Tokyo Majin Gakuen Denki

Tokyo Majin Gakuen Denki (東京魔人學園伝奇, lit. "Tokyo Wizard Academy Fantasy"),[1][2][3][4] colloquially also known as Tokyo Majin Gakuen (東京魔人學園, lit. "Tokyo Wizard Academy"),[5][6][7] is a Japanese media franchise primarily focused on video games, with branches into other media such as manga, anime, light novels and audio dramas. Though no game in the franchise has been released outside Japan, an anime based thereupon and two related games – Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters and Kowloon High-School Chronicle – have.

Tokyo Majin Gakuen Denki
東京魔人學園伝奇
Genre(s)Supernatural, Adventure, Role-playing video game, Visual novel
Developer(s)Main series
Shout! Design Works
Related works also by
Toybox Inc.
Now Production
Publisher(s)Main series
Asmik Ace
Marvelous Entertainment
Related works
Asmik Ace
Marvelous Entertainment
Atlus
Arc System Works
Creator(s)Shuuhou Imai
Platform(s)Main series
PlayStation, PlayStation 2, WonderSwan, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, i-mode
Related works also on
PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch
First releaseTokyo Majin Gakuen: Kenpūchō
June 18, 1998
Latest releaseKowloon High-School Chronicle
June 4, 2020

The franchise began June 16, 1998, with the release of the PlayStation game Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Kenpūchō. Beyond the franchise itself, there are also several video games considered linked to it through style, setting, or systems.[8][9] Coined by series director Shuuhou Imai (今井秋芳), the franchise, its broader sphere of related works, and their unifying style are collectively known as "young adult school fantasy" (學園ジュヴナイル伝奇, gakuen juvunairu denki)[6] – i.e., entries all center on students fighting the supernatural (typically demonic creatures from Japanese folklore and Shinto). This moniker – Gakuen Juvenile Denki – has also occasionally been used as a "series name", both officially and by third parties, for some of these related works led by Imai.[10][11]

Video games

Many video games have been released in or adjacent to the Tokyo Majin Gakuen Denki franchise, connected not only in name, but often in themes and systems as well. Nearly all of the games present their narrative through visual novel-like story segments, while the non-expository gameplay segments vary considerably in nature.

A young woman asks the protagonist a question, to which he can respond with any one of eight emotions, each represented by a Japanese character.
The emotion input system's first incarnation, appearing in Kenpūchō. On the left are negative responses: worried, cold, sad, and angry. On the right are positive responses: loving, friendly, in agreement, and happy.

Perhaps the most iconic idiosyncrasy that unites most all titles under the wider Tokyo Majin Gakuen Denki umbrella is the so-called emotion input system (感情入力システム, kanjō nyūryoku shisutemu). During story segments, the game will occasionally prompt the player for a directional input into a cross-like interface. Each vertex of the cross corresponds to an emotion (or, in some cases, one of the five senses), and depending on the player's choice (inaction is also an option), their relationship with the character being spoken to may improve, worsen, or remain unchanged. Through this method, the player may gain (or fail to gain) extra party members, access (or irreversibly miss) special story scenes, or affect which ending they eventually reach. The system has been upheld as unique and distinctive of the franchise,[4][12][13] as well as criticized as too obtuse.[14][15]

Main series

The games in the main series share gameplay consisting of a mix of the aforementioned visual novel-like story segments, and of tactical RPG battles. The characters are students who must do battle with demonic creatures based in Japanese folk lore and Shinto. Between battles are visual novel-style story segments, in which the player nurtures the relationships between the protagonist and various characters.

Excluding remakes and expansions, only two main games have been released, with a third having been announced but ultimately canceled.

Title Details
Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Kenpūchō

Original release date:
  • JP: June 18, 1998
 Release years by system:
1997—PlayStation
2008—Nintendo DS
2012—PlayStation Network
Notes:

Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Kenpūchō (東京魔人學園剣風帖, lit. "Tokyo Wizard Academy: Blade Gale Book") is the progenitor of the franchise. It is the foundation of the present-day Jin no Shō (人之章, lit. "Chapter of Mankind") setting, upon which many works would eventually be based.

Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Oboro-Kitan

Original release date:
  • JP: April 12, 1999
 Release years by system:
1999—PlayStation
2008—Nintendo DS
2012—PlayStation Network
Notes:

Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Oboro-Kitan (東京魔人學園朧綺譚, lit. "Tokyo Wizard Academy: Hazy Beautiful Tales") is a fan disc that provides extra content for Kenpūchō. Its content is also featured in the Nintendo DS remake of Kenpūchō.

Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Gehōchō

Original release date:
  • JP: January 24, 2002
 Release years by system:
2002—PlayStation
2012—PlayStation Network
Notes:

The second main entry in the franchise. It assumes the form of a jidaigeki – a story set in ancient Japan. Focusing on the ancestors of the characters of Kenpūchō, it acts as a prequel, and is the foundation of the historical Ten no Shō (天之章, lit. "Chapter of Heaven") setting.

Tokyo Majin Gakuen Gehōchō: Keppūroku

Original release date:
  • JP: August 12, 2004
 Release years by system:
2004—PlayStation 2
Notes:

An expanded remake of Gehōchō for the PlayStation 2.

Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Teisenchō

Cancellation date:[16]
  • JP: July 1, 2010
 Proposed system release:
2008—Nintendo DS
Notes:

Announced for the Nintendo DS on July 22, 2008,[17] Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Teisenchō (東京魔人學園帝戰帖, lit. "Tokyo Wizard Academy: Imperial War Book") was declared canceled in 2010.[4]

The script for the game's first chapter was made public with a 2013 DVD, and in 2018 provided to Famitsu by director Shuuhou Imai. In this manuscript, it is revealed that the game was slated to take place in Japan's Imperial capital in 1943, between the events of Kenpūchō and Gehōchō, and was to start in Manchuria.[18] In a 2018 interview with the same magazine, Imai stated that he still hopes to one day bring the world Teisenchō's story.[4]

Spin-offs
Title Details
Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Fuju Hōroku

Original release date:[19]
  • JP: October 12, 2000
 Release years by system:
2000—WonderSwan[19]
2004—Game Boy Advance[20]
Notes:

Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Fuju Hōroku (東京魔人學園符咒封録, lit. "Tokyo Wizard Academy: Sealed Spell Chronicle") is a digital collectible card game spin-off to Kenpūchō for portable consoles. It replaces the game's tactical RPG systems with card-based battles, while retaining its visual novel elements. In release order, it is the second standalone game in the franchise.

Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Gunseiden

Original release date:[21]
  • JP: July 7, 2007
 Release years by system:
2007—i-mode[21]
Notes:

Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Gunseiden (東京魔人學園群星伝, lit. "Tokyo Wizard Academy: Star Cluster Legend") is a fighting game for Japanese i-mode feature phones, developed and published by Marvelous Entertainment. The game features characters from Kenpūchō fighting each other.[22]

A number of games not officially part of the franchise, but which are considered linked to it[8][9] through systems, setting, or Shuuhou Imai's influence, have also been released. Kowloon High-School Chronicle and Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters were directed by Imai. The Tenshō Gakuen series, Kamiyo Gakuen, and Tokyo Mono Hara Shi, however, borrow systems and themes from Tokyo Majin Gakuen Denki (and, in the latter case, Kowloon High-School Chronicle), but share little to no production staff with the franchise.

Title Details
Tenshō Gakuen: Gensōroku

Original release date:
  • JP: May 27, 2004
 Release years by system:
2004—PlayStation 2
Notes:

Developed by the Tokyo Majin Gakuen Denki franchise's original publisher Asmik Ace – after Marvelous Entertainment obtained the publishing rights, without the input of Shuuhou Imai – Tenshō Gakuen: Gensōroku is a hybrid of visual novel and tactical RPG highly reminiscent of the main series of Tokyo Majin Gakuen Denki games.

Kowloon High-School Chronicle

Original release dates:[23][24]
  • JP: June 4, 2004
  • JP: September 28, 2006 (re:charge)
  • JP: June 4, 2020 (ORIGIN OF ADVENTURE)
  • NA: February 4, 2021
  • WW: May 21, 2021
 Release years by system:
2004—PlayStation 2
2006—PlayStation 2 (re:charge)
JP: 2020; WW: 2021—Nintendo Switch
2022—PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows
Notes:

Kowloon High-School Chronicle (九龍妖魔學園紀, Kūron Yōma Gakuen-Ki, lit. "Kowloon Spirit Academy Chronicle") is one of only two Tokyo Majin Gakuen Denki-adjacent games to be released outside Japan. An expanded edition bearing the subtitle re:charge also followed the game's original release. Over a decade later, the game received a remastered edition on Nintendo Switch by the name Kowloon Yōma Gakuen-Ki: ORIGIN OF ADVENTURE, which was eventually translated and released in English as Kowloon High-School Chronicle.[23]

Though not under the Tokyo Majin Gakuen Denki moniker, it shares the franchise's setting, and the protagonist of Kenpūchō appears as a hidden character. Inspired by films such as Indiana Jones and The Mummy,[6] the game mixes visual novel segments with first-person dungeon crawling RPG gameplay. Unlike typical dungeon crawlers, puzzle elements feature prominently in the dungeons.

Tenshō Gakuen: Gekkōroku

Original release date:
  • JP: November 22, 2006
 Release years by system:
2006—PlayStation 2
Notes:

The sequel to Tenshō Gakuen: Gensōroku.

Kamiyo Gakuen: Genkōroku – Kuru Nu Gi A

Original release date:[25]
  • JP: October 9, 2008
 Release years by system:
2008—PlayStation 2
Notes:

Developed by Idea Factory and published and produced by the Tokyo Majin Gakuen Denki franchise's original publisher Asmik Ace, Kamiyo Gakuen is similarly a visual novel-RPG hybrid featuring the emotion input system (though here called the "feeling system"). The RPG segments take the form of first-person JRPG battles. The development staff features the character designer from Tenshō Gakuen.[26]

Tokyo Mono Hara Shi: Karasu no Mori Gakuen Kitan

Original release date:
  • JP: April 22, 2010
 Release years by system:
2010—PlayStation Portable
Notes:

Tokyo Mono Hara Shi is a spiritual successor to Kowloon High-School Chronicle in that it carries over most of the game's systems, in both visual novel and dungeon crawling modes. It is, however, unrelated by setting, and staff-wise only the character designer worked on both games.

Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters

Original release dates:[27][28]
Original version
  • JP: April 10, 2014
  • NA: March 10, 2015
  • EU: March 13, 2015 (Physical)
  • WW: April 8, 2015 (PS Store)
Daybreak Special Gigs
  • JP: November 26, 2015
  • NA: September 20, 2016
  • WW: October 21, 2016
  • WW: March 17, 2017 (Windows)
 Release years by system:
Original version
JP: 2014; WW: 2015—PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 3
Daybreak Special Gigs
JP: 2015; WW: 2016—PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4
2017—Microsoft Windows
Notes:

Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters (魔都紅色幽撃隊, Mato Kurenai Yūgekitai, lit. "Demon Capital Crimson Ghost-Fighting Squad"), along with its later expanded edition Daybreak Special Gigs, is the first game adjacent to the franchise to be released outside Japan. It carries over many elements from Kowloon High-School Chronicle's visual novel segments, but foregoes dungeon crawling for a battle system reminiscent of a board game.

Anime
Main article: Tokyo Majin

In 2007, the anime Tokyo Majin (Japanese: 東京魔人學園剣風帖龖, Hepburn: Tokyo Majin Gakuen Kenpūchō Tō, lit. "Tokyo Wizard Academy: Blade Gale Book – Dragon's Flight") was broadcast in Japan. The same year, it was localized into English by ADV Films, becoming the franchise's first entry to be released outside Japan. It is a loose adaptation of the first game, Kenpūchō, though due to the absence of creative influence from series director Shuuhou Imai, it significantly differs from the original work.

Other media

In a media mix marketing strategy, tangential works in other media have also been produced. This includes:

  • The audio dramas Taimajin (退魔陣), Gekkōden (月紅伝), Kōryūsai (黄龍祭), Yōkitan (妖鬼譚), and Kagerō (陽炎). In addition, audio dramas based on Kowloon High-School Chronicle,[29] Tenshō Gakuen: Gensōroku,[30] Tenshō Gakuen: Gekkōroku,[31] Tokyo Mono Hara Shi,[32] and Tokyo Requiem[33] have been released, as well as one only available with the Japanese limited edition of the Nintendo Switch version of Kowloon High-School Chronicle.[34]
  • The radio dramas Gakkyū Nikki (学級日誌, lit. "Class Diary"), based on the anime, and Tokyo Majin Gakuen Hōsōbu (東京魔人學園放送部, lit. "Tokyo Wizard Academy Broadcast Club") – the latter being web radio, later collected on DVD.
  • The manga Tokyo Requiem (妖都鎮魂歌(トーキョー・レクイエム)).
  • The light novel series Sōryūhen (双龍変). In addition, a light novel based on Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters: Daybreak Special Gigs has been released.[35]

References
  1. Shout! Design Works (July 13, 2000). 〜東京魔人學園伝奇 人之章〜 東京魔人學園剣風帖繪巻 [Tokyo Majin Gakuen Denki: Mankind Chapter – Tokyo Majin Gakuen Denki Kenpūchō Emaki] (PlayStation) (in Japanese). Asmik Ace.
  2. "東京魔人學園伝奇 誕生伍周年記念" [Tokyo Majin Gakuen Denki 5-Year Anniversary] (in Japanese). Marvelous Entertainment. Archived from the original on February 6, 2007.
  3. "東京魔人學園伝奇 誕生伍周年記念" [Tokyo Majin Gakuen Denki 10-Year Anniversary] (in Japanese). Marvelous Entertainment. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  4. "『東京魔人學園剣風帖』発売から20年、今井秋芳監督が語る『魔人』の歩み。「『帝戰帖』を、いつの日かお届けしたい」" [20 Years after the Release of Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Kenpūchō, Director Shuuhou Imai Speaks on the Future of Majin. "Someday, I Want to Bring You Teisenchō"] (in Japanese). Famitsu. December 3, 2018. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  5. "あの名作學園ジュヴナイル伝奇がNintendo Switchに蘇る！ 『九龍妖魔學園紀 ORIGIN OF ADVENTURE』が、6月4日に発売決定。予約受付開始！" [The Famed Young Adult School Fantasy Returns to Nintendo Switch! Kowloon High-School Chronicle ORIGIN OF ADVENTURE to Be Released on June 4th. Preorders Open!] (in Japanese). Nintendo. February 6, 2020. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  6. Nishikawa (May 8, 2020). "『九龍妖魔學園紀 ORIGIN OF ADVENTURE』インタビュー【後編】。今井秋芳監督が語る『九龍』開発秘話や続編構想、そして『東京魔人學園』最新作" [Kowloon High-School Chronicle ORIGIN OF ADVENTURE Interview (Part 2). Director Shuuhou Imai Reveals Details of Kowloon Development and Ponders a Sequel, as Well as a Continuation to the Tokyo Majin Gakuen Series] (in Japanese). Famitsu. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  7. Nagaame (April 4, 2014). "『魔都紅色幽撃隊』レビュー。『東京魔人學園』＆今井秋芳監督ファンが"學園ジュヴナイル伝奇"最新作としての出来を評価" [Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters Review. Fans of Tokyo Majin Gakuen and Shuuhou Imai Anticipate Game as Newest Work in the "Young Adult School Fantasy" Mold] (in Japanese). Dengeki Online. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  8. "転生學園幻蒼録" [Tenshō Gakuen Gensōroku] (in Japanese). Softbank Games. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  9. Fukunishi, Teruaki (June 18, 2020). "妄想力旺盛な人ほどプレイすべし！ 16年の時を経て蘇える『九龍妖魔學園紀 ORIGIN OF ADVENTURE』はやっぱり神ゲーだった" [Play This if You Have a Wild Imagination! Returning After 16 Years, Kowloon High-School Chronicle Proves It Is a Legendary Game] (in Japanese). WHAT's IN? tokyo. Archived from the original on March 30, 2021. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  10. Nagaame (March 25, 2014). "『魔都紅色幽撃隊』キャラ名鑑＋インタビュー：夏服の少女（声：一木千洋）。主人公に何かを伝えようと學園内をさまよう《霊（ゴースト）》" [Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters Character + Interview: Girl in Summer Clothing (Voice: Chihiro Ikki). Roaming the School Halls, She Wants to Tell the Protagonist Something…] (in Japanese). Dengeki Online. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  11. "九龍妖魔學園紀 ORIGIN OF ADVENTURE" [Kowloon Yōma Gakuen-Ki: ORIGIN OF ADVENTURE]. Arc System Works. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  12. Nagaame (August 13, 2013). "学園伝奇ジュヴナイル『東京魔人學園』シリーズには、熱い青春のすべてが詰まっています!!" [The Young Adult School Fantasy Series Tokyo Majin Gakuen Contains All that Makes Up a Passionate Youth!!!] (in Japanese). Dengeki Online. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  13. "学園伝奇ジュヴナイル『魔都紅色幽撃隊』、新情報が公開―パワーアップした感情入力システム、予想して殴り込む新バトルシステムとは" [New Information on Young Adult School Fantasy Game Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters: Improved Emotion Input System, New Battle System of Attacking Based on Predictions] (in Japanese). INSIDE. September 19, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  14. Vincent, Brittany (May 9, 2015). "Review: Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters". Destructoid. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  15. Kawachi, Makoto (June 11, 2020). "九龍妖魔學園紀 ORIGIN OF ADVENTURE - レビュー 強烈な個性を持つ仲間たちとの冒険のワクワク感は16年ぐらいでは色褪せなかった" [Kowloon High-School Chronicle: Origin of Adventure – Review: The Excitement of This Adventure with a Cast of Quirky Friends Hasn't Dwindled in 16 Years] (in Japanese). IGN Japan. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  16. "NDS用アドベンチャーゲーム「東京魔人學園帝戰帖」は発売中止に" [DS Adventure Game Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Teisenchō Canceled] (in Japanese). 4Gamer.net. July 1, 2010. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  17. "『東京魔人學園帝戰帖』が発表" [Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Teisenchō Announced] (in Japanese). Famitsu. July 22, 2008. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  18. "『東京魔人學園帝戰帖』発売が待たれる3部作最終作、その第壱話のシナリオを特別公開！ 時は1943年、主人公の物語は満洲から始まる" [Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Teisenchō – The Awaited Third and Final Entry: The First Chapter's Script, Revealed! The Protagonist's Story Starts in Manchuria, 1943] (in Japanese). Famitsu. December 3, 2018. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  19. "Shout! Design Works homepage" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on August 23, 2000.
  20. "東京魔人學園 符咒封録" [Tokyo Majin Gakuen Fuju Hōroku]. Amazon.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  21. "東京魔人學園群星伝" [Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Gunseiden] (in Japanese). Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  22. Nakano, Shinji (July 8, 2008). "マーベラス、iモード用サイト「マーベラスモバイルGAMES」開設 「東京魔人學園群星伝」など3タイトルと3本のFlash ゲームを配信開始" [Marvelous Founds i-mode Site Marvelous Games. Three Flash Games Including Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Gunseiden Now Available] (in Japanese). GAME Watch. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  23. "Kowloon High-School Chronicle". Nintendo of America. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  24. "Kowloon High-School Chronicle". Nintendo UK. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  25. "神代学園幻光録 -クル・ヌ・ギ・ア-" [Kamiyo Gakuen: Genkōroku – Kuru Nu Gi A]. Amazon.co.jp. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  26. "神代學園幻光録 クル・ヌ・ギ・ア" [Kamiyo Gakuen: Genkōroku – Kuru Nu Gi A] (in Japanese). Sony Interactive Entertainment. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  27. "Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  28. "Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters on PSVita". PSPrices. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  29. "ドラマCD「九龍妖魔學園紀」公式サイト" [Kowloon High-School Chronicle Audio Drama CD: Official Website] (in Japanese). Frontier Works. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  30. "転生學園幻蒼録 ドラマCD第1巻" [Tenshō Gakuen: Gensōroku – Audio Drama CD Vol. 1]. Amazon.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  31. "「転生學園月光録」ドラマCD" [Tenshō Gakuen: Gekkōroku – Audio Drama CD]. Amazon.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  32. "ドラマCD「東京鬼祓師 鴉乃杜學園奇譚」 第壱巻" [Audio Drama CD: Tokyo Mono Hara Shi: Karasu no Mori Gakuen Kitan Vol. 1]. Amazon.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  33. "ドラマCD「東京魔人学園剣風帖外伝 妖都鎮魂歌 第壱巻」" [Audio Drama CD: Tokyo Majin Gakuen Kenpūchō Gaiden: Tokyo Requiem Vol. 1]. Amazon.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  34. "九龍妖魔學園紀 ORIGIN OF ADVENTURE 購入ガイド" [Kowloon Yōma Gakuen Ki: ORIGIN OF ADVENTURE Purchase Guide]. Arc System Works. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  35. 魔都紅色幽撃隊 FIREBALL SUMMER GIG [Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters: Fireball Summer Gig] (in Japanese). ASIN 4584393591.
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