The OVA was announced as the first joint product to result from the proposed merger between Sega (owner of the Sakura Wars franchise) and Bandai (Bandai Visual's parent company).[1] Though the merger was called off shortly afterwards,[2] the OVA project proceeded as planned. ADV Films announced they had licensed the OVA series in North America in May 1998 at Project A-Kon 9;[3] it was the first piece of Sakura Wars media made officially available in the region.
It depicts the formation of the Imperial Assault Troupe's Flower Division leading up to the beginning of the original game where the player character takes command of the unit.
In 1919 (8th year of the Taishō era), operations to recruit members of the Imperial Magnificent Assault Group (帝国華撃団 Teigoku Kagekidan) begin to protect Japan from an imminent demon (魔物, mamono) attack. In Ginza, Tokyo, Kanzaki Heavy Industries is developing the Obu (桜武, Ōbu), the first Spiricle Armor who after failed attempts to be controlled by other pilots, is finally mastered by Kanzaki family's daughter, Sumire Kanzaki, due to her high psychic powers. In Sendai, Sakura Shinguji reflects on the death of her father who gave his life defending the capital. Ayame Fujieda recruits Kanna Kirishima in Taiwan, and subsequently Maria Tachibana in New York. In 1920, Ayame recruits Iris Chateaubriand, and the Imperial Floral Assault has their first assignment fighting a demon in Asakusa, Tokyo. Kohran Li, a Shanghai native scientist, also joins the Assault Group but is yet to be introduced to the other members. Back in Sendai, Sakura comes into contact with the Spirit Sword Arataka (霊剣荒鷹, Reiken Arataka) which belonged to his father, and decides to go to the capital.
2
"Act 2: The Cherry Blossom Spirit Attack" Transliteration: "Dai Ni-maku: Sakura no Hana ni Hanate yo Shinken" (Japanese: 第二幕 桜の花に放てよ神剣)
