Twelve Kingdoms: further information, translated online novel, book release etc.

[mafee]

I think most watching this anime are curious about what'll happen next. The most annoying thing is the unfinished story of Taiki. That's why after finishing this anime I've started searching in the Internet for further information about this serie. Think that it might be interesting for some fans of this anime.

The Twelve Kingdoms (Juuni Kokki)

General information (from Wikipedia)
The Twelve Kingdoms (十二国記, Jūni Kokuki?), also known as Juuni Kokki, 12 Kokki, and Record of 12 Countries, is a Japanese fantasy series by Fuyumi Ono consisting of eleven novels and a short story collection, and a 45-episode anime series produced by Studio Pierrot in 2002. The story is loosely based on ancient Chinese mythology.

The first novel was published in Japan in 1991 and the last volume in 2001. The novels are licensed in the United States by Tokyopop and the first volume will be released in hardcover in March 2007 as part of their Pop Fiction line. The entire anime series has been released on DVD in the United States by Media Blasters.

Book Release
The hard cover book (translated into English) will be release in March, 2007. So far I think only the first volume. Don't know when the others will be available. You can pre-order in Amazon or in Barnes and Noble.

Read 'The Twelve Kingdoms' online (novels)

There are seven novel titles in total, plus one short story collection:

- Mashō no Ko (魔性の子) ~ "The Demonic Child"
Taiki's story in modern Japan.

- Tsuki no Kage, Kage no Umi (月の影　影の海) ~ "Shadow of the Moon, The Sea of Shadow"
Youko becomes Empress of Kei. (2 volume)

- Kaze no Umi, Meikyū no Kishi (風の海　迷宮の岸) ~ "Sea of the Wind, Shore of the Labyrinth"
Taiki chooses the Emperor of Tai. (2 volume)

- Higashi no Watatsumi, Nishi no Sōkai (東の海神　西の滄海) ~ "Sea God in the East, Vast Sea in the West"
The Emperor of En suppresses a rebellion.

- Kaze no Banri, Reimei no Sora (風の万里　黎明の空) ~ "A Thousand Miles of Wind, The Sky at Dawn"
Youko, Suzu and Syoukei free the Wa Province in Kei. (2 volume)

- Tonan no Tsubasa (図南の翼) ~ "The Aspired Wings"
Syusyou becomes Empress of Kyou.

- Tasogare no Kishi, Akatsuki no Sora (黄昏の岸　暁の天) ~ "The Shore at Twilight, The Sky at Daybreak"
Risai meets Youko to request help in summoning Taiki. (2 volume)
This is what the anime didn't cover!!! The story of Taiki after he's disappeared from the world. Unfortunately, the translation is not completed either.

- Kasho no Yume (華胥の幽夢) ~ "The Dream of Prosperity"
Various short stories, set in Tai, Hou, Kei, Sai and Sou.
So far I've found only 華胥の幽夢――冬栄 (Kasyo no Yume -- Toei) ~ The Dream of Kasyo--Prosperity in Winter

Moreover, an encyclopedia is very useful when you encounter Japanese terms.

Enjoy!!!


Edited on 7-02-07:
- Changed the links of "Demon Child" and "Sea of the Wind, Shore of the Maze" to another site which has made more progress.
- Added the link to "Tonan no Tsubasa" according to AgA. Thanks a lot! ^___^
- Made links to all online novels and deleted unnecessary phrases in order for the thread to look cleaner.
- Added the link to Barnes and Noble for pre-ordering.

[AgA]

you can find the aspired wings at http://www.geocities.com/ctokolsky/index.html
it only a part of the first chapter though.

[asrai]

wow..thanks for the links..great help

It's a good thing they translated it eventhough it's unfinished..*yey* I hope it becomes a hit like the HP books...

I really really love 12K...*scrambling to read what happens to taiki* o(= >_< =)o

[girlsocute]

wow..thanks for your kind.

[mafee]

Well, the serie is kinda finished i think. According to what i've read Ono sensei is working on other story and has no plan of returning to this serie....

She might continue the Twelve Kingdoms again only if (a big if) the serie'll be a BIG hit (a big 'BIG')........ Do you think that's possible? I don't think so. After several years without any news... There are big fans of Twelve Kingdoms, but not that much. Let's hope that when the novel is translated into English it'll get a big number of fans...ne?

One more thing, from the list of the online books, only the series of Youko and Suzu-Shoukei-Youko are finished (those from eugenewoodbury's site).

The story of Taiki is in process. The translator is busy, maybe .... T________T

Moreover, the site hosting the translation of "Sea of the Wind, Shore of the Labyrinth" (Taiki choosing the Emperor) is inaccessible now. Wish I had saved it in my computer. - -"

[Observador]

lol thanks a bunch

[statmat]

The story requires more thoughts to appreciate it so it won't be easy to be a big "Big" hit. The story of Taiki left open at they recovered him back the second time from Japan just before the mass media going to kill him and his condition has deterated to a point he is almost dead. He was recovring under protection in Kai but internal struggle of Kai made him and the lady general decide to leave Kai for returning back to Tai looking for the missing King.

[mafee]

I've just found this out. If you are that curious about little cute Taiki and can't wait until the translated volume is released, read it. But as i've already warned, this is a BIG spoiler.

http://canis-m.livejournal.com/130049.html

And if you decide to read it after all, read the comments after that too. They're very interesting and funny.

[georcp]

good to know perhaps i will follow up on these links at some stage after exams

[Kalyra_Shadowdancer]

i picked up the first of the hardcover books at chapters a couple weeks ago - i couldn't believe it at first but the title twelve kingdoms grabbed me straightaway so i bought it. i wasn't sure til i read it that it was actually from the anime i'd been watching but i was glad i found it! does anyone know if they're going to release more books??