Toku Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru ~Setsugetsuka~ Tsuki no Maki

Alternate Title

特『刀剣乱舞-花丸-』～雪月華～ 月ノ巻

Synopsis

In the year 2205, the "historical retrograde army" have begun attacks on the past in order to change history. The Saniwa, whose duty is to protect history, have the power to imbue life into objects. The strongest among these are the Token Danshi, legendary swords personified and given new life as swordsmen. This is the story of their cheerful lives, set at a certain citadel.

Background

Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru is a TV anime series based on the free-to-play game Touken Ranbu -Online- developed by Nitroplus and DMM Games. Two seasons of the anime have aired: the first from October to December 2016, and the second from January to March 2018, both spanning 12 episodes each. A compilation film based on the anime titled Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru Makuai Kaisoroku was released in December 2017 before the broadcast of the second season.

Toku Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru Setsugetsuka is a new film trilogy that was first announced during the event "Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru Special Event: Hanamaru Haru Ichiban!" The trilogy will consist of Yuki no Maki, which was released in Japan on May 20, 2022, Tsuki no Maki, which will be released on July 8, and Hana no Maki, which will be released on Sep. 1. The second film in the trilogy, Tsuki no Maki, is once again being produced by Doga Kobo sees returning staff including Takashi Naoya as director, Yuki Nekota handling the screenplay, Junichiro Taniguchi who is credited as character designer and chief animation director, and Kenji Kawai who is composing the music. The film’s theme song is "Hana no Utage" by Mitsuhiro Ichiki and Toshiki Masuda.

Characters

Yamatonokami Yasusada (Japanese: Mitsuhiro Ichiki / English: Dallas Reid)
Yamatonokami Yasusada was forged in 1655 and was the beloved sword of the Shinsengumi’s Okita Souji. He is friendly with Kashuu Kiyomitsu who is the anthropomorphisation of another of Okita’s swords and the two are sometimes jokingly known as the “Okitagumi”.

Kashuu Kiyomitsu (Japanese: Toshiki Masuda / English: Garret Storms)
Forged in 1684, Kashuu Kiyomitsu was another beloved sword of the Shinsengumi’s Okita Souji and was the very first sword acquired by the Saniwa. Later he becomes friends with another Okita sword, Yamatonokami Yasusada, with whom he forms the “Okitagumi”.

Heshikiri Hasebe (Japanese: Tarusuke Shingaki / English: Aaron Roberts)
Forged by Heshikiri Kunishige in 1312, Heshikiri Hasebe was once in the possession of Oda Nobunaga, and later the Kuroda clan. He hated Nobunaga for using him to kill a young tea servant who made a mistake, earning him the nickname of “forced cutter”. Heshikiri Hasebe is now the assistant to the Saniwa.

Imanotsurugi (Japanese: Daiki Yamashita / English: Anastasia Muñoz)
Originally forged by Sanjou, Imanotsurugi was once owned by Minamoto no Yoshitsune who used him to commit suicide.

Maeda Toshiro (Japanese: Reona Irie / English: Ryan Reynolds)
One of the many Awataguchi siblings, Maeda Toshiro was forged by Awataguchi Yoshimitsu in 1259. Like his brother Atsushi Toshiro, Maeda was once owned by the Maeda clan, personally by Maeda Toshimasa.

Nikkari Aoe (Japanese: Junji Majima / English: Robby Gemaehlich)
Forged by Aoe Sadatsugu in 1207, Nikkari Aoe has been owned by both Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Nakajima Shuuridayuu. Legend has it that Nakajima used Nikkari Aoe to slash through the ghosts of a mother and child to continue on his quest to slay a monster which might be why he is surrounded by such an eerie air.

Hachisuka Kotetsu (Japanese: Kazuyuki Okitsu / English: Ian Sinclair)
Owned by the Kotetsu clan, Hachisuka Kotetsu was forged by Nagasone Okisato in 1665. There are many Hachisuka Kotetsu fakes, but this one is the real thing. Though he dotes on his little brother Urashima, he insists that his older brother Nagasone is a fake.

Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki (Japanese: Kento Hama / English: Jason Liebrecht)
Forged in 1688, Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki was the beloved sword of Sakamoto Ryoma and has a distinctly rural appearance though he also loves new things and is very forward thinking. Honest and straightforward, Mutsunokami is always true to himself and his own ambitions.

Namazuo Toushirou (Japanese Soma Saito / English: Rachel Robinson)
Another of the Awataguchi siblings, Namazuo Toushirou was forged by Awataguchi Yoshimitsu in 1259.

Kasen Kanesada (Japanese: Kaito Ishikawa / English Oscar Seung)
Kasen Kanesada was forged by Mino Kanesada (under the name of Nosada) in 1505. His former master, Hosokawa Tadaoki, sentenced 36 vassals to death and Kasen Kanesada was given his name in tribute to the “The Thirty-Six Immortals of Poetry”.

Soza Samonji (Japanese: Yuki Tai / English: J. Michael Tatum)
Soza Samonji was forged by Sae Monzaburo in 1334 and has been owned by all three unifiers of Japan - Oda Nobunaga, Tokugawa Ieyasu, and Toyotomi Hideyoshi. He hates Nobunaga for shortening his blade and engraving him with a sign of ownership. When anthropomorphised, the brand turned into a beautiful butterfly tattoo.

Yagen Toshiro (Japanese: Seiichiro Yamashita / English Derick Snow)
Another of the Awataguchi siblings, Tagen Toshiro was forged by Awataguchi Yoshimitsu. His 15th century owner, Hatakeyama Masanaga tried to use him to commit seppuku, but failed to wound himself deeply enough to cause his death. Throwing the sword away in anger, it pierced a medicinal stone mill, or “yagen” which became the sword’s name. Being strong enough to break a stone but not the belly of its master, Hatakeyama believed the sword would never be turned back on its wielder.

Shokudaikiri Mitsutada (Japanese: Takuya Sato / English: Marcus D. Stimac)
Forged by Osafune Mitsutada in 1238, Shokudaikiri Mitsutada’s name means “candle cutter” and was bestowed on him by his master, Date Masamune, when he cut through a candlestick while killing an opponent.

Gokotai (Japanese: Yuta Kasuya / English: Leah Clark)
An Awataguchi sibling, Gokotai was forged by Awataguchi Yoshimitsu and was once owned by the Uesugi clan. He gets his name from the legend about his being used to kill five lions. He is timid and given to introspection.

Yamanbagiri Kunihiro (Japanese: Tomoaki Maeno / English: Clifford Chapin)
Forged in 1590 by Horikawa Kunihiro Yamanbagiri Kunihiro has a complex about not being real and hates to be told he is beautiful, even adopting a deliberately shabby appearance.

Shishio (Japanese: Ryota Osaka / English: Blake Shepard)
Shishio is a Yamato sword forged late in the Heian era. Despite his age, Shishio is light and slender, a fitting blade for the elderly shogun and kind hearted grandpa’s boy.

Ishikirimaru (Japanese: Hidenori Takahashi / English: Justin Duncan)
Ishikirimaru is a holy sword the sharpness of which was once used to treat illness. Forged by the Sanjou school in 983, Ishikirimaru has little combat experience and is kind and gentle though a little out of touch with the regular world after spending almost all his life in a shrine.

Akita Toshiro (Japanese: Yoshitaka Yamaya / English: Jad Saxton)
Another of the Awataguchi siblings, Akita Toshiro was forged by Awataguchi Yoshimitsu. After long years of being treasured, he has little interest in the outside world but loves collecting secrets.

Midare Toushirou (Japanese: Kazutomi Yamamoto / English: Alexis Tipton)
An Awataguchi sibling, Midare Toushirou was forged by Awataguchi Yoshimitsu and has an unusual disorderly pattern. Therefore Midare looks a little different from his brothers and sometimes has a dangerous look in his eyes.

Nakigitsune (Japanese: Shintaro Asanuma / English: Alison Viktorin)
Forged by Awataguchi Kuniyoshi in the Kamakura era, Nakigitsune is always seen with his fox companion on his shoulders who conducts most of his social interactions for him.

Aizen Kunitoshi (Japanese: Seiichiro Yamashita / English: Anthony Bowling)
Crafted by the second generation of the Rai School Aizen Kunitoshi and believes he has the divine protection of the Buddhist deity of love.

Doudanuki Masakuni (Japanese: Tooru Sakurai / English: Cris George)
Straightforward and auster, Doudanuki Masakuni is 100% combat minded and was praised in the Meiji era for his ability to cut through armour.

Tsurumaru Kuninaga (Japanese: Soma Saito / English: Ricco Fajardo)
Forged by Gojo Kuninaga in 1053, Tsurumaru Kuninaga was owned by the Meiji emperor himself.

Hirano Toshiro (Japanese: Ryota Asari / English: Justin Briner)
Another Awataguchi sibling, Hirano Toshiro was forged by Awataguchi Yoshimitsu in 1259 and was once owned by Toyotomi Hideyoshi before passing into the Maeda clan.

Honebami Toushirou (Japanese: Yuto Suzuki / English: Daman Mills)
Forged by Awataguchi Yoshimitsu in the Kamakura era, Honebami is another of the Awataguchi siblings and does not talk much after having lost his memory.

Atsushi Toushirou (Japanese: Daiki Yamashita / English: Brandon McInnis)
Forged in 1259 by Awataguchi Yoshimitsu, Atsushi Toushirou and has been owned by many famous hands.

Sayo Samonji (Japanese: Ayumu Murase / English:Morgan Berry)
Sayo Samonji was forged by Sae Monzaburo in 1334 and has a bad aura possibly thanks to his life as a bandit.

Uguisumaru (Japanese: Tetsuya Kakihara / English: Jerry Jewell)
Once owned by Emperor Meiji, Uguisumaru was forged by Bizen Tomonari in 987.

Horikawa Kunihiro (Japanese: Junya Enoki / Justin Pate)
Horikawa Kunihiro was forged in the Azuchi-Momoyama period and is said to have been the favorite sword of the Shinsengumi’s Hijikata Toshizo.

Taroutachi (Japanese: Yuki Tai / English:Kent Williams)
Forged by Bakumatsu swordsmith Kanesada, Taroutachi is also said to be a favorite sword of Shinsengumi Vice-Commander Hijikata Toshizo.

Taroutachi (Japanese: Yuki Tai / English: Kent Williams)
An oversized sword too big for mortals to lift, Taroutachi spends most of his time in a shrine where he is believed to house a holy deity. As he was intended for the gods to use, he is unfamiliar with everyday life.

Jiroutachi (Japanese: Eiji Miyashita / English: Randy Pearlman)
Even bigger than Taroutachi is a monument to samurai pride and largely used in kabuki. For that reason Jiroutachi is dressed as an elegant woman but there’s no denying his prowess.

Izuminokami Kanesada (Japanese: Ryohei Kimura / English: Robert McCollum)
A favorite sword of Shinsengumi Vice-Commander Hijikata Toshizo, Izuminokami Kanesada’s short fuse is a definite shortcoming.

Ookurikara (Japanese: Makoto Furukawa / English: Chris Ryan)
Descended from the Date clan, Izuminokami Kanesada is old friends with Shokudaikiri Mitsutada, Taikogane Sadamune, and Tsurumaru Kuninaga.

Mikazuki Munechika (Japanese: Kosuke Toriumi / English:Vic Mignogna)
Forged by Sanjou Munechika in the Heian era, Mikazuki Munechika is among the five most beautiful swords ever created.

Hakata Toshiro (Japanese: Jun Oosuka / English: Austin Tindle)
One of the Awataguchi siblings, Hakata Toushirou was forged by Awataguchi Yoshimitsu and got his name through having come from Hakata. He was given to Ogasawara Tadazane by Kuroda Tadayuki and subsequently belonged to the Ogasawara clan.

Yamabushi Kunihiro (Japanese: Tooru Sakurai / English: Bryan Massey)
Dressed as a monk, Yamabushi Kunihiro has the bad habit of retreating to the mountains.

Otegine (Japanese: Kenji Hamada / English: Jarrod Greene)
One of the three great spears of Japan, Otegine was forged by Suruga’s Kojo Yoshisuke.

Kousetsu Samonji (Japanese: Takuya Sato / English: Blake McNamara)
Forged by Samonji of Chikuzen, Kousetsu Samonji is dressed as a priest and has icy blue eyes. He purifies battle by praying away sadness.

Urashima Kotetsu (Japanese: Jun Fukushima / English: Stephen Sanders)
Urashima Kotetsu was forged by Nagasone Kotetsu in the Edo era and was handed down through the Ikeda clan. He got his name from the engraving of Urashima Taro on his blade. Urashima is simple and pleasant and gets along with everyone.

Ichigo Hitofuri (Japanese: Atsushi Tamaru / English: Josh Grelle)
Forged by Awataguchi Yoshimitsu, Ichigo Hitofuri is the eldest of the Awataguchi siblings and always has a kind and gentle expression on his face but sometimes looks a little sad.

Tonbokiri (Japanese: Tooru Sakurai / English: Chris Guerrero)
One of three legendary spears crafted by Fujiwara Masazane. He gets his name from the dragonfly which perched on the spear’s tip and was cut in two. Tonbokiri may be big but he’s also simple and honest.

Nihongo (Japanese: Kenjiro Tsuda / English: Chris Rager)
One of three legendary spears.

Kogitsunemaru (Japanese: Takashi Kondo / English: Chuck Huber)
Forged in the Heian era by Sanjo Munesaka, Kogitsunemaru appears in the Noh play “The Swordsmith”.

Iwatooshi (Japanese: Eiji Miyashita / English: Ian Ferguson)
Iwatooshi is said to have been the favorite halberd of Musashibo Benkei and is big enough to put pressure on the ground.

Hotarumaru (Japanese: Yuichi Iguchi / English: Dawn M. Bennett)
Crafted by Rai Kunitoshi, Hotarumaru gets his name from the legend that he was healed after having a dream that fireflies collected in a chink on his blade.

Akashi Kuniyuki (Japanese: Ryota Asari / English:Micah Solusod)
Akashi Kuniyuki was crafted by Rai Kuniyuki and passed down through the Matsudaira clan.

Nagasone Kotetsu (Japanese: Tarusuke Shingaki / English: Christopher Sabat)
Nagasone Kotetsu was owned by Shinsengumi commander Kondo Isami.

Soji Okita (Japanese: Daisuke Ono / English: Chris Cason)
Captain of the first unit of the Shinsengumi, Soji Okita is a samurai who wears the regular Shinsengumi uniform.

Yamanbagiri Chogi (Japanese: Kengo Takanashi)
A Japanese sword made during the Nanbokucho period. He is the original Yamanbagiri that was forged by Chougi, a Bizen Osafune swordsmith.

Music

Theme Song: "Hana no Utage" by Mitsuhiro Ichiki and Toshiki Masuda

• Anime Site (Japanese)
• Twitter (Japanese)

• Original Creator: DMM, Nitroplus
• Director: Takashi Naoya
• Screenplay: Yuki Nekota
• Character Design/Chief Animation Director: Junichiro Taniguchi
• Sub-Character Design: Eriko Iida, Mitsue Mori
• Sword Design: Eri Nakajima, Hiyori Denforword Akishino
• Prop Design: Hiyori Denforword Akishino, Kazumi Ono, Tamami Izawa
• Art Director: Yukari Yasuda (Olive)
• Art Setting: Takeyuki Takahashi
• Color Design: Yuka Ito
• Director of Photography: Takehiro Go
• Editing: Kentarou Tsubone (REAL-T)
• Sound Director: Fumiyuki Go
• Sound Effects: Katsuhiro Nakano
• Music: Kenji Kawai
• Animation Production: Doga Kobo