If I had to name two things that built the foundation of who I am as a child, they would be the fairy tale The Little Mermaid and Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon.
Sailor Moon is a manga by Naoko Takeuchi, serialized in the magazine Nakayoshi from 1991. The anime began around the same time. The story, each of the guardians, the theme songs, and the colors of the artwork: as a child, I was completely captivated by all of it. Even now I love it so much that I can hardly put it into words.
The colors of the original art are almost too beautiful
The covers of the books, the magazine extras, the color title pages. The colors of those pictures were a shock to me as a child. Transparent light blue, deep pink, sparkling gold and silver. Each guardian had her own color, and just looking at those colors lifted my spirits.
Even as an adult, when I see the colors of that original art, I cannot help gazing at them. The root is the same as my longing for the colors of the scales and hair of the Little Mermaid's sisters. That color is what I take the most time to choose when I paint has probably not changed since then.
The musicals of the Anza Ohyama era
I also loved the stage musical Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, known as "Sera Myu," especially the era of Anza Ohyama (Anza), who played the first Sailor Moon. Songs like "War Supreme," "La Soldier" and "MOON Revenge" still stir my heart when I listen to them today. People with a fiery soul will probably be struck by them. I still listen to them when I want to rouse myself.
My favorites are the outer guardians
I love all the Sailor Guardians so much it is a problem, but I am especially drawn to the Outer Solar System guardians: Sailor Uranus, Sailor Neptune and Hotaru-chan (Sailor Saturn). And Seiya of the Sailor Starlights.
They are not at the center of the story, yet they take on their own roles properly and step forward when they are needed. I have loved that sense of distance ever since I was a child.
"Understanding each other," "forgiving each other"
As an adult, I learned that the themes of the Sailor Moon story are "understanding each other" and "forgiving each other," and I loved it even more. In the end, it tries to take the hand even of someone who was an enemy. When I realized there was that kind of core beneath the cute art style, I was moved.
Visiting the sacred places
I have also visited places said to be models for the settings of the work. Azabu-Juban, said to be the model for the neighborhood where Usagi and her friends live. Azabu Hikawa Shrine, regarded among fans as the model for Rei's home, Hikawa Shrine. Just setting foot in Azabu-Juban made me a little excited. At Hikawa Shrine, I stood still for a while, moved.
Taking the time to go and meet the colors and places of a work you love. That itself, I think, is an important way for me to spend my time.
Our marriage registration, too, with Sailor Moon
When I got married, I chose a local marriage registration form designed with Sailor Moon. When I think that this work was with me at that milestone in my life too, it feels special all over again.
Reference: Travel.jp travel guide ("The model for Hikawa Shrine in the anime Sailor Moon: Azabu Hikawa Shrine, Tokyo")
Related articles
