Sailor Venus: The Awesome Story Behind the First Sailor Scout!

It might seem impossible to believe, but the leader of the Sailor Scouts in Sailor Moon isn’t Sailor Moon at all! Sailor Moon wasn’t even the first Sailor Scout to debut with series creator Naoko Takeuchi. Sailor Venus is the very first Sailor Scout and the leader of the entire Sailor Scout team! If you can’t believe it, join us as we dive into the history of Sailor Venus, the first Sailor Scout!

Who is Sailor Venus?

Sailor Venus’ real name is Minako Aino, a young girl who discovers she is the protector of the planet Earth. She is the first Sailor Scout to be awakened to her true destiny by the cat, Artemis. Even though Sailor Moon is the most famous of the Sailor Scouts and leads them in battle very “famously”, Minako is technically the true leader of the Sailor Scouts. For a time, she misled her foes into thinking she was the actual princess of the moon. She did this to keep them off the trail of the real princess she was searching for.

When was her first manga appearance?

The Sailor Moon series has grown significantly over the years, but in its infancy, Sailor Moon wasn’t the main character; it was Sailor Venus. Making her debut in the shojo manga series Codename: Sailor V, Sailor Venus awakened to her powers and battled the forces of darkness.

When Codename: Sailor V enjoyed great success, so much so that it would receive its own anime series, Naoko Takeuchi was asked to expand on its themes and incorporate more girls into its story. This led her to create the follow-up series, Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon.

What is her personality like?

As a young girl, Minako is kind, gentle, charming, and every other excellent adjective you could use to describe a person. To her friends, she can be funny, refined, and as graceful as a swan. She is fierce and determined in battle, always ready to defend what is good and pure in the world. As Sailor Venus had already been a Sailor Scout for some time before meeting the other team members, she came across as stern and unyielding in some regard. 

This is not to say that she was authoritative or disliked, not at all, but simply that she was no stranger to conflict. Minako knew the weight of her mission and took it very seriously. When she isn’t in her world-saving alter ego, Minako is a gifted volleyball player.

She’s so good that she even considered leaving the Sailor Scouts to become a professional player. Funny enough, though, is that Minako has a huge soft spot for romance despite all of her experience as a fighter. This manifested in her big crush on Yaten Kou, aka Sailor Star Healer, in the anime.

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What special powers does Sailor Venus have?

Minako possesses the ability to harness and control light. While many other Scouts have more basic elemental powers like water, lightning, and fire, Minako uses literal light constructs. Most famously, Minako uses the Crescent Beam attack, where she launches a powerful light blade at enemies. Rolling Heart Vibration and Venus Love-Me Chain are other powerful attacks at her disposal. 

Light abilities aside, Minako also possesses superhuman feats outside of battle. She is capable of leaping several stories in a single bound, as well as outrunning speeding cars. The powers of her home planet grant her a vast array of superpowers that aid her in her constant battle against the forces of darkness.

Why is Sailor Venus important?

Simply put, Sailor Venus is the OG. Without her, there would be no Sailor Moon. The entire Sailor Scout team would never have been formed if it hadn’t been for the success of Codename: Sailor V. While Sailor Moon herself has enjoyed nearly all of the fame and adoration of her fans for years, it’s always been Minako that’s the true star of the series.

Even within the series, she is still a necessary and integral team member after all these years. Sailor Moon is absent-minded outside of battle, so the Scouts must have a leader who knows how to use her brain at any moment. She may not always be at the front of the stage, but Sailor Venus has been, is, and will always be the true leader of the series.

Is Sailor Venus your favorite member of the Sailor Scouts? Did you first meet her in Codename: Sailor V? Do you think she deserves to become the main character again? Let us know in the comments below! We would love to hear your thoughts on Sailor Venus!