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Queen Candidates in Legend of Himiko
Following is a list of the 6 candidates and the objects holding the power of the Bokka:
Fujina - sake dish (the oldest of the six, has a lotus type forehead marking not unlike Nataku from CLAMP's X)
Imari - sword (she is a warrior and relies on her speed and strength)
Koran - gauntlets (also relies on her agility and strength)
Seika - crystal ball (the miko of the group, not only can she look into the crystal ball but fire reads in a way as the flame of the Bokka can be seen inside it)
Shino - gold hair ornament (the dancer; to protect the Bokka she releases a projection, and her energy radiated from her movements, note her magic is very similar to Caldina from
the Rayearth series, both cast illusion or use magic from their movements in dance)
Tadami - her glasses (she is the youngest candidate and like many anime characters her glasses are a sign of her intelligence; note her pink hair and flower motif dress are a
sign of her youth and innocence)
Queen Himiko
Her name means "Child of the Sun." She was thought to be the first queen in Japan in the third century AD over the kingdom of Yamatai, and both a ruler and miko or shamaness. It is
believed she ruled after elected by thirty small countries united together. It's been speculated the shamanic queen was given her position at perhaps 14 or 15 after some kind of crisis.
Her existence is recorded in Chinese chronicles of the Wei Chih and it was thought she had contact with representatives of the Wei Kingdom.
In early Japan it is believed miko under the goddess Amaterasu had ruling power with the help of brothers or another male figure, and not until about the Heian period does this seem to
become less common, and instead miko are seen to perform ceremonies under the shinto priests.
The anime series Legend of Himiko starts in old Japan with the people of Yamatai about to elect their first queen, an event paralleling what perhaps started off the historical Himiko's election. As a fantasy piece, the anime
veers off with the story of the selection between 6 Queen Candidates, and Himiko instead is the guardian heir to the Bokka, sacred fire of the people. When the baby Himiko is
transported to present-day Japan she is found at an archeological dig. Note this dig is probably like the ones being searched for evidence of the historic Himiko's existence.
When Himiko in the anime returns to Yamatai she is about the same age as the historic Himiko on becoming queen, and just as the 6 candidates have magical abilities from the
power given to them by the Bokka, Himiko does too which also goes back to the historical Himiko who was reputed to have magical abilities as a shamaness.
A note on Himiko's mirror pendant. This could be a reference to two things. The first most obvious is that the mirror was an important object to miko in ancient days, and was worn about
their waist perhaps in an attempt to lure the kami. Also, it was believed that after Queen Himiko sent gifts to the Wei Court, she was given a gift of 100 bronze mirrors.
Links used for reference on historical Himiko
http://www2.gol.com/users/winjerd/Gishi.htm
http://www.geocities.com/therapeuter2002/himiko.html
http://www.he.net/~archaeol/9805/newsbriefs/japan.html
http://www.geocities.co.jp/Milkyway-Kaigan/8595/nightdaemon/masami.html