project or venture by raising money from a large number of people, typically via the internet. Crowdfunding is a form of crowdsourcing and alternative finance, to fund projects "without standard financial ...
in order to make a replica of
Hotarumaru
is an ''ōdachi'' (Japanese sword, Japanese huge greatsword) forged by the swordsmith and an Important Cultural Property (Japan), Important Cultural Property of Japan.
History
The name came from a legend that one night flaws on the blade were ...
.
Related media
Anime
The game has received two
anime
is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
adaptations. The first is ''
Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru'' (2016) by
Doga Kobo
is a Japanese animation studio formed by former Toei Animation members Hideo Furusawa and Megumu Ishiguro, located in Nerima, Tokyo, Japan. The studio was established on July 11, 1973, and is a subsidiary of Kadokawa Corporation.
Although the st ...
and
Toho
is a Japanese entertainment company that primarily engages in producing and distributing films and exhibiting stage plays. It is headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, and is one of the core companies of the Osaka-based Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group. ...
, and the second is ''
Katsugeki/Touken Ranbu
is a Japanese anime television series produced by Ufotable and Aniplex and directed by Toshiyuki Shirai, with music composed by Hideyuki Fukasawa. It is based on the video game ''Touken Ranbu''. The anime series aired between July 1 and Sept ...
'' (2017) by
Ufotable
is a Japanese animation studio founded in October 2000 by former Telecom Animation Film producer Hikaru Kondō and located in Shinjuku, Tokyo. A unique hallmark seen in many of their works ('' Ninja Nonsense'', '' Futakoi Alternative'', '' Coyo ...
and
Aniplex
Aniplex, Inc. (株式会社アニプレックス, ''Kabushiki-gaisha Anipurekkusu'') is a Japanese entertainment company and a subsidiary of Sony, Sony Group Corporation, founded in September 1995 by Sony Music Entertainment Japan. The company fo ...
.
An anime adaptation of the series' 2016 stage play ''Touken Ranbu Kyoden Moyuru Honnōji'', produced by DOMERICA, aired from April to May 2024.
An anime adaptation of the ''Wanpaku! Touken Ranbu'' mixed-media project by
Sanrio
is a Japanese entertainment company. It designs, licenses, and manufactures products focusing on the ''kawaii'' ("cute") segment of Japanese popular culture. Their products include stationery, school supplies, gifts, and Fashion accessory, a ...
has been announced.
Printed media
Since 2015, ''Touken Ranbu'' has inspired various
Manga
are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long history in earlier Japanese art. The term is used in Japan to refer to both comics ...
adaptations, primarily in the form of
anthologies
In book publishing, an anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler; it may be a collection of plays, poems, short stories, songs, or related fiction/non-fiction excerpts by different authors. There are also thematic and ge ...
published in various magazines such as
Monthly Bushiroad,
Hana to Yume
, also known as , is a semi-monthly Japanese manga magazine published by Hakusensha on the 5th and 20th of every month. The magazine is B5-size, and always comes with or free supplements, such as drama CDs, pencil boards (shitajiki), manga ...
,
B's Log,
G Fantasy, and
Monthly Comic Gene
is a monthly Japanese manga magazine published by Media Factory since June 15, 2011. It is marketed as a ''shōnen''-styled manga magazine for female readers. It was originally to be published in April 2011, but was delayed by two months as a r ...
, among others.
In 2022, three more manga adaptations were announced for serialization:
''Touken Ranbu: Outdoor Ibun Touken Camp'', a
Iyashikei
is a genre specific to Japanese works, primarily manga and anime. It is a sub-genre of slice of life, portraying characters living out peaceful lives in calming environments, and is intended to have a healing effect on the audience. Shaenon K Ga ...
manga adaptation centered on the main cast borrowing the camping equipment of the Saniwa for their missions or adventures. The series is illustrated by Ikra and serialized in
Princess (magazine)
is a monthly Japanese manga magazine published by Akita Shoten. It launched in December 1974 and is released on the sixth of each month. It has inspired several spin-off publications, including ''Bessatsu Viva Princess'', renamed ''Viva Prin ...
.
''Touken Ranbu Side Story Tale Of Ayakashi'', a manga adaptation telling an original story in the franchise. The series is illustrated by Yaeko Ninagawa and published by
Monthly Comic Zenon
is a Japanese manga anthology. It is marketed to ''seinen'' public (young adult men), edited and published monthly by Coamix. From 2010 to 2020, it was formerly published by North Stars Pictures and Tokuma Shoten. It was produced as a replaceme ...
.
''Touken Ranbu: Nihongo Tsurezure Sake'', a
Cooking manga
, also known as , is a genre of Japanese manga and anime where food, cooking, eating, or drinking is a central plot element. The genre achieved mainstream popularity in the early 1980s as a result of the "gourmet boom" associated with the Japanese ...
centered on the great spear Nihongou as he serves exceptional sake and snacks for his comrades in the citadel. The manga is illustrated by Okamura Kenji and serizalized in
Nichibun Comics.
Stage plays
''Touken Ranbu'' has inspired a series of
2.5D stage plays and
musicals
Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, movement ...
since 2016. The stage plays and musicals were both announced simultaneously in 2015 with different companies and cast members behind the two separate productions. ''
Musical: Touken Ranbu'', produced with Nelke Planning, first ran on October 30, 2015. ''
Stage: Touken Ranbu'', produced by
Marvelous and
Dentsu
, simply known as , stylized as dentsu, is a Japanese international advertising and public relations joint stock company headquartered in Tokyo. Dentsu is the largest advertising agency in Japan and the fifth largest advertising agency network in ...
, began running on May 3, 2016.
''Touken Ranbu'' has also inspired a traditional
Kabuki
is a classical form of Theatre of Japan, Japanese theatre, mixing dramatic performance with Japanese traditional dance, traditional dance. Kabuki theatre is known for its heavily stylised performances, its glamorous, highly decorated costumes ...
stage production titled ''Touken Ranbu: Tsuki no Tsurugi Enishi no Kiri no wa'', which was announced in 2022 and performed in Shinbashi Enbujo theater in Tokyo in July 2023.
Film
A live-action film adaptation was released on January 18, 2019. The cast from ''Stage: Touken Ranbu'' reprised their roles. The film was distributed by
Toho
is a Japanese entertainment company that primarily engages in producing and distributing films and exhibiting stage plays. It is headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, and is one of the core companies of the Osaka-based Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group. ...
and
Universal Pictures
Universal City Studios LLC, doing business as Universal Pictures (also known as Universal Studios or simply Universal), is an American filmmaking, film production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered at the 10 Universal Ci ...
, directed by Saiji Yakumo, and written by
Yasuko Kobayashi
is a Japanese anime and ''tokusatsu'' drama screenwriter who has been involved in various television shows throughout her career, beginning in 1993 with '' Tokusou Robo Janperson''.
In September 2022, Kobayashi launched a new manga series with ...
.
Spin-off games
In August 2021,
Koei Tecmo
is a Japanese video game, amusement and anime holding company created in 2009 by the merger of Koei and Tecmo. Koei Tecmo Holdings owns several companies, the biggest one of those being its flagship video game developer and publisher Koei Tecmo ...
announced they were developing ''Touken Ranbu Warriors'', a
hack and slash
Hack and slash, also known as hack and slay (H&S or HnS) or slash 'em up, refers to a type of gameplay that emphasizes combat with melee-based weapons (such as swords or blades). They may also feature projectile-based weapons as well (such as ...
game based on their ''Warriors'' franchise. The game was developed by
Omega Force
(stylised as ''ω-Force'') is a Japanese video game developer and a division of Koei Tecmo, founded in 1996 by Akihiro Suzuki and Kenichi Ogasawara, and is best known for the ''Dynasty Warriors'' video games.
History
Omega Force was founded ...
and
Ruby Party
Ruby Party (, ''Rubī Pātī'') is the Japanese brand name of Koei Tecmo Holdings' women-based game development team.(jaRuby Party BrandKoei website (retrieved 17 April 2022. The team was established around 1990 by Keiko Erikawa.
The team has ...
, with DMM Games and Nitroplus distributing. The game was released for the
Nintendo Switch
The is a video game console developed by Nintendo and released worldwide in most regions on March 3, 2017. Released in the middle of the Eighth generation of video game consoles, eighth generation of home consoles, the Switch succeeded the ...
and
Microsoft Windows
Windows is a Product lining, product line of Proprietary software, proprietary graphical user interface, graphical operating systems developed and marketed by Microsoft. It is grouped into families and subfamilies that cater to particular sec ...
on February 17, 2022, in Japan. It was later released on May 24, 2022, in North America and Europe.
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Token Ranbu
2015 video games
Browser games
Esports games
Free-to-play video games
Japan-exclusive video games
Mass media franchises
Nitroplus
Role-playing video games
Science fantasy video games
Video games about time travel
Video games developed in Japan
Video game franchises
DMM Games games