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Event Held to Mark Last Sakura Wars Musical in August
posted on by Egan Loo
The media company Sega held a free special event in Tokyo's Cure Maid Café last Saturday to mark the last stage musical run planned for the Sakura Wars (Sakura Taisen) franchise. The "Sakura Wars New York Revue Show: Last Show" will run in Tokyo from August 27 to August 31. Sakura Wars musicals have been held every year since 1997, although the Teigoku Kagekidan (Imperial Assault Force) cast that started the franchise already held its last performance in 2006. The last musical will focus on the New York Assault Force that made its appearance later in the franchise's history.
Ouji Hiroi began the franchise as a "dramatic adventure game" on Sega Saturn console in 1996. From there, this alternative history story of all-female mechanized task forces — that also perform musicals to maintain their top secret cover — rapidly expanded onto other game platforms, as well as into anime via DVD, film, and television. As another sign of the slowing momentum for the franchise though, Tokyo's official Sakura Wars shop and cafe (Taishō Romandō & Sakura Cafe) closed on March 30 after almost a decade of service.
Source: Akiba Keizai Shimbun
