Maitetsu

Maitetsu (Japanese: まいてつ) is a visual novel developed by Lose, which has also been adapted into the anime series Rail Romanesque (Japanese: レヱル・ロマネスク, Hepburn: Reeru Romanesuku). Maitetsu was initially released in Japan in 2016,[1] and it was released internationally by Sekai Project on Steam in 2018.[2] Sekai Project also released an uncensored, 18+ version of the game on Fakku.[3] A sequel, Maitetsu: Last Run, was released in 2020.[4]

Maitetsu
Maitetsu PC cover
まいてつ
Game
DeveloperLose
PublisherLose
Directed bytO
Genreeroge, visual novel
EngineKiriKiri
PlatformWindows, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch
ReleasedMarch 25, 2016
Anime television series
Rail Romanesque
Directed byHirasawa Hisayoshi[lower-alpha 1]
Produced bytO
Written byKouichi Motomura
Music byYouichi Sakai
StudioSaetta
Licensed byCrunchyroll
Funimation
Original networkTokyo MX, BS11, MBS, Wowow
Original run October 3, 2020 – December 19, 2020
Episodes12
Game
Maitetsu - Last Run!!
DeveloperLose
PublisherLose
Directed bytO
Genreeroge, visual novel
EngineKiriKiri
PlatformWindows
ReleasedOctober 30, 2020
Anime television series
Rail Romanesque 2
Directed byMichiru Ebira
StudioYokohama Animation Laboratory
Cloud Hearts
Original networkTokyo MX
Original run October 6, 2023 – scheduled

Rail Romanesque, an anime spinoff of the game, was announced in 2019 and released in 2020.[2] Outside of Japan, the anime was released by Crunchyroll and Funimation.[5][6] A second season was announced and is set to premiere in October 2023.[7]

Plot

Maitetsu is set in an alternate reality of Japan named Hinomoto in which railway locomotives are paired up with "Raillords", anthropomorphized girls representing the locomotives. However, a new form of transportation later became popular, leaving railways in disuse. The game follows Sotetsu, who reawakens Hachiroku, the Raillord of steam locomotives No.8620. Sotetsu then works to help Hachiroku find her missing locomotive while trying to save his hometown from pollution.[1]

The majority of the story is set in Ohitoyo, a fictitious city in Kyushu split in half by the Kuma River. The town is largely based on the real city of Hitoyoshi in Kumamoto.

Characters

Visual novel
Sōtetsu Migita (右田 双鉄, Migita Sōtetsu)
Voiced by: Ei Mochizuki (credited as Ki Kashino in visual novels)

Adopted son of a family of brewers. Was the victim of a railway accident of which he was the only survivor in his family. Sōtetsu later acts as Hibiki's secretary after she assumes her position as mayor.

Hachiroku (ハチロク, Hachiroku)
Voiced by: Atsumi Tanezaki (credited as Hana Kiritani in visual novels)

Raillord accidentally awoken by Sōtetsu, having been stowed away in a cabinet for a long time. Speaks in a very refined and formal tone. She personifies the JGR Class 8620 2-6-0 Mogul-type steam locomotive; specifically, number 8620, the lead member of her class. Hachiroku also appears in the anime, but is unvoiced.

Hibiki Migita (右田 日々姫, Migita Hibiki)
Voiced by: Maki Tomonaga (credited as Himari in visual novels)

Stepsister of Sōtetsu who is also an aspiring artist. Noted as being very optimistic. Her speech often slips into a Kumamoto drawl; she will then attempt to correct it back into a more refined tone which she uses "as she is now older". She subsequently becomes the mayor of Ohitoyo.

Paulette Hinai (雛衣・ポーレット, Hinai Pōretto)
Voiced by: Kei Maeda (credited as Sanma Aji in visual novels)

Mayor of Ohitoyo and operator and caretaker of Reina. Noted as being very timid and is of Franc descent. Due to a harassment incident at a city council meeting involving an outside heckler, Paulette resigns as mayor of Ohitoyo due to the pressure; she then acts as a mentor for Hibiki after the latter takes up her position.

Reina (れいな, Reina)
Voiced by: Mai Kadowaki (credited as Mitsu Anzu in visual novels)

Raillord always noted as being in the company of Paulette. She is the personification of the JNR KiHa 07 series (ja) diesel railcar. Speaks extremely slowly and in a fashion similar to that of a toddler. Reina also appears in the anime, but is unvoiced.

Makura Migita (右田 真闇, Migita Makura)
Voiced by: Kei Mizusawa (credited as Rino Kawashima in visual novels)

Sōtetsu's adoptive older sister and the owner of the Migitachi Brewery. Speaks with a heavy Kumamoto drawl, has a very shapely figure and has a very sisterly personality.

Kisaki Hōshō (宝生 稀咲, Hōshō Kisaki)
Voiced by: Akane Sanada (credited as Akane Ueda in visual novels)

Daughter of the owner of the Kumamoto Bank as well as a branch manager for the Ohitoyo branch. Noted as being the first to discover Hibiki's talent and is regarded as a "reliable senpai". Is very shrewd and astute. Once Hibiki assumes her position as mayor, Kisaki acts as one of her assistants.

Nagi Minokasa (蓑笠 凪, Minokasa Nagi)
Voiced by: Yotsuba Yagami (credited as Yayoi Hayase in visual novels)

An young tomboyish girl of who is very interested in swordplay. Acts as the poster girl for the Minakasa blacksmith shop.

Fukami Hayase (早瀬 ふかみ, Hayase Fukami)
Voiced by: Mai Nagai (credited as Emi Sakura in visual novels)

An young girl of similar age to Nagi who manages the Kuma River Rafts. Is an introvert and often requires Nagi to speak for her.

Minoru Minakasa (蓑笠 穣, Minakasa Minoru)
Voiced by: Daisuke Sugiyama (credited as Makoto Sakura in visual novels)

A blacksmith who is the owner of the Minakasa blacksmith shop and Nagi's grandfather. Is noted as one of the few people remaining who has the skill to repair locomotives.

Kiyoharu Akai (赤井 清春, Akai Kiyoharu)
Voiced by: Yukimasa Obi (credited as Izuru Mutsu in visual novels)

Head priest of a local shrine. Is often speculated to have had some experience in the operation of railroads.

Tororuyu Owner (登呂流湯主人, Tororyūyu Shujin)
Voiced by: Konomi Moriyama (credited as Haruno Shioka in visual novels)

An elderly woman who is the owner of the Tororuyu public bathhouse; her full name has never been revealed. Is said to have been a technician of the Imperial Railroad in the past.

Mototada Hōshō (宝生 元忠, Hōshō Mototada)
Voiced by: Kōichi Sōma (credited as Kengo Nishioka in visual novels)

Father of Kisaki Hōshō and president of the Kumamoto Bank. His wealth allows him to have great influence over numerous things.

Navi (ナビ, Nabi)
Voiced by: Reiko Anzai

Sentient navigation system of Sōtetsu's Aircra. Hachiroku was initially hostile towards her but slowly warmed up.

Nagare Hayase (早瀬 流, Hayase Nagare)
Voiced by: Seiichirō Konno (credited as Makoto Tono in visual novels)

Fukami's grandfather; he used to be the leading crewman of the Kuma River Rafts. In retirement, he works voluntarily for the railroad as a patrolman.

Urakami (浦上, Urakami)
Voiced by: Asami Nakamura (credited as Mao Tachibana in visual novels)

Employee of an Aircra factory in Ohitoyo. Currently works at the Ohitoyo Branch of the Kumamoto Bank as Kisaki's secretary and personal assistant. Her androgynous appearance often leads her to be mistaken for a man.

Noriko Nagayama (永山 典子, Nagayama Noriko)
Voiced by: Nanae Sakurai (credited as Rie Hoshika in visual novels)

Wife of the head priest of the Eizanji ghost temple. Formerly worked as kitchen staff on the Imperial Railroad; runs a crêpe and pastry shop in Ohitoyo in retirement.

Michiko (路子, Michiko)
Voiced by: Tomosa Muruta (credited as Chika Ashiwara in visual novels)

Twin sister of Sōtetsu who died in a railway accident of which the latter was the only survivor in the family. Apparently not fully aware that she has died, she continuously wanders the trains around the area as a ghost.

Niiroku (ニイロク, Niiroku)
Voiced by: Yukina Fujimori (2016 – 2017), Rin Osawa (2018 – present, credited as Yumu Akatsuki in visual novels)

A long-disused Raillord manufactured near the end of the Imperial Railway's existence. She is the personification of the JNR 181 series electric multiple unit, with her name being taken from the KuHa 26 control cars. Has a very aloof personality and speaks with a monotonous tone but has long desired to return to service. In her first few appearances, she obscures her face with white bandages.

Kon (コン, Kon)
Voiced by: Airi Ishihara (credited as Yui Ogura in visual novels)

A red fox which wanders around Ohitoyo Station. Communicates using yips.

Anime
Suzushiro (すずしろ)
Voiced by: Sumire Uesaka

Personification of the JNR Class C12 2-6-2T Prairie-type steam locomotive. She represents steam locomotive C12 67. Noted as eloquent and capable of leading.

Ran (ラン)
Voiced by: Aya Uchida

Personification of the JNR Class D51 2-8-2 Mikado-type steam locomotive. She represents steam locomotive D51 840. Confident and passionate.

Kiko (汽子)
Voiced by: Aya Suzaki

Personification of the JGR HoJi 6005 series steam railcar. She represents steam railcar HoJi 6016. Kiko is noted as being refined and partakes in luxurious activities.

Beni (紅)
Voiced by: Tomoyo Kurosawa

Personification of the Kagoshima Kotsu KiHa 100 series diesel railcar. She represents diesel railcar KiHa 101. Highly competitive.

Riiko (りいこ)
Voiced by: Yurika Kubo

Personification of the Tobu Railway Class B1 4-4-0 American-type steam locomotive. She represents locomotive number 5. She is lazy, aloof and lacks any form of attention span.

Iyo (いよ)
Voiced by: Ai Furihata

Personification of the Iyo Railway Kou Type 1 0-4-0 steam locomotive. She represents locomotive number 1. She has a laid-back and friendly personality.

Kakaa (かかあ)
Voiced by: Mai Nagai

Personification of the Jōmō Electric Railway DeHa 100 series electric railcar. She represents locomotive DeHa 101. Has a motherly personality and is often very busy.

Shirogane (しろがね)
Voiced by: Chihiro Kamijo

Personification of the JNR Class EF10 electric locomotive. She represents locomotive EF10 23. Very reserved; it often seems like she is in her own world.

Suika (西瓜)
Voiced by: Ayaka Igasaki

Personification of the China Railway DF4 electric locomotive. She represents locomotive 4 2000. Very kind and always wants to learn more.

Kaniko (かにこ)
Voiced by: Rie Tanaka

Personification of the JNR Class C11 2-6-4T Adriatic-type steam locomotive. She represents steam locomotive C11 202. She is slated to appear in the second season of the anime.

Anime

Rail Romanesque, an anime spinoff of Maitetsu featuring new characters, aired from October 3 to December 19, 2020, on Tokyo MX and other channels.[6][8][lower-alpha 2] The series was animated by the studio Saetta, and it was directed by Hisayoshi Hirasawa.[9] The production held a crowdfunding campaign in July 2020.[9] In September 2020, Tenka Hashimoto, who was initially cast to play the character Shirogane, stepped down from her role following professional controversy; she was replaced by Chihiro Kamijō.[10]

On December 12, 2020, a second season was announced.[4]

Two years later on October 7, 2022, during the Lose Last Concert in Tokyo Dome City Hall, another announcement regarding the second season was made, officially being named "Rail Romanesque 2." Kaniko and 4 other raillords including a JNR Class 9600, JGR Class C51 and JNR Class D60 were revealed, with the announcement ending with the airing year to be 2023, though a month and date has not been revealed. On July 13, 2023, it was announced that the second season would air in October 2023, with animation production by Yokohama Animation Laboratory and Cloud Hearts.[7] It will premiere on October 6, 2023, on Tokyo MX and other channels.[11]

Notes
  1. Credited as Chief Director (総監督)
  2. Tokyo MX listed the series premiere at 25:00 on October 2, 2020, which is October 3 at 1:00 a.m.

References
  1. Ressler, Karen (March 25, 2016). "Sekai Project Licenses Maitetsu Visual Novel". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on February 14, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  2. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (December 27, 2019). "Maitetsu Adult Game Gets TV Anime Shorts in 2020". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  3. Kemps, Heidi (June 28, 2018). "This Week in Games - Denials of (fan)Service". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 25, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  4. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (December 12, 2020). "Rail Romanesque Anime Gets 2nd Season, Adds Rie Tanaka to Cast". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on February 18, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  5. Mateo, Alex (October 2, 2020). "Funimation Streams Rail Romanesque Anime, Early Premiere of Moriarty the Patriot Anime". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  6. Mateo, Alex (October 1, 2020). "Crunchyroll to Stream I'm Standing on a Million Lives, Rail Romanesque, Eagle Talon ~Golden Spell~ Anime". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  7. Comic Natalie Editorial Department (July 13, 2023). "アニメ「レヱル・ロマネスク」第2期は10月放送、キービジュ公開 第1期の再放送も決定". コミックナタリー (in Japanese). Archived from the original on July 13, 2023. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  8. Loo, Egan (June 24, 2020). "Maitetsu Game's Rail Romanesque TV Anime Unveils Cast, More Staff, Story, 12-Episode Fall Run". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on June 26, 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
  9. Loo, Egan (July 22, 2020). "Maitetsu Game's Rail Romanesque TV Anime Unveils More Cast, October 2 Premiere". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on July 22, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  10. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (September 8, 2020). "Rail Romanesque Anime Replaces Tenchim With Chihiro Kamijō in Cast". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 22, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  11. Mateo, Alex (August 25, 2023). "Rail Romanesque Season 2 Anime Reveals More Cast, October 5 Debut". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
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