Hakuōki: Shinsengumi Kitan (薄桜鬼 〜新選組奇譚〜, Demon of the Fleeting Blossom: The Tale of the Shinsengumi) is the first season of the anime series that began airing in Japan on the TV Kanagawa and UHF stations on April 4, 2010. It is based on an otome video game series by Idea Factory and was adapted into an anime series by Studio Deen.
The second season (a sequel) is called Hakuōki: Hekketsuroku (Record of the Jade Blood) and it came out in October 2010.
The third season (a prequel) is called Hakuōki: Reimeiroku (Dawn of the Shinsengumi) and it came out in July 2012.
Introduction
In 1864 Japan, a young woman named Chizuru Yukimura is searching for her missing father, Koudou, a doctor by trade whose work often takes him far from home. But with no word from him in months, Chizuru disguises herself as a man and heads to Kyoto in search of him. Attracting the attention of ronin, she tries to hide and ends up witnessing a horrifying sight: the ronin being brutally murdered by crazed white-haired men. In a startling turn of events, members of the Shinsengumi arrive to dispatch the creatures. But Chizuru's safety doesn't last long, as this group of men tie her up and take her back to their headquarters, unsure of whether to let her live or silence her permanently.
However, once she reveals the name of her father, the Shinsengumi decide to keep her safe, as they too have been searching for him. But Koudou is more connected to the Shinsengumi than they let on, and soon Chizuru finds herself embroiled in a conflict between the Shinsengumi and their enemies, as well as political tension in Kyoto.
List of Episodes
The following is a list of the episodes from the anime Hakuouki: Shinsengumi Kitan (season one).
| # | Title | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | "Snowflake Capital" | April 4, 2010 |
| Chizuru Yukimura is a young woman who travels to Kyoto in search for her missing father. Kyoto is a dangerous place as there are a lot of ronin who rob people as their only way of getting money. Chizuru gets attacked by some of those ronin and runs away to hide in an alley. As she is about to be discovered, she hears screams, and the ronin get killed by mysterious men in blue coats with silver hair. She sees that her saviors are actually insane monsters who are about to murder her in cold blood as well, and that is just when she gets save the second time by a few other men wearing the same blue coats. Later it is revealed that the men were from the Shinsengumi, the notorious Kyoto police organized by the Bakufu. They take her into custody and question her. Eventually, she stays with them until she can find her father. | ||
| 02 | "Seeds of Discord" | April 11, 2010 |
| Keisuke Sannan got injured and keeps staying in his room. Chizuru decides to earn her place in the Shinsengumi so she asks to take care of him and bring him food motivated by the desire to be useful. She requests permission to leave headquarters and, after having been tested by Hajime Saitou, she is granted the permission to join the regular patrols, in order to continue the search for her father. Upon hearing that her father has been spotted in an inn, she runs in there and gets in trouble. During the subsequent fight, the Shinsengumi learn of a Chōshū plot against Kyoto and the Emperor. | ||
| 03 | "Twilight Blossom" | April 18, 2010 |
| The Shinsengumi have divided into two teams to capture Chōshū conspirators without knowing the exact location. The smaller group find them at Ikedaya. Chizuru is sent with Yamazaki to inform the other soldiers surveilling at Shikokuya and to bring reinforcements, but she has to run the message herself while Yamazaki fights off attackers. Back upstairs at Ikedaya, Okita and Heisuke engage into a fight with two mysterious and very powerful strangers. The Ikedaya Incident leads to a request for the Shinsengumi to fight on the front lines - the beginning of the Kinmon no Hen Incident. | ||
| 04 | "Those Who Come From the Darkness" | April 25, 2010 |
| A mysterious princess is introduced, speaking of a "storm" arising. Meanwhile, the Shinsengumi have marched to the front lines, and leap into battle on their own accord without a direct order from the Aizu Domain. They have to divide into 3 groups to cover all problematic areas, and each group meets one of the demons who are helping different sides. Saitou finds one of the mysterious men from Ikedaya (Amagiri Kyuujyu) defending Satsuma Clan soldiers; Hijikata and Chizuru are confronted by the blond stranger from Ikedaya (Chikage Kazama) who had defeated Okita, as they race to Mount Tennozan; and Harada encounters a third powerful stranger (Kyou Shiranui) wielding a Western-style handgun and assisting the Chōshū soldiers who are running away. | ||
| 05 | "Conflicting Swords" | May 2, 2010 |
| After several months, Chizuru has become an essential part of the Shinsengumi everyday life. Kashitarou Itou allies with the corps as an advisor (invited by Kondou with Heisuke's help), but not all the soldiers are happy with his presence. The Shinsengumi make plans to move to a larger headquarters as suggested by Hijikata and supported by Itou. Meanwhile, Keisuke Sannan, discontented with his inability to contribute (particularly during the HQ discussion), continues to research "the medicine". | ||
| 06 | "The Demon's Lifeline" | May 9, 2010 |
| The Shinsengumi are waiting to see if Sannan recovers from his violent reaction to Ochimizu and try to prevent Itou from noticing. Chizuru has found out the truth about the medicine, her father's research and Rasetsu. Hijikata makes a point that she must keep quiet otherwise she will be dead. While on patrol, she and the soldiers rescue a young woman whose incredible resemblance to Chizuru is noticed by Okita. Later, as the Shinsengumi take up guard duty for the Shōgun's visit, the powerful demon trio are trying to kidnap Chizuru claiming that she is one of them. | ||
| 07 | "Fate of a Fetter" | May 16, 2010 |
| The Shinsengumi save Chizuru and chase off the demons. Chizuru makes friends with Sen, whom she rescues from ronin. The Shinsengumi members undergo medical exams - and the doctor giving the physicals is a friend of Chizuru's father. His insists on the Shinsengumi cleaning the headquarters and scolds Kondou for not doing that properly. Chizuru finds out a terrible secret about Okita. Dr. Matsumoto also reveals more about the Ochimizu and Rasetsu to Chizuru. Kazama gets into the headquarters to talk to Chizuru again, and is later told off by Amagiri for his interference with humans. | ||
| 08 | "Fleeting Dreams" | May 23, 2010 |
| Chizuru has been depressed thinking about what Kazama said about her father before leaving. Sano and others set up an afternoon with the charming Osen-chan to cheer her up. Hijikata and Shinpachi have a confrontation about Hijikata's way of treating the Shinsengumi commanders, and Hijikata explains his behavior. The Shinsengumi are assigned to protect a noticeboard, and Sano's men get an unpleasant and unsettling surprise during their night shift. With the reward money for the successful protection, however, they go to a restaurant, spend time drinking accompanied by a geisha, and finally get Chizuru dressed up like a girl during a rowdy celebratory night out. Senhime gets a report. | ||
| 09 | "The Trails of Carnage" | May 30, 2010 |
| Chizuru gets attacked by a Rasetsu and her arm is heavily wounded. Itou is trying to split the Shinsengumi, especially after he finds out that Sannan is still alive. Chizuru keeps hiding her quick-healing ability. Senhime and her kunoichi Kimigiku come to collect Chizuru from the Shinsengumi headquarters for her own safety as, according to Senhime, Chizuru is from an ancient oni bloodline which makes Chizuru admit her fast regeneration and agree that she is most likely a demon indeed. The Rasetsu Squad are activated when Kazama attempts yet again to kidnap Chizuru from the headquarters. | ||
| 10 | "Where the Bonds Lead" | June 6, 2010 |
| The Shinsengumi learn of Itou's plot to assassinate Kondou after having spread rumors that Sano is responsible for killing Sakamoto. The Shinsengumi lure Itou out and then ambush him but get in a trap set by SatChō. After Itou is assassinated, Saitou and Chizuru confront Heisuke in attempts to persuade him to fight alongside them against Itou's men. Meanwhile Souji, severely weakened by his tuberculosis, is approached by Kaoru Nagumo, who reveals his true identity and offers him a vial of the "medicine" that would heal him and make him a Rasetsu. Back at Itou's compound, the Shinsengumi forces are surrounded by Itou's men, Shiranui, and Amagiri. Heisuke engages Amagiri in battle and gets badly injured. | ||
| 11 | "Fallen Ones" | June 13, 2010 |
| Having sustained grave injuries, Heisuke has no choice but to drink Ochimizu and become a Rasetsu. An attempted assassination leaves Captain Kondou in critical condition. In order to avenge Kondou, Okita drinks the Ochimizu that Kaoru gave him, also becoming a Rasetsu. Kaoru appears, and reveals that the Ochimizu will not heal tuberculosis. He also reveals the reason he hates Chizuru and tries to make her suffer as much as possible, assisting the enemies of the Shinsengumi. In an ensuing battle, Okita manages to kill Kondou's attackers, but is also heavily wounded by gunfire. With both Okita and Kondou close to death, Hijikata sends them to Osaka Castle to be treated by Doctor Matsumoto. | ||
| 12 | "On Opposite Ends of the Sword-Fought Battle" | June 20, 2010 |
| The conflict between the Shinsengumi and imperialist forces breaks out into the Boshin War. During the Battle of Toba-Fushimi, Inoue is murdered in front of Chizuru while trying to protect her from traitors. Kazama appears right in time and kills Inoue's murderers. Hijikata engages Kazama in battle, provoked by Kazama's insults and him claming to have killed Inoue. During the fight, Hijikata drinks Ochimizu and becomes a Rasetsu to increase his chances of victory. Yamazaki and Amagiri interfere and stop the fight but Yamazaki gets heavily injured. The Shinsengumi bury Inoue before departing by ship for Edo. En route, Yamazaki succumbs to his wounds and is buried in the sea. | ||
OST
- Opening theme: Izayoi Namida by Yoshioka Aika.
- Ending theme: Kimi no Kioku by MAO.