The Twelve Kingdoms_
Original: 十二国記
Nakajima Youko is your average somewhat timid high school student. One day, a strange man named Keiki appears before her, swearing allegiance. Before she could properly register what was happening, demon-like creatures attack Youko and her friends, after which they are pulled into a different world. A world unlike what she has ever known. Separated from Keiki, Youko and her friends must do whatever they can if they wish to survive in this new world.
Created By
Tsuneo Kobayashi, Sho Aikawa
Network
NHK BS1
Episodes
45
Updated Feb 16, 2026
WHERE TO WATCH
Crunchyroll
2 countries
Tubi
FREE
2 countries
The CW
FREE
1 country
The Roku Channel
FREE
1 country
Pluto TV
FREE
1 country
Retrocrush
FREE
1 country
DROPTHE_ GOSSIP
Overview
The Twelve Kingdoms has 4 seasons with 45 episodes spanning 2002-2003.
Rating
With a 7.7/10 rating from 48 votes, The Twelve Kingdoms is considered highly rated.
Year context
The Twelve Kingdoms first aired 24 years ago in 2002.
CAST (9)
Takehito Koyasu
Keiki (voice)
Kenichi Suzumura
Rakushun (voice)
Masaki Aizawa
Shōryū (voice)
Kappei Yamaguchi
Rokuta (voice)
Aya Ishizu
Yuka Sugimoto (voice)
Yuji Ueda
Ikuya Asano (voice)
Rie Kugimiya
Taiki (voice)
Kousuke Okano
Takasato (voice)
Naomi Wakabayashi
Suzu (voice)
SEASONS (4 seasons, 45 episodes)
SEASON 1Shadow of the Moon, The Sea of Shadow
01
Shadow of the Moon, Sea of the Shadow - The First Chapter
The episode opens with Youko having a nightmare of a strange man showing her visions of monsters. Upon her arrival at school she is confronted…
02
Shadow of the Moon, Sea of the Shadow - The Second Chapter
The episode opens right where the first episode left off.. Youko is flying with Kaiko and just as she is giving her the situation they…
03
Shadow of the Moon, Sea of the Shadow - The Third Chapter
The chase continues.. The youma chasing them are a pack of Kiki. They attack the man stearing and the wagons tips over. Youko, Sugimoto and…
04
Shadow of the Moon, Sea of the Shadow - The Fourth Chapter
Auzaru tells Youko that nobody cares about her, and how nothing would change if she were to die. He shows her a collection of masks..…
05
Shadow of the Moon, Sea of the Shadow - The Fifth Chapter
Kourin tells Sugimoto how it was her who saved her when she first arrived in this land. She tells her that there is someone that…
06
Shadow of the Moon, Sea of the Shadow - The Sixth Chapter
In Kou, King Kou is yelling at Kourin for not allowing Sugimoto to finish off Youko. King Kou sends Sugimoto off to a house out…
07
Shadow of the Moon, Sea of the Shadow - The Seventh Chapter
The group of Kochou attack and Youko kills them. Rakushun gets trampled by the villagers and knocked out during the action. The guards come running…
08
Shadow of the Moon, Sea of the Shadow - The Eighth Chapter
Sugimoto is shown talking to King Kou.. Turns out he wants to her service once again. He gives her a sword and tells Kourin to…
09
Shadow of the Moon, Sea of the Shadow - The Ninth Chapter
The episode opens in En. We see Youko getting off the ship.. As she's looking around she hears a familiar voice call her name.. It's…
10
Shadow of the Moon, Sea of the Shadow - The Tenth Chapter
As King En is introducing himself to Youko, they are attacked by a second force of youma. Youko takes out the leader of the pack…
11
Shadow of the Moon, Sea of the Shadow - The Eleventh Chapter
King En's servant explains to Youko and Rakushun how King En was once a the son of a king back when he was a taika.…
12
Shadow of the Moon, Sea of the Shadow - The Twelveth Chapter
Youko and Rakushun are shown outside their room talking about how Youko will become queen and save Keiki. Later on Youko looks into her sword…
13
Shadow of the Moon, Sea of the Shadow - The Final Chapter
King En yells to King Kou to give it up. Before Kou can speak Kourin appears. Everyone realize she has shitzudo due to King Kou.…
14
Shadow of the Moon, Sea of the Shadow - Chapter of Recollection
Youko and Rakushun are shown in Rakushun's house discussing whats all happened. Rakushun goes over with Youko about how the Twelve Kingdoms have 12 rulers..…
SEASON 2The Sea of Wind, The Shore of the Maze
01
Sea of the Wind, Shore of the Labyrinth - Chapter One
The episode opens with a little boy out in the cold snow looking in the window.. His mother and grandmother are arguing over how he…
02
Sea of the Wind, Shore of the Labyrinth - Chapter Two
Youka continues her story of Taiki: Taiki wakes up in his new bedroom. He is greeted by Sanshi. Youka tells him how happy she is…
03
Sea of the Wind, Shore of the Labyrinth - Chapter Three
Youka is still telling her story of Taiki to Keiki and Youko. As Goson and his men are kidnapping Taiki, Sanshi tried to help but…
04
Sea of the Wind, Shore of the Labyrinth - Chapter Four
Taiki continues his sherei training, but has no luck. That night Keiki apologizes to Lady Gyokuyou about not being able to help Taiki out. The…
05
Sea of the Wind, Shore of the Labyrinth - Chapter Five
Lord Gyousou and Risai take Taiki with them on sugu hunt. They find a place to camp for the night and Taiki explains to Gyousou…
06
Sea of the Wind, Shore of the Labyrinth - Final Chapter
The episode opens back in Japan. Sugimoto is talking to Kaname in a library. Later that night his brother, Suguru, sees Sugimoto and confirms with…
07
Sea of the Wind, Shore of the Labyrinth - Reminiscence Chapter
Enki gives us a lesson on The Twelve Kingdoms. He goes over all 12 kingdoms and gives information on each ruler and kirin. Among these…
08
A Letter
Yoko contacts Rakushun through her bird and they correspond. She tells him everything is all right in her kingdom while he tells her about his…
SEASON 3A Great Distance in the Wind, the Sky at Dawn
01
A Great Distance in the Wind, the Sky at Dawn - Chapter One
The episode opens with a girl named Suzu being escorted to a new family to live with. A storm begins and Suzu slips down a…
02
A Great Distance in the Wind, the Sky at Dawn - Chapter Two
King En, Enki and Rakushun stop by the palace to see Youko. They assure her she's doing a good job. Later Youko meets with her…
03
A Great Distance in the Wind, the Sky at Dawn - Chapter Three
Suzu is having a dream that she met queen Kei and that she made Riyou work for her instead. She wakes up only to be…
04
A Great Distance in the Wind, the Sky at Dawn - Chapter Four
Youko is imformed of the depception in her ranks. She returns to the palace. Later Keiki comes to ask Youko what happened, Youko, still getting…
05
A Great Distance in the Wind, the Sky at Dawn - Chapter Five
Shoukei is being mistreated by the queen of Kyou, due once again to her father's previous ruling ways. Later, queen Kyou's kirin is trying to…
06
A Great Distance in the Wind, the Sky at Dawn - Chapter Six
Suzu is confused by Asano's gun due to the fact that she came from a time where that type of pistel didn't exist. He forces…
07
A Great Distance in the Wind, the Sky at Dawn - Chapter Seven
Enho teaches Youko about the measuring system they use here. He also gives her advice on being a good ruler. On their way to eat…
08
A Great Distance In The Wind, The Sky At Dawn - Chapter Eight
Youko is in her room thinking about what she heard Enho say when all of the sudden Auzura's voice echoes the room telling her that…
09
A Great Distance In The Wind, The Sky At Dawn - Reminiscence Chapter
Rakushun describes to Shoukei a little more about how the world of The Twelve Kingdoms works. He also tells her about how he met Youko,…
10
A Great Distance In The Wind, The Sky At Dawn - Chapter Nine
Suzu curses Asano for leaving Seishuu alone as the villagers help her carry him out of the road. Everyone denies seeing the incident leaving Suzu…
11
A Great Distance In The Wind, The Sky At Dawn - Chapter Ten
Suzu visits the palace of Kei, only to find out Youko isn't there. She leaves and decides to come back another time. Back in Kokei,…
12
A Great Distance In The Wind, The Sky At Dawn - Chapter Eleven
Youko defeats all the guards chasing her, and they run away. Shoukou sends Asano with his men to visit the house Youko's been staying at.…
13
A Great Distance In The Wind, The Sky At Dawn - Chapter Twelve
Youko decides to go look for Enho. She's bewildered by what could have injured Kei Kei like that. Shoukei discusses with her group about the…
14
A Great Distance In The Wind, The Sky At Dawn - Chapter Thirteen
Raiders strike at Shoko's estates and write the word ‘Shu-On’ on the walls when they can't find him.
15
A Great Distance In The Wind, The Sky At Dawn - Chapter Fourteen
Youko and the rebels have managed to infiltrate into Shouko's inner castle walls. And Youko finally finds Shouko and they do battle. Meanwhile, Asano goes…
16
A Great Distance In The Wind, The Sky At Dawn - Chapter Fifteen
Former Chosai, Seikyo, orders the Royal Army to Shoko’s Go castle, and he expects the rebels there to surrender themselves upon seeing the Dragon Flag…
17
A Great Distance In The Wind, The Sky At Dawn - Final Chapter
Youko finally reveals to her army her true identity, and the war is ended. Youko returns to her throne and with the proof that she…
18
In the Moonlight
General Seishin of Kei Kingdom, has been tasked with the delivery of some letters to Gekkei, one of Ho Kingdom's state leader. And to try…
SEASON 4The God of the Sea in the East, the Mighty Ocean in the West
01
The God of the Sea in the East, the Mighty Ocean in the West - Chapter One
Shouryuu begins his tale about Atsuyu, an officer of Gen State who raised a rebelliion against his rule. And of Koya, a boy that was…
02
The God of the Sea in the East, the Mighty Ocean in the West - Chapter Two
Shouryuu continues his tale of Atsuyu. With Rokuta held captive in Gen State, Atsuyu sends a messenger to Shouryuu at Kankyuu, to give him his…
03
The God of the Sea in the East, the Mighty Ocean in the West - Chapter Three
The river embankment is under construction causing Atsuyu to fear that the king is attempting to flood his town. Rokuta discovers Atsuyu's father, Genkai, weakened…
04
The God of the Sea in the East, the Mighty Ocean in the West - Final Chapter
Atsuya loses support from his people when the people rebel against Atsuya's army for attempting to destroy the dam that the king had ordered his…
05
The God of the Sea in the East, the Mighty Ocean in the West - Reminiscence Chapter
En-O concludes his tale of Tatsuyu and the Gen State rebellion.
SERIES INFO
4
Seasons
45
Episodes
25 min/ep
Per Episode
Ended
Status
CREW
Creator
Tsuneo Kobayashi
Creator
Sho Aikawa
NETWORKS (1)
NHK BS1
DETAILS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is The Twelve Kingdoms about?
Nakajima Youko is your average somewhat timid high school student. One day, a strange man named Keiki appears before her, swearing allegiance. Before she could properly register what was happening, demon-like creatures attack Youko and her friends, after which they are pulled into a different world. A world unlike what she has ever known. Separated from Keiki, Youko and her friends must do whatever they can if they wish to survive in this new world.
Where can I watch The Twelve Kingdoms?
The Twelve Kingdoms is available on Crunchyroll, Tubi, The CW, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV. Availability varies by region.
How many seasons does The Twelve Kingdoms have?
The Twelve Kingdoms has 4 seasons with 45 episodes total.
Who created The Twelve Kingdoms?
The Twelve Kingdoms was created by Tsuneo Kobayashi and Sho Aikawa.
Who stars in The Twelve Kingdoms?
The cast of The Twelve Kingdoms includes Takehito Koyasu, Kenichi Suzumura, Masaki Aizawa, Kappei Yamaguchi, Aya Ishizu.
What is the rating of The Twelve Kingdoms?
The Twelve Kingdoms has a rating of 7.7 out of 10 based on 48 votes on TMDB.
Is The Twelve Kingdoms still running?
The Twelve Kingdoms has ended. The final episode aired on .
GENRES (3)
Animation
Action & Adventure
Sci-Fi & Fantasy
