Line #78 Literature/LibraryWar


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4	''Library War'' (図書館戦争, ''Toshokan Sensō'' in Japanese) is an award-winning {{Light Novel\|s}} series written by Hiro Arikawa with illustrations by Sukumo Adabana, which was first published from 2006 to 2007 for four volumes. It was later adapted as an [[TwelveEpisodeAnime anime]] in 2008, with three manga adaptations and two live-action movie adaptations. The anime is distributed by [[Creator/DiscotekMedia Discotek]] and be viewed online via Website/{{Crunchyroll}}, provided that you live in a country/territory where your viewing rights aren't restricted.
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6	[[TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture Set in 2019]], during an alternate timeline where the Japanese government has issued the Media Betterment Act in the Diet, to prevent the spread of supposedly dangerous information by allowing censorship and go after violators through the Ministry of Justice's Media Betterment Committee. In response, local governments have set up the Library Defense Force to fight against the censorship of the MBC and their proxies who frequently raid libraries, bookstores and other places of interest.
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8	The story itself centers around Iku Kasahara, a recruit in the Force, who joined after being inspired by a mysterious Defense Force member who protected her and a book she was trying to buy that was being targeted for censorship in Ibaraki. However, she quickly learns how demanding the LDF can be, mainly from her "demon" instructor, Atsushi Doujo. Despite making several huge mistakes at first, Iku is promoted to her base's Library Task Force, which is essentially the most elite branch of the Defense Force and she makes history for being the first woman to be successfully recruited.
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10	As the series goes on, she begins to improve in her duties, and she even finds out more about the mysterious "princely" figure that inspired her all those years ago... While helping her friends, allies and colleagues defend the freedom of information from the MBC.
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12	[[folder:Properties]]
13	[[index]]
14	* The original four volume light novel, followed by the two volumes light novel ''Bessatsu Toshokan Senso''.
15	* Anime/LibraryWarWingsOfRevolution - Sequel to the anime adaptation.
16	* Manga/LibraryWarsLoveAndWar - A shoujo take on the original light novel series.
17	* Manga/ToshokanSensoLoveAndWarBessatsuHen - The sequel to Love and War, also an adaptation of BTS.
18	* Manga/ToshokanSensoSpitfire - A shonen take on the original light novel series. One volume was only released.
19	* Film/LibraryWars - A live-action adaptation of the light novels.
20	* Series/LibraryWarsBookOfMemories - A TV drama special that takes place after the movie.
21	* Film/LibraryWarsTheLastMission - Sequel to the first film adaptation.
22	[[/index]]
23	[[/folder]]
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25	----
26	!!Tropes:
27
28	!!!Light Novel:
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30	* ATeamFiring: Played straight (and somewhat justified) with the LDF, as their goal is usually not to actually harm members of the MBC and to just hold them off. The MBC soldiers, however, have few qualms with shooting LDF members.
31	* ActuallyPrettyFunny: While interrogating some kids who pulled off a dangerous prank Kasahara makes a joke which sets Komaki off laughing. Doujo scolds her for doing something so inappropriate while trying not to laugh himself. Even [[TheComicallySerious Tezuka]] barely keeps it together.
32	* AgeGapRomance: How some characters view Komaki and Marie's relationship due to their ten-year age gap (particularly Doujo who at first says that romance between them is impossible because they have a LikeBrotherAndSister relationship).
33	* AlternativeCalendar[=/=]TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture: The series takes place in the fictional Seika era, with the majority of the story taking place in 2019.
34	* BattleCouple: [[spoiler: Kasahara and Doujo, by the end of the series.]]
35	* BadassBookworm: Library Defense Force, of course. Since their main job is guarding libraries, this is justified.
36	* BelligerentSexualTension: Kasahara and Doujo, naturally.
37	* BetaCouple: Komaki and Marie. Later on it seems that [[spoiler:Tezuka and Shibasaki]] are shaping up to follow suit in the novels and the manga.
38	* TheBigDamnKiss: [[spoiler:Between Shibasaki and Tezuka.]]
39	* BigWhat: When [[spoiler: Kasahara learned Doujo is her "prince."]] It also involves a BigNo.
40	* BloodlessCarnage: Seriously, this must be the cleanest civil war ever. Few people are actually killed by the series' ATeamFiring; most are only injured or knocked unconscious. It's justified for several reasons. Both sides wear SWAT/riot police/military-grade body armor[[note]]the MBC appear to be wearing SWAT gear, while the LDF are wearing what appears to be JGSDF-issue[[/note]], but both sides have very few high-caliber firearms that can effectively punch through it - most engagements are conducted with 9mm submachineguns[[note]][=MP5s=] for the MBC and Mineaba M9s for the LDF[[/note]]. This means that being shot will undoubtedly be painful, but rarely outright lethal. The system implemented for what is and is not kosher in these firefights seems to have been ''designed'' to minimize actual human casualties. Also, as with modern warfare, most rounds are being fired to ''suppress'' the opposition, instead of being intended to kill.
41	** Subverted with the [[spoiler: Hino Massacre.]]
42	* BookBurning: What happens to 'unsuitable' books that the Libraries can't get their hands on.
43	* BookEnds: The series both starts and ends with Doujo yelling at recruits at the end of the novels [[spoiler:only that this Doujo is (or was) Iku Kasahara at the end.]]
44	* BulletproofVest: At the end of the Mito library arc, [[spoiler:Genda takes a barrage of bullets to the torso, but survives thanks to his body armor.]]
45	* TheChampion: Iku became a librarian to emulate her "prince," the unknown Library Force member who saved both her and her precious book from the Media Improvement Committee when she was in high school. [[spoiler: It's Doujo.]]
46	* TheChessmaster: Satoshi Tezuka and Shibasaki in the fourth light novel. The former even calls the latter out on it.
47	* ChildhoodFriends: Komaki and Marie. Though a bit strange since Marie is almost a decade younger than him, it's explained that it's because their mothers have been long time friends.
48	* CivilWar: Essentially, this is what the Library War is all about. It's a very nice one, however, given that the JSDF would likely clamp down ''hard'' on any belligerents who would start involving civilians, heavy weapons and other things that leads to collateral damage or a breakdown in law and order. This is lampshaded by various characters when they mention that even though there are people who get injured since Hino, many analysts and observers are reluctant to see that the LDF and MBC use this as a clean way of settling things.
49	* DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment: The full title of the manga is ''Toshokan Sensou Love&War'', which translates to ''Library War: Love & War''.
50	* FuroScene: Lots (at least in the manga), though BarbieDollAnatomy keeps things PG-13.
51	* IntrepidReporter: Orikuchi, who writes for the New World Weekly magazine.
52	* KnightInShiningArmor: Kasahara's memory of her "prince" inspired her to join the Library Force.
53	* TheKnightsWhoSaySquee: Female combat officers all admire Iku for being the first female member of the Library Task Force.
54	* LastNameBasis: Not even best friends Kasahara and Shibasaki call each other by their names, Iku and Asako.
55	** Doujo is never called ''Atsushi'', Tezuka is only called ''Hikaru'' by his brother and likewise Komaki is mentioned to be only called ''Mikihisa'' by his and Marie's family.
56	* LoopholeAbuse: A loophole in the Media Betterment Act is what allowed the Libraries to exist in the first place. Another loophole led to the first library raid. A few laws and loopholes later and we've got an institutionalized civil war, with lots of rules for what is and is not kosher, and lots of people abusing the loopholes found in ''those'' rules.
57	* MilitaryAcademy: Early story arcs focus on basic training for Library Defense Force members.
58	* MyBelovedSmother: Kasahara's overprotective mother wants her to be a GirlyGirl; to be pretty and sweet and to do quiet, ''safe'', girly activities. And if that requires forcing her daughter to leave her beloved but dangerous job, or give up her inappropriate dreams, then so be it.
59	* NoblewomansLaugh: Kasahara in Tezuka's ImagineSpot. Shibasaki also does this in another ImagineSpot after she pawns his expensive Rolex that was a present from his older brother.
60	* NonLethalWarfare: Appears to be justified, given the average military-grade body armour and low penetrating power of the pistol-caliber rounds for submachine guns used by both sides of the conflict. Averted later on when both sides start to bring out heavy firepower.
61	* OfficialCouple: Komaki and Marie.
62	* ShipTease:
63	** Between Kasahara and Doujo at the start (well, a more belligerent version).
64	** Genda and Orikuchi, who dated when they were younger and decided that BetterAsFriends, yet their spark seems to still be alive.
65	* SleepCute: Kasahara and Doujo both to and from Ibaraki.
66	* SpitTake: A RunningGag in the manga.
67	* TheSquad: Usually consists of the five person teams plus other superior officers.
68	* ThisIsReality:
69	--> "If anyone from a country who doesn't have a Media Cleansing Law sees this, they must think it's absurd. Unfortunately, this is our reality."
70	* TokyoIsTheCenterOfTheUniverse: Much of the story takes place at the Kanto Library Base in the Tokyo area, with occasional forays outside the city.
71	* TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture: About ten years, to be specific.
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73	!!!Anime:
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75	* AdaptationDistillation: The anime changes some situations and fails to introduce characters or plot points. It finally concludes with an anime original end.[[note]]Doujo was the one who got shot in the Mito Library instead of Yokota.[[/note]]
76	* AdaptationExpansion: The episode "Library Corps Refrain from Firing" gives more background to Dojo and Komaki's days when they were recently recruited to the LTF.
77	** Though ''Wings of Revolution'' corrects itself a bit and is more faithful to the novels.
78	* AdaptedOut: In the anime, several characters and story arcs are not mentioned such as Kasahara's siblings.
79	* ShoutOut:
80	** In Episode 6, several members of the Defense Force are tasked with retrieving a copy of a heavily-censored book. While the title of the book is ''505K'', the description is obviously that of ''Literature/Fahrenheit451''. Considering that the book in their world is referred to as the ''Book of Prophecy'', perhaps [[DontExplainTheJoke 505K is ~ 451 °F]][[spoiler:505K is ~ 446°F. 506K = 451.4°F]]

Context Literature / LibraryWar