Forced to escape only under the protection of Hak, her childhood friend and bodyguard, the naïve princess soon discovers that Kouka is not the idyllic place she envisioned it to be. Poverty, strife, and corruption run rampant, making reclaiming the throne nothing more than a wishful fantasy given the kingdom’s current state.

Based on the popular manga of the same name by Mizuho Kusanagi, Akatsuki no Yona follows Princess Yona on a coming-of-age adventure as she faces the harsh realities of her kingdom. With only a mysterious legend to guide her, Yona must discover a way to restore Kouka to its former glory while being pursued relentlessly by the forces of the new King of Kouka.

Yona of the Dawn Fashion Inspiration

Categorized as historical fiction, Yona of the Dawn is loosely based on the Three Kingdoms of Korea period and draws its inspiration from traditional Korean culture, retold as a Japanese anime that aired from October 2014 to March 2015.

Yona

As the princess and the only heir of the Kouka Kingdom, Yona was raised with extreme care, luxurious gifts, and beautiful accessories and clothing. She starts off weak and fragile like a kitten but develops into someone more brave, powerful, and compelling. On her 16th birthday, she was forced into a life on the run after her father was murdered by Soo-Won. 

At the start of the series, she is a girl in short stature with purple eyes and long, wavy red hair; however, after a series of events, she slices off her hair with a sword to avoid being captured. Yona changes from a spoiled princess into a strong young woman who lives for the people of Kouka Kingdom, while also paying back the friends who helped her survive.

Her current outfit is made up of a white gown and a red vest with dark burgundy trim and a light pink sash tied around her waist. She often wears a cape with a hood to hide her full appearance, particularly her red hair. She is also never seen without the same pair of elegant, long earrings. Throughout the series Yona’s eyes have had a fiery look in them, this happens when her friend’s life is in danger.