Warriors of Legend
Encyclopedia
Warriors of Legend is a series of books that are to be published by Genvid L.L.C. The first book in the series, Warriors of Legend: Reflections of Japan
in Sailor Moon
(Unauthorized) is the only book published so far.
franchise to learn facts about Japan and in particular about the Azabu
Jūban district of the Minato Ward
of Tokyo
in which the series is set. It both focuses on the landmarks of Azabu Jūban and the surrounding area as well as touching on aspects of the Culture of Japan
which are apparent in the series but that may be missed by the eyes of westerners - for example Sailor Jupiter
's height making her a target for bullying or "ijime". It also touches on the non-Japanese aspects of the show, for example the latter section of the book contains a comparison between Sailor Venus and the goddess Ishtar
.
a United Kingdom
"Asian Entertainment" magazine, which gave it four out of five stars and where it was one of the "Hot Picks" of the issue. Its publishing was covered by several anime and popular news sites, including ICv2 (where it was lead article), Ain't It Cool News
, Anime News Network
, Animation Insider, and Akadot. It was also given a brief mention at Websnark after the news of TokyoPop
's rights to the Sailor Moon manga lapsing broke.
While the book's reception was largely positive there were some complaints lodged on Sailor Moon Internet Forums and by other members of the community alleging that Genvid was making money from the Sailor Moon franchise without paying royalties to Kodansha
, Toei
, and Naoko Takeuchi
by publishing the book "Unauthorized". Sushil K. Rudranath replied on the Genvid LLC. website that the reason the authors chose to go unauthorized is because Toei did not give them permission to published an authorized, screen shot illustrated work and that the publishers they had approached had turned them down due to the belief that a Sailor Moon
based product would not sell, which is why they chose a self-published route.
website AnimeAnime. The tour consisted of visiting landmarks and sites covered in the book as well as a stay in the Mielparque
Hall hotel in Tokyo, which was the location the headquarters of the Dark Agency in Codename wa Sailor V
.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in Sailor Moon
Sailor Moon
Sailor Moon, known as , is a media franchise created by manga artist Naoko Takeuchi. Fred Patten credits Takeuchi with popularizing the concept of a team of magical girls, and Paul Gravett credits the series with "revitalizing" the magical-girl genre itself...
(Unauthorized) is the only book published so far.
Reflections of Japan
The first, and as yet only released, book in the series. It is intended as a guide for fans of the Sailor MoonSailor Moon
Sailor Moon, known as , is a media franchise created by manga artist Naoko Takeuchi. Fred Patten credits Takeuchi with popularizing the concept of a team of magical girls, and Paul Gravett credits the series with "revitalizing" the magical-girl genre itself...
franchise to learn facts about Japan and in particular about the Azabu
Azabu
is an area within Minato in Tokyo, Japan, built on a marshy area of foothills south of central Tokyo. Its coverage roughly corresponds to that of the former Azabu Ward, presently consisting of nine official districts: Azabu-Jūban, Azabudai, Azabu-Nagasakachō, Azabu-Mamianachō, Nishi-Azabu,...
Jūban district of the Minato Ward
Minato, Tokyo
is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. As of 1 March 2008, it had an official population of 217,335 and a population density of 10,865 persons per km². The total area is 20.34 km².Minato hosts 49 embassies...
of Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
in which the series is set. It both focuses on the landmarks of Azabu Jūban and the surrounding area as well as touching on aspects of the Culture of Japan
Culture of Japan
The culture of Japan has evolved greatly over the millennia, from the country's prehistoric Jōmon period to its contemporary hybrid culture, which combines influences from Asia, Europe and North America...
which are apparent in the series but that may be missed by the eyes of westerners - for example Sailor Jupiter
Sailor Jupiter
is one of the central characters in the Sailor Moon metaseries. Her real name is , a strong schoolgirl who can transform into one of the series' specialized heroines, the Sailor Senshi....
's height making her a target for bullying or "ijime". It also touches on the non-Japanese aspects of the show, for example the latter section of the book contains a comparison between Sailor Venus and the goddess Ishtar
Ishtar
Ishtar is the Assyrian and Babylonian goddess of fertility, love, war, and sex. She is the counterpart to the Sumerian Inanna and to the cognate north-west Semitic goddess Astarte.-Characteristics:...
.
Reviews and Anime Community Reception
The first book has been reviewed by NEONeo (magazine)
NEO is a 100-page monthly magazine published in the United Kingdom and Ireland by Uncooked Media that focuses on various aspects of East Asian entertainment such as Japanese anime and manga ; Hong Kong, Korean and Japanese films; and Japanese pop, rock and visual kei music, etc.The magazine...
a United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
"Asian Entertainment" magazine, which gave it four out of five stars and where it was one of the "Hot Picks" of the issue. Its publishing was covered by several anime and popular news sites, including ICv2 (where it was lead article), Ain't It Cool News
Ain't It Cool News
Ain't It Cool News is a website founded and run by Harry Knowles, dedicated to news, rumors and reviews of upcoming and currently playing films and television projects, with an emphasis on science fiction, fantasy, horror, comic-book and action genres...
, Anime News Network
Anime News Network
Anime News Network is an anime industry news website that reports on the status of anime, manga, Japanese popular music and other otaku-related culture within North America, Australia and Japan. Additionally, it sometimes features similar happenings throughout the Anglosphere and elsewhere in the...
, Animation Insider, and Akadot. It was also given a brief mention at Websnark after the news of TokyoPop
Tokyopop
Tokyopop, styled TOKYOPOP, and formerly known as Mixx, is a distributor, licensor, and publisher of anime, manga, manhwa, and Western manga-style works. The existing German publishing division produces German translations of licensed Japanese properties and original English-language manga, as well...
's rights to the Sailor Moon manga lapsing broke.
While the book's reception was largely positive there were some complaints lodged on Sailor Moon Internet Forums and by other members of the community alleging that Genvid was making money from the Sailor Moon franchise without paying royalties to Kodansha
Kodansha
, the largest Japanese publisher, produces the manga magazines Nakayoshi, Afternoon, Evening, and Weekly Shonen Magazine, as well as more literary magazines such as Gunzō, Shūkan Gendai, and the Japanese dictionary Nihongo Daijiten. The company has its headquarters in Bunkyō, Tokyo...
, Toei
Toei Animation
Toei Animation Co., Ltd. is a Japanese animation studio owned by Toei Co., Ltd. The studio was founded in 1948 as Japan Animated Films . In 1956, Toei purchased the studio and it was reincorporated under its current name...
, and Naoko Takeuchi
Naoko Takeuchi
is a Japanese manga artist who lives in Tokyo, Japan. Takeuchi's works have a wide following among anime and manga fans worldwide. Her most popular work, Sailor Moon, rose to become one of the most recognized manga and anime products to date.-Early life:...
by publishing the book "Unauthorized". Sushil K. Rudranath replied on the Genvid LLC. website that the reason the authors chose to go unauthorized is because Toei did not give them permission to published an authorized, screen shot illustrated work and that the publishers they had approached had turned them down due to the belief that a Sailor Moon
Sailor Moon
Sailor Moon, known as , is a media franchise created by manga artist Naoko Takeuchi. Fred Patten credits Takeuchi with popularizing the concept of a team of magical girls, and Paul Gravett credits the series with "revitalizing" the magical-girl genre itself...
based product would not sell, which is why they chose a self-published route.
Warriors of Legend Tour of Tokyo
Genvid organized a one-off tour of Tokyo from June 27-early morning June 30 , 2006. This tour, though small involving only ten tourists, was mentioned on both Anime News Network and on the JapaneseJapanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
website AnimeAnime. The tour consisted of visiting landmarks and sites covered in the book as well as a stay in the Mielparque
Mielparque
Mielparque is a Japanese hotel chain.Mielparque operates hotels throughout Honshū, Shikoku, and Kyūshū.-External links:* *...
Hall hotel in Tokyo, which was the location the headquarters of the Dark Agency in Codename wa Sailor V
Codename wa Sailor V
is a manga created by Naoko Takeuchi. Series revolves around the character, Minako Aino, a cheerful schoolgirl who finds out that she has magical powers that she must use to protect the people of the Earth...
.