Genji Monogatari Sennenki

Lore & Background

The anime concludes at the halfway point of the original story, with Genji being exiled to Suma. On April 11, 2022, Digital Media Rights announced that they would stream the series on RetroCrush with English subtitles. Two soundtrack CDs were released by Sony Music Entertainment on February 25, 2009: an animation soundtrack by S.E.N.S. Project and a single for the opening theme. A soundtrack CD for the ending theme was released on March 25, 2009.

Reader's Guide

Genji Monogatari Sennenki is significant as a modern anime adaptation of one of the world's oldest novels, The Tale of Genji, directed by the renowned Osamu Dezaki. Its production history reflects a shift from adapting a manga adaptation to directly adapting the original literary work, while retaining the manga's visual style. The series serves as a bridge between classical Japanese literature and contemporary anime audiences, and its streaming release on RetroCrush in 2022 extended its accessibility to English-speaking viewers. The anime's legacy lies in its attempt to visually interpret a foundational text of Japanese culture, though it covers only the first half of the novel, ending with Genji's exile. The soundtrack releases further cemented its place in anime music history.

Did You Know?

• The series was originally meant to be an adaptation of Waki Yamato's manga, but the director decided to make it a direct adaptation of the original tale.
• The anime ends at the halfway point of the story, with Genji being exiled to Suma.
• The opening theme 'Hiyori Hime' is performed by Puffy AmiYumi, and the ending theme 'Koi' is by Kousuke Atari.
• On April 11, 2022, Digital Media Rights announced streaming of the series on RetroCrush with English subtitles.