Sega Teases ‘Project BLACK,’ Which Could Be Related to Sakura Wars

Sega is teasing a new game with a mysterious working title: Project B.L.A.C.K. (or simply BLACK). It shared details via an official Twitter account, an official site counting down until September 2, 2020, and a new music video.

The video features the song “Wonderful Future,” composed by Kouhei Tanaka (composer for the Sakura Wars franchise). It shows a trio of Project BLACK idols dressed in vaguely military-style costumes performing onstage before a glowstick-waving crowd.

The Project BLACK official site reveals the idols’ names: Meisa Akashi, Kurumi Saimei, and Prana Tosei. It also reveals what the letters in B.L.A.C.K. actually stand for: It’s an acronym for “Brilliant Legislative Artistic Celebrity Knights. The site also includes a description of the group, which we’ve translated below:

“For the future of Japan, these young women artists sing, and continue to fight. Among them, the songs and dances of the performing aces known as the ‘Noble 12’ fascinate the people.”

More details about Project BLACK will be revealed on September 2nd, but some trademark filings and other clues suggest that this mystery game may be related to the Sakura Wars franchise. In May 2020, Gematsu noted that Sega filed for a series of potentially Sakura Wars-related trademarks. The marks included titles like Sakura Wars B.L.A.C.K., “B.L.A.C.K.,” “Sakura Restoration,” and “Sakura Revolution.” Another clue can be found in the logo of  B.L.A.C.K. itself, shown on the site. The triangular logo uses the Japanese kanji for “Great Empire/Imperial” in its design. However, the specific kanji, “大帝國” make for an archaic reading (the standard kanji would be be “大帝国”), one that’s more common in period pieces, and favored by the Sakura Wars series (which is set in an alternative Imperial-era Japan).

We’ll likely know more about Project BLACK come September 2, 2020, but eager fans may want to read more about the latest Sakura Wars game, catch up on its localization process, or even explore the side material by watching some anime.