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{{Short description|Japanese fantasy novel series and its franchise}}
{{Infobox animanga/Header|
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}
title_name=The Twelve Kingdoms
{{Infobox animanga/Header
|image=12k.jpg
| image = The Twelve Kingdoms.jpg
|size=200px
| caption = Cover of the first book (first volume) of the Kodansha edition, featuring Yoko Nakajima
|caption=Main cast of the anime.
|ja_name=十二国記
| ja_kanji = 十二国記
|ja_name_trans=Jūni Kokuki
| ja_romaji = Jūni Kokuki
| genre = {{ubl|[[Epic fantasy]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Tokyopop Proudly Presents the Hit Japanese Fantasy Fiction Series - The Twelve Kingdoms|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2007-01-17/tokyopop-proudly-presents-the-hit-japanese-fantasy-fiction-series-the-twelve-kingdoms|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=April 18, 2020|date=January 17, 2007|quote=Rife with civil and political upheaval, ''The Twelve Kingdoms: Sea of Shadow'', the first volume of this epic seven-volume novel series, is set in a world reminiscent of ancient Chinese mythology, taking fans on a wild ride that will leave readers questioning the boundaries of reality and fantasy.|archive-date=April 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420102458/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2007-01-17/tokyopop-proudly-presents-the-hit-japanese-fantasy-fiction-series-the-twelve-kingdoms|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Rafael Antonio Pineda|title=Fuyumi Ono Aiming to Publish New Twelve Kingdoms Book in 2016|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-01-01/fuyumi-ono-aiming-to-publish-new-twelve-kingdoms-book-in-2016/.97041|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=May 29, 2018|date=January 1, 2016|archive-date=April 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430004101/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-01-01/fuyumi-ono-aiming-to-publish-new-twelve-kingdoms-book-in-2016/.97041|url-status=live}}</ref>|[[Isekai]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Ambalina|first=Limarc|title='Isekai' anime: 5 must-see fantasy anime set in a 'different world'|url=https://japantoday.com/category/entertainment/'isekai'-anime-5-must-see-fantasy-anime-set-in-a-different-world|website=[[Japan Today]]|access-date=January 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200311155205/https://japantoday.com/category/entertainment/'isekai'-anime-5-must-see-fantasy-anime-set-in-a-different-world|archive-date=March 11, 2020|date=March 11, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>}}<!-- Genres should be based on what reliable sources list them as and not on personal interpretations. Limit of the three most relevant genres in accordance with [[MOS:A&M]]. -->
|genre= [[Fantasy]]
}}
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Novel
{{Infobox animanga/Print
| title_name = 十二国記
| type = Novel series
| author = [[Fuyumi Ono]]
| author = [[Fuyumi Ono]]
| artist = [[Akihiro Yamada]]
| illustrator = [[Akihiro Yamada]]
| publisher = {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Kodansha]]
| publisher = {{ubl|[[Kodansha]]|[[Shinchosha]]}}
| publisher_en = {{English manga publisher|NA={{ubl|[[Tokyopop]] (former)|[[Seven Seas Entertainment]]}}}}
{{flagicon|United States}} [[Tokyopop]]
| demographic = Female

| imprint = {{ubl|X Bunko White Heart|(#1–7)|Shinchō Bunko|(#8–present; reprint)}}
{{flagicon|France}} [[Milan éditions]]
| magazine =

| first_run = [[1991]]
| first = 1992
| last_run = [[2001]]
| last =
| num_volumes = 11
| volumes = 9
| volume_list =
}}
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Anime|
{{Infobox animanga/Video
| type = TV series
title=
| director = {{ubl|[[Tsuneo Kobayashi]]|Hikari Kurihara (#40)<!--Note from editor Sarcataclysmal: I have no idea who this is, but the opening credits to episode 40 list Kobayashi and Kurihara as 監督 (Director).-->}}
|director=[[Tsuneo Kobayashi]]
| producer = Ken Suegawa
|studio=[[Studio Pierrot]]
| writer = {{ubl|[[Shō Aikawa (screenwriter)|Shō Aikawa]] (#1–40)|Seiya Fujima (#41–45)}}
|network={{flagicon|Japan}} [[NHK]], [[Animax (TV network)|Animax]]<br>{{flagicon|United States}} [[ImaginAsian TV]]<br>{{flagicon|Philippines}} [[GMA Network]] , [[Quality TeleVision|QTV]]<br/>{{flagicon|Spain}} [[Canal K3|K3]], [[Canal Sur]] <br/> {{flagicon|Israel}} [[YesAnime]], [[HotAnime]]<br/>{{flagicon|Brazil}} {{flagicon|Argentina}} {{flagicon|Venezuela}} [[Animax (TV network)|Animax]]
| music = [[Yang Bang-ean|Kunihiko Ryo]]
|first_aired=[[April 9]] [[2002]]
| studio = [[Pierrot (company)|Pierrot]]
|last_aired=[[August 30]] [[2003]]
| licensee = {{English anime licensee|NA=[[Media Blasters]] (former) <br> [[Discotek Media]]}}
|num_episodes=45
| network = [[NHK]]
| network_en = {{English anime network|US=[[ImaginAsian TV]]}}
| first = April 9, 2002
| last = August 30, 2003
| episodes = 45
| episode_list = List of Twelve Kingdoms episodes
}}
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Footer}}
{{Infobox animanga/Footer|portal=yes}}
{{Nihongo|'''''The Twelve Kingdoms'''''|十二国記|Jūni Kokuki| also known as "'''''Record of 12 Countries'''''" or "'''''Jūni Kokki'''''"|lead=yes}} is a series of [[fantasy novel]]s written by Japanese author [[Fuyumi Ono]] and illustrated by [[Akihiro Yamada]]. The first entry in the series called ''The Twelve Kingdoms: Sea of Shadow'' was published by [[Kodansha]] in Japan in 1992; the last Kodansha volume was released in 2001. In 2012, the series was resumed under the Shinchō Bunko line from [[Shinchosha]]. Shinchosha has also begun reprinting the older volumes with new cover and interior art from Akihiro Yamada.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.shinchosha.co.jp/12kokuki/ |title=Shinchosha Official 12K Site |access-date=June 19, 2013 |archive-date=February 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209190326/http://www.shinchosha.co.jp/12kokuki/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The first new publication of the series in six years was released in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-12-12/1st-new-twelve-kingdoms-novel-story-in-6-years-slated-for-2019/.140692|title= 1st New ''Twelve Kingdoms'' Novel Story in 6 Years Slated for 2019 |publisher=[[Anime News Network]] |date= December 12, 2018|access-date= December 12, 2018}}</ref>


An English-language translation was produced and distributed by [[Tokyopop]]. The first four volumes were released between March 2007 and November 2010, before the license reverted back to Kodansha.
{{nihongo|'''The Twelve Kingdoms'''|十二国記|Jūni Kokuki}}, also known as '''Record of 12 Countries''', and originally incorrectly romanized as '''Juuni Kokki''' or '''12 Kokki''', is a Japanese [[fantasy]] series by [[Fuyumi Ono]] consisting of eleven [[novels]] and a [[short story]] collection, and a 45-episode [[anime]] series produced by [[Studio Pierrot]] in [[2002]]. The story is loosely based on ancient [[Chinese mythology]] and set in a world influenced by Han-era China.


On November 20, 2024, [[Seven Seas Entertainment]] announced that they had acquired the license to publish a new translation of the series in English, with the first volume scheduled for release in July 2025.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sevenseasentertainment.com/2024/11/20/seven-seas-licenses-the-twelve-kingdoms-novel-series/|title= Seven Seas Licenses THE TWELVE KINGDOMS Novel Series |publisher=[[Seven Seas Entertainment]] |date= November 20, 2024|access-date= November 20, 2024}}</ref>
The first novel was published in [[Japan]] in [[1991]] and the last volume in [[2001]]. The novels are licensed in the [[United States]] by [[Tokyopop]] and the first volume was released in hardcover in [[March]] [[2007]] as part of their [[Pop Fiction]] line. The entire anime series has been released on [[DVD]] in the United States by [[Media Blasters]].


It was adapted into an [[anime]] television series by [[Pierrot (company)|Pierrot]] in 2002, which aired on Japan's [[NHK]] from April 2002 to August 2003. The series was licensed and distributed by [[Media Blasters]] in the United States at the time of its initial Japanese broadcast. As of 2019, [[Discotek Media]] held the license to the series.
== Plot ==
The story of the anime centers around a girl named Youko Nakajima from [[Japan]], who is suddenly transported to another world and eventually discovers that she is the queen of the [[monarchy|kingdom]] of [[List of kingdoms in Twelve Kingdoms#Kei|Kei]]. This part of the story is based on the novel ''Tsuki no Kage, Kage no Umi'' (Shadow of the Moon, Sea of Shadow). This novel, and thus anime, follow the general [[Monomyth]] pattern, but several twists and inversions of the pattern give them originality.


==Plot==
Unlike ''[[Fushigi Yūgi]]'', ''Twelve Kingdoms'' is not a romance anime, but closely traces the development of the heroine, Youko, describing how she finds a place for herself in this strange new world.
{{See also|List of Twelve Kingdoms characters}}
==Characters==
Yoko Nakajima, an unhappy high school student, is one day suddenly faced with a strange man who swears allegiance to her. After a battle with demon-like beasts, he then takes her to another world along with two of her classmates. There, her appearance has changed and she can understand the language, though her classmates cannot. Their status as "Kaikyaku" (people who come from Earth) makes them hunted fugitives, so they wander the land of the 12 countries, simply trying to survive and figure out the reason they were brought to this world.


===Setting===
<!--{{main|Characters of Twelve Kingdoms}}--> <!--This article is needed-->
''The Twelve Kingdoms'' tells several stories from the world of the Twelve Kingdoms. It is located on a group of several islands in another dimension accessible from our world through portals created from naturally-occurring magic (though the other way around is normally impossible). The portals occur in the ocean waters of Japan and China, and ever so often will end up dragging someone from our world from those waters to the kingdoms' islands, and/or on rare occasion, pulling an unborn child from the kingdoms into our world, causing them to be born there. On the islands, magic works and societies similar to those of classical [[Japan]] and [[China]] exist. While the inhabitants of the kingdoms are aware of the existence of our world as the lands of Hourai (Japan) and Kunlun (China), the reverse is not true for any inhabitants of our world. The inhabitants of the kingdoms speak a different language than the languages of our world, both of which can be learned by either side. Only through extraordinary circumstances can the two worlds affect each other to a certain extent.
'''Yoko Nakajima'''
* {{anime voices|Aya Hisakawa|Dorothy Elias-Fahn}}
** Yoko is a 16 year-old living a fairly ordinary life as an honor student in [[Japan]], whose primary worry is her naturally red hair. One day at school, a man named Keiki suddenly appears and bows at her feet, swearing loyalty to her and offering protection. The school is then attacked by a giant bird, and she reluctantly accepts his protection. He gives her a sword and transports her and two of her classmates to the kingdom of Kou. She eventually learns that she is the heir to the throne of the kingdom of Kei, and although she is initially reluctant, she accepts the position through her growth in the story. Among the obstacles she faces are the king of [[List of kingdoms in Twelve Kingdoms#Kou|Kou]], who used her classmate Sugimoto in his effort to stop her from attaining the throne. In a later story arc, as the newly appointed queen, Yoko learns of several problems in her kingdom, including a revolt in the province of Wa. Her nickname is "Sekishi" ("red child"), after her bright red hair. Despite being a weak character to begin with, appearing very withdrawn and not wanting to do anything that would bring attention to herself, Yoko's character grows throughout the episodes (especially around episode 5). She grows in strength and maturity, becomes empathetic towards the people around her, thinking articulately about her actions (especially as queen) and continues to do so until the end of the series.


In this world, there are a total of thirteen lands. At the center of the world lies the Koukai (the Yellow Sea) and Five Mountains where the [[List of Japanese deities|Gods]] communicate their will to the Twelve Kingdoms of the world. Each of the Twelve Kingdoms possesses their own ruler and its own Kirin, a divine creature which embodies the will of heaven and is entrusted to choose a kingdom's ruler by Tentei: Emperor of Heaven. The Kirin serves as the ruler's aide. The ruler will have immortal life as long as they keep the kingdom healthy and their heads are not severed from their body. If the ruler's Kirin dies or is killed, the ruler will die within a year.
'''Keiki'''
* {{anime voices|Takehito Koyasu|Kim Strauss}}
** Keiki is a [[List of terms in The Twelve Kingdoms#Creatures|kirin]] and the [[List of terms in The Twelve Kingdoms#Titles and other names|Saiho]] of Kei. He contacts Youko in Japan and brings her to the Twelve Kingdoms, though they are separated on arrival. Soon afterwards, he falls under a spell from Kou’s Saiho, and is forced to appear in front of a pretender to the throne of Kei. Like all Kirin, Keiki abhors violence and prefers peaceful resolutions. Keiki appears as a very quiet and unemotional type, however does have caring qualities, especially seen towards the kirin Taiki.


The Koukai, known as the Yellow Sea, is surrounded by four inland seas: the Black Sea in the north, the Blue Sea to the east, the Red Sea in the south, and the White Sea to the west. Eight of the Twelve Kingdoms (Kei, En, Ryu, Kyou, Han, Sai, Sou, and Kou) border at least one of these four seas, extending from the center like the petals of a flower. The remaining four kingdoms (Tai, Hou, Ren, and Shun) are not part of the central mainland and are isolated by the {{Nihongo|Kyokai|虚海}} (Void Sea) which surrounds the lands of the Twelve Kingdoms.
'''Rakushun'''
* {{anime voices|Kenichi Suzumura|Jim Taggert}}
** Rakushun is a [[List of terms in The Twelve Kingdoms#Creatures|hanjyuu]] with the form of a rat. Though Youko is initially distrustful of him, he becomes her first good friend after she is taken from Japan, after managing to teach some essential skills to Youko about life. Rakushun is proud of being a hanjyuu and is somewhat uncomfortable in his human form; Youko only learns that he could appear as a human after quite some time. He is very intelligent and knowledgeable and enrolled in the [[List of terms in The Twelve Kingdoms#Places|Daigaku]] of En. Youko wishes him to teach her about the politics and customs of the world.


==Publication==
'''Shoryu'''
There are seven novels in the ''Twelve Kingdoms'' series, plus two short story collections. The novels are illustrated by [[Akihiro Yamada]]. Some of the novels have been published in two or more volume editions such that the total number of volumes is sixteen (as originally released in Japan).
* {{anime voices|Masaki Aizawa|Lex Lang}}
** Shoryu is the king of En. Like Youko, Shoryu is a [[List of terms in The Twelve Kingdoms#Titles and other names|taika]] from feudal Japan, approximately 500 years ago. He is originally the leader of a clan, but after the clan is wiped out, he accepts the request by Enki to rule the kingdom of En. Though En was originally in terrible condition, his 500-year rule has led to an extremely calm and prosperous nation. Shoryu helps Youko by providing her with an army to retake the kingdom of Kei and rescue Keiki. As a fellow taika, Shoryu feels that he should help guide Youko in her new life.


{|class=wikitable
'''Rokuta'''
|-
* {{anime voices|Yamaguchi Kappei|Dave Wittenberg}}
!rowspan=3| Book
** As a taika from Japan, the kirin of En (or Enki) is also known as Rokuta. He was found by his [[List of terms in The Twelve Kingdoms#Creatures|nyokai]] after his parents abandoned him at a young age. He originally felt that humans could not rule a kingdom properly and was reluctant to choose a new king, but he felt that Shoryu truly deserved to become king of En. He assists Youko in her journey to Kei and played a part in helping the Saiho of [[List of kingdoms in Twelve Kingdoms#Tai|Tai]].
! Kanji title
! Romaji title
! Original title, literal translation
!rowspan=3| Notes
|-
! Publication date
! ISBN
! English publication title
|-
!colspan=3| Summary
|-bgcolor=e0e0e0
|rowspan=3| 1
| 月の影 影の海
| Tsuki no Kage, Kage no Umi
| Shadow of the Moon, Sea of Shadow
|rowspan=3| 2 volumes
|-bgcolor=e0e0e0
| June 1992 (Kodansha Volume 1) <br /> July 1992 (Kodansha Volume 2) <br /> July 2012 (Shinchosha reprint Volume 1) <br /> July 2012 (Shinchosha reprint Volume 2)
| {{ISBNT|978-4-06-255071-0}} (Kodansha Volume 1) <br /> {{ISBNT|978-4-06-255072-7}} (Kodansha Volume 2) <br /> {{ISBNT|978-4-10-124053-4}} (Shinchosha reprint Volume 1) <br /> {{ISBNT|978-4-10-124052-7}} (Shinchosha reprint Volume 2)
| ''The Twelve Kingdoms: Sea of Shadow''
|-bgcolor=e0e0e0
|colspan=3| Yoko becomes the monarch of Kei.
|-
|rowspan=3| 2
| 風の海 迷宮の岸
| Kaze no Umi, Meikyū no Kishi
| Sea of Wind, Shore of the Labyrinth
|rowspan=3| 2 volumes (Kodansha release) <br /> 1 volume (Shinchosha reprint)
|-
| March 1993 (Kodansha Volume 1) <br /> April 1993 (Kodansha Volume 2) <br /> October 2012 (Shinchosha reprint)
| <!-- old ISBN 4-06-255168-3 --> {{ISBNT|978-4-06-255114-4}} (Kodansha Volume 1) <br /> {{ISBNT|978-4-06-255120-5}} (Kodansha Volume 2) <br /> {{ISBNT|978-4-10-124054-1}} (Shinchosha reprint)
| ''The Twelve Kingdoms: Sea of Wind''
|-
|colspan=3| Taiki chooses the ruler of Tai
|-bgcolor=e0e0e0
|rowspan=3| 3
| 東の海神 西の滄海
| Higashi no Wadatsumi, Nishi no Sōkai
| Sea God in the East, Vast Sea in the West
|rowspan=3| 1 volume
|-bgcolor=e0e0e0
| June 1994 (Kodansha release) <br /> January 2013 (Shinchosha reprint)
| <!-- old ISBN 4-06-255168-3 --> {{ISBNT|978-4-06-255168-7}} (Kodansha release) <br /> {{ISBNT|978-4-10-124055-8}} (Shinchosha reprint)
| The Twelve Kingdoms: The Vast Spread of the Seas
|-bgcolor=e0e0e0
|colspan=3| The King of En suppresses a rebellion.
|-
|rowspan=3| 4
| 風の万里 黎明の空
| Kaze no Banri, Reimei no Sora
| ''A Thousand Miles of Wind, the Sky at Dawn''
|rowspan=3| 2 volumes
|-
| July 1994 (Kodansha Volume 1) <br /> September 1994 (Kodansha Volume 2) <br /> April 2013 (Shinchosha reprint Volume 1) <br /> April 2013 (Shinchosha reprint Volume 2)
| <!-- old ISBN 4-06-255175-6 --> {{ISBNT|978-4-06-255175-5}} (Kodansha Volume 1) <br /> {{ISBNT|978-4-06-255178-6}} (Kodansha Volume 2) <br /> {{ISBNT|978-4-10-124057-2}} (Shinchosha reprint Volume 1) <br /> {{ISBNT|978-4-10-124056-5}} (Shinchosha reprint Volume 2)
| ''The Twelve Kingdoms: Skies of Dawn''<ref>{{Cite book |title=Official English release of volume 4 uses the title ''The Twelve Kingdoms: Skies of Dawn'' |isbn=978-1598169492 |last1=Ono |first1=Fuyumi |date=March 2, 2010 |publisher=TokyoPop}}</ref>
|-
|colspan=3| Yoko, Suzu and Shoukei free the Wa Province in Kei
|-bgcolor=e0e0e0
|rowspan=3| 5
| 図南の翼
| Tonan no Tsubasa
| ''The Aspiring Wings''
|rowspan=3| 1 volume
|-bgcolor=e0e0e0
| February 1996 (Kodansha release) <br /> October 2013 (Shinchosha reprint)
| <!-- old ISBN 4-06-255229-9 --> {{ISBNT|978-4-06-255229-5}} (Kodansha release) <br /> {{ISBNT|978-4-10-124059-6}} (Shinchosha reprint)
|
|-bgcolor=e0e0e0
|colspan=3| Shushou becomes ruler of Kyou.
|-
|rowspan=3| 6
| 黄昏の岸 暁の天
| Tasogare no Kishi, Akatsuki no Sora
| ''The Shore at Twilight, the Sky at Daybreak''
|rowspan=3| 2 volumes (Kodansha release) <br /> 1 volume (Shinchosha reprint)
|-
| May 2001 (Kodansha release both volumes) <br /> April 2014 (Shinchosha reprint)
| <!-- old ISBN 4-06-255546-8 --> {{ISBNT|978-4-06-255546-3}} (Kodansha Volume 1) <br /> {{ISBNT|978-4-06-255550-0}} (Kodansha Volume 2) <br /> {{ISBNT|978-4-10-124061-9}} (Shinchosha reprint)
|
|-
|colspan=3| Risai meets Yoko to request help in finding Taiki.
|-bgcolor=e0e0e0
|rowspan=3| 7
| 華胥の幽夢
| Kasho no Yume
| ''The Dream of Prosperity''
|rowspan=3|1 volume
|-bgcolor=e0e0e0
| September 2001 (Kodansha release) <br /> January 2014 (Shinchosha reprint)
| <!-- old ISBN 4-06-255573-5 --> {{ISBNT|978-4-06-255573-9}} (Kodansha release) <br /> {{ISBNT|978-4-10-124060-2}} (Shinchosha reprint)
|
|-bgcolor=e0e0e0
|colspan=3| Five short stories, set in Tai, Hou, Kei, Sai and Sou: "Toei" (冬栄), "Jogetsu" (乗月), "Shokan" (書簡), "Kasho" (華胥), "Kizan" (帰山)
|-
|-
|rowspan=3| 8
| 丕緒の鳥
| Hisho no Tori
| ''The Birds of Hisho''
|rowspan=3|1 volume
|-
| July 2013 (Shinchosha release)
| {{ISBNT|978-4-10-124058-9}} (Shinchosha release)
|
|-
|colspan=3| Four short stories set in Kei, Ryu, and other locations in the Twelve Kingdoms: "Hisho no Tori" (丕緒の鳥), "Rakushou no Goku" (落照の獄), "Seijou no Ran" (青条の蘭), and "Fuushin" (風信).
|-
|-
|-bgcolor=e0e0e0
|rowspan=3| 9
| 白銀の墟 玄の月
| Hakugin no Oka, Kuro no Tsuki
| ''Silver Ruins, Black Moon''
|rowspan=3|4 volumes
|-
|-bgcolor=e0e0e0
| October 2019 (Shinchosha Volume 1) <br /> October 2019 (Shinchosha Volume 2) <br /> November 2019 (Shinchosha Volume 3) <br /> November 2019 (Shinchosha Volume 4)
| {{ISBNT|978-4101240626}} (Shinchosha Volume 1) <br /> {{ISBNT|978-4101240633}} (Shinchosha Volume 2) <br /> {{ISBNT|978-4101240640}} (Shinchosha Volume 3) <br /> {{ISBNT|978-4101240657}} (Shinchosha Volume 4) <br />
|
|-
|-bgcolor=e0e0e0
|colspan=3| Six years after Gyousou disappeared, based on the barest sliver of hope from Taiki's claim that he is still alive, they begin the long search.
|-
|}


Before she started work on ''Twelve Kingdoms'', Fuyumi Ono wrote {{Nihongo|''The Demonic Child''|魔性の子|Mashō no Ko}} (Kodansha: September 1991, {{ISBN|978-4-10-124021-3}}; Shinchosha reprint: July 2012, {{ISBN|978-4-10-124051-0}}), a horror novel about a boy from another world. She later worked certain events from this novel into the ''Twelve Kingdoms'' series. Short stories set in the various kingdoms include {{Nihongo|''Kasho''|華胥}}, {{Nihongo|''Toei''|冬栄}}, {{Nihongo|''Shokan''|書簡}}, {{Nihongo|''Kizan''|帰山}} and {{Nihongo|''Jogetsu''|乗月}}; these stories have been collected into one volume, ''Kasho no Yume''. One short story, {{Nihongo|''Drifting Ship''|漂舶|Hyouhaku}}, published in 1997, accompanied the drama CD for ''Higashi no Wadatsumi, Nishi no Sōkai''<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://mindstalk.net/jk/Books/animeObserver/juunikokki/HWNS_info_FAQ.htm |title=''The 40-page story that accompanies the drama CD of "Higashi no Watatsumi, Nishi no Soukai (東の海神 西の滄海)"'' |access-date=May 15, 2011 |archive-date=August 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807054657/http://mindstalk.net/jk/Books/animeObserver/juunikokki/HWNS_info_FAQ.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> and remains uncollected elsewhere. In February 2008, the new ''Twelve Kingdoms'' short story, {{nihongo|''Hisho no Tori''|丕緒の鳥}} was published in [[Shinchosha]]'s ''Yomyom'' magazine, followed by {{nihongo|''Rakushou no Goku''|落照の獄}} in September 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.shinchosha.co.jp/yomyom/ |title=Yom Yom Official site |access-date=February 21, 2008 |archive-date=June 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190628185010/https://www.shinchosha.co.jp/yomyom/ |url-status=live}}</ref> ''Hisho no Tori'' and ''Rakushou no Goku'' were later collected into a volume of short stories titled ''Hisho no Tori'', along with two new previously unpublished stories in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.shinchosha.co.jp/12kokuki/log/47.html |title=Shinchosha, Twelve Kingdoms, Log 47 - 『丕緒の鳥 十二国記』書影 |date=June 17, 2013 |access-date=June 19, 2013 |archive-date=June 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130621102802/http://www.shinchosha.co.jp/12kokuki/log/47.html |url-status=live}}</ref>
'''Yuka Sugimoto'''
* {{anime voices|Aya Ishizu|Karen Strassman}}
** Yuka is one of Youko’s classmates in Japan and gets transported to Kou along with Youko and Asano. She enjoys [[fantasy]] books and is thrilled to be part of the adventure, believing that she is destined for greatness. Destined to be a rival, she becomes extremely jealous of Youko when she finds out that Youko is the "chosen one" and believes herself to be just as worthy. The king of Kou takes advantage of this to convince her to fight against Youko. She later realizes her mistake after making up with Youko, and Youko sends her back to Japan. In the novels she is only mentioned in passing and doesn't go to the Twelve Kingdoms but remains in Hourai (Japan).


===U.S. release===
'''Ikuya Asano'''
====Tokyopop====
* {{anime voices|Yuji Ueda|Joshua Seth}}
In 2006, U.S. publisher [[Tokyopop]] acquired the rights to publish the novels under its "Pop Fiction" imprint. The first book was released in March 2007.<ref>[http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1972050 "More on Tokyopop's YA Fiction Line"]{{Dead link|date=June 2018|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=no}} from [[Newsarama]].</ref> Only the first four books were released before the license expired.
** Ikuya is another one of Youko’s classmates who is transported to the kingdom of Kou. He goes missing after a battle between Yuka and Youko and is not seen by either of them for some time. Asano eventually becomes part of a group of [[List of terms in The Twelve Kingdoms#Titles and other names|Shusei]] and works for them as they traveled through the kingdoms. However, being in a completely alien country and lacking the ability to speak or understand the language, the strain has taken a toll on his sanity. In the novels, Asano doesn't exist and Youko is attending an all girls school.


{|class=wikitable
'''Taiki/Kaname Takasato/Kouri'''
|-
* ''Young Taiki'' {{anime voices|Rie Kugimiya|Johnny Yong Bosch}}<br>
! Title
* ''Older Takasato'' {{anime voices|Kousuke Okano|Johnny Yong Bosch}}<br/>
! Publication date
** He is a student in Youko, in Yuka and Asano's school. It is revealed that he is in fact the lost kirin named Taiki, even though he is unaware of this himself. He's the Heina of Tai, which means an immature kirin and a Koki, or black male kirin. He's seen repeatedly in volumes four and five of the anime and referred to at times. Due to the sudden stop of the anime, Taiki's story was never finished and leaves the unresolved situation in which Rokuta is yet looking for him in Japan. In the novels, through combined efforts of the rulers and Kirins (possibly for the first time in the histories of the Twelve Kingdoms), Taiki has been retrieved and brought back to the Twelve Kingdoms.
! ISBN
|-
| ''The Twelve Kingdoms: Sea of Shadow''
| March 2007 (hardcover) <br /> February 2008 (paperback)
| {{ISBNT|978-1-59816-946-1}} (hardcover) <br /> {{ISBNT|978-1-4278-0257-6}} (paperback)
|-
| ''The Twelve Kingdoms: Sea of Wind''
| March 2008 (hardcover) <br /> February 2009 (paperback)
| {{ISBNT|978-1-59816-947-8}} (hardcover) <br /> {{ISBNT|978-1-4278-0258-3}} (paperback)
|-
| ''The Twelve Kingdoms: The Vast Spread of the Seas''
| March 2009 (hardcover) <br /> November 2009 (paperback)
| {{ISBNT|978-1-59816-948-5}} (hardcover) <br /> {{ISBNT|978-1-4278-0259-0}} (paperback)
|-
| ''The Twelve Kingdoms: Skies of Dawn''
| March 2010 (hardcover) <br /> November 2010 (paperback)
| {{ISBNT|978-1-59816-949-2}} (hardcover) <br /> {{ISBNT|978-1-4278-0260-6}} (paperback)
|-
|}


====Seven Seas Entertainment====
'''Suzu'''
In 2024, [[Seven Seas Entertainment]] announced that they had acquired the license to publish the novels with a new translation under their “Airship” imprint. The first volume is scheduled for release in July 2025.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sevenseasentertainment.com/2024/11/20/seven-seas-licenses-the-twelve-kingdoms-novel-series/|title= Seven Seas Licenses THE TWELVE KINGDOMS Novel Series |publisher=[[Seven Seas Entertainment]] |date= November 20, 2024|access-date= November 20, 2024}}</ref>
* {{anime voices|Naomi Wakabayashi|Mela Lee}}
** Originally from Hourai, Suzu is first seen in an encounter with Taiki, whom she wishes to meet because he also grew up in Hourai, but she is injured and forced away from him by his protective [[List of terms in The Twelve Kingdoms#Creatures|nyokai]]. Suzu was a [[List of terms in The Twelve Kingdoms#Gods|Sen-nin]] serving Lady Riyou for a hundred years until she is ordered on a dangerous assignment to gather the herb Kankin from the side of Suibi Peak. She then briefly takes shelter with the kindly queen of [[List of kingdoms in Twelve Kingdoms#Sai|Sai]] until she decides to leave in search of fellow [[List of terms in The Twelve Kingdoms#Titles and other names|kaikyaku]] Youko. She boards a ship bound for Kei where she meets a boy named Seishuu who has failing eyesight, causing her to become even more desperate to find Youko so that he can be cured. After they arrive in the town of Takuhou in the prefecture of Shisui in the province of Wa in Kei, Shisui's governor Shoukou intentionally tramples the helpless Seishuu with his carriage because the boy doesn't move out of his way. The only person who stirs to help Seishuu is Youko, the disguised Queen of Kei. Seishuu's murder ignites a burning anger in Suzu that leads her to join a revolutionary group dedicated to Shoukou's downfall. She additionally seeks to assassinate the Queen of Kei, as all evidence indicates that the queen has done nothing to stop Shoukou.


==Media==
'''Shoukei'''
===Anime===
* {{anime voices|Hoko Kuwashima|Kate Higgins}}
{{seealso|List of Twelve Kingdoms episodes}}
** Shoukei was the princess of [[List of kingdoms in Twelve Kingdoms#Hou|Hou]], until her father's government was overthrown due to his overly strict enforcement of the law. Hundreds of thousands of his people were executed during his reign. Her father was assassinated, and her mother and the Kirin of Hou were killed right in front of Shoukei, but because she didn't know what her father had been doing, she was spared. Forced to live anonymously as a peasant, she fled Hou after her identity was discovered by townspeople angry about her father's excesses. She briefly served the queen of [[List of kingdoms in Twelve Kingdoms#Kyou|Kyou]], but she was treatly cruelly because the queen believed her to be too proud. She decided to steal clothes and jewelry from the palace and escaped to [[List of kingdoms in Twelve Kingdoms#Ryu|Ryu]], where she met Rakushun. She was caught by Ryu government officials with the goods she stole, but after trying in vain to blame Rakushun for her crimes she bribed her way out of trouble. Initially jealous of Youko, Shoukei comes to realize that there must be something special about the queen of Kei if she is friends with the forgiving hanjyuu. Once she arrives in Kei, she sees a man condemned to be crucified in the town of Meikaku, the capital of the Wa Province, reminding her of the brutality of her father. After throwing a rock and being chased by guards, she is saved by a young woman that Shoukei does not realize is Youko, while the condemned man is rescued by a Youma acting on Youko's orders. She then joins a second group of revolutionaries in Meikaku, placing her on a path similar to that of Suzu. Shoukei enjoyed singing a song about a doll from her time as princess of Hou, until she decided that she was nothing more than a doll herself when she was a princess.
{{Expand section|date=January 2009}}
The anime adaptation by studio [[Pierrot (company)|Pierrot]] aired from April 9, 2002, to August 30, 2003, in Japan on [[NHK]] for forty-five episodes. The opening theme is "Juunigenmukyoku" by [[Yang Bang-ean|Kunihiko Ryo]] while the ending theme is "Getsumei-Fuuei" by [[Mika Arisaka]]. The anime series has been released on [[DVD]] and [[Blu-ray]] in the United States by [[Media Blasters]], which are now out of print. The license was transferred to [[Discotek Media]], who released the complete series on Blu-ray in 2019.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Pineda|first1=Rafael Antonio|title=Discotek Licenses The Twelve Kingdoms, Nagasarete Airantou Anime|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-03-24/discotek-licenses-the-twelve-kingdoms-nagasarete-airantou-anime/.144970|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=March 25, 2019|date=March 24, 2019|archive-date=June 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605185939/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-03-24/discotek-licenses-the-twelve-kingdoms-nagasarete-airantou-anime/.144970|url-status=live}}</ref>


===Animanga===
'''Saku Gyousou'''
Kodansha printed a fifteen-volume "animanga" series in 2002–2004 by combining images from the anime series with printed dialogue and sound effects. It has been released only in Japanese.
* {{anime voices|Keiji Fujiwara|Chris Kent}}


===Video games===
'''King Kou'''
[[Konami]] has released in Japan two games based on ''Twelve Kingdoms'', both produced by Takashi Shimomichi. They are ''Juuni Kokuki: Guren no Shirube Koujin no Michi'' and ''Juuni Kokuki: Kakukakutaru Oudou Kouryoku no Uka''. Both games contain footage from the anime and many stills of the characters are used during conversation and during battle. The games are [[Sprite (computer graphics)|sprite]]-based, with small sprites used on-screen and larger, highly animated sprites used during battle.
* {{anime voices|Takaya Hashi|Bob Papenbrook}}


'''''Juuni Kokuki: Guren no Shirube Koujin no Michi''''' was released for [[PlayStation 2]] on August 28, 2003. It follows Yoko's journey to becoming Empress of Kei. While classified as an [[Role playing game|RPG]], it is often described as an adventure game. The game was re-released in Konami's The Best lineup on June 9, 2004. Yoko is capable of summoning Keiki's Shirei into battle as well as having additional party members.
'''King Hou Chuutatsu'''
* {{anime voices|Michael Forest}}


'''''Juuni Kokuki: Kakukakutaru Oudou Kouryoku no Uka''''' was released for PlayStation 2 on April 4, 2004, and is a sequel to the first game, continuing with Yoko's problems after she becomes the monarch of Kei. Game data from the first game can be loaded into the second. This game contains more RPG elements than the first with party-/menu-based battles becoming standard. Many of the event scenes are pulled from the novels but there are also scenes made just for the game.
'''Emperor Ryuu'''


==Reception==
'''Shokou'''
By March 2020, the novel series had over 12 million copies in circulation.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:新刊254万部、累計1200万部突破の小野不由美「十二国記」シリーズが、「第5回吉川英治文庫賞」受賞！|url=https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000023.000047877.html|publisher=[[Shinchosha]]|via=[[PR Times]]|access-date=January 4, 2024|language=ja|date=March 2, 2020|archive-date=September 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930234948/https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000023.000047877.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{anime voices|Tom Wyner}}

==Anime details==
The anime casts Youko in the role of the main character; however, in the novels, Youko is only one of many main characters and her story is focused upon in only two novels.

The anime focuses on the Kingdom of Kei and the events surrounding it. Several of the other countries are introduced, the most prominent being Kou, En and Tai, while [[List of kingdoms in Twelve Kingdoms#Kyou|Kyou]], [[List of kingdoms in Twelve Kingdoms#Hou|Hou]], [[List of kingdoms in Twelve Kingdoms#Sai|Sai]] and [[List of kingdoms in Twelve Kingdoms#Ryuu|Ryuu]] play a minor role compared to the other three. The rest of the countries are only introduced by name and a brief description of the current emperor and taiho. The anime also introduced the characters Asano and Sugimoto to accompany Youko to the twelve kingdoms. Their role is to externalize some of Youko's problems that were internal in the novels. <ref>"Translator Notes by Yamamoto Davey", ''Twelve Kingdoms - Chapter 3 - Coup'', [[Media Blasters]].</ref>

The anime closely follows Youko and is divided into the following parts:

*"Tsuki no Kage, Kage no Umi" (''Shadow of the Moon, Sea of Shadow''), episodes 1-14
: Youko travels to the world of Juuni Kokki, develops as a person and starts to embrace her new destiny.
*"Kaze no Umi, Meikyuu no Kishi" (''Sea of the Wind, Shore of the Labyrinth''), episodes 15-21
: Partial story of the black Kirin, Taiki.
*"Shokan" (''Correspondence''), episode 22
: Concise retelling of the events so far.
*"Kaze no Banri, Reimei no Sora" (''A Thousand Miles of Wind, The Sky of Dawn''), episodes 23-39
: The story of Suzu, Shoukei, and Youko as they struggle with a rebellion in Wa Province of Kei.
*"Jougetsu" (''Ally of the Moon''), episode 40
: Short closing of past events in the Kingdom of Hou.
*"Higashi no Wadatsumi, Nishi no Soukai" (''Sea God of the East, Azure Sea of the West''), episodes 41-45
: A story from the past about the Emperor of En and his kirin, Enki suppressing a rebellion.

The anime ended abruptly at episode 45, although the initial plans were made for 68 episodes. The company animating Twelve Kingdoms, [[Studio Pierrot]], decided to stop production until further novels are released by the writer.<ref>[http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/article.php?id=4065 "Juuni Kokki End at Episode 45"] from [[Anime News Network]].</ref> As of now, there has been no news of further release.

==The Novels==
There are six novel titles in total, plus one short story collection, all written in Japanese by Ono Fuyumi. The covers and the illustration in the books are drawn by [[Akihiro Yamada]]. Some of the novels have had two-volume editions, so people sometimes say there are eleven books.
*''[[The Sea of Shadow|Tsuki no Kage, Kage no Umi]]'' (月の影　影の海) ISBN 4-06-255071-7 ''"Shadow of the Moon, The Sea of Shadow"''
*:Youko becomes Empress of Kei. (2 volume)
*''Kaze no Umi, Meikyū no Kishi ''(風の海　迷宮の岸) ISBN 4-06-255114-4 ''"Sea of the Wind, Shore of the Labyrinth"''
*:Taiki chooses the Emperor of Tai. (2 volume)
*''Higashi no Watatsumi, Nishi no Sōkai'' (東の海神　西の滄海) ISBN 4-06-255168-3 ''"Sea God in the East, Vast Sea in the West"''
*:The Emperor of En suppresses a rebellion.
*''Kaze no Banri, Reimei no Sora'' (風の万里　黎明の空) ISBN 4-06-255175-6 ''"A Thousand Miles of Wind, The Sky at Dawn"''
*:Youko, Suzu and Shoukei free the Wa Province in Kei. (2 volume)
*''Tonan no Tsubasa'' (図南の翼) ISBN 4-06-255229-9 ''"The Aspired Wings"''
*:Syusyou becomes Empress of Kyou.
*''Tasogare no Kishi, Akatsuki no Sora'' (黄昏の岸　暁の天) ISBN 4-06-255546-8 ''"The Shore at Twilight, The Sky at Daybreak"''
*:Risai meets Youko to request help in summoning Taiki. (2 volume)
*''Kasho no Yume'' (華胥の幽夢) ISBN 4-06-255573-5 ''"The Dream of Prosperity"''
*:Various short stories, set in Tai, Hou, Kei, Sai and Sou:
**"Kasho" (華胥)
**"Toei" (冬栄)
**"Shokan" (書簡)
**"Kizan" (帰山)
**"Jogetsu" (乗月)
Before she started work on Twelve Kingdoms, Fuyumi Ono wrote a horror novel about a boy from another world. She later worked certain events from this novel into the Twelve Kingdoms series.
*''Mashō no Ko'' (魔性の子) ISBN 4-10-124021-3 ''"The Demonic Child"''
*:Taiki's story in modern Japan.

The most recent novel was published in 2001 and further releases are uncertain as the author has shifted her focus to other projects. The story, like the anime, is left uncompleted at this time.

===US Release===

On [[May 11]], [[2006]], US publisher [[Tokyopop]] said in an interview with comic book news website [[Newsarama]] that it would be publishing the novels under its "[[Pop Fiction]]" imprint. The first book was slated for release in March 2007.<ref>[http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1972050 "More on Tokyopop's YA Fiction Line"] from [[Newsarama]].</ref> The first book has been released under the title ''The Twelve Kingdoms: Sea Of Shadow''. It is now available in most bookstores. The current schedule is for one book a year to be released. The next book ''The Twelve Kingdoms: Sea Of Wind'' is scheduled to come out March 11, 2008.

===French Release===

On [[April]], [[2007]], French publisher [[Milan Eds]] started to publish the novels. So far, the following volumes were released:
*''La mer de l'ombre'' (both volumes; April 2007, ISBN 978-2-7459-2045-4 and 978-2-7459-2460-5)
*''Le rivage du labyrinthe'' (both volumes; June 2007, ISBN 978-2-7459-2046-1 and 978-2-7459-2461-2)
*''La majesté des mers'' (September 2007, ISBN 978-2-7459-2059-1)

===German Release===

On [[August]], [[2007]], [[Tokyopop]] Germany published the first novel, which contains the first two japanese volumes. Volume 2 will be published on [[March]] [[2008]].
*Volume 1: ''Der Schatten des Mondes, das Meer der Schatten'' (IBSN 978-3-86719-191-3)

==Games==
[[Konami]] has released in Japan two games based on ''Twelve Kingdoms'', both produced by Takashi Shimomichi. They are ''Juuni Kokuki: Guren no Shirobe Koujin no Michi'' and ''Juuni Kokuki: Kakukakutaru Oudou Kouryoku no Uka''. Both games contain footage from the anime and many stills of the characters are used during conversation and during battle. The game is sprite-based, with small sprites used on-screen and larger, highly animated sprites used during battle.

''Juuni Kokuki: Guren no Shirobe Koujin'' was released for [[PlayStation 2]] on August 28, 2003. It follows Youko's journey to becoming Empress of Kei. While classified as an [[Role playing game|RPG]], it is often described as an adventure game. The game was re-released in Konami's The Best lineup on June 9, 2004. Youko is capable of summoning Keiki's Shirei into battle as well as having additional party members.

''Juuni Kokuki: Kakukakutaru Oudou Kouryoku no Uka'' was released for PlayStation 2 on April 4, 2004 and is a sequel to the first game, continuing with Youko's problems after she becomes the Kei Empress. Game data from the first game can be loaded into the second. This game contains more RPG elements than the first with party-/menu-based battles becoming standard. Many of the event scenes are pulled from the novels but there are also scenes made just for the game.


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
<references/>

==English Cast==
* [[Jane Alan]] - Ritsuko Nakajima, Kaiko
* [[Catherine Battistone]] - Circus Master
* [[Beau Billingslea]] - Shoushiba
* [[Steven Blum]] - Meiken
* [[Johnny Yong Bosch]] - Kaname Takasato
* [[Richard Cansino]] - Aozaru
* [[Joe Cappelletti]] - Astuyu
* [[Kate Higgins|Kate Davis]] - Shoukei
* [[Dorothy Elias-Fahn]] - Youko Nakajima
* [[Richard Epcar]] - Rou
* [[Michael Forest]] - King Hou Chuutatsu
* [[Robert Gallery]] - Old Woman
* [[Jessie Gee]] - Old Woman
* [[Barbara Goodson]] - Takki, Bishin
* [[Juli Grossman]] - Lady Riyou
* [[Eric Hudson]] - Goson
* [[Chris Kent (actor)|Chris Kent]] - Gyousou
* [[Lex Lang]] - Shouryuu
* [[Mela Lee]] - Mokurin, Rangyoku Suzu
* [[Wendee Lee]] - Gyokuyou, Kourin
* [[Julie Maddalena]] - Syoushun
* [[Dave Mallow]] - Teacher Watanabe, Shouko
* [[Michael McConnohie]] - Local Governor, Officer
* [[Therese Nguyen]] - Nyosen
* [[Tony Oliver]] - Suguru Takazato
* [[Scott Page-Pagter]] - Kouya
* [[Karen Strassman|Kristy Pape]] - Yuka Sugimoto
* [[Bob Papenbrook]] - King Kou
* [[Paul St. Peter]] - Kantai
* [[Tony Pope]] - Rokuta's Father
* [[Jamieson Price]] - Jyouyuu, Heki Rakujin
* [[Michelle Ruff]] - Rokuta: Child
* [[Philece Sampler]] - Gobo
* [[Joshua Seth]] - Ikuya Asano
* [[Michael Sorich]] - Itan
* [[Peter Spellos]] - Koutetsu
* [[Melodee Spevack]] - Yo-Ou Jokaku
* [[Jessica Stenuis]] - King Kou's Draughter
* [[Doug Stone (voice actor)|Doug Stone]] - Masashi Nakajima, Matsuyama
* [[Kim Strauss]] - Keiki
* [[Jim Taggart]] - Rakushun
* [[Julie Ann Taylor]] - Haku Senshi, Kei Kei
* [[Kirk Thornton]] - Village Man, Guard
* [[Kari Wahlgren]] - Youka
* [[Phillip Wilburn]] - Cat Man
* [[Dave Wittenberg]] - Rokuta
* [[Tom Wyner]] - Shokou

==See also==
* [[List of terms in The Twelve Kingdoms|List of terms]]
* [[List of kingdoms in Twelve Kingdoms|List of kingdoms]]


==External links==
==External links==
===Official sites===
* [http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=840 The Twelve Kingdoms] at [[Anime News Network]]
* [http://www.12kingdoms.us/ Official U.S. site]
* [http://www.12kingdoms.us/ Official U.S. site]
* [http://www.12kokuki.com/ Official Japanese site]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150817005004/http://www3.nhk.or.jp/anime/12kokuki/ Official NHK site]
* [http://www3.nhk.or.jp/anime/12kokuki/ Official NHK site]
* [http://www.shinchosha.co.jp/12kokuki/ Shinchosha official novel site]
* {{Anime News Network|novel|24916}}


{{Fuyumi Ono}}
===Unofficial sites===
{{Tsuneo Kobayashi}}
* [http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=840 Series and Production Details]
{{Pierrot (company)}}
* [http://12kingdoms.faith-it.net The Twelve Kingdoms resource website]
* [http://12kirin.fc2web.com/kon/ The Twelve Kingdoms Encyclopedia (Japanese&English)]


{{DEFAULTSORT:Twelve Kingdoms, The}}
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Latest revision as of 23:20, 20 November 2024

The Twelve Kingdoms
Cover of the first book (first volume) of the Kodansha edition, featuring Yoko Nakajima
十二国記
(Jūni Kokuki)
Genre
Novel series
Written byFuyumi Ono
Illustrated byAkihiro Yamada
Published by
English publisher
Imprint
  • X Bunko White Heart
  • (#1–7)
  • Shinchō Bunko
  • (#8–present; reprint)
DemographicFemale
Original run1992 – present
Volumes9
Anime television series
Directed by
Produced byKen Suegawa
Written by
Music byKunihiko Ryo
StudioPierrot
Licensed by
Original networkNHK
English network
Original run April 9, 2002 – August 30, 2003
Episodes45 (List of episodes)
icon Anime and manga portal

The Twelve Kingdoms (Japanese: 十二国記, Hepburn: Jūni Kokuki, also known as "Record of 12 Countries" or "Jūni Kokki") is a series of fantasy novels written by Japanese author Fuyumi Ono and illustrated by Akihiro Yamada. The first entry in the series called The Twelve Kingdoms: Sea of Shadow was published by Kodansha in Japan in 1992; the last Kodansha volume was released in 2001. In 2012, the series was resumed under the Shinchō Bunko line from Shinchosha. Shinchosha has also begun reprinting the older volumes with new cover and interior art from Akihiro Yamada.[4] The first new publication of the series in six years was released in 2019.[5]

An English-language translation was produced and distributed by Tokyopop. The first four volumes were released between March 2007 and November 2010, before the license reverted back to Kodansha.

On November 20, 2024, Seven Seas Entertainment announced that they had acquired the license to publish a new translation of the series in English, with the first volume scheduled for release in July 2025.[6]

It was adapted into an anime television series by Pierrot in 2002, which aired on Japan's NHK from April 2002 to August 2003. The series was licensed and distributed by Media Blasters in the United States at the time of its initial Japanese broadcast. As of 2019, Discotek Media held the license to the series.

Plot

[edit]
See also: List of Twelve Kingdoms characters

Yoko Nakajima, an unhappy high school student, is one day suddenly faced with a strange man who swears allegiance to her. After a battle with demon-like beasts, he then takes her to another world along with two of her classmates. There, her appearance has changed and she can understand the language, though her classmates cannot. Their status as "Kaikyaku" (people who come from Earth) makes them hunted fugitives, so they wander the land of the 12 countries, simply trying to survive and figure out the reason they were brought to this world.

Setting

[edit]

The Twelve Kingdoms tells several stories from the world of the Twelve Kingdoms. It is located on a group of several islands in another dimension accessible from our world through portals created from naturally-occurring magic (though the other way around is normally impossible). The portals occur in the ocean waters of Japan and China, and ever so often will end up dragging someone from our world from those waters to the kingdoms' islands, and/or on rare occasion, pulling an unborn child from the kingdoms into our world, causing them to be born there. On the islands, magic works and societies similar to those of classical Japan and China exist. While the inhabitants of the kingdoms are aware of the existence of our world as the lands of Hourai (Japan) and Kunlun (China), the reverse is not true for any inhabitants of our world. The inhabitants of the kingdoms speak a different language than the languages of our world, both of which can be learned by either side. Only through extraordinary circumstances can the two worlds affect each other to a certain extent.

In this world, there are a total of thirteen lands. At the center of the world lies the Koukai (the Yellow Sea) and Five Mountains where the Gods communicate their will to the Twelve Kingdoms of the world. Each of the Twelve Kingdoms possesses their own ruler and its own Kirin, a divine creature which embodies the will of heaven and is entrusted to choose a kingdom's ruler by Tentei: Emperor of Heaven. The Kirin serves as the ruler's aide. The ruler will have immortal life as long as they keep the kingdom healthy and their heads are not severed from their body. If the ruler's Kirin dies or is killed, the ruler will die within a year.

The Koukai, known as the Yellow Sea, is surrounded by four inland seas: the Black Sea in the north, the Blue Sea to the east, the Red Sea in the south, and the White Sea to the west. Eight of the Twelve Kingdoms (Kei, En, Ryu, Kyou, Han, Sai, Sou, and Kou) border at least one of these four seas, extending from the center like the petals of a flower. The remaining four kingdoms (Tai, Hou, Ren, and Shun) are not part of the central mainland and are isolated by the Kyokai (虚海) (Void Sea) which surrounds the lands of the Twelve Kingdoms.

Publication

[edit]

There are seven novels in the Twelve Kingdoms series, plus two short story collections. The novels are illustrated by Akihiro Yamada. Some of the novels have been published in two or more volume editions such that the total number of volumes is sixteen (as originally released in Japan).

Book Kanji title Romaji title Original title, literal translation Notes
Publication date ISBN English publication title
Summary
1 月の影 影の海 Tsuki no Kage, Kage no Umi Shadow of the Moon, Sea of Shadow 2 volumes
June 1992 (Kodansha Volume 1)
July 1992 (Kodansha Volume 2)
July 2012 (Shinchosha reprint Volume 1)
July 2012 (Shinchosha reprint Volume 2) 		978-4-06-255071-0 (Kodansha Volume 1)
978-4-06-255072-7 (Kodansha Volume 2)
978-4-10-124053-4 (Shinchosha reprint Volume 1)
978-4-10-124052-7 (Shinchosha reprint Volume 2) 		The Twelve Kingdoms: Sea of Shadow
Yoko becomes the monarch of Kei.
2 風の海 迷宮の岸 Kaze no Umi, Meikyū no Kishi Sea of Wind, Shore of the Labyrinth 2 volumes (Kodansha release)
1 volume (Shinchosha reprint)
March 1993 (Kodansha Volume 1)
April 1993 (Kodansha Volume 2)
October 2012 (Shinchosha reprint) 		978-4-06-255114-4 (Kodansha Volume 1)
978-4-06-255120-5 (Kodansha Volume 2)
978-4-10-124054-1 (Shinchosha reprint) 		The Twelve Kingdoms: Sea of Wind
Taiki chooses the ruler of Tai
3 東の海神 西の滄海 Higashi no Wadatsumi, Nishi no Sōkai Sea God in the East, Vast Sea in the West 1 volume
June 1994 (Kodansha release)
January 2013 (Shinchosha reprint) 		978-4-06-255168-7 (Kodansha release)
978-4-10-124055-8 (Shinchosha reprint) 		The Twelve Kingdoms: The Vast Spread of the Seas
The King of En suppresses a rebellion.
4 風の万里 黎明の空 Kaze no Banri, Reimei no Sora A Thousand Miles of Wind, the Sky at Dawn 2 volumes
July 1994 (Kodansha Volume 1)
September 1994 (Kodansha Volume 2)
April 2013 (Shinchosha reprint Volume 1)
April 2013 (Shinchosha reprint Volume 2) 		978-4-06-255175-5 (Kodansha Volume 1)
978-4-06-255178-6 (Kodansha Volume 2)
978-4-10-124057-2 (Shinchosha reprint Volume 1)
978-4-10-124056-5 (Shinchosha reprint Volume 2) 		The Twelve Kingdoms: Skies of Dawn[7]
Yoko, Suzu and Shoukei free the Wa Province in Kei
5 図南の翼 Tonan no Tsubasa The Aspiring Wings 1 volume
February 1996 (Kodansha release)
October 2013 (Shinchosha reprint) 		978-4-06-255229-5 (Kodansha release)
978-4-10-124059-6 (Shinchosha reprint)
Shushou becomes ruler of Kyou.
6 黄昏の岸 暁の天 Tasogare no Kishi, Akatsuki no Sora The Shore at Twilight, the Sky at Daybreak 2 volumes (Kodansha release)
1 volume (Shinchosha reprint)
May 2001 (Kodansha release both volumes)
April 2014 (Shinchosha reprint) 		978-4-06-255546-3 (Kodansha Volume 1)
978-4-06-255550-0 (Kodansha Volume 2)
978-4-10-124061-9 (Shinchosha reprint)
Risai meets Yoko to request help in finding Taiki.
7 華胥の幽夢 Kasho no Yume The Dream of Prosperity 1 volume
September 2001 (Kodansha release)
January 2014 (Shinchosha reprint) 		978-4-06-255573-9 (Kodansha release)
978-4-10-124060-2 (Shinchosha reprint)
Five short stories, set in Tai, Hou, Kei, Sai and Sou: "Toei" (冬栄), "Jogetsu" (乗月), "Shokan" (書簡), "Kasho" (華胥), "Kizan" (帰山)
8 丕緒の鳥 Hisho no Tori The Birds of Hisho 1 volume
July 2013 (Shinchosha release) 978-4-10-124058-9 (Shinchosha release)
Four short stories set in Kei, Ryu, and other locations in the Twelve Kingdoms: "Hisho no Tori" (丕緒の鳥), "Rakushou no Goku" (落照の獄), "Seijou no Ran" (青条の蘭), and "Fuushin" (風信).
9 白銀の墟 玄の月 Hakugin no Oka, Kuro no Tsuki Silver Ruins, Black Moon 4 volumes
October 2019 (Shinchosha Volume 1)
October 2019 (Shinchosha Volume 2)
November 2019 (Shinchosha Volume 3)
November 2019 (Shinchosha Volume 4) 		978-4101240626 (Shinchosha Volume 1)
978-4101240633 (Shinchosha Volume 2)
978-4101240640 (Shinchosha Volume 3)
978-4101240657 (Shinchosha Volume 4)
Six years after Gyousou disappeared, based on the barest sliver of hope from Taiki's claim that he is still alive, they begin the long search.

Before she started work on Twelve Kingdoms, Fuyumi Ono wrote The Demonic Child (魔性の子, Mashō no Ko) (Kodansha: September 1991, ISBN 978-4-10-124021-3; Shinchosha reprint: July 2012, ISBN 978-4-10-124051-0), a horror novel about a boy from another world. She later worked certain events from this novel into the Twelve Kingdoms series. Short stories set in the various kingdoms include Kasho (華胥), Toei (冬栄), Shokan (書簡), Kizan (帰山) and Jogetsu (乗月); these stories have been collected into one volume, Kasho no Yume. One short story, Drifting Ship (漂舶, Hyouhaku), published in 1997, accompanied the drama CD for Higashi no Wadatsumi, Nishi no Sōkai[8] and remains uncollected elsewhere. In February 2008, the new Twelve Kingdoms short story, Hisho no Tori (丕緒の鳥) was published in Shinchosha's Yomyom magazine, followed by Rakushou no Goku (落照の獄) in September 2009.[9] Hisho no Tori and Rakushou no Goku were later collected into a volume of short stories titled Hisho no Tori, along with two new previously unpublished stories in 2013.[10]

U.S. release

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Tokyopop

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In 2006, U.S. publisher Tokyopop acquired the rights to publish the novels under its "Pop Fiction" imprint. The first book was released in March 2007.[11] Only the first four books were released before the license expired.

Title Publication date ISBN
The Twelve Kingdoms: Sea of Shadow March 2007 (hardcover)
February 2008 (paperback) 		978-1-59816-946-1 (hardcover)
978-1-4278-0257-6 (paperback)
The Twelve Kingdoms: Sea of Wind March 2008 (hardcover)
February 2009 (paperback) 		978-1-59816-947-8 (hardcover)
978-1-4278-0258-3 (paperback)
The Twelve Kingdoms: The Vast Spread of the Seas March 2009 (hardcover)
November 2009 (paperback) 		978-1-59816-948-5 (hardcover)
978-1-4278-0259-0 (paperback)
The Twelve Kingdoms: Skies of Dawn March 2010 (hardcover)
November 2010 (paperback) 		978-1-59816-949-2 (hardcover)
978-1-4278-0260-6 (paperback)

Seven Seas Entertainment

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In 2024, Seven Seas Entertainment announced that they had acquired the license to publish the novels with a new translation under their “Airship” imprint. The first volume is scheduled for release in July 2025.[12]

Media

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Anime

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See also: List of Twelve Kingdoms episodes

The anime adaptation by studio Pierrot aired from April 9, 2002, to August 30, 2003, in Japan on NHK for forty-five episodes. The opening theme is "Juunigenmukyoku" by Kunihiko Ryo while the ending theme is "Getsumei-Fuuei" by Mika Arisaka. The anime series has been released on DVD and Blu-ray in the United States by Media Blasters, which are now out of print. The license was transferred to Discotek Media, who released the complete series on Blu-ray in 2019.[13]

Animanga

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Kodansha printed a fifteen-volume "animanga" series in 2002–2004 by combining images from the anime series with printed dialogue and sound effects. It has been released only in Japanese.

Video games

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Konami has released in Japan two games based on Twelve Kingdoms, both produced by Takashi Shimomichi. They are Juuni Kokuki: Guren no Shirube Koujin no Michi and Juuni Kokuki: Kakukakutaru Oudou Kouryoku no Uka. Both games contain footage from the anime and many stills of the characters are used during conversation and during battle. The games are sprite-based, with small sprites used on-screen and larger, highly animated sprites used during battle.

Juuni Kokuki: Guren no Shirube Koujin no Michi was released for PlayStation 2 on August 28, 2003. It follows Yoko's journey to becoming Empress of Kei. While classified as an RPG, it is often described as an adventure game. The game was re-released in Konami's The Best lineup on June 9, 2004. Yoko is capable of summoning Keiki's Shirei into battle as well as having additional party members.

Juuni Kokuki: Kakukakutaru Oudou Kouryoku no Uka was released for PlayStation 2 on April 4, 2004, and is a sequel to the first game, continuing with Yoko's problems after she becomes the monarch of Kei. Game data from the first game can be loaded into the second. This game contains more RPG elements than the first with party-/menu-based battles becoming standard. Many of the event scenes are pulled from the novels but there are also scenes made just for the game.

Reception

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By March 2020, the novel series had over 12 million copies in circulation.[14]

References

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  1. ^ "Tokyopop Proudly Presents the Hit Japanese Fantasy Fiction Series - The Twelve Kingdoms". Anime News Network. January 17, 2007. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2020. Rife with civil and political upheaval, The Twelve Kingdoms: Sea of Shadow, the first volume of this epic seven-volume novel series, is set in a world reminiscent of ancient Chinese mythology, taking fans on a wild ride that will leave readers questioning the boundaries of reality and fantasy.
  2. ^ Rafael Antonio Pineda (January 1, 2016). "Fuyumi Ono Aiming to Publish New Twelve Kingdoms Book in 2016". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on April 30, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  3. ^ Ambalina, Limarc (March 11, 2020). "'Isekai' anime: 5 must-see fantasy anime set in a 'different world'". Japan Today. Archived from the original on March 11, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  4. ^ "Shinchosha Official 12K Site". Archived from the original on February 9, 2014. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
  5. ^ "1st New Twelve Kingdoms Novel Story in 6 Years Slated for 2019". Anime News Network. December 12, 2018. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  6. ^ "Seven Seas Licenses THE TWELVE KINGDOMS Novel Series". Seven Seas Entertainment. November 20, 2024. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  7. ^ Ono, Fuyumi (March 2, 2010). Official English release of volume 4 uses the title The Twelve Kingdoms: Skies of Dawn. TokyoPop. ISBN 978-1598169492.
  8. ^ "The 40-page story that accompanies the drama CD of "Higashi no Watatsumi, Nishi no Soukai (東の海神 西の滄海)"". Archived from the original on August 7, 2011. Retrieved May 15, 2011.
  9. ^ "Yom Yom Official site". Archived from the original on June 28, 2019. Retrieved February 21, 2008.
  10. ^ "Shinchosha, Twelve Kingdoms, Log 47 - 『丕緒の鳥 十二国記』書影". June 17, 2013. Archived from the original on June 21, 2013. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
  11. ^ "More on Tokyopop's YA Fiction Line"[permanent dead link‍] from Newsarama.
  12. ^ "Seven Seas Licenses THE TWELVE KINGDOMS Novel Series". Seven Seas Entertainment. November 20, 2024. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  13. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (March 24, 2019). "Discotek Licenses The Twelve Kingdoms, Nagasarete Airantou Anime". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on June 5, 2023. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  14. ^ 新刊254万部、累計1200万部突破の小野不由美「十二国記」シリーズが、「第5回吉川英治文庫賞」受賞！ (in Japanese). Shinchosha. March 2, 2020. Archived from the original on September 30, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2024 – via PR Times.
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