Toshokan Senso

Plot

The background of the plot is based on the Statement on Intellectual Freedom in Libraries that went into effect in Japan in 1954 (amended in 1979), and the terms are a little different from the Freedom of the Library Law that appears in Toshokan Senso.

The simplified declaration:

It is the most important responsibility of libraries to offer collected materials and library facilities to the people who have the Right to Know as one of their fundamental human rights. In order to fulfill their mission, libraries shall recognize the following matters as their proper duties, and shall put them into practice.

1. Libraries have freedom in collecting their materials.
2. Libraries secure the freedom of offering their materials.
3. Libraries guarantee the privacy of users.
4. Libraries oppose any type of censorship categorically.

When the freedom of libraries is imperiled, we librarians will work together and devote ourselves to secure the freedom.

In Toshokan Senso, the fourth chapter of the Freedom of Library Law states:

1. Libraries have freedom in collecting their materials.
   
2. Libraries secure the freedom of offering their materials.
   
3. Libraries guarantee the privacy of users.
   
4. Libraries oppose any type of improper censorship categorically.
   
5. When the freedom of libraries is imperiled, we librarians will work together and devote ourselves to secure the freedom.

The details will be amended anytime according to the Media Betterment Act and its enforcement.

Story

The premise of Toshokan Senso involves the Japanese government passing the Media Betterment Act (MBA) as law in 1989 which allows the censorship of any media deemed to be potentially harmful to Japanese society by deploying agents in the Media Betterment Committee (MBC) with the mandate to go after individuals and organizations that are trying to exercise the act of conducting freedom of expression activities in the media.^{Ep 01} However, local governments opposed to the MBA establishes armed anti-MBA defense force units to protect libraries from being raided by MBC agents under the Freedom of the Libraries Law. The conflict between MBC agents and library soldiers has continued to 2019, when the story begins. In accordance with the Japanese era calendar scheme, 1989 in Toshokan Senso is rendered the first year of the fictional Seika () era, rendering 2019 as Seika 31.

Toshokan Senso follows the life of Iku Kasahara, a new recruit in the Kanto Library Base who joined in 2019 after being inspired by a high ranking Kanto Library Defense Force member who saved a book she wanted to buy that was targeted for censorship.^{Ep 01} After joining, however, she finds the pace to be very demanding, and that her drill instructor Atsushi Dojo seems to have it in for her and working her harder than the other recruits. On multiple occasions, Kasahara shows herself to be reckless, particularly when she puts Dojo in danger by not securing a criminal in the bases library, and later getting involved with Media Betterment Committee agents despite not being a high enough ranked official; in both instances Dojo has to help her out of trouble. Despite these imperfections, Kasahara is enlisted into the bases Library Task Force, an elite group of soldiers who go through rigorous training in order to respond during difficult operations. This is partially due to Dojo realizing that he did not give Kasahara adequate training, so he gives his recommendation that she join the task force,^{Ep 02} of which he is a member, in order to correct this mistake on his part. Other recommendations come from the captain of the task force, Ryusuke Genda, and second class task force library officer Mikihisa Komaki who is the same rank as Dojo. Along with Kasahara, another new recruit named Hikaru Tezuka is also enlisted into the task force who is much more capable at the position than Kasahara. Kasahara continues to try her best in the face of difficult challenges while protecting the books she has sworn to protect. As the story progresses, a romance blooms and Iku and Dojo make romantic feelings for each other evident.

Library Team

The Library Team Defense Force (, Toshotai Boeibu), or Library Defense Force (LDF), in Toshokan Senso is a paramilitary organization in Japan which serves to defend libraries against the Media Betterment Act (MBA) enforced by the Media Betterment Committee (MBC) and other pro-MBA independent factions. Different from the normal librarian department (, gyomubu), which performs librarian functions like modern librarians, the LDFs main goal is to provide self-defense from the MBC during library raids, though their jurisdiction only extends so far as in the confines of library facilities in connection with the LDF, meaning they cannot extend their effort even into the city where an LDF base is located.^{Ep 02Ep 04} However, there are provisions around this, such as in accordance with Library Law Article 30 regarding book collection in that LDF Library Officers or above can choose to buy any book they want, even books targeted for censorship by the MBC. The LDF has ten bases throughout Japan in ten regions of Japan: Hokkaido, Tohoku, Hokuriku, Chubu, Kanto, Kansai, Chugoku, Shikoku, Kyushu, and Okinawa.^{Ep 02} Each of the bases act under the provisions of the local government, and houses a public library where civilians can read and check out books.

In the early years of the conflict the library forces were not well organized, so coordination with neighboring forces was often delayed which caused problems in times of armed conflict. One such incident in Toshokan Senso occurred on February 7, 1999 in Hino at the Hino Library which later became known as the Hino Nightmare (, Hino no Akumu).^{Ep 02} The incident was caused by an independent group which sided with the Media Betterment Committee raiding the Hino Library and caused the deaths of twelve people who were against the Media Betterment Act.^{Ep 03} Since that day, the library forces armed themselves in self-defense and have become much more organized; the public even acknowledges the LDF as having more combat experience than the police or the Japan Self-Defense Forces. The incident also caused the formation of library bases in ten regions, and the system of library forces in operation at the beginning of Toshokan Senso.

The Library Defense Force has several branches which contribute to the organization as a whole. At the top is the Administrative Department where library administrators work doing daily administrative duties such as planning, organizing, staffing, budgeting, or directing. The Department of Defense works on defending against the Media Betterment Committee, and one section of the department consists of the Library Task Force, an elite group of soldiers who go through rigorous training in order to respond during difficult operations. At the Kanto Library Base, there are about fifty members in the task force. The Logistical Support Department works on stocking books and supplying the Department of Defense with military equipment, though it does not get involved with general outsourcing. There is also a Human Resources Department in charge of human resources, and an intelligence agency. There are approximately 30,000 members in the Library Defense Force throughout Japan. The German Chamomile is used in the insignia of Library Officers and above because the flower was a favorite of the late wife of the Library Defense Force commander Kazuichi Inamine.

Characters

Iku Kasahara (, Kasahara Iku)

Voiced by: Marina Inoue Iku Kasahara is the main character of Toshokan Senso; she is twenty-two-years-old and is initially ranked Library Clerk First Class, but is later promoted to Library Clerk Supervisor. She joined the Library Defense Forces Kanto Library Base in 2019 after being inspired by a high ranking Kanto Library Defense Force member who saved a book she wanted to buy that was targeted for censorship. She holds this unknown person in high regard, thinking of him as her "prince", and she wants to be an "ally of justice" as he was for her. As such, she has a strong sense of justice when it comes to freedom of expression and is willing to put her life on the line for the books she has sworn to protect. When she enters into recruit training however, she finds it to be very challenging, especially since her drill instructor Atsushi Dojo seems to have singled her out for more attention and pushes her harder than most other recruits. In high school, she had been a member of the track and field team, so she has a lot of stamina and drive to continue with the Library Defense Force. When the story begins, Kasahara is a sub-par recruit who constantly prone to making critical mistakes and is not as knowledgeable about the cause she is in the middle of compared to others around her, mostly due to her not paying attention in lectures on the base. Despite these apparent flaws, she is recruited into the bases Library Task Force, an elite group of soldiers who go through rigorous training in order to respond during difficult operations. While at first she starts out slow, she soon becomes capable of clerical tasks in regard to working in the bases library, though she still finds it difficult to make a positive impression on Dojo, her superior officer. Later on, Kasahara finds out that Dojo, her superior, is actually her "prince" and she begins to warm up to him somewhat.

Atsushi Dojo (, Dojo Atsushi)

Voiced by: Tomoaki Maeno Atsushi Dojo is a twenty-six-year-old member of the Library Task Force and is ranked Librarian Second Class. He is 165 cm (55") tall, though is thought to be too short for Kasahara, despite her only being 5 cm (2") taller. He is very tough on Kasahara due to her not inspiring enough trust in him, and the fact that he believes he did not give her adequate recruit training. Part of the reason why he pushes Kasahara so much is that he sees his old self in her, and he is angry that she is bringing that back to him with such emotional force, despite him trying to forget about it. He later realises that he hurt her just so he could protect his fragile self. He often worries about Kasahara and even defends her from comments from others.

Mikihisa Komaki (, Komaki Mikihisa)

Voiced by: Akira Ishida Mikihisa Komaki, like Dojo, is twenty-seven-years-old, is a member of the Library Task Force, and is ranked Librarian Second Class. He is typically seen smiling or laughing at his coworkers, especially concerning the conversations between Kasahara and Dojo. He is also one of the instructors in the Task Force. He often gives advice to Dojo or Kasahara in regards to the relationship between them, whether it be on a personal or professional level. He is partly responsible to Kasahara being drafted into the Task Force.

Hikaru Tezuka (, Tezuka Hikaru)

Voiced by: Tatsuhisa Suzuki Hikaru Tezuka is a member of the Library Task Force and is initially ranked Library Clerk First Class, but is later promoted to Library Clerk Supervisor. He is drafted into the Library Task Force at the same time as Kasahara, though shows himself to be much more capable in terms of knowledge gained in lectures, clerical work in the bases library, and in typical combat. He finds it hard to give credit to Kasahara in the beginning since she is not up to what he considers to be the standards of a Library Task Force member, though he later recognizes her improvement. Due to a comment by Dojo that he could learn some things from her, Tezuka asked Kasahara if she would date him, though she later turns him down. He has an older brother named Satoshi Tezuka, who is a part of the governments Future of the Library Committee.

Asako Shibasaki (, Shibasaki Asako)

Voiced by: Miyuki Sawashiro Asako Shibasaki is in the Library Task Force and is initially ranked Library Clerk First Class, but is later promoted to Library Clerk Supervisor. She works as an intelligence specialist, and is very good at gathering information. She is Kasaharas roommate, and after Kasahara joins the task force, Shibasaki helps her study the catalogs in the bases library through a form of negative reinforcement involving giving her candy when she gave the wrong answers which leads her to break out in pimples. Shibasaki often tells Kasahara things she finds out in regards to Kasahara and her direct superiors such as Dojo or Genda. She tries to give Kasahara advice and cheer her up when she is sulking due to events most often brought on by Dojo, though in the beginning of the series, she has slight feelings for him.

Ryusuke Genda (, Genda Ryusuke)

Voiced by: Kanji Suzumori Ryusuke Genda is the forty-three-year-old captain of the Library Task Force and is ranked Supervising Librarian Third Class. It is partly due to him that Kasahara is drafted into the Task Force, since he is the captain and had the final say. He is very strong, and Kasahara even thinks he has enough brawn to take on a bear. He is a veteran field commander and possesses great politic acumen; on one operation he ensured the Media Betterment Act forces secured books and magazines the Library Defense Force already had copies of so that they do not leave empty handed and in disgrace. He is willing to take great risks to achieve objectives, such as purchasing a building for declared use as a future library only so that the Task Force could raid the premises in order to rescue Kasahara and Inamine when they are taken hostage.

Kazuichi Inamine (, Inamine Kazuichi)

Voiced by: Haruo Sato Kazuichi Inamine is the commander of the Library Defense Forces who is in direct charge of the Kanto Library Base and has been involved with the conflict between the Media Betterment Committee and the Library Defense Force since the beginning. Twenty years prior to the beginning of the story, a major conflict between the two factions, called "The Hino Nightmare," occurred at the library in Hino, Tokyo where a group siding with the Media Betterment Act raided the library. Inamine was caught in the middle of the conflict and lost his wife and his right leg because of it.

Light novels

Toshokan Senso began as a series of light novels written by Hiro Arikawa, and drawn by Sukumo Adabana. There are four novels in the series, though only the first novel is called Toshokan Senso; the subsequent novels are named Toshokan Nairan (, lit. Library Infighting), Toshokan Kiki (, lit. Library Crisis), and Toshokan Kakumei (, lit. Library Revolution). The novels were published by MediaWorks between February 2006 and November 2007. The first volume of a spin-off series entitled Bessatsu Toshokan Senso (, lit. Supplement: Library War) was published on April 10, 2008 by ASCII Media Works, and the second followed on August 9, 2008.

Manga

A manga adaptation, titled Library Wars: Love & War (, Toshokan Senso Love & War), is drawn by Kiiro Yumi and was serialized in Hakusenshas shojo manga magazine LaLa between September 24, 2007 and December 24, 2014. Hakusensha has published 14 tankobon volumes since April 5, 2008, and the final volume will be released on June 5, 2015. Viz Media licensed Toshokan Senso Love & War, and the first volume was released in North America in June 2010. As of September 2, 2014, there are 12 volumes released in North America.

Another manga adaptation, titled Toshokan Senso Spitfire! (), is drawn by Yayoi Furudori and was serialized in ASCII Media Works shonen manga magazine Dengeki Daioh between the January 2008 and June 2008 issues. One volume of Toshokan Senso Spitfire! was released on June 27, 2008.

Internet radio shows

Two Internet radio shows produced by Animate first aired on April 10, 2008 under the same main title Kanto Book Base: Public Relations Department (, Kanto Tosho Kichi Kohoka), but with differing subtitles. The first show, with the subtitle Mens Dormitory (, Danshi Ryo) is hosted by Tomoaki Maeno and Tatsuhisa Suzuki who play Atsushi Dojo and Hikaru Tezuka in the anime adaptation, respectively; the second show, with the subtitle Womens Dormitory (, Joshi Ryo), is hosted by Marina Inoue and Miyuki Sawashiro who play Iku Kasahara and Asako Shibasaki in the anime, respectively. The first volume compilation CD containing some of the broadcasts was released on August 6, 2008 with the second compilation on December 26, 2008.

Anime

It was announced by Production I.G via MediaWorks advertising that they would animate Toshokan Senso. The anime is directed by Takayuki Hamana and written by Takeshi Konuta. It aired 12 episodes in Japan between April 10 and June 26, 2008, on Fuji TVs Noitamina programming block. A commercial and promo were both created to promote the series after the series was announced. Five DVD compilation volumes were released between August 6 and December 3, 2008; the first two contain the two episodes each, while the latter three contain three episodes each. The third volume contains, in addition to episodes six and seven, an original video animation episode.

The animes opening theme is "Atashi no Machi, Ashita no Machi" (), performed and written by Hitomi Takahashi, with Satoru Hirade on composition and arrangement and produced under Sony Music Records. The opening theme single was released on June 4, 2008. The ending theme is "Changes" performed and arranged by Base Ball Bear of EMI Music Japan with lyrics and composition by Yusuke Koide. The ending theme single was released on May 8, 2008. The animes original soundtrack was released on June 25, 2008.

Films

An anime film with the same staff as the TV series titled Library War: The Wings of Revolution (, Toshokan Senso Kakumei no Tsubasa) was released in Japanese theaters on June 16, 2012. The film made its North American premiere at the 12th annual Waterloo Festival for Animated Cinema on November 17, 2012.

A live action film was released on April 27, 2013.

Reception

In the fourth Japan Science Fiction convention, Toshokan Senso won the 2008 Seiun Award for Japanese long fiction. In the initial Anime DVD charts, Toshokan Senso was ranked first on the top ten before it went down to eighth place. The series had sold in 2008 a total of 7,949 copies. In 2008, Bessatsu Toshokan Senso I had sold 62,737 copies and was ranked seventh best light novel while Bessatsu Toshokan Senso II was ranked the fifth best light novel with a total of 67,874 copies sold. As of April 2008, the original four novels and volume one of the spin-off series have sold over 1.25 million copies in Japan. After its debut broadcast, Toshokan Senso had an average household rating of 4.5. The series also has a strong fan backing, as noted by Deb Aoki, manga guide of About.com, who says that when Viz Media announced their license for the Love and War manga version, "a cry of delight rose up from fans of this manga, anime and light novel series." The live action film grossed US$16.8 million in Japan.