Raven of the Inner Palace

Alternate Titles

後宮の烏
Kokyu no Karasu

Synopsis

Deep within the inner palace, there lives a special consort known as the Raven Consort who does not entertain the emperor in his bedchambers at night, unlike the other consorts. To some, she looks like an old woman, to others, young and beautiful. It is said that she is even able to use mysterious magic to take on anything from deadly curses to finding lost items. One night, she is called upon by the emperor, Ka Koushin, who has a certain request, and their fateful meeting will uncover a secret that will overturn history…

Background

Raven of the Inner Palace began as a light novel series written by Koko Shirakawa and illustrated by Ayuko. It has been published by Shueisha under their Shueisha Orange Bunko imprint since April 2018, and as of April 2022, seven volumes have been released. The series has also been licensed for English release through Seven Seas Entertainment, who will publish the first volume in February 2023.

A TV anime adaptation was announced in December 2021. It is being produced by Bandai Namco Pictures (Ascendance of a Bookworm, Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion the Animation, Welcome to Demon School, Iruma-kun) and features Chizuru Miyawaki (Gintama, Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva, Wandering Son) as director, with Satomi Ooshima (Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko, Hataraki Man) handling series composition, Shinji Takeuchi (Fairy Tail, Kanashiki Debu Neko-chan, Mazinger Edition Z: The Impact!) handling character designs, and Asami Tachibana (Aoharu x Machinegun, Gundam Build Fighters Try, Haikyu!! To the Top) composing the music. The anime’s opening theme song is "Mysterious" by Queen Bee, and the ending theme song is "Natsu no Yuki" by krage. The anime will premiere in Japan on Oct. 1, 2022 on Tokyo MX, Tochigi TV, Gunma TV, and BS11 channels. It will be streamed overseas through Crunchyroll.

Characters

Ryuu Jusetsu (Voiced by: Saku Mizuno)
Ryuu is the current Raven Consort. She lives in Yamei Palace and has no contact with humans. She is an enigmatic and aloof being who uses mysterious magic.

Ka Koushun (Voiced by: Masaaki Mizunaka)
Ka Koushun is a former crown prince and a young emperor who ascended to the throne in no time.

Ei Sei (Voiced by: Taku Yashiro)
Ei Sei is a eunuch who swears absolute loyalty to Koushun.

Jiujiu (Voiced by: Marika Kono)
Jiujiu is a court attendant of Hien Palace. She is cheerful, obedient, and has an obliging personality.

Onkei (Voiced by: Nobunaga Shimazaki)
Onkei is a eunuch who serves Koushun. He is under orders from Ei Sei to be Jusetsu’s escort.

Tan Kai (Voiced by: Nobuhiko Okamoto)
Tan Kai is a eunuch who serves Koushun. His specialty is intelligence gathering.

Ishina (Voiced by: Mana Hirata)
Ishina is a young eunuch of Hien Palace. He comes from a small tribe.

Un Kajo (Voiced by: Reina Ueda)
Un Kajo is the empress of Eno Palace and is Ka Koushun’s childhood friend.

Shin Shin
Shin Shin is a golden chicken that stays by Jusetsu’s side.

Music

Opening Theme Song: "Mysterious" by Queen Bee
Ending Theme Song: "Natsu no Yuki" by krage

• Anime Site (Japanese)
• Twitter (Japanese)

• Original Creator: Koko Shirakawa
• Original Character Design: Ayuko
• Director: Chizuru Miyawaki
• Series Composition: Satomi Ooshima
• Character Design: Shinji Takeuchi
• Art Director: Norifumi Nakamura
• Art Setting: Jiro Kouno
• Color Design: Ritsuko Utagawa
• Prop Design: Yumi Nakamura
• Director of Photography: Naotaka Watanabe
• Editing: Akane Shiraishi
• Sound Director: Jin Aketagawa
• Music: Asami Tachibana
• Animation Production: Bandai Namco Pictures