A few years ago, I started work on an essay that examined the evolution of Xeno called Contesting the Master Plan.
One of the intended entries was devoted to the mystery of Sakura Mizrahi. As it turns out, the entry was 80 percent done. I've polished it and decided to post it.
The Death of Sakura Mizrahi
The plotline surrounding death of Sakura Mizrahi is one of the clearest examples of how the series had changed over time. Every single continuity has provided its own take on Sakuraâ€
s fate and the truth of the matter remains shrouded in mystery and ambiguity many years later. While every single Xeno game would attest that Sakura died, the how and when is another matter.
In brief, the deaths are as follows:
OE1C: Suicide
RE2C: Unknown
RE3C: Passing/An Experiment
DSC: Self-Sacrifice
OE1C: Suicide (specific method not disclosed)
Originally, the cause of Sakuraâ€s death in the OE1C was explicitly stated to be suicide. The ODM makes this clear in several entries. The entry on Momo states:
http://odm.xenotensei.com/translations/pg050.txt>
As does the entry for both Juli and Joachim:
http://odm.xenotensei.com/translations/pg154.txt>
From the multiple entries of the ODM then, we can pinpoint that when Episode 1 was conceived, Sakura was to have killed herself. The reasons and circumstances under which she would do this is not stated and likely would be worked out when it came time to move the series to the script stage. But what we do understand from this outline is that that Sakura wouldâ€ve been a sick, dying girl, who wouldâ€ve killed herself in front of her mother. One could theorize her suicide as a decision on her part to end her suffering, to no longer have to be sick. Notably, none of the ODM entries that speak of Sakuraâ€s sucide ever mention her having a connection to Jr. or of Mizrahi attempting to cure his daughter with the help of the URTV.
This is intriguing, as it raises the possibility that Sakuraâ€s history was originally conceived as a separate subplot from Jr.â€s backstory. In other words, it is entirely possible that it was only during script development of either the Original Episode I or the Revised Episode II that Sakura became a key element of Jr.â€s story and so, her fate had changed accordingly to be tied to the Jr./Albedo relationship.
RE2C: Unknown Circumstances
It is then quite perplexing as to why the PS2 Episode II completely neglects to resolve Sakuraâ€s fate. She is known to be dead in the present, but how she died, when and why is never specified. Given the huge role she played in the Subconscious Domain chapters and importance she had for the Jr./Momo backstory and the fact that she had been known to have died, one could see Episode 2 as building towards her characterâ€s resolution, only to completely drop the ball.
Soraya Sagaâ€s post on the revisions to her script for Episode II specified that “the death of Sakura†was a story element that was removed by the new team. Why would Yonesaka and Arai remove it, when the narrative was clearly building towards it? Perhaps the cause of death mightâ€ve been construed as too dark for the more mainstream market the game was targeting. Perhaps, they wanted to save it for Episode 3. We may never know.
RE3C:
A. Passing away
B. An experiment/accident
Anybody hoping for clarification in Episode 3 was likely disappointed though, as Sakuraâ€s database entry only states that she “passed awayâ€, without explaining as to how, when and why.
Sakura Mizrahi entry:
However, what most people probably donâ€t recall is that a different version of the story exists in another E3 database entry, namely the Miltian Conflict Report, which states that
This conflicts with the earlier statement that Sakura just passed away and re-connects Sakuraâ€s death to the URTV backstory. Again, however, we donâ€t have an exact explanation as to what caused her death, but we could speculate that this was related to the U-DO Simulator. This largely fits with the explanation of Xenosaga DS.
DSC: Self-Sacrifice
Xenosaga DS provides the final and most specific version of Sakuraâ€s death. Initially, one is lead to speculate that Albedo kills her. However, in the end, it turns out that Sakura sacrificed herself to prevent Albedo from getting hit with a “simulated†U-DO wave. Albedo then apparently decided to claim he was responsible to goad Jr. into killing him. On Gamefaqs, Jinx of Xenotensei had translated the crucial exchange from the Scene:
This explanation is neat, but it likely arrived only through the process of retroactive revision. Notably, it doesnâ€t at all match with the depiction of Jr. and Albedoâ€s relationship in the later flashbacks of Episode II, especially in the Nephilim chamber, where Albedo is very cowardly and Jr. expresses no hostility towards him.
Given that weâ€ve only seen retroactively revised versions of the story play out in Episode II and DS, the question remains then: at the time the Original Episode I had reached the script stage, what was the intended fate of Sakura as written out by Soraya Saga? Would it have still been a suicide as stated in the ODM? What was the intended fate of Sakura as written out by Soraya Saga when Episode 1.5 had to be reshaped into the revised Episode II? Would it have been self-sacrifice as provided in the DS? Or perhaps something else entirely?
I doubt that Saga wouldâ€ve had Sakura commit suicide in her revised version of the Episode 1.5 script, assuming she did in fact write one. Sagaâ€s brother had killed himself and Saga herself had made an attempt at suicide, so the idea that Sakura killed herself would likely strike too close to home. Likely, the death had to have some connection to the URTV, but the specifics may have shifted. In any case, unless Saga herself clarifies the issue, the truth will remain unknown.
One of the intended entries was devoted to the mystery of Sakura Mizrahi. As it turns out, the entry was 80 percent done. I've polished it and decided to post it.
The Death of Sakura Mizrahi
The plotline surrounding death of Sakura Mizrahi is one of the clearest examples of how the series had changed over time. Every single continuity has provided its own take on Sakuraâ€
s fate and the truth of the matter remains shrouded in mystery and ambiguity many years later. While every single Xeno game would attest that Sakura died, the how and when is another matter.In brief, the deaths are as follows:
OE1C: Suicide
RE2C: Unknown
RE3C: Passing/An Experiment
DSC: Self-Sacrifice
OE1C: Suicide (specific method not disclosed)
Originally, the cause of Sakuraâ€
s death in the OE1C was explicitly stated to be suicide. The ODM makes this clear in several entries. The entry on Momo states:The entry on Juli Mizrahi corroborates this explanation:“Joachim's purpose for starting to build MOMO was to save his beloved daughter
Sakura… However, it is unclear how he was planning to use MOMO to save Sakura. This is because before MOMO was finished, Sakura committed suicide before Juli's eyes.†(43) <
http://odm.xenotensei.com/translations/pg043.txt>
<“Sakura killed herself near Juli, and Juli felt lack of her power.†(50)
http://odm.xenotensei.com/translations/pg050.txt>
As does the entry for both Juli and Joachim:
<“Due to the suicide of their beloved daughter, what little bond remained between them was lost.†(154)
http://odm.xenotensei.com/translations/pg154.txt>
From the multiple entries of the ODM then, we can pinpoint that when Episode 1 was conceived, Sakura was to have killed herself. The reasons and circumstances under which she would do this is not stated and likely would be worked out when it came time to move the series to the script stage. But what we do understand from this outline is that that Sakura wouldâ€
ve been a sick, dying girl, who wouldâ€ve killed herself in front of her mother. One could theorize her suicide as a decision on her part to end her suffering, to no longer have to be sick. Notably, none of the ODM entries that speak of Sakuraâ€s sucide ever mention her having a connection to Jr. or of Mizrahi attempting to cure his daughter with the help of the URTV. This is intriguing, as it raises the possibility that Sakuraâ€
s history was originally conceived as a separate subplot from Jr.â€s backstory. In other words, it is entirely possible that it was only during script development of either the Original Episode I or the Revised Episode II that Sakura became a key element of Jr.â€s story and so, her fate had changed accordingly to be tied to the Jr./Albedo relationship. RE2C: Unknown Circumstances
Quote - Albedo: Iâ€
It is then quite perplexing as to why the PS2 Episode II completely neglects to resolve Sakuraâ€
s fate. She is known to be dead in the present, but how she died, when and why is never specified. Given the huge role she played in the Subconscious Domain chapters and importance she had for the Jr./Momo backstory and the fact that she had been known to have died, one could see Episode 2 as building towards her characterâ€s resolution, only to completely drop the ball. Soraya Sagaâ€
s post on the revisions to her script for Episode II specified that “the death of Sakura†was a story element that was removed by the new team. Why would Yonesaka and Arai remove it, when the narrative was clearly building towards it? Perhaps the cause of death mightâ€ve been construed as too dark for the more mainstream market the game was targeting. Perhaps, they wanted to save it for Episode 3. We may never know. RE3C:
A. Passing away
B. An experiment/accident
Anybody hoping for clarification in Episode 3 was likely disappointed though, as Sakuraâ€
s database entry only states that she “passed awayâ€, without explaining as to how, when and why.Sakura Mizrahi entry:
“After showing Rubedo and Albedo a meaning to their lives beyond that of weapons fated to eventually disappear, she entrusted to them her younger sister who would later be born–a new consciousness named MOMO–and passed away.â€
However, what most people probably donâ€
t recall is that a different version of the story exists in another E3 database entry, namely the Miltian Conflict Report, which states that “An experiment at the Yuriev Institute resulted in the death of Joachim Mizrahiâ€
This conflicts with the earlier statement that Sakura just passed away and re-connects Sakuraâ€
s death to the URTV backstory. Again, however, we donâ€t have an exact explanation as to what caused her death, but we could speculate that this was related to the U-DO Simulator. This largely fits with the explanation of Xenosaga DS.DSC: Self-Sacrifice
Xenosaga DS provides the final and most specific version of Sakuraâ€
s death. Initially, one is lead to speculate that Albedo kills her. However, in the end, it turns out that Sakura sacrificed herself to prevent Albedo from getting hit with a “simulated†U-DO wave. Albedo then apparently decided to claim he was responsible to goad Jr. into killing him. On Gamefaqs, Jinx of Xenotensei had translated the crucial exchange from the Scene:Little Albedo: !? What's this?
U-Do: .......
Little Albedo: You... were looking... for me? ... No.. I was looking [for you].
U-Do: .......
(Albedo touches the spherical object)
Little Albedo: ...yes, that's it... I was born for the sake of accessing you.
Sakura: No, don't! Albedo!
(Sakura throws Albedo aside, touching the sphere. The object disappears and Sakura collapses.)
Little Albedo: Y- You... why... for Rubedo's sake? If it's for Rubedo, you would go that far?
Sakura: You're wrong... it was for your sake...
Little Albedo: What are you saying?! I was going to be e- evolved by U-Do... Right before my eyes, the door to a higher-domain was opening... Why-- Why did you interfere?!
Sakura: Your... true wish... is not like that.
Little Albedo: What, d- do y- .. you know?!
Sakura: You always... with Rubedo...
Little Albedo: H- hey.. why are you quiet all of a sudden? Quick, you gotta regenerate... Rubedo will be here soon! If Rubedo sees you like this... get up... get up, pleeeaseeeeee!
This explanation is neat, but it likely arrived only through the process of retroactive revision. Notably, it doesnâ€
t at all match with the depiction of Jr. and Albedoâ€s relationship in the later flashbacks of Episode II, especially in the Nephilim chamber, where Albedo is very cowardly and Jr. expresses no hostility towards him.Given that weâ€
ve only seen retroactively revised versions of the story play out in Episode II and DS, the question remains then: at the time the Original Episode I had reached the script stage, what was the intended fate of Sakura as written out by Soraya Saga? Would it have still been a suicide as stated in the ODM? What was the intended fate of Sakura as written out by Soraya Saga when Episode 1.5 had to be reshaped into the revised Episode II? Would it have been self-sacrifice as provided in the DS? Or perhaps something else entirely? I doubt that Saga wouldâ€
ve had Sakura commit suicide in her revised version of the Episode 1.5 script, assuming she did in fact write one. Sagaâ€s brother had killed himself and Saga herself had made an attempt at suicide, so the idea that Sakura killed herself would likely strike too close to home. Likely, the death had to have some connection to the URTV, but the specifics may have shifted. In any case, unless Saga herself clarifies the issue, the truth will remain unknown.
