This page is dedicated for introductions of the Imperial Library (the main setting of Bungou to Alchemist), and the library's staff members. Information of the writers can be found from the "Writers" list, and other notable characters can be found in "Other Characters" page.
Library staff illustrated by anime studio Kamikaze Douga, that was behind the anime's OP. (Source)
Imperial Library[]
Imperial Library (帝國図書館, teikoku toshokan) is one of the many National Libraries (国定図書館, kokutei toshokan) run by the government. It's a place where information is stored publicly (see CORE Part 5). Imperial Library serves as the main setting for the Bungo to Alchemist franchise, where a Special Duty Librarian with alchemy powers able to transmigrate writers arrives to help solve the mystery of what are the Taints, and why are they trying to erase literary works.
The Imperial Library's emblem is a cherry blossom with five petals, and the area between each petal form an image of the spine of an open book. The library staff wear these emblems on their uniforms, most notably on the left shoulder (or right shoulder from viewer's point of view) of their jackets. Cat has the emblem hanging from his collar.
In the game, beside offering regular library services and areas where visitors can read and borrow books, the Imperial Library also has a dining hall, infirmary, lounge and courtyard that the writers can visit and use. A bar has been established nearby, which has been favored by the writers who love drinking. Chief Librarian and Special Duty Librarian (player) also have their own offices, and Aka and Ao have a laboratory for their alchemy research. The writers have their own rooms in certain part of the library according to the event story "White Birch's This and That About Art" and some writers' Special Birthday Recollections, though the exact location of the rooms remains unclear. It's unknown whether all the listed locations are available for the public, or if only the writers and the library staff can access some of them. See Strolls for more details of some of these locations.
The Imperial Library resides somewhere in Japan (assumedly in Tokyo), in unknown time that resembles late Taisho or early Showa period Japan. In various stories it has been revealed that there is a town nearby, where the writers visit regularly during their freetime or for errands. A pawn shop, various cafés and other places can be found in the town. There is also a school (or schools?), and students from there are regular visitors in the Imperial Library (see CORE Part 10).
In the anime Bungou to Alchemist - Gears of Judgment, the Imperial Library is implied to not exist in the real world, but rather in an unknown time and space. Due to this reason the writers can't go outside of the library.
In the Stage Plays, the Imperial Library varies by each stage production. In the first Bungeki (official abbreviation for the Bungou to Alchemist Stage Plays), the library exists in real world and the Decadent School even makes a visit to the legendary Bar Lupin. Bungeki 2, 4 and 5 have their setting rather vague, meanwhile in Bungeki 3 (and 6) the library is implied to be different from the rest of the Bungeki franchise.
The library is heavily inspired by actual Imperial Library, which these days is known as "International Library of Children's Literature" in Ueno in Tokyo, Japan. The original construction plan for the Imperial Library, greatly resembles the looks of the Imperial Library in BunAl. However, in the end only part of the library was built in real life and it can be taken as BunAl takes place in alternate universe where the initial plan was carried out.
The Alchemist[]
アルケミスト (arukemisuto). Also known as "Special Duty Librarian" (特務司書, tokumu shisho) or shortly, "Librarian" (司書, shisho).
You, the player, have been invited to the Imperial Library, because of your special skills as an alchemist, to work as a Special Duty Librarian there. Your duties include transmigrating and assembling the writers into teams to purify tainted books, feeding them, and healing them. You also actively conduct alchemy research, and help out Chief Librarian with managing the library in various ways (checking and sorting books, etc.).
In the anime and stage plays, this role is referred to as "Alchemist", meanwhile in the game the writers refer to the person who transmigrated them (you, the player) as "Librarian". Please do note that in the game the player isn't the only alchemist in the library, however the "Alchemist" in the series' title heavily refers to the player.
Click here to view the letters to the Librarian / Alchemist from the other library personnel.
Cat[]
Japanese Name: ネコ (neko) "……Pay attention to me sometimes."[1] Male talking cat whose job is to relay directions from the government. Sort of game's mascot character, inspired by Natsume Souseki's famous work "I Am a Cat".[2] He is also able to delve into books for unknown reasons, but doesn't have the power to purify them. In the anime, he has title "Chief Librarian Representative" (館長代理, kanchou dairi), or "Acting Director" in the official English translation. However, in the game he doesn't have any title, which is probably because Chief Librarian is present and in charge of the library. Spoiler warning!
In the Foreign Secret Records storyline, it is revealed that his existence is unstable and dependent on Chief Librarian due to him being transmigrated Dr. Faust, a legendary alchemist. In the past, young Chief Librarian accidentally performed transmigration, which led Dr. Faust's soul in a book take over a cat that was nearby when the transmigration event took place. It was implied that sometime towards the end of the Foreign Secret Records storyline that Cat was able to get back some memories of his previous life. He probably didn't have any memories previously, or he kept them as a secret even from the Chief Librarian. After the events of the Foreign Secret Records storyline, Cat refused to be called Dr. Faust, staying as a nameless cat instead. Now he is spending his days in the Imperial Library like usual, while trying to not draw too much attention to his true identity.
 Anime Character Sheet  Early Character Design (Source) |
Chief Librarian[]
Japanese Name: 館長 (kanchou) "When you’ve got a big voice like I do, you become the center of attention, hahaha! Oops, if I’m too noisy I’ll get scolded again."[3] In charge of managing the library. In the first novel, Akutagawa makes an assumption that Chief Librarian is around in his fourties. He has some history with kendo, practising swings at times for mental concentration (see CORE Part 7). He also seems to be fond of sweets that he regularly buys, and shares them with Aka and Ao. It has been revealed that he can't delve unlike some of the other alchemists in the library, but it remains unclear why. Spoiler warning!
In the Foreign Secret Records storyline, a little of his past is revealed. As a young man, he was interested in alchemy and studied it eagerly. Unfortunately the old alchemy book which he randomly bought from a bookstore ended up being a book where the soul of Dr. Faust, a legendary alchemist, resided and The Master of Taints was sealed into. By opening the book, he accidentally lifted the seal and transmigrated the soul of Dr. Faust inside the book into a cat that was in his room during the moment when the transmigration took place. This resulted in Cat, the talking feline. The reason why Chief Librarian doesn't have as great alchemy powers as others and he is unable to delve into books might be because of Cat, as according to Cat's own words, his existence is unstable and dependent on Chief's powers (see Awakening Story Prologue). Transmigrating a soul and keeping it for a long time in the real world consumes a lot of the alchemist's energy, so not everyone can do it. Due to still being a novice alchemist when Cat's transmigration took place in the past, it's possible that Chief Librarian has been unable to improve his skills in fear of losing his friend if he were to exhaust his powers by accident.
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Aka[]
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Japanese Name: アカ (aka) "Hey hey, let us in on the investigation too!" Support staff for the Librarian. Aka is the more cheerful and vocal one of the two, and initially showed hostility towards Faust who he considers his rival. He's easily scared (as seen in the gothic event series), and often gets lost in explaining complicated alchemy theories. He made first appearance in Memoria Introduction with Ao. VA: Ichikawa Taichi
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Ao[]
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Japanese Name: アオ (ao) "They are a very fascinating phenomena. As a researcher, I cannot let this chance slip by..." Support staff for the Librarian. A more calm and serious personality in contrast to Aka's. Ao is careful with money and always working hard with his personal alchemy research projects. He loves to playfully tease Aka whenever he gets a chance for it, and he can say unexpectedly sharp words if someone manages to get to his wrong side. Ao made first appearance with Aka in Memoria Introduction. VA: Inoue Yuuki
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References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Introduction of Cat on Official Twitter account
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Imperial Library's Top Secret Document Collection ~Bungou to Alchemist the First Anniversary Guidebook~
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Introduction of Chief Librarian on Official Twitter account
- ↑ Introduction of Aka on Official Twitter account
- ↑ Introduction of Ao on Official Twitter account