Toki*Meca (とき☆めか) (AKA Toki*Meka, Toki Meka, Toki Meca) is a story by Naoko Takeuchi which ran in the 2001 Sepetember issue of Nakayoshi as a one-shot story under the title: Toki*Meka (とき☆メカ). However the mangaka asked her readers to send her feedback if they would like more of the story. She didn't pick up the story until after Love Witch, where she resumed in the January 2005 issue of Nakayoshi, with a completely different story, and a slightly different title (Toki*Meca/とき☆めか). Shōjo (少女 lit. ... A page from the Marmalade Boy manga, volume 1 (Japanese version) Manga (漫画) is the Japanese word for comics and/or cartoons (not necessarily animated, this includes print cartoons); outside of Japan, it usually refers specifically to Japanese comics. ... Naoko Takeuchi Naoko Takeuchi (武内直子 Takeuchi Naoko), born March 15, 1967, is a manga artist who lives in Tokyo, Japan. ... Kodansha (講談社 Kōdansha) is a major Japanese publisher of literature and manga, headquartered in (Bunkyo), Tokyo. ... Nakayoshi (なかよし also spelled Nakayosi) is a Japanese magazine published by Kodansha concerning shōjo manga . ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... Naoko Takeuchi Naoko Takeuchi (武内直子 Takeuchi Naoko), born March 15, 1967, is a manga artist who lives in Tokyo, Japan. ... Nakayoshi (なかよし also spelled Nakayosi) is a Japanese magazine published by Kodansha concerning shōjo manga . ... Mangaka (漫画家) is the Japanese word for a comic artist. ...

The title is a series of puns. This is why the title is also not Toki*Mecha, as some might assume.

1. Meka, as in the kanji (芽歌)

2. Mecha.(メカ) As in short for "mechanical", or to indicate this character is a robot.

3. Tokimeki. (ときめき)

4. hiragana version of meka (めか)（which is used by the mini version of Meca.

The character spells her name Hanasaki Meca. This is the best way to monopolize on the Japanese and English puns all in one package.

Yomikiri/One-Shot Story

The One-shot story, is about Hoshiiko and how she invented Meka. Originally her name was Ikase Hoshiko. Meca's name was spelled Meka, and had a last name of Hanayori Meka. The storyline goes something like Hoshiko was always made fun of when she was little because of her name. But she currently has a crush on a guy in her class that once made fun of her. Takeda...but in the end she cannot forgive him afterall.

There are a lot of cute little gimmicks in this, plus some odd references to manga she was doing at that time too. Every time Meka heard the word "Baka" which means "idiot" she would go nuts and punch someone randomly and immediately forget she had done so. This is most likely a reference to the "Punch!!" series that Naoko Takeuchi was doing at that time. There is also a cameo of two stuffed animals that are a dog, and a rabbit, which is a reference to the author and her husband.

The other striking thing about the one-shot is that Meka builds her own robots. She is a genius at it, to the point that it causes trouble. She builds a TV, and a dog. It also has more gag type of humor than the series, but it is not short on humor in general.

Series Story

Unlike Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon, and many of the other stories by Naoko Takeuchi, this story takes place in the future. This story also welcomes back the editor from Sailor Moon, Osa-P.

When Mimii was young, she was friends with Hoshiko. Hoshiko had to go to the United States because she was studying abroad. Mimii makes Hoshiko promise that they will always be friends. And this is where the story starts.

Meca shows up in Mimii's life 7 years later to become her friend, and to help her. However, Meca isn't exactly all that Mimii thought would be. Meca keeps getting into trouble, saving people's lives, and summoning various people/robots/objects with her cellphone.

This series is for a younger audience than Sailor Moon, or most of the other works that Naoko Takeuchi has done. It is also light-hearted, and does not take itself too seriously. For those familiar with Naoko takeuchi's work, it is more like, "Codename Sailor V" than it is "Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon" in terms of it's seriousness.

Characters

• Meca Hanasaki (花咲芽歌) - The main character of the series, she is an energetic, often over enthusiastic robot.

• Meka Hanasaki (花咲めか) - A smaller version of the character. However, her characters are spelled slightly different.

• Hoshiko Hana (花星子) - The inventor of Meca. She is currently in America attending MIT.

• Mimii Asada (朝田美々依) - The other protagonist of this story.

• Ruruu Asada (朝田留々宇) - Mimii's exhuberant younger sister. She often scolds her older sister much to Mimii's consternation.

• Ryusei Miki (竜正御木) - The love interest in this story, and often mysterious figure. He carries a camera around with him. Does he like Mimii or is he just playing with her?

• Yukitake Hayashi (林雪武) - Ryusei's friend. He also seems to know about robots.

• Erena Ishihara (石原えれな)- Mimii's friend who is also a fashion designer.

External Links

Note: Please ONLY post links that are NOT yours or your personal friends'. Post USEFUL links with specific Information or resources.

• Sailormoon Channel: The Official Website
• Toki*Meca: A fan website with information on the manga.
• The Official Naoko Takeuchi's Toki Meka Fanlisting: Toki*Meca Fanlisting
• Toki*Meka One-Shot Translations Only for the one-shot/ Yomikiri.