Kamigawa: Neon History

 With the new Kamigawa set releasing in January 2022, we're excited to be able to catalog some of the new lore and history for the plane.  It has been 1200 years in lore since the original Kamigawa block of sets, and so we present some of what has occurred and the lore of the set as it releases!  This blog catalogs all the lore, story, videos, manga, official AMV, official soundtrack, and more released by Wizards of the Coast, plus guides and content using official materials made by fans.  You'll find it below in the order listed in the table of contents.

Table of contents of items below: 

1. Japanese AMV anime trailer
2. Official CGI trailer
3. Saga Stories
4. Planeswalker's Guide to Neon Dynasty
5. The Legends of Kamigawa - stories behind cards
6. Teaser Trailer
7. Main Story - Side Stories Fiction (text)
8.  Maps of the Plane 
9. Sagas Art
10. Official Manga adaptation of the story 
11. Weekly MTG first look at Kamigawa
12. Plane official site from Magicstory page. 
13. AR game (taken down)
14. Papercraft throwing star (origami)
15. MTG-multiverse official concept images
16. Hatsune Miku song
17. YRS TRULY Official Interactive Novel 
18. Official Soundtrack 
19. Prerelease Roundtable - Worldbuilding
20. Weekly MTG: Worldbuilding Panel
    
21. Plot Synopsis of story
22. Other smaller notes, comments, and official collaboration art from Japan
23. All stories compiled
24. Beedle and Grimm's In-World Field Guide on Spirits
    

 

 

 Japanese Anime Official Trailer by WIT Studios 

History

During the original Kamigawa block, three novels were released to tell the stories.  However, many side stories (and some told after the Kami War) were released.  Here is an archive of them.  The novels were all following the life and story of Toshio Umezawa, concluding with his actions helping end the Kami war, and start the path towards the modern age.  

 Official Trailer:

 

There is also a plot synopsis at the end of this article, for the Neon Dynasty, with Implications for the future story.

Neon History - Saga Stories

The Kami War was several thousand years ago.  It ended with the death of Emperor Takeshi Konda, bringing Michiko Konda (with Kyodai) to the Throne. 

The Life of Toshiro Umezawa.  A story of Toshio's journeys, and battle with Kami and Emperor alike, he was key in the end of the Kami War.  At the end, his patron, the Myojin of Nights Reach, found a portal and sent Toshiro to the subcontinent Madara on Dominaria, thousands of years in the past of the current age. 

Azusa's Many Journeys.  The story of Azusa, wandering monk, and her journeys beyond. 

Michiko's Reign of Truth.  The time after the Kami War, Michiko was Emperor, attempting to heal the Kami Realm and Mortal Realms relationship.

The Shattered States Era. In the time after the death of Michiko Konda  

The Dragon-Kami Reborn. In the time after the Kami war, many of the Dragon-Kami had perished.  During the Shattered States Era, they built a plan to be reborn in new forms.  

 Era of Enlightenment.  In this Era, realizing the Kami plane and the Mortal Plane were starting to overlap, the Jukai found a way to welcome the Kami to the conjoined worlds.  

Teachings of the Kirin.  The tale of how the Orochi lost their extra limbs and grew to their current state of power.  

Leading up to the modern era, Boseju reaches skyward.

The Modern Age.  The stage is set, for a new destiny, in Kamigawa's Neon Dynasty!

Planeswalker's guide to the Neon Dynasty of Kamigawa

https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/planeswalkers-guide-kamigawa-neon-dynasty-2022-02-03

This is your guide to all the organizations, social structure, physical locations, and regions of Kamigawa.  There is some history of the Champions era, but it shows how the history has also updated to this cybernetic world in 1200 years since then.   

The Legends of Kamigawa in the Neon Dynasty

Read small bios for each character who appears in the Neon Dynasty card set. 

Trailer: Hint at the Neon Dynasty

This is the teaser trailer, showing a small theme of Kamigawa.  There is also the full anime trailer, released soon! 

Neon Dynasty Tales

Main Official Story: 

Part 1: A Stranger in Eiganjo

Part 2: Lies, Promises, and Neon Flames

Part 3:  An Unexpected Alliance 

Part 4: The Break-In

Part 5: Threads of War

Side Stories:

Kaito Shizuki origin story.  A test of loyalty and the path forward.

The Blade Reflected and Reborn: The story following the snakefolk Chishiro

The Epoch Engine: Story of Kotori, Pilot Prodigy

The Foes who Make Us: Story of the repair of Sokenzanshi

Map of the Plane - Kamigawa

Map of Kamigawa during the Kami War (1200 years before the current era, Champions of Kamigawa Block)

Map of Current Kamigawa, in the Neon Dynasty, present day.

Other articles and lore guides: 

The sagas of Kamigawa - showing all the special artwork and history from Champions to Neon Dynasty. 

The sagas also are the living portrayal of the history and characters of Kamigawa.  From the rules article: "The Sagas also feature two new icons. The Living Historians is a group of storytellers on Kamigawa that pass on tradition through performance and music. You'll see several of them in the set, often using fans in their routines, so we felt that was a beautiful choice to represent the telling of these stories. On each front face, you'll see a closed fan. On the back face, the fan has opened, representing the conclusion of the tale, and if things are going well, the conclusion of your opponent's tale as well.". So the enchantment creatures on the back of Saga cards in this set are living actors, embodying the historical characters in a story, much like Kabuki theater of Japan.   

Official Story Manga Adaptation: Read Kaito's tale in Manga form, digitally for free!

 

Official Kaito image from prerelease!

 

Wandering Emperor image from Prerelease!

Weekly MTG first look video:

The Kamigawa Plane - Lore official page, describing areas and legends of Kamigawa. 

You can experience an AR game of Kamigawa.  Scan the QR code then hold the samurai image over the one on this picture.  (from Minimax Games in Chicago).  Link https://neo.mtg-ar.com . This site was shut down by wizards on 2/18/22 (release day!)

Kamigawa Paper craft Throwing Star: https://media.wizards.com/2021/images/magic/neo/papercraft/dh4kdjKesk.pdf 

 

Study up.  Craft your throwing stars, and read on multiple world potentials

Mtg-Multiverse.com created a concept art guide, pulled from videos and other official sources:

https://www.mtg-multiverse.com/concept-art#/kamigawaneon-conceptart/

Mwk featuring Hatsune Miku collaborated with Magic to create a new Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty Song, Connected:

YRS TRULY created an official interactive Kamigawa Visual Novel (comic): 

It's free and downloadable on mac and PC now!  https://yrstruly.itch.io/kamigawa-a-visual-novel

Kamigawa Official Soundtrack (15 songs!)

https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/news/kamigawa-neon-dynasty-official-soundtrack-2022-02-18. The soundtrack was created and compiled by artist Jonathan Young.  

 Kamigawa Round Table Video

Weekly MTG: Worldbuilding Panel

Plot Synopsis for Neon Dynasty: 

Ten years ago, Kaito was training to be an Imperial, when he met the Emperor of Kamigawa.  Growing to be friends with her, his training would be sparring with her in combat.  Yet one night, an intruder invaded Eiganjo, and Kyodai was disturbed thereafter (the spirit of the realm for the Spirit realm semi-plane), and the Emperor was missing.  Kaito chased a man with a metal arm across the roofs, yet he escaped.  Kaito swore he would find her.  

Nine years ago: Kaito's origin, and meeting with Tameshi.

In present Day, Kaito has sought the Emperor across multiple worlds and all over Kamigawa, with no success.  He learns from his Sister that his trusted Moonfolk friend Tameshi, may have been meeting with a man with a metal arm in secret, despite knowing Kaito's quest.  He investigates and spies on his friend, and learns far worse, Jin-Gitaxias was the true mastermind behind capturing Kami, the disruption ten years ago, and that they murder his friend Tameshi just before he arrives to their secret lab in flames.  Tameshi, dying, tells Kaito the name he has sought: Tezzeret.  

Kaito seeks evidence of a Ratling Village being destroyed by extra-planar forces and Tezzeret, and meets Tamiyo, who has adopted the only survivor of that day.  Together they discuss the dangers of Tezzeret, and in a rush, Kaito investigates Tameshi's lab, taking the strongest invention- the reality chip from it, before being discovered by Jin-Gitaxias.  He is chased by hired ninja - but saved from a mech attack, by 'The Wanderer', who is, indeed, the Emperor herself.  

The Wanderer/Emperor could not control her planeswalking, due to the attack ten years ago by Tezzeret, and Tamiyo and Kaito theorize that the Reality Chip might stabilize her walking.  However, Tezzeret has organized an attack on Eiganjo.  The Wanderer will protect the capitol, and Kaito and Tamiyo will investigate and blow up the lab.  However, it's a trap, and Jin and Tezzeret capture them.  The Wanderer joins again with Kyodai, and manages to do a controlled planeswalk to the lab, freeing her friends and capturing Tezzeret, defeating Jin-Gitaxias.  

They try to bring the captured Tezzeret to Kyodai to question him, but he reveals even trapped, he can control metal and technology.  Tamiyo equips the Reality Chip, and they rush to the battle to help the Emperor, and Kaito defeats Tezzeret by stripping off his technology, and smashing Tezzeret with a rock.  However, as a last resort, Tezzeret activates the Reality Chip on Tamiyo, grabs her, and planeswalks away.  Kaito assists the Emperor, and they are victorious.  However, her planeswalking is unstable again, so she appoints a regent, and vanishes, in sorrow.  Kaito now has two quests, to find Tamiyo, and the Wanderer.  

In Phyrexia, Jin-Gitaxias is joyous in his compleation of Taimyo, the first Phyrexian walker. 

Repercussions and future story

Several things are important about this Kamigawa story, not only the compleation of a planeswalker by Phyrexia. There are several points that tie into the story from other areas, and should be mentioned. 

• Nashi, Tamiyo's adopted son, is a bit older than when last seen after the first Theros block.  He is more active and enthusiastic seeming, but still avoids the history of his family.  
• Tied to that, Tezzeret sent Jace and Baltrice to Kamigawa and they ended up burning down that village around 5 years ago.  
• Tezzeret completed the planar bridge back in Kaladesh, which is likely around 2 years ago, since events from the Amonkhet, War of the Spark, Eldraine, Theros Beyond Death, Ikoria, Zendikar Rising, Kaldheim, Strixhaven, and Innistrad 3 have all occurred recently.  So he is perfecting it.  We're not sure if he took Tamiyo through the planar gate, or just forced her to planeswalk with him using the Reality Chip.  Remember too, the gate cannot transport organic life/material, successfully. 
• Kyodai, who is the core spirit of the Spirit realm (sub-plane) on Kamigawa, connects with Emperors.  However, since the Wanderer left the plane, she has been in distress.  It's unclear what that means. 
• Tezzeret, upon seeing Tamiyo compleated, is not... thrilled.  He is not compleat by the Phyrexians, and has in the past been given a protection by Bolas' agent to it.  He likely does not want to see more planeswalkers compleat, as this would make him less useful to Phyrexia.  We do not know what his true objectives are, since Bolas is defeated and he is free.  
• Kaito is seeking both Tamiyo and the Wanderer now - but seems to have no connection to Tamiyo's story circle of planeswalkers, nor to the Gatewatch.  However, Tezzeret and the Wanderer mention having heard about his seeking.  So it's a mystery on whom he will encounter next.  

 

Statement on planeswalker compleation, by Jay Annelli, who is a content lore advisor for Wizards wrote on twitter about planeswalkers and compleation: 

"To clarify a bit of lore about Phyrexia and the Planeswalker Spark: the spark is NOT an immunity to compleation (or Phyrexianization). That is fanon - Elspeth, Koth, Venser, and Tezzeret all required other immunizations to Glistening Oil.  Oldwalkers, that is pre-mending walkers, were immune because they essentially chose their own form. Makes it hard to compleat someone when they can just say “actually, no, I look like a gazebo instead”. This drove Yawgmoth crazy. He thought there was a planeswalking organ.  So the idea that Planeswalkers are immune is a garbling of oldwalker lore and statements about how Phyrexians can’t be planeswalkers.  The latter bit is because Phyrexians, by their nature, are soulless. They’re artifact/necromantic hybrid abominations. Old Phyrexia literally implanted their vat born newts with powerstones that sucked out their souls, called heartstones. It was a whole thing.  Compleating a planeswalker would make them lose the thing that allowed them to planeswalk, their soul. The spark is a touch of the Blind Eternities on the soul. Up until now, New Phyrexia literally didn’t even understand the concept of souls.  Enter the Neon Dynasty story. Jin-Gitaxias has cracked the problem by studying spirits made manifest. Now that he has, he’s come up with a solution … and Viola! Behold, perfection! Since I’m sure this will keep coming up, Venser transferred Melira’s metaphysical immunity to compleation to Karn with his spark. It wasn’t just the spark."

 Official AMV image of The Wandering Emperor and Kaito from WIT studios' Takuma Ebisu 胡拓磨!

Official art from Yoshiaki Tabata, (Ninja Slayer anime studio), Ninja@ studio

Stories compiled by user JediKnight252: https://www.reddit.com/r/mtgvorthos/comments/tsomql/kamigawa_story_compilation/

Beedle and Grimm did a field guide for Kamigawa's Spirits: https://imgur.com/a/wChxbab 

 

That's all for ramblings and our story for the Neon Dynasty.  What's next?  Let us know if we're missing anything!

The Fate of Hanweir - Headlines and Ravings

 Hanweir is a small town on the plane of Innistrad, and during the Travails, culminating with the rise of Emrakul on the plane, the entire town was corrupted.  Here is the tale, told in blogs, snippits, mailings to streamers, and news, on the fate of every inhabitant of the town.  The history of Magic visiting Hanweir began in the first Innistrad block, with the AR game following Cathar Raben Amsel, and the short sword, the Bloodletter. 

This blog is putting the Hanweir Chronicle events in correct order, for readers to experience the change of the township in the Shadows over Innistrad.  You can read the original posts on the original page.  

The Hanweir Chronicle is the newspaper printed in Hanweir.  Led by Editor in Chief, Oliver Hayfield

 

 Headline: Town of Hanweir declares itself Sovereign Province

Box #1:

“Deben ser fundidos. El armero necesita plata para el armamento del techo y la cima del muro. Se puede tomar éstos a él? Gracias - Oliver Hayfield”

Translation: “They must be melted. The armorer needs silver for the armor on the roof and the top of the wall. Can you take these to him? Thank you - Oliver Hayfield”  

Decree attached reads "By order of the town of Hanweir, all silver munitions must be moved to the top of the village wall."

Headline: Irregular Activity Continues Outside the Walls of Hanweir

 

 Headline: Strangely Productive Town Hall Meeting

 

Editor:  At this point, one can already see the start of Emrakul's influences.  The town is becoming unified in thought.  Joined also in their new distrust of Avacyn.  

Box #2: Das mysteriöse Paket wird ausgepackt #HanweirChronicle

Translation: The Mysterious Package is unpacked.

  

The letter inside read: 

A lone vampire was spotted outside the wall last evening. She called to be let inside, but guards warned her to turn around lest she face impalement. The vampire was disheveled and travel-worn—not rabid as others have been, but clearly losing grip on maintaining her composure. She stood still in the cold rain awaiting entrance for quite some time. When she offered to trade her jewelry over the wall out of desperate thirst, it became clear she was not accustomed to the life of more nomadic vampires.

I attempted to interview her from atop the Hanweir wall.

Me: What is your name, villain?

V: My name is not important! Please! I have gold and pearls to trade!

Me: What is your lineage?

V: My lineage doesn't matter anymore.

Me: Why doesn't it matter?

V: It simply doesn't! Please, I am so thirsty...

Me: All residents of Hanweir are locked within our walls.

The vampire, upon hearing this, dissolved into a fit of manic laughter.

V: Locked within the walls! Even here, they are locked within the walls!

The vampire continued to laugh while violently kicking the stone of our walls, swearing incoherently. It became clear that the creature was mad due to starvation. I retreated to my chamber and obtained a rat from under the floorboards to throw to her.

I did so, and our interview continued.

Me: Why have you travelled so far from home if you are unaccustomed to hunting in the wild?

V: How dare you deliberately insult me! I can't eat this, you idiot!

By now the biting rain had become irritating and my patience waned. I needed answers. I sliced a small cut into my finger and dribbled it down the side of the wall. The vampire snapped its jaws and lapped it up quickly. Her glamer became weak, and her vicious hands began trying to climb up the walls. The nearby Militia Captain decided to take action and shot her with an arrow, whence she fell to her death.

Taking into consideration the immediate reprimand I received from the councilmembers, I will no longer conduct interviews with non-human beings.

I am left confused. Where did this vampire come from? Why was she so poorly dressed for the wilds? I am most upset that this was probably my last opportunity to speak with an outsider. Regardless, I must try to rest. These are terrible times.

–O

 

Headline: Construction of the Hanweir Wall Finished

 

Editor: Again, the unity and paranoia is starting to join together Hanweir citizens.  They no longer are allowed to leave the newly constructed walls.  They must remain together.  

 

Headline: Turmoil at Town Hall

  

Editor - the last sane people leave Hanweir. 

Box #3: 

BOX CONTENTS:

A jar of preserved pears accompanied by a…pear of letters.

“I write this entry from atop the Hanweir wall. I find it amusing and self-congratulatory that not only dad my village secede from Videns Parish and Gavony, but we felt arrogant enough to name our (one-town) province of Hanweir. If we used a currency, would it be called the Hanweir? Are the individual streets to be renamed Hanweir? Am I Hanweir?

I have come to love and fear this wall. Councilwoman Blackwell, in her anger, seems to have been a bearer of overwhelming truths. By enclosing ourselves we have ensured that anything sealed with us behind the walls of Hanweir cannot get out. This truth became far too clear last night with the unfortunate discover that former popular pear farmer, Hadwin Dodd, was a lycanthrope. He was killed last night in front of his own house after a most disturbing public transformation and moonlight hunt. He died only after slaughtering two children in his lupine state.

Perhaps we, the makers of our cage, deserve this. We have sinned, and our punishment is raining in blood from the sky and tearing transformed flesh behind our doors.

I find myself praying to no one in particular. Avacyn and her vultures will certainly not help me. Instead I whisper desperate prayers to the void of the night–to the cold witch-hour, when only the moon can hear me. It feels pointless. I’m not sure if the moon can do me much good.

Perhaps all I can do is turn to those around me.

Perhaps the only solution is to join with the rest of the sinners and wayward souls here in this hapless box we made.

Our salvation is not in the skies or in the hymns or in books. It is closeness with our neighbors, embracing each other and embracing our humanity.

As I write with my pen, the truth becomes manifest.

Coming together is the only option.

- Oliver Hayfield”

“Preserved Pears - Perhaps you’ll enjoy these more than I do. I can’t stand the taste anymore.

- Oliver Hayfield”

Sounds like things are getting a little Hanweird.

 

Box #4: j'ai recu un petit colis a la maison, qui renfermait un plus petit colis, qui renfermait une etrange liste

Translation:  I received a small parcel at home, which contained a smaller parcel, which contained a strange list

  Editor: A list of groceries or items to purchase in French, for the town of Hanweir. 

 The list translated showed it was a trading list.  Check out what the haves are! 

NEED:

Grain (barley, spelt, oats)
Wool
Firewood
Hay
Candle oil
Coat for 8
Fruit (any)
Vegetables (any)
Milk (any other than goat)
Beer
Whiskey
Wine

HAVE:

Horseshoes
Haunted cloak
Ballista arrows
Books (mundane, secular)
Quill (singular)
Urn (decorative)
Leather goods
Used children's shoes
Preserved pears
Magnifying glass (singular)

Box #5: Recebi uma caixa misteriosa da Wizards of the Coast!! #HANWEIRCHRONICLE #MTGSOI

Translation: I received a Mystery Box from Wizards of the Coast!! #HANWEIRCHRONICLE #MTGSOI

  

 Rem Karolus,

I write to you from the Hanweir Province (formerly the town of Hanweir). I understand that recently you have been hunting angels, but we found something that might still be of interest to you.

Our captain of the wall recently killed a werewolf within the perimeter of our town and was startled to find that the creature did not transform back to human form when he died. I have included part of the skin and the tip of the arrow that killed him as evidence. Please answer as soon as possible – my town grows in apprehension and concern about the condition of the world beyond our walls.

Thank you,

Oliver Hayfield

Headline: Decree Passed for Mandatory Communal Meals

  

Editor:  A large number of twins have been born simultaneously in Hanweir, suddenly.  

Box #6: 这顶帽子不太适合我们了 …..

Translation: This hat doesn't quite suit us anymore... 

Box #7: Hanweir Chronicle to Abandon Byline...

Headline: Hanweir Chronicle to Abandon Byline  

  

 

Box #8: Strange Tidings from a man who has forgotten that punctuation exists. Get well soon, Oliver! 

  

Headline: ... Tremendously alive...

   

  

And so ends the Hanweir Chronicle... and the entire village.  Emrakul's influences combined all twins, merged all the populace, to one horror.  Farewell, Oliver... 

This shows how the influences of Eldrazi affects even ordinary citizens.  The people of Innistrad were changed, mutated, merged, into Eldrazi horrors.  The Travails were at their climax with Nahiri pulling Emrakul from Zendikar to Innistrad.  And so the stage was set for the Gatewatch to come to stop this Eldrazi threat!

Dominaria Then and Now: Planar Gates

Planar connections to Dominaria:

Rabiah the Infinite

The Assassins of Suq'Ata
by Scott Hungerford, originally published in the Duelist.

The Suq'Ata originally came from the plane of Rabiah the Infinite, an Arabesque world connected to the plane of Dominaria through a series of huge, magical cyclone gates. In the distant past, when the gates between Dominaria and Rabiah were secure, many people crossed through the gates to make their home in the magic-rich environment of Jamuraa.

A number of these people, who would eventually become known as the Suq'Ata, settled and built cities reminiscent of their distant home. They began to build a trading empire, and soon had caravans traversing the huge continent of Jamuraa in search of valuables and profit. While this mercantile society was well-versed in spells, treasure, and artifice, with them also came one of the oldest arts on Rabiah--the way of the assassin.

Within the modern cities of the Suq'Ata there exists a network of secret guilds wholly devoted to murder. Using spells of summoning, fear, and mind-numbing cold, the assassins of Suq'Ata seek not to defeat their opponents outright, but to poison them over time in a variety of insidious ways--perhaps a cobra trained to remain still until it strikes, or food tainted with a tasteless poison, delivered by an unseen hand.

The Suq'Ata assassins have a variety of spells and charms that generate an aura of fear, allowing them to pass through the most well-guarded halls and chambers. Even the most vigilant of guards will flee from the smallest swampfly if the fear-aura spell is woven well by an assassin. Suq'Ata assassins have been known to walk through the heart of a crowded banquet hall to deliver their poisonous gift, either by knife or vial, no matter how many guards are present.

One of the oldest folktales in Suq'Ata society is about an assassin that trained a venomous serpent to hold itself in an upright position for endless hours. Then a simple illusion would be cast across it, so that the serpent appeared as nothing more than a simple wax candle. Once set into place on a noble's bedside, the snake would strike repeatedly at anyone who tried to put a match to its deadly head.

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