Fushigi Yuugi Special (Genbu Kaiden)

• Story: Yuu Watase
• Drawing: Yuu Watase
• Editor: Viz Media
• Japanese Editor: Shogakukan Productions Co., Ltd.
• Genre: Fantasy, Shoujo
• Tankōbon Number: 1
• Year:

Fushigi Yuugi returns with a great prequel that deals with the adventures of Takiko Okuda as priestess of Genbu and of the seven celestial warriors who protect her. This manga is still on-going in Japan and two chapters are released every 3 months on Perfect World magazine. But it's worth the waiting, since it's one of the best works of Watase. It's called Genbu Kaiden, that is, "The legend of Genbu".

A thing that strikes the reader is the fact that no celestial warrior is happy about their powers, unlike Suzaku’s ones...

The story is settled in Taisho era (1923) and relates how Takiko's father, Einosuke Okuda, a famous Japanese writer and an expert in Chinese history, has discovered and translated the "Shijintenchisho", that is, the book called "The Universe of the Four Gods". Takiko hates him for having travelled for so many years in search of that manuscript and not being at home with his sick wife. Near after his coming back, Takiko's mather dies of tubercolosis and Takiko is shocked and angry at the behaviour of his father. Blinded by the grief and anger, she tries to break the book her father has worked on for a lot of years but suddenly she is mysteriously sucked into it.

Soon Takiko realizes she is fallen into the book and discovers she is now in the ancient China, in the reign of Hokkan. After overcoming the shock she tries to help people and comes to accept her role as Priestess of Genbu (Genbu no Miko). As Miaka and Yui in the first Fushigi Yuugi she travels to find all the celestial warriors of Genbu: Uruki, Tomite, Hatsui, Namame, Hikitsu, Inami, and Urumiya. According to Chinese astrology, Genbu is the God that protects the reign of the North, Hokkan and is represented by a turtle surrounded by snakes.

The first celestial warrior Takiko meets is Uruki, a dangerous man wanted by the soldiers of the emperor. But soon she discovers he is Rimdo, the only son of the Emperor of Hokkan, and so the Crown Prince himself. A prophecy has destroyed his life, in fact his father, a selfish and miserable man, was said his son would definitely kill him after the coming of the Priestess of Genbu in this world. He wanted to kill his son but his mother saved him, making him escape together with Tauru and his son Soruen.

A thing that strikes the reader is the fact that no celestial warrior is happy about their powers, unlike Suzaku's ones. This is clear from the beginning with Uruki; he doesn't accept his destiny and is grieved at being hated by his own father who sends killers after him. But the priestess will be able to cure their wounds and convince them of the importance of their duty, and at the end she falls in love with Rimudo.

In this new work Watase Yuu's style has improved a lot, in fact the mangaka's drawings has been made better and the plot appears more mature. Every character is well developed, especially the celestial warriors; in particular uruki's character which is deep, charming and surprising because of his many facets. The love between Uruki and Takiko is deeply moving and exciting as the whole story.

I suggest it to everyone, to the fans of Fushigi Yuugi, and of Watase, but also to everyone who wants to read some Watase's work for the first time. Even if this manga is a prequel of Fushigi Yuugi, it's an independent story and attracts the reader from the beginning to the end.

Review by Nusuren

Yuu Watase / Yuu Watase © / Shogakukan Productions Co., Ltd.. All rights reserved

 

School report of Fushigi Yuugi Special (Genbu Kaiden)...

Here's the review of "Fushigi Yuugi Special (Genbu Kaiden)" According the Staff of Nanoda: If you're foolish enough to not agree or you REALLY want to state your opinions, go ahead and express yourself and debate with the other inmates of Nanoda! ^_^

Drawings:

• Media Voti: 3/5

3

Story:

• Media Voti: 2.9/5

2.9

Editing:

• Media Voti: 3/5

3

Edition:

• Media Voti: 2.7/5

2.7

English translation:

• Media Voti: 3/5

3

Total Rating of Editors:

• Media Voti: 3/5

3

Rate It!!!:

• Media Voti: 4.5/5
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Avg.: 4.5/5 (8 Votes)

 

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