An Introduction to Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon

Haruka Tenoh is a character from Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon (美少女戦士セーラームーン - Bishōjo Senshi Sērā Mūn.) It is a Japanese manga series categorized in the "For Girls" genre. Created by Naoko Takeuchi (武内直子 - Takeuchi Naoko), it was serialized in Nakyoshi Magzine from 1991-1997. In its popularity, an anime under Toei Animation was created after it, airing from 1992-1998 via the TV Asahi network.

Though aimed towards young girls, the series gained popularity among women and men alike. It became widely known outside of Japan and has been published and aired in North America, Korea, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Russia, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Sweden and many others. It was and is a social phenomenon.

The manga, consisting of 52 chapters, was eventually collected into 18 tankōbon volumes by Kodansha Comics of Japan. The anime lasted five seasons, consisting of 200 episodes in total. Many other medias stemmed from the manga and anime from movie specials, CD drama collections, musicals to a live-action television series.

The previous lives of a young school girl named Usagi Tsukino (月野 うさぎ - Tsukino Usagi) and a young man named Mamoru Chiba (地場 衛 - Chiba Mamoru) are the foundation of the story. They were once Princess Serenity (プリンセス ・セレニティ - Purinsesu Sereniti) of the Moon and Prince Endymion (プリンス ・エンディミオン - Purinsu Endimion) of the Earth doomed by a tragic star-crossed love that eventually resulted in the fall of both their kingdoms. Given the gift of rebirth, they began new lives on Earth to hopefully live peaceful, happy, normal lives and perhaps someday meet again. Not all remains well on Earth however, and soon new incarnations of them appear in the forms of Sailor Moon (セーラームーン - Sērā Mūn) and Tuxedo Mask (タキシード仮面 - Takishīdo Kamen). The story then follows both as they grow as people and soldiers; discover their pasts and futures; gain allies and battle various enemies from inside and outside the Solar System.

Despite the many passing years, Sailor Moon has lived on as one of the most popular manga and anime series over the world. Already it has celebrated its Tenth and Twentieth Anniversaries, each time being richly restored and re-released. By 2014 a new anime take on the manga has been created under the title Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal (美少女戦士セーラームーン Crystal (クリスタル) - Bishōjo Senshi Sērā Mūn Kurisutaru.) Following the manga story line more faithfully, it stands separate from the first animated series. It began release on July 5, 2014, simulcasting over the world.