The main visual for the anime adaptation of Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin, an action game set to air on July 6, has been unveiled. This anime, based on the rice-cultivation action game that gained popularity under the nickname "Reiwa Rice Riot," has garnered an exceptional endorsement from the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Tetsushi Sakamoto, due to an official collaboration with the ministry.

In the 2020 game, set on the island of "Hinoe," players battle demons while engaging in a detailed simulation of traditional Japanese rice cultivation.

The protagonist, the harvest goddess Sakuna, becomes stronger as players successfully complete tasks like plowing, planting, and harvesting rice. The game's realistic portrayal of rice cultivation led to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries' website being hailed as the best resource for game strategies. The game sold over 1.5 million copies worldwide, resulting in the "Reiwa Rice Riot" phenomenon.

The anime adaptation is produced by P.A.WORKS, known for "SHIROBAKO" and "Hanasaku Iroha." The original cast returns, with Naomi Ozora voicing the harvest goddess Sakuna and Rika Kinugawa as Kokorowa-hime, an upper god living in the capital and Sakuna's close friend.

Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries' Comments

"Hello to everyone looking forward to the 'Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin' anime. I'm Tetsushi Sakamoto, the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

The game 'Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin' gained attention for its realistic depiction of rice cultivation processes. It was widely reported that our ministry's website was useful for game strategies. The hype was so great that our rice specialists personally met with the creators, Naru and Koichi, and their social media posts about the game went viral, leading to TV stations interviewing our ministry.

Given this background, we are thrilled to officially collaborate on the anime adaptation of 'Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin.' The entire agricultural sector is eagerly anticipating this anime, and we hope to boost Japanese agriculture together. Through Sakuna, we aim to convey the importance of producing food for life, the joy of sharing meals with companions, and the allure of rice. Rice is power!"

Episode 1: "Sakuna of the Heavenly Realm" Summary

Sakuna, the daughter of the martial god Takeribi and the harvest goddess Toyohana, lived a carefree life thanks to her privileged background. However, one day, she inadvertently allowed humans to wander into the heavenly realm, causing chaos and ruining offerings to the chief god Kamuhitsuki. As a result, Kamuhitsuki decrees a harsh punishment for Sakuna...

Source : ORICON NEWS