Genji, Part 1

Here's another project that's been on my "to do" list for a long time: 1992's time-travel sci-fi mind-fuck OVA Genji (Part One). The "Part One" is the beginning of what will turn out to be a labyrinth of confusion. It's "Part One" because it's based on the first part of a manga by Kouga Yun.The second part was abandoned, so there will never be a Part 2. (Incomplete manga are a specialty of hers; she's also the author of the still-incomplete Loveless.) The setting is modern Tokyo and an alternate/parallel-world Japan, in which the Genpei War between the Taira (Heike) and Minamoto (Genji) clans is fought much later, mixing classical Heian warfare with modern weapons such as tanks and flamethrowers.

In Tokyo, a teenager named Katsumi is preparing for a date with his honey, Sakura.

In parallel Japan, Minamoto no Yoritomo (usually called Genji), the clan's shogun, is hit and killed by a poisoned arrow. He and Katsumi look alike. Sakura decides to return to parallel Japan after wiping everyone's memory, including her own, but not Katsumi's. Desperate to find her, Katsumi accepts the help of a talking peacock, Zakuro, and follows Sakura to parallel Japan. (Wouldn't any 16-year-old do that?) 

There, he falls in with the Minamoto clan, who need a figurehead to replace the deceased Genji. Katsumi does not want to be involved in the war. He only wants to find Sakura, but he makes time for a brief BL encounter with Genji's younger brother Yoshitsune (also called Shanao). 

Ultimately, he makes a deal with the Minamoto: he'll take Genji's place if the clan helps him find Sakura.

That's only the beginning of the complications. On the Taira (Heike) side, there are two Taira no Kiyomoris, and they're twins. The older is a bloodthirsty warrior who is kept chained up between battles. The younger is Taira's shogun, as well as Genji's childhood friend and wannabe lover. Taira no Tokoku (Kenreimonin), the Kiyomori twins step-mother, is plotting to have them both assassinated, so her blood-son, Tsunemori, can become leader of the Heike. [Historically, she was (the only) Taira no Kiyomori's daughter.] The assassination plot went awry, and the poisoned arrow intended for the younger Kiyomori killed Genji instead.

Meanwhile, Genji's brother, Yoshitsune, and his chief lieutenant, Benkei, are proceeding with their plan to make Katsumi a replacement for their slain leader. They introduce him to Genji's steed, a telepathic unicorn named, what else, Unicorn.

They take him to Hanamachi, the armorer's city, to be fitted with Genji's biomechanical armor. However, he must first survive the Maze, a VR simulator that can be deadly.  Katsumi meets and tends the wounds of the elder Kiyomori, who has never experienced tenderness and promptly falls in love with Katsumi. 

Now, fitted out with armor and steed, the object of respect or adoration by all, Katsumi-as-Genji is ready to succor the overmatched Minamoto clan in a major battle, but not the decisive battle, with the Taira.

You still following this? I lost the thread a long time ago. Characters show up briefly, like Katsumi's step-brother Kotaro, and then disappear, for no reason. Extended incidents lead nowhere. The plot so enraged the translation checker (Perevodildo) that he wrote an impassioned screed damning the whole production. I did better with it - after all, I got through all of Requiem of the Rose King - but I thought the edifice was undermined by the overstuffed plot and the callow lead character. To me, Katsumi lacks the charisma to justify Sakura's love and the various male characters' admiration, chivalrous or carnal, but they are all impressed by his devotion and his emotion.

Parallel Japan has many weird features besides the anachronistic mixing of Heian warfare with modern weapons. Genji has a biomechanical artificial eye of unknown capabilities. He also had a biomechanical implant for his armor. Parallel Tokyo is a modern-looking city and is neutral territory. (Shades of West Side Story.) The armorers are all women and display themselves like geishas in shop windows. 

(Their city is called Hanamachi, the generic name for a geisha district.) Sakura is a Guardian, whatever that is; her magic powers allow her to open portals between our Japan and parallel Japan. Earthquakes can open portals too. And so on.

The show is such a clusterfuck that it's impossible to tell the players without a program. Accordingly, I'm providing a guide to the cast, based on Perevodildo's impeccable editing guides, as well as the CVs of the voice actors.

• Minamoto no Yoritomo, aka Seiwa Genji, shogun of the Minamoto (Genji) clan; and Ebata Katsumi, a modern-day 16-year-old boy, his double. VA: Sasaki Nozomu starred as Tetsuo in Akira, Ushio in the original Ushio to Tora, Urameshi in the Yu Yu Hakusho franchise, and Mello in Death Note. He played Mars in Star Dust, Dekiru in Izumo, Taiga in Nagasarete Airantou, Hal in Next Senki Ehrgeiz, Wataru in Blue Sonnet, and Ling Fei-Long in Dragon Fist, all Orphan releases.
• Musashibo Benkei, Genji's right-hand man. VA: Hironaka Masashi played Anshu in Hayou no Tsurugi, Bird Torigai in Blue Sonnet, Jiro in Karuizawa Syndrome, Ihika in Yousei-Ou, Kanou in Nine, Kazusa in Tomoe's Run!, and the hijacker in Stop!! Hibari-kun!, all Orphan releases, as well as Siegfried in Legend of the Galactic Heroes.
• Princess Sakura of Nagoya Castle, Genji's betrothed; and Hasegawa Sakura, Katsumi's modern-day squeeze. VA: Kawamura Maria played Naga the Serpent in the Slayers franchise, the title role in Fujiko Fujio A no Mumako, Eluza in the Gall Force OVAs, Interpreter in the Compiler OVAs, Luna and Tiger Lily in Peter Pan no Bouken, Kate in Hitomi no Naka no Shounen: 15 Shounen Hyouryuuki, Shirin in Haruka Naru Toki no Nake de 2 (a repeat of her role in Haruka Naru Toki no Nake de: Hachyoushou), and Houjou Masako in Haruka Naru Toki no Nake de 3. The last three are Orphan releases.
• Minamoto no Yoshitsune (Shanao), younger brother, in love with Genji. VA: Inoue Kazuhiko starred as Yamaoka Shirou in Oishinbo, Yuki Eiri in Gravitation, the title role in Cyborg 009, Tachibana no Tomomasa in Haruka Naru Toki no Nake de: Hachyoushou, and my favorite role, the irascible, sake-swilling Nyanko-sensei in the Natsume Yuujichou franchise. He also played Jinpachi Nezu in Sanada 10, Saiki Haruka in Tobira o Akate, Iori in Tomoe's Run!, Kanuma Hayate in Akai Hayate, Ryousuke in Daishizen no Majuu Bagi, Kitten Smith in Starship Troopers, Liu Bei Xuande in both Sangokushi TV specials, Ayako in Lunn Flies into the Wind, Nakatsugawa in Boyfriend, Hisui in Haruka Naru Toki no Nake de 2, and Kajiwara Kagetoki in Haruka Naru Toki no Nake de 3, all Orphan releases.
• Ebata Kotaro, Katsumi's older step-brother in modern Tokyo. VA: Tsujitani Kouji played the title role in the Captain Tylor franchise and the lead role in the 3x3 Eyes OVAs. He also played Takei, Reiko's would-be fiance, in Sotsugyou: Graduation, Guy in Ai no Kusabi, Homare in Okane ga Nai, Shou in Condition Green, Saburou in Kasei Yakyoku, and Seishirou in Yuukan Club, all Orphan releases.
• Hojo Masako, Genji's sister in arms and concubine-to-be. VA: Ikura Kazue is best known for the roles of Makimura Kaori in City Hunter, Toraou in Mashin Eiyuuden Wataru, Natsume Ryuunosuke in All Purpose Cultural Cat Girl Nuku Nuku, and Leni Milchstrasse in Sakura Wars. She played Jiliora in Gude Crest and also appeared in Sei Michaela Gakuen Hyouryuuki and 15 Shounen Hyouryuuki, all Orphan releases.
• Hojo Munetoki, Masako's older brother. VA: Hori Hideyuki played Zach Isedo in Al Caral no Isan, Sid in Ai no Kusabi, Falk Green in Hi-Speed Jecy, Zhao Yun in Sangokushi movie 2, and Baraba in Eien no Filena, all Orphan projects. He played the title role in Baoh, Phoenix in the Saint Seiya franchise, and Tezuka Osamu himself in the Black Jack TV series.
• Taira no Kiyomori the younger, shogun of the Taira (Heike) clan and Genji's childhood friend. VA: Kikuchi Masami played the okama JonJon in Otaku no Seiza. He went on to star as the male leads in the Tenchi Muyo, Aa! Megami-sama!, and Comic Party franchises. He played the male lead, Makoto, in Doukyuusei 2, and appeared in Fukuyama Gekijou, both Orphan releases.
• Taira no Kiyomori the elder, a bloodthirsty soldier for the Heike, kept chained up between battles. VA: Tobita Nobuo played Lumial in the Angelique franchise, Ken Wakashimazu in the Captain Tsubasa franchise, Randy in Fake, Sinistra in Kiddy Grade, the title role in Locke the Superman, and Dayon in Osomatsu-san. He appeared in Ziggy Sore Yuke! R&R Band, Condition Green, Eien no Filena, and Choujikuu Romanesque Samy: MISSING 99, all Orphan releases.
• Taira no Tokuko, aka Kenreimonin, step-mother of the Kiyamoris; also Zakuro, a talking peacock. VA: Nozawa Masako is a legend. She played the title roles in The Adventures of Gamba, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry no Bouken, Billy Inu nan demo Shoukai, and Hey! Bumboo. She was Enma-kun in the original Dororon Enma-kun, Son Goku in the original Dragonball, and Kitarou in the 1968 and 1971 versions of GeGeGe no Kitarou, as well as Hakaba Kitarou. Even though her first role was in 1965, she is still active, appearing as Obaba in Ping Pong the Animation, Madame Curie in Marie & Gali, and of course, Medama Oyaji in the most recent version of GeGeGe no Kitarou. She played the title roles in Manxmouse and The Green Cat, Isamu in Kaitei 3-Man Mile, Lek in Cool Cool Bye, Wolf in Kiku-chan to Ookami, and Costar in 15 Shounen Hyouruuki, all Orphan releases. She won a lifetime achievement award in 1997.
• Sagano Kuya, vice-shogun of the Heike. VA: Hayami Shou starred as Nanjou in Zetsuai: 1989 and Bronze: Zetsuai since 1989, and Kushinige Hodaka in Oshare Kozou wa Hanamaru. He also played an angel in Tezuka Osamu's Tales of the Old Testament, Aju in Hayou no Tsurugi, Exper Kain in Exper Zenon, Iason's friend Raoul in Ai no Kusabi, Hojo in Sanctuary, Pat Leivy in Starship Troopers, Junoichi in Blazing Transfer Student, Shargan in Gude Crest, and Seichii in Mikoneko Holmes. All of these shows are Orphan releases.
• Shuko, the armorer in parallel Tokyo, once in love with Genji. VA: Tamagawa Sakiko played Natsumi Rumi in Call Me Tonight, Shiori in Akai Hayate, Lar Lipp in Greed (all Orphan releases), Athena in Appleseed XIII, Tachikoma in GITS SAC, Kanoko in Shouwa Monogatari, Dotta in Sorcerer Hunters, Rouge in Starship Girl Yamamoto Yohko, Masaki in the Tenchi Muyo franchise, Natsumi in the You're Under Arrest franchise, and Princess Suurya in Kamasutra.
• Ize, a soldier for the Genji. VA: Umezu Hideyuki played Akadama-sensei in Uchouten Kazoku and Uranos Corsica in Gangsta. He had featured roles in Star Dust, Apfelland Monogatari, Blue Sonnet, Hashire Melos, Hi-Speed Jecy, Hidamari no Ki, Nana Toshi Monogatari, Neko Neko Fantasia, Singles, the What's Michael? OVAs, Yamato 2520, and Ziggy Sore Yuke! R&R Band, all Orphan releases.
• Emi, a soldier for the Heike: VA: Takayama Minami starred as the title roles in Kiki's Delivery Service and Space Girl Yamamoto Yohko, and, most famously, played Conan Edogawa in the more than 1000 episodes, OVAs, movies, and specials of the Detective Conan franchise. She starred as Yuu in Cosmic Fantasy, an Orphan release.
  

The director, Yasumura Ryou, helmed Kaze no Naka no Shoujo Kinpatsu no Jeanie before turning to producing.

The project has a fairly complicated history, to go with its fairly complicated plot. Moho Kareshi took the first crack at translating the show. glenn timed his script and corrected some of the language. The project was going nowhere until Perevodildo, a Discord colleague, agreed to translation check. Using the manga as a guide, uncertain at best, he ended up changing the script extensively and provided wonderfully detailed editing guides. ninjacloud then cleaned up the timing. I edited and typeset; there are almost no signs, except for a complex map in episode 2. (Iri cracked some of the unreadable names.) Nemesis and Uchuu QCed. An anonymous friend ripped the Japanese laserdiscs on the Domesday Duplicator and encoded. Because the translation originated with Moho Kareshi, long vowels are truncated to their base vowels.

I can't say the Genji (Part One) is good, but it's definitely not routine. Simply put, it's weird. (One of the QCs asked, "What did I just watch?")  So if that sounds like your cup of sake, you can get the show from the usual torrent site or from IRC bot Orphan|Arutha in channels #nibl or #news on irc.rizon.net. Don't expect to understand what's going on. And we'll never know how it was supposed to turn out, although it's safe to assume that the Minamoto clan will ultimately triumph. Isn't it?