Impressions of 'Toaru Seiza no Jadugar' (Acts 1-6) and Analysis from the Perspective of Project Management, Agile, and Business Analysis - Learning Project Management at a Leisurely Pace

The original manga, 'Toaru Seiza no Jadugar,' is also extremely interesting, and the anime adaptation began airing in July.
Anything based on Mongolia is bound to be interesting.
Despite the cute art style, the content is a historical anime with solid historical research.

Act 1: 'Things in the Heavens, Things on the Earth'

In 1213, in Tus, eastern Iran, a young girl named Sitara, who lost her mother, is taken in by Fatima, the lady of a scholarly family.
Sitara, who only wished to return to her hometown and hated studying, learns through her interactions with Muhammad that 'knowledge and wisdom become the power to live.'
However, at that time, the forces of the Mongol Empire were approaching, and a great wave of history was about to crash into Sitara's peaceful life.

Regarding 'knowledge and wisdom,' which becomes a major theme throughout the story,the episode where she intentionally drops a gold bowl, predicts the future, and deals with it appropriately is impressive.

And then, it continues to the next episode with an ominous ending featuring the sound of the Mongol army's footsteps.

Act 2: 'Roses Blooming in Safar'

Eight years after Muhammad left, the Mongol army led by Tolui invades Tus, and the peaceful life of Sitara and the others is suddenly destroyed.
The manuscript 'Elements,' which Fatima cherished, is stolen, the city is burned, and Sitara herself becomes a prisoner of the Mongol army.
Before Sitara, who has lost everything and is in despair, appears a boy named Sira who serves as an interpreter for the Mongol army, and her fate begins to move once again.

Act 2, where the story moves significantly.
The peace that she thought would last forever was nothing more than a fleeting illusion.

Since the terrestrial broadcast and streaming of Act 1 and Act 2 were simultaneous, watching them consecutively from Act 1 conveys Sitara's despair to the viewers as well.

And so, Sitara is swept away by a new fate once again.

Act 3: 'The Unquenchable Flame'

To advance his career, Sira tries to introduce the educated Sitara to Tolui, the fourth prince of the Mongol Empire.
Sitara learns why Fatima was killed and 'Elements' was stolen, and she resolves that reclaiming 'Elements' is the first step toward revenge against the Mongol Empire.
Then, at her audience with Tolui, Sitara inherits the name of her late benefactor and calls herself 'Fatima'.

Sitara, who had been tossed about by fate, defines her own purpose as 'Fatima'.

And she encounters the wisdom of sages from all times and places, such as the secret of immortality.

Act 4: 'Master of the Hearth (Otchigin)'

Sitara (Fatima), who has come to serve Tolui, the fourth prince of the Mongol Empire, meets Sorghaghtani Beki, the prince's youngest wife who becomes the 'Master of the Hearth (Otchigin).'
While Sitara tries to build her place in the court using knowledge as a weapon, she learns of the great power and roles held by Mongol women.
And she begins to realize that to shake the Mongol Empire from within, it is important to get close to the women of the imperial family.

Things that are taken for granted become important knowledge that serves as a beginning for the Mongols.Here too, 'knowledge' becomes the theme.

And three years pass. Although she is about to be swept away, she holds a strong will for revenge.
With the passing of Genghis Khan, fate moves significantly once again.

Act 5: 'The Spots of a Snake are on the Outside, the Spots of a Person are on the Inside'

Sitara (Fatima) serves Tolui's wife, Sorghaghtani Beki, and learns about the human relationships among the Mongol imperial family and the hidden agendas each of them holds in their hearts.
The Mongol Empire, which appears powerful and united on the surface, had various 'spots' internally, such as succession disputes and conflicts between clans, and the people there harbored them.
Sitara, who has sworn revenge, begins to explore her own way of fighting: seeing through people's true intentions and weaknesses, and using them to collapse the empire from within.

A secret mission from Sorghaghtani and the full-scale appearance of Toregene.
Various factions begin to move for their own purposes, including Ogedei, the Great Khan; Tolui, who holds the greatest military power; the Jochi clan, which no longer has a head; and Temuge, the younger brother of Genghis Khan, as well as Chagatai, with whom there is the deepest bond of trust.

Act 6: 'The People of Mergen'

Toregene begins to trust Sitara, who harbors a grudge against the Mongol Empire, and starts to share her own sorrowful past.
Going back 25 years. Toregene, who married Dair, the much older chief of the Merkit tribe, begins to open her heart to Dair's daughter, Khulan, and others.
However, the peaceful days are short-lived; they are attacked by the Mongol tribe led by Genghis Khan, and Dair is forced to make a certain decision.

The Mongols and the Merkits have been bitter enemies since long ago, and even after the Mongols unified the steppes, the grudge did not disappear.
Does the 'Jada Stone' truly summon storms, as the legend says?

Analysis from the Perspectives of Project Management, Agile, and Business Analysis

The protagonist, Sitara, is merely swept along by fate in the beginning, but she uses 'knowledge and wisdom' as weapons to clarify her purpose.

There are times when she gets used to life in Mongolia and almost forgets her purpose, but she continues to keep the fire burning in her heart.

In projects as well, there are times when the initial project goals are left behind as the external and internal environments change daily.

At such times, the role of the PM is to be able to return to the initial goals and think.

Sometimes, it is also necessary to review the initial project goals according to the situation.

It is necessary to respond in an agile manner so that goals can be achieved flexibly according to the daily situation.

It can be said that Sitara (Fatima) is acting in an agile way to achieve her goals, even while being swept along by the situation.

In long-term projects, goals can change.

If you know what you want to do and the requirements are clear, the purpose will not waver.

Business analysis is a method that not only identifies business needs but also defines stakeholder benefits, evaluates actionable solutions for value realization, and delivers that value.

Sitara (Fatima) involves stakeholders while repeatedly renewing her resolve throughout the long project.

To make a project successful, various knowledge such as project management, agile, and business analysis is required.

'Knowledge' is a project resource.

It is the role of the PM to use 'knowledge' and employ 'wisdom' to overcome difficult barriers.

Sitara (Fatima) may look like a PM with no authority or resources, but she has 'knowledge and wisdom'.

From there, she involves stakeholders and cuts into the massive program that is the Mongol Empire, starting from small projects.

This is a strategy for the weak to win, as described in the 'strategy of the weak' within Lanchester's laws.

She never challenges them head-on, but instead uses knowledge to differentiate herself and get closer to the 'first principles'.

She involves stakeholders and stirs up a storm together with her trusted ally, Toregene.

You cannot take your eyes off the revenge story of Sitara (Fatima) and Toregene.