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兼田ライ/Rai Kanada @raikanadaa.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

If romance were the main point, they could’ve made the lead actress and church date separate choices.

兼田ライ/Rai Kanada @raikanadaa.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

You’re choosing whose story to put center —especially with Maria. In the first game, the heroine is determined by who you go to the New Year’s shrine visit with. Isn’t Sakura Wars 2’s event closer to the series’ underlying ideals?

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兼田ライ/Rai Kanada @raikanadaa.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

This also made me think of an argument in my essay on Sakura Wars,I realized that in SW2, you choose your heroine by choosing who will star in the Christmas play. That feels significant: the game doesn’t structurally make the heroine someone you romantically own.

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兼田ライ/Rai Kanada @raikanadaa.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I'm really happy that I've been able to hear people's thoughts on “Arming the Heart with Steel” here on Bluesky and in the Discord!

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兼田ライ/Rai Kanada @raikanadaa.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I have a lot of long-time SW fans following me on Japanese X, but I think this kind of critical writing is a little outside what they're used to reading, so I haven't gotten any feedback there at all. So hearing from people here about what you actually took away from the essay means a lot to me. 🥹

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兼田ライ/Rai Kanada @raikanadaa.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

有楽町マルイのサクラ大戦ポップアップ行きましたマリアの謎ポーズ、こうやって楽しむのが最適解かもしれない

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Axe of the Blood God - An RPG Podcast @bloodgodpod.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Happy 30th Anniversary to Sakura Wars!🌸 A missing piece of RPG history in the West and a cultural phenomenon in Japan; blending SRPG combat, ADV exploration, and romance! Last year we released our deep-dive episode from behind the paywall to spread the love: www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod/...

patreon.com

Sakura Wars - Pantheon of the Blood God | Axe of the Blood God

Happy American Thanksgiving! We're taking the week off but as a very special treat we're pulling one of our favourite Pantheon episodes out

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Axe of the Blood God - An RPG Podcast @bloodgodpod.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

This week on the pod, Cam Hawkins (@camfinalmix.bsky.social) returns to review Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter! PLUS: - Qliphah in Providence's Shadow - Nocturne - Torneko's Mystery Dungeon - and oh so much more www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod/...

patreon.com

Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter w/ Cam Hawkins | Axe of the Blood God

Orbments, orbments, and more orbments! Special guest Cam Hawkins joins Eric and Nadia to discuss Trails in the Sky Second Chapter while deft

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Samantha Ferreira Is Back On Her Book Bullshit @sam-animeherald.northsky.social · 06/10/2026

Hey, @bloodgodpod.bsky.social were kind and naive enough to let me talk about Sakura Wars for two hours. Today can be YOUR day that ends with "Y", too. \o/

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Axe of the Blood God - An RPG Podcast @bloodgodpod.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Sakura Wars has always subverted gender norms and presented LGBTQ+ characters, and we celebrate it. On its 30 year anniversary, we talk about the series’ impact, community, and our hopes for what’s next youtube.com/shorts/670PB... 🎧 : pod.link/969659784/ep... 💸 : www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod/...

youtube.com

Sakura Wars has always subverted gender norms and presented LGBTQ+ characters, and we celebrate it

YouTube video by Axe of the Blood God

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兼田ライ/Rai Kanada @raikanadaa.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Happy 30th anniversary to Sakura Wars! Here is my tribute to the series. I’m truly honored to be able to share what I’ve been thinking about this series for the past 20 years on such a wonderful platform as Anime Herald, on this special anniversary. animeherald.com/2026/09/26/a... #SakuraWars

animeherald.com

Arming the Heart with Steel: How Sakura Wars Explores Structural Queer Survival

Taken together, these practices suggest that Sakura Wars’s non-normativity lies not simply in its characters or its romantic possibilities, but in its broader refusal of conventional hierarchies of ge...

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兼田ライ/Rai Kanada @raikanadaa.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Since 広井王子's era, we've seen multiple character designers, composers, and even a different actress playing Sumire on stage. It's still just a hypothesis, but there seem to be quite a few things pointing in that direction.

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兼田ライ/Rai Kanada @raikanadaa.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

But there was no actual hereditary system in the story. Nowadays, though, I wonder if 撫子 might symbolize SW becoming more like a classic — something that can be passed on and reinterpreted by different creators, rather than being tied to one particular person.

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兼田ライ/Rai Kanada @raikanadaa.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Nadeshiko was really interesting to me. A friend of mine who loves Sakura Shinguji described her as “a nightmare,” probably because she looks like Sakura but clearly isn't her. I actually wondered if SW had somehow become hereditary, like AKB0048, haha.

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兼田ライ/Rai Kanada @raikanadaa.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

気づいてさえしまえばあやめとマリアの関係…というか、マリアはプレイヤーを見ていないということは繰り返し提示されていたでも気づかれなかっただから新サクラで『狂い咲け帝都に』『ゲキテイ新章』で追加で気づきなさい、初代に立ち返りなさいと書かれたんじゃないだろうか

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兼田ライ/Rai Kanada @raikanadaa.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

サクラ大戦のリメイクが出ない理由、技術だけじゃなくてファン側の受容の問題があったんじゃないかと作品構造をみていて思う

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兼田ライ/Rai Kanada @raikanadaa.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

There were already several characters who had been announced on social media but never actually appeared before the service ended, and I suspect there were even more characters that had never been publicly announced at all.

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兼田ライ/Rai Kanada @raikanadaa.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

And I completely understand what you mean about wanting more characters from other countries! I think that could have happened if the game had continued for longer.

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兼田ライ/Rai Kanada @raikanadaa.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

As for my favorite, 革命 had such a huge cast, and I only got to play for about 5 months, so unfortunately it ended before I had enough time to really dig into most of the characters. The character I found myself wanting to explore was くるみ. She starts out on 大帝国歌劇団 but eventually joins the しの.

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兼田ライ/Rai Kanada @raikanadaa.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

I was actually excited about the female protagonist when サクラ革命 was first announced! I remember thinking, “So the Sakura Wars heroines are finally going to be able to flirt with a female player...” 😂

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兼田ライ/Rai Kanada @raikanadaa.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Yes, I did! I started playing Sakura Kakumei about two months after launch, so unfortunately I only got to play it for about 5 months before the service ended. I really wish I'd had more time with it, though! What did you like about it?

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Samantha Ferreira Is Back On Her Book Bullshit @sam-animeherald.northsky.social · 02/10/2026

I can't argue with this. A lot of spite goes into keeping Anime Herald going, even as the world actively tries to kill us off. I know Katy, Erica, and the AniFem crew are the same. We wouldn't be here without our communities cheering us on, and the friends we've made in this crazy community.

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兼田ライ/Rai Kanada @raikanadaa.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

animeherald.com

Arming the Heart with Steel: How Sakura Wars Explores Structural Queer Survival

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兼田ライ/Rai Kanada @raikanadaa.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Kaede/Maria difficult for me to read as a replacement—Kaede's resemblance would make Ayame's absence more visible, not erase it.

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兼田ライ/Rai Kanada @raikanadaa.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

though, so I don't want to speculate about those. The rocket is the big for me: Ayame's photograph is inside it. And by then Kaede, who looks and even sounds remarkably like Ayame, is working at the Imperial Theatre. So why does Maria still need to carry Ayame's image with her? That's what makes

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兼田ライ/Rai Kanada @raikanadaa.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Thanks! I'm glad the Mikasa/AyaMari “special place” framing came through. And yes, there's SO much to work with in the SW songs! As for Maria finding happiness after Ayame: at least by 2, I don't think she has moved on from Ayame. I'ven't closely read 3 and 4 yet,

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兼田ライ/Rai Kanada @raikanadaa.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

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兼田ライ/Rai Kanada @raikanadaa.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I'm really happy that I've been able to hear people's thoughts on “Arming the Heart with Steel” here on Bluesky and in the Discord!

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兼田ライ/Rai Kanada @raikanadaa.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

That's actually a big part of why I wanted to write this essay in the first place - I wanted to find a way to put into words something I had felt about Sakura Wars for a very long time, but couldn't quite explain. Thank you for giving it another read and sharing your thoughts with me!

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兼田ライ/Rai Kanada @raikanadaa.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I'm really happy that the parts about Maria and Ayame gave you a perspective you hadn't considered before. And what you said about the essay helping newer fans who might feel the same way I did really touched me.

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兼田ライ/Rai Kanada @raikanadaa.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

あやマリに新サクラ大戦ステージ見せてきた

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兼田ライ/Rai Kanada @raikanadaa.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Thank you!! 🥹（I am the author Rai Kanada） I'm really happy you recommended it! If you have a moment, I'd love to know what you liked about it, too. I'm always curious what readers take away from it!

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兼田ライ/Rai Kanada @raikanadaa.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

兼田ライです。ブルースカイ始めました。AnimeHerald様に論考「Arming the Heart with Steel: How Sakura Wars Explores Structural Queer Survival」を載せて頂きました。ブルースカイで反応を見られて嬉しいです。記事のご質問や感想があればいつでもどうぞ。

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Witchy_Shana_Reviews @shanareviews.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

GO READ THIS! please

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Anime Herald @animeherald.com · 27/09/2026

Today is Sakura Wars' 30th anniversary, and you'd better believe that we're ready for it. 🥰 Researcher Rai Kanada explored the series and its depictions of queerness and queer survival, with a focus on the relationship between Maria and Ayame. It's a great read, and we hope you enjoy it #SakuraWars

hera.fyi

Arming the Heart with Steel: How Sakura Wars Explores Structural Queer Survival

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Dr. Goblin MD @drboi11.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

The thrill of being with these wonderful people and helping them become better versions of themselves exceeds the thrill of being surrounded by a group of beautiful and interested women. I want these characters to be happy and find love and fulfillment on their own terms and thats so beautiful.

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Dr. Goblin MD @drboi11.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

As someone queer and polyamorous, there is some appeal to a harem style story to me. But in practice the genre is pretty garbo and I find it off putting. SW hit the perfect spot for me, because its about forming emotional bonds and encouraging those bonds between the cast independent of you.

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Samantha Ferreira Is Back On Her Book Bullshit @sam-animeherald.northsky.social · 27/09/2026

I told you we had something cool prepared for Sakura Wars' 30th anniversary :D

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