On August 28, mobile game studio DelightWorks unveiled a new project, code named “Project ‘Nippon Dakkan’.” The developer opened a website for the project, which outlines the project’s core plot details and several major characters.

What is Nippon Dakkan?

“Nippon Dakkan” is a mobile game project form DelightWorks (Fate: Grand Order), which is due to hit app stores in Fall 2020. The title’s official website includes a brief story blurb:

One maiden said, “Bring happiness to Japan with our songs”

One maiden said, “I shall dry the tears of everyone in Japan.”

One maiden yelled, “Be sure to take Japan back–”

At its heart, there was once an unfinished maiden, who called [redacted] as her mother. I’ll make Japan more beautiful, and more fun”

The maiden revives [redacted] with the help of the commander she met in Aogashima.

“I’m going to bring everyone’s happiness back, just like my mother.

Set out on a journey to regain Japan, with the dreams of maidens across the country.

The Major Players

To date, seven characters have been revealed, three of whom have voice cast members attached:

  • Shino Sakura (CV: Moeka Kishimoto)
  • Fuka Aoshima (CV: Ayu Matsuura)
  • Asebi Mikohama (CV: Yuko Natsuyoshi)
  • Mana Jiujimachi
  • Tsutsuji Takasaki
  • Benishi Hijikata
  • Mutsuwa Mogami

Shino Sakura

Character design from Delightworks' Nippon Dakkan, which depicts a woman with short hair, clad in a pink kimono and hakama.

Shino Sakura was born in Aogashima, a remote isle in the Izu island chain. She’s an innocent and unfinished maiden whose mother is [redacted].

Asebi Mikohama

Character design for Delightworks' Nippon Dakkan project, which depicts a woman with purple hair, wearing a blue dress.

Asebi Mikohama is Shino’s childhood friend, and an Aogashima native. She and her friends are like a trio of sisters, with her being the “eldest sister” of the bunch. She longs to meet Shino’s mother once more, and trains every day to become as strong as her friend and rival, Shino.

Fuka Aoshima

Character design from Delightworks' Nippon Dakkan, which depicts a woman with brown hair in a messy ponytail. She's wearing glasses and casual clothes as she twirls a wrench in her hand.

Fuka Aoshima was raised by her parents on Aogashima, and is the granddaughter of Kirin Aoshima. She’s particularly interested in machines that use [redacted] and, unlike Shino, aims to build an invention that will change the world of [redacted]. Ultimately, she wants to make the world a brighter, more fun place to live.

Mana Jiujimachi

Character design from Delightworks' Nippon Dakkan, which depicts a greyed-out silhouette

Mana is a photographer from Hakodate, Hokkaido, who wants to capture the majestic beautify of nature and abhors unnatural relics. She was traveling the the nation in search of the ideal photo before joining [redacted].

Tsutsuji Takasaki

Character design from Delightworks' Nippon Dakkan, which depicts a greyed-out silhouette

Tsutsuji is a pianist from Gunma, who was born to a famous family of musicians. She boasts some of the finest performance chops in all of Japan, with her skills being likened to having the unrivaled accuracy of a machine. Of course, this didn’t come easily, as she trains her skills daily. Behind her cold-hearted exterior, Tsutsuji has a voracious appetite for music.

Benishi Hijikata

Character design from Delightworks' Nippon Dakkan, which depicts a greyed-out silhouette

Benishi Hijikata is maiden from the city of Kyoto, who has a light manner of speaking and a generally calm demeanor. While some speak with a forked tongue, though, it’s often said that Benishi’s tongue has three tips.

She has been bringing together the families of those who suffer for various reasons, from those who were deceived by the descendants of Shinsengumi Toshizo Hijikata, to the families those who were deprived of [redacted], to form a Kyoto-based security group known as the Senshingumi.

Mutsuwa Mogami

Character design from Delightworks' Nippon Dakkan, which depicts a greyed-out silhouette

Mutsuwa Mogami is hacker from Yamagata, who loudly professes this fact. She’s a total geek, who adores computers and networking. She’s also a hikkikomori, who prefers to stay in her room at all times, except to use the washroom. She claims to live a complete life from there.

The Trailer

In addition to plot and character details, the site includes a 35-second trailer, which features several stills of landscapes, before closing on an image that features a rear shot of Shino Sakura, who is wearing a distinctly Kobu-like mechanical suit as she stares off toward the horizon.

The First Character Intro Video

Earlier today, DelightWorks released a brief character introduction video for the Project “Nippon Dakkan.” The 15-second introduces Sakura Shino to the world and hints at something a bit larger.

OK, So How Does This Tie Into Sakura Wars?

As of today, Sega hasn’t confirmed a concrete link between the world of the Imperial Combat Revue and Project “Nippon Dakkan.” The title remains a standalone project until further notice.

So What Comes Next?

At the moment, all we can do is watch and wait to see how things develop. DelightWorks will host a streaming event on September 2, at 20:00 JST (7:00AM EDT, 4:00AM PDT). Sega, meanwhile, will host a live streaming event for Project B.L.A.C.K. at the same time.

We’ll have updates from both events that evening, so stay tuned!

References