Meiji Tokyo Renka

Meiji Tokyo Renka originated as a popular visual novel game released by Broccoli in 2011, which later expanded into a multimedia franchise encompassing various adaptations. The 2019 television anime series, produced by TMS Entertainment, serves as a reimagining of this historical fantasy premise. It centers on a high school girl named Mei Ayazuki who is transported to the Meiji period, where she encounters historical figures such as Ogai Mori and Shunsio Hishida. The series was designed to blend romantic escapism with an idealized, stylized version of Japan’s Meiji era, appealing to fans of the 'otome' game genre.

The production team at TMS Entertainment focused on capturing the aesthetic elegance of the Meiji period through intricate character designs and lush, atmospheric backgrounds. This adaptation was received as a continuation of the franchise's established lore, aiming to provide a distinct narrative path compared to the earlier film adaptations. While the series maintains the lighthearted, dramatic tone characteristic of the source material, it also functions as a showcase for the studio's proficiency in character-driven storytelling within a period-piece framework.