RADIO SAKURA - Sakura Wars fan radio

Originally played by Akio Suyama

Ichiro Ogami (ee-chee-ro oh-gah-me) is the newly-appointed captain of the Imperial Flower Division, who graduated at the top of his classes in the Imperial Naval Academy and transferred to the surprise of their covert operation as a theater troupe. Being the main character in the original games, his personality more or less depends on how the player themselves interacts with the other characters within the course of the story, but in most of the anime adaptations he's depicted to be a heroic yet not always consistent leader, easily prone to becoming overwhelmed by the rest of the group during more dysfunctional moments, as well as being easily flustered and humiliated. But despite his flaws, he was chosen to lead the division due to his loyalty towards others and his proficiency in the battlefield, and throughout the course of the series he has a clear mutual appreciation towards the other members of the division.

His voice doesn't exactly command as much authority as you'd expect from a leader, but he very much does speak in a proper, somewhat formal dialect, yet is nonetheless level-headed with whomever he communicates with.

Originally played by Chisa Yokoyama

While not necessarily the main protagonist per se, she is the titular character nonetheless. Throughout the games and anime adaptations, Sakura Shinguji (sah-ku-rah shin-goo-jee) is depicted as a very spirited and kind young lady, sincere in her devotion towards her friends and the Imperial Capital. Being from Sendai and growing up in a more traditional and rural familial environment, the world of Taisho-era Tokyo and its ever-changing technological advancements are initially alien to her, and thus she falls victim to her own naivete. Because of this, she initially doesn't quite get along with the other members of the Flower Division, but through persevering against her shortcomings, she becomes one of the most respected members of the division, and an entirely more confident person altogether.

At times she is prone to jealousy, as well as not exactly being the best at standing up for herself, but she is always well-intended. Her attitude can change sporadically but her heart is always in the right place, she is kind when she needs to be and determined the next moment.

Her voice should be innocuous and generally nonthreatening, but with a fiery undertone that breaks out whenever it needs to. Ability to sing isn't required but it puts you at an advantage.

Originally played by Michie Tomizawa

The most prestigious member of the Imperial Flower Division, yet also the most arrogant and self-conceited. Sumire Kanzaki (soo-me-ray kan-za-kee) displays great talent and power both on stage and in the battlefield, at the expense of her own self-awareness as an asset to a greater functioning unit. This personality stems from her status as part of the Kanzaki bloodline, which hosts an elite industrial factory that created the Koubu used by the Imperial Flower Division; this contribution in her family gives her the incentive to assume authority above her peers, even if it costs the team their morale or their victories.

She does retain a few admirable qualities, and she is a valuable unit in the Imperial Flower Division, but sometimes her own arrogance gets the best of her.

Her voice should command a sense of authority, drawing attention to her own self-accomplishment and narcissism - yet immediately shattering into dysfunction if anyone dares question it. Ability to sing isn't required but it puts you at an advantage.

Originally played by Urara Takano

One of the oldest members of the Imperial Flower Division, Maria Tachibana (mar-ee-uh toh-chi-bon-na) is at times stoic and self-reserved, yet also uses this mantra to hide her deep-seeded trauma and urgency to partake in her own emotional volition. She is often the voice of reason of the group against the arguments of others, as she finds herself accustomed to the role of the mediator.

Beyond that, she is loyal and responsible to her superiors, and is very skilled in combat. However, her constant aspirations towards leadership can sometimes drive her to the edge - she chooses to face her problems alone, without realizing the companionship she's made ever since she was alone.

Her prose and diction is stark and concealed - only breaking in moments of desperation.

Originally played by Kumiko Nishihara

The youngest member of the Imperial Flower Division, Iris Chateaubriand (eye-riss sha-tow-bree-and) is energetic and cheerful, yet prone to extreme mood swings and afraid of the power she possesses, often only using it whenever she feels she cannot control it, as well as not entirely fully grasping the responsibility for it. She is burdened by isolation, but on stage and her general demeanor pushes that aside, as she pertains to be outwardly joyous. One of her deepest emotional connections is with her teddy bear she named Jean-Paul.

Her voice is that of an overexcited child, very high-pitched and energetic. At times she refers to herself in the third person.

Originally played by Yuriko Fuchizaki

Kohran Li (koh-ron lee) has a very humorous and vibrant presence, as well as a knack for inventing - even if her inventions don't always go well in her favor. She is helpful in regards to technological operations, in particular towards the Koubu, which she shares a mutual devotion towards - due to her history as a war orphan during the Xinhai Revolution, she is in direct opposition towards technology being used as a means to carry out violent actions.

Her voice is rather quirky and versatile, showcasing a lot of personality while also easily sardonic whenever she needs to be. Her demeanor is very informal, and she speaks somewhat quickly.

Originally played by Mayumi Tanaka

The most physically powerful of the Imperial Flower Division, whenever Kanna Kirishma (kon-nuh kur-i-shi-ma) isn't looking for a fight, she can be very easygoing and chill, moreso than the majority of the others in the group. Her strength lends herself to be a useful member in the division, and while she is able to easily get along with others in the group, she can also be easily set off into rage, particularly by Sumire. Other than that, she is both friendly towards others and rambunctious, and wears her Okinawan pride on her sleeves.

Her demeanor is very informal, and she always brings a lot of her personality whenever she talks - regardless of how she feels. If this makes things any easier, her seiyuu (Mayumi Tanaka) is the voice of Monkey D. Luffy from One Piece.

Originally voiced by Maya Okamoto

Orihime Soletta (or-ra-he-may so-leh-tuh) was a former member of another division, the European Star Division, but transferred to the Flower Division in the second entry, Thou Shalt Not Die. She is very talkative and outwardly abrasive in that regard towards everyone she meets, and can be prone to a short temper; despite this, she does manage to get along with the others decently enough, with the exception of Ogami at first. Throughout the second game, she possessed a prejudice towards Japanese men due to her Japanese father abandoning her, which created complications between the two. Luckily, however, she was able to subside those feelings by the game’s conclusion.

Originally voiced by Kazue Ikura

Reni Milchstraße (reh-nee milkh-shtrah-suh), like Orihime, originally belonged to the European Star Division before transferring to the Flower Division. Reni is very emotionally distant and resolved, as she was programmed since her early childhood as part of a military project to become a child soldier - an instrument of war beyond her understanding. Due to this, her emotions were suppressed and her mentality was dead set on performing as militaristically efficient as possible, until meeting the Flower Division where she really opened herself up and became a more outwardly sociable member.

Her voice is soft and reserved, with stark undertones of apprehension and worry.

Originally voiced by Noriko Hidaka

Erica Fontaine (ehr-ih-kuh fawn-tain) is a member of the Fleur Division of Paris, first seen in Sakura Wars 3: Is Paris Burning?. Being the Sakura-equivalent of the game, Erica shares some of Sakura’s personality traits like her outwardly friendly demeanor and her constant clumsiness. What makes her unique, however, is her devotion to God and further training as a nun. She isn’t exactly the best at solving problems (in fact, she usually either doesn’t know what to do or makes things worse) but as a whole, she has her heart in the right place and is seriously committed to helping others around her. Even if she isn’t the most practically skilled, she is strong in her relationships with others.

Her voice is very bubbly and her demeanor is outspoken, almost like she’s stuck in her own little world. When things are serious, however, she completely changes who she is and becomes more determined in the process.

BONUS POINTS: try to sing this

Originally voiced by Sanae Kobayashi

Otherwise known as the Samurai Girl of the Wild West, Gemini Sunrise (jeh-muh-nai suhn-rize) is a member of the New York Star Division, from Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love. She is a very cheerful and optimistic presence both in the team and in general, and wears her cowgirl pride on her sleeves, though she had also been trained as a samurai, thus giving her her alias. Like Sakura, she exhibits a sense (at first) of alienation of being a Texas native in New York, but she learns to grow fonder of her surroundings throughout the course of the game.

One important thing to note is her split-personality/sister of sorts, Geminine, who exists as a byproduct of two hearts living in the same body. Due to the death of her master who taught her the samurai ways, Gemini has always developed a strong sense of depression and longing, as Geminine takes on a much more vengeful, aggressive persona than her mild-mannered sister. Hellbent on impulse and determination, she often puts Gemini in danger in moments, but it’s all from a place of the desire of fulfillment.

Gemini has a strong Texan accent and informal dialect, but has the same outwardly cheerful and innocuous deliveries you’d expect from Sakura or Erica.

Japanese-English volunteer translator for various purposes on our projects. Apply with previous examples of work.

Volunteer writer for Sakura Wars fan content. Familiarity with source material is considered an asset. Apply with previous examples of work. English language only.

Extra voices for miscellaneous purposes. English only.