#fushigi yugi genbu kaiden

[edwinspaynes]

My relationship with FYGK as a tragedy hater is insane. Because I intellectually understand that, yes, FYGK is an extremely lovingly written tragedy, but I never have viewed it as one. I'm currently on volume 2 but I just remember it all. Those last panels with Takiko and Uruki reuniting in heaven save it for me, making it a beautiful beyond-the-divide-of-death love story rather than a senseless tragedy. Also the way Takiko is drawn in that field of flowers haunts me to this day in the best possible way and just screams hopehopehope to me. I also have to say that the way Hikitsu and Tomite's relationship is handled is beautiful whether you read it as platonic or romantic. Manufactured in so-devoted-the-lines-blur heaven.

[booty-uprooter]

last night sucked cant wait to go home and make rice here's a batch of colored title pages

[roseunspindle]

Hikitsu, Limdo, Tomite

[ashesandhackles]

Skimmed through FYGK again and Rimudo Roun - the creation you are! Watase put her soul into creating him. I was looking at the pages of his grief and rage - it was so compelling, and he nearly popped out of the page with his emotion.

In Crafting Characters With Interesting Dimensions

Rimudo Roun is one of Yuu Watase's best male protagonists - one, he had an actual character arc that is inspired but does not entirely hinge on his love for the female protagonist, Takiko.

But most of what I love about Rimudo of how multi-faceted he is. He is a crown prince, and his real father is after his head. He grows up with his mother's attendants, always on the run. As a result, when we first meet him - he is ruthless and abrasive.

He has no problems saying harsh, practical things to the heroine of the story, even if what he says comes from a place of concern for her.

Seeing her treatment at hands of the people of the country:

Informs this set of cutting words that she interprets as him abandoning her:

We get all this to see a very prickly, cold person on the surface. But then you get his backstory by one of those who raised him, by an attendant who almost abandoned him as a young boy of 8. Rimudo blamed himself for all the deaths his attendant's family suffered as a collateral damage of his real father being after him. And one day, he tries to kill himself:

And his loyal attendant, begins to have doubts as he holds this young boy's hands over the cliff. What if he just lets go? What if he thinks of freedom?

And then, this stunning panel happens.

8-year-old Rimudo smiles at him. He realised what his loyal attendant was doing - and in what he believes is his last moments of his life, he is forgiving him. This act is simultaneously so kind, but also speaks of deep self hatred that Rimudo carries. And this panel alone makes him so alive to the reader.

"Kind" is not how you would choose to describe the man we first meet in the initial chapters, but when you retroactively read the series, it is there, laced under his ruthlessness and coldness. And even though he never quite loses his abrasiveness, you start to see this quality come through to the later half of the series as he becomes an emperor.

Fushigi Yugi Genbu Kaiden's character work is wildly underrated and Rimudo (introduced as "wind demon" and ends up as "emperor" at the end of the story) is one of the best creations to come out of it.

[fushigi-yuugi-fans]

Here's a special treat to tide you over until we get chapter 7 completed. This is the 35 Question & Answer + Special Interview with Yuu Watase that was published with chapter 6!

Huge thanks to Clymistra for translating! Editing by Ranefea.

[accidentalencounter]

FUSHIGI YUUGI ONE SHOT: THE PROLOGUE OF KORIN

The Prologue of Korin (康琳ㄟの序章 / Kōrin ei no joshō) is a one shot published in Perfect World. It is drawn by Yuu Watase and written by Megumi Nishizeki. The one-shot details the events before and directly after the death of Nuriko’s sister, Korin. (wiki) | translation

Check the one shot and the rest of the scans of the fourth volume of Perfect World here!

MASTERPOST

[sag-dab-sar]

It is 77°f in my room because I have not had the energy to put my AC in (no central air). I'm melting.

But. I did finish putting my entire manga bookcase back together which needed to be done first because the mess was in the way of where my AC goes. So now 3 of 4 books cases in my room project are done 🎉

[zizz-asdf-re-r-o-u]

For those shonen fans who like blood & gore kind of action, who want (sort of) magical girl shojo that is more gritty and adult but also still teen-friendly, definitely check out most of Yuu Watase's mangas, esp the Fushigi Yugi and Ayase no Ceres.

I haven't watched the anime adaptations, but the manga are great. (I say sort of magical girl cuz there's girls that technically have magical powers.) Also Fushigi Yugi is surprisingly ahead of its time with who can be interpreted as gay, trans and genderfluid characters. IN ANCIENT CHINA. yes Uruki can be a shapeshifter trope and Nuriko's thing is less weird than Black Butler's Grell or Slow damage's Rei, but still. They're cool and badass (and if Disney Mulan's Shang is bi, then Takiko is totally bi.)

Also, consider the josei genre.

friend was lamenting the lack of girls in the shonen she was watching so I had some advice for her

[kimium]

What are some manga you wish got more love and attention?

Thank you for the ask! I have so many manga to talk about. I'm also probably going to date myself with a few of my picks, but that's fine.

Manga that I wish got more love and attention

Phantom Tales of the Night by Matsuri

Without a doubt the first manga on this list is Phantom Tales of the Night. To sum up the story: we follow the Owner of an inn located in the spirit world. Spirits and humans who stumble into the realm of the spirits can stay. The only thing the Owner wants as payment are secrets. However, unlike Yuuko from XXXHolic who is benevolent, the Owner is not. While they aren't outright malicious, the owner is presented as a supernatural being that folktales would tell cautionary stories about. I highly recommend this story if you enjoyed XXXHolic's premise and Japanese foltakes/myths.

Our Dreams at Dusk by Yuhki Kamatani

This manga is a lovely LGBTQA+ slice of life series where as main protagonist Tasuku Kaname frets over being outed as gay, he meets a mysterious owner of a shop. There, he meets other people of the LGBTQA+ community going through similar dilemmas/problems. Through experiencing and learning more about the others and his identity, Tasuku learns to grows more comfortable with himself.

While the manga can tackle a few heavy topics/experiences from the LGBTQA+ community, the overall warm, slice of life element makes this manga a delightful experience. It's also a short series with four volumes!

Grand Guignol Orchestra by Kaori Yuki

While I could sit here and name every single Kaori Yuki manga I've ever read, I'm picking this one because I think the world building is unique.

In this world, there is this mysterious illness that causes people's skin to slowly harden like porcelain. They then lose their minds and become zombie-like. The only way to counter this and protect yourself is with music. Enter the Lucille and the Grand Orchestra who travels from town to town saving people.

If you haven't read any Kaori Yuki manga, know that she usually tackles dark, almost gothic topics in her manga. While I think this series is tamer than some of her other ones (see: Angel Sanctuary, The Cain Saga/Godchild), you can double check any warnings if you're curious.

Fushigi Yugi Genbu Kaiden By Yuu Watase

If you've watched or were into late 90s early 2000s shoujo anime, then you may be familiar with Fushigi Yugi, a reverse harem isekai series. While the original series had more wide spread success, this manga is the prequel. In it, you meet Takiko, the priestess of Genbu and the first one to ever appear.

The first series is near and dear to my heart, but I enjoy Genbu more simply because I feel there is less soap-opera like drama (romantic). There certainly is romance, it is Fushigi Yugi after all, but I felt it took backstage to the challenge of Takihiko finding her seven warriors so she could summon Genbu.

As a last note, you do not need to know anything about the original series to enjoy this one, though there are many fun Easter Eggs and continuity nods present within. I want this series to have more attention so badly because I physically NEED an anime adaptation of it.

Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle by CLAMP

Now, you may be saying "But CLAMP is super popular!" and you're right. However, their most mainstream successes were Cardcaptor Sakura and Chobits (I think). Yes, Tsubasa (and its sister series XXXHolic) had anime adaptations, they didn't follow the manga/adapt long enough to get to the meat of the series. Even the OVAs only adapted some later parts of the anime and are fragmented.

I hope someday we will have a full reboot... but in the mean time I beg people to read the manga. There is nothing quite like the beautiful, fluid art of CLAMP. I adore their character designs, outfits, and the worlds present within this series. I love all the twists, turns, and characters. I still am not over the Acid Tokyo Arc and the shift in Kurogane and Fai's relationship. I want everyone to experience the full story of Tsubasa so badly it hurts me.

(I suppose in the same vein as this one, I want people to also experience XXXHolic. They are sister series and some story elements near the end assume you've read XXXHolic too.)

Dr. Stone by Riichiro Inagaki and art by Boichi

I love the anime adaptation. It's bizarrely a "comfort" anime for me and has been rewatched multiple times. I think the anime has done an amazing job adapting this series. I also think that the manga's art is stunning. I am in love with Boichi's line work: the weight, the thick/thin tapering, the panelling... it is amazing. I want more people to experience it badly.

The Promised Neverland by Kaiu Shirai and art by Posuka Demizu

In my mind the first season adaptation of this manga is nothing short of a masterpiece. The pacing, the camera angles, the lighting/colour, the sound design are all perfect. It is a shame that the second season (that actually doesn't exist in my heart) completely botched what should have been an anime masterpiece.

If you haven't experienced the manga I cannot encourage you more to read it. The artwork is breathtaking. The pacing and the tension developed in the story left me on the edge of my seat. Some of the best story beats and arcs are locked behind the pages of the manga, waiting for you to explore it. I cannot encourage enough people to go read this manga. Maybe, we can get a reboot and give this series the justice it deserves. Until then, I highly recommend this manga.

And there you have it, friend! I hope you like my list! Let me know what you think!!!

[mrsgojosatoru]

Re-reading Kamisama Kiss as I wait for my next Fushigi Yugi: Genbu Kaiden volume to get here.

[edwinspaynes]

They look so happy here oh my god I hope they get more happy moments like this in the afterlife FOR ETERNITY

[lady-of-the-spirit]

[Image description: two screencaps of a wikipedia page.

First image is the header, text is Fushigi Yugi: Genbu Kaiden. Second image text: Original run March 15, 2003 to February 14, 2013. /End ID]

20 YEARS OF GENBU KAIDEN Y'ALL!! (It was released on the Ides of March how iconic of them)

[ashesandhackles]

8 TV Shows

Thanks for the tag @yletylyf <3 <3

Rules: list eight TV shows for your followers to get to know you better! 1. Buffy the Vampire Slayer Years, years ago, I sporadically watched earlier seasons of Buffy and enjoyed it for the campy fun they were. And then I watched, "Innocence" - Season 2, episode 14 and I was obsessed with Buffy Summers. Buffy Summers is that one character of all time for me - she is heroic, aspirational but she is also flawed and messy and so delightfully complex. I love her and I forever have a soft spot for Sarah Michelle Gellar for playing her.

2. Fruits Basket

I first read Fruits Basket as a manga, saw the first anime adaptation and the reboot came out during the pandemic. Fruits Basket is a very important piece of media to me because of the way it tackles abuse and the nature of systemic abuse. The show/ manga's ideas of rehabilitative justice were truly ahead of its time. Also the anti hero of the story is my all time fixation - Shigure Sohma.

3. Inuyasha

Another long running manga turned anime. Something about this series turns me into a nostalgic goo. It's probably Rumiko Takahashi's brand of characters, where there is something interesting going on with each of them. But my forever love from the series is Sango, the girl who crawls out of her own grave <3

4. Fushigi Yugi

I greatly dislike the main lead in this anime, I great dislike the romance in this series but my heart went out to the antagonist, the main lead's once best friend Yui Hongo. And if this series wasn't so enamored with its ridiculously cheesy and tiresome main romance (i do not have enough criticism for how truly bad it is, believe me), it had decent worldbuilding and politics. A fact that the original manga author knew and corrected with her spin off prequel - the vastly superior manga Fushigi Yugi: Genbu Kaiden (with likable main heroine! an intense romance that never takes over the plot!). She is currently writing Fushigi Yugi: Byakko Senki and I am curious to see what she does there.

5. Nana

Nana is about my early 20s life lol. Co-dependent, almost romantically charged friendship with a roommate/best friend? Check. Misogynist, controlling boyfriends? Check. Intense but fucked up relationships? Check. It's like this show reached into my heart and displayed it to the world.

6. Shadow and Bone

I'll be honest: my interest in the show is largely due to the fact that I have read the Six of Crows duology and loved those books. I only read the original Shadow and Bone series recently, just so I can keep with the main plotline in season 2 and boy, the original trilogy is very poor lol. The only thing that has bones of something interesting is Darkling and his relationship with Alina, and watching Season 2, I feel the show writers aren't comfortable tapping into that. Too much time moralising "this is bAd!!" - lol, yes we know. It is very childish finger-wagging writing, and it's very boring and not at all reflective of human experience (Shadow and Bone writers need to watch Nana to understand how to write abusive relationships without making it look like they are doing 'Toxic Ex Boyfriend for Dummies'). The reasons why Crows shine so much is because they are based on books that are good. And I agree with general consensus that the moral universe of the Crows and the Shadow and Bone stories do not match at all, and it creates horrible discrepancies in narrative framing.

7. Cowboy Bebop

This is a show that has influenced my writing the most: dream-like vigenettes for characters? People dreaming and having nightmares? Characters stuck in the past? I wish I could be as subtle and genre-bending as this show often was. So beautiful.

8. Death Note

If you have inhaled animes during your teen years, you won't go without bingeing Death Note. Fantastic premise, fantastic protagonist and just outright brutal to watch. I keep returning to it time and again.

Tagging @merlins-sequined-hotpants @hinnyfied @bluethepineapple @phantomeo @thedreamermusing @turanga4

[fushigi-yuugi-fans]

The Yuu Watase Original Art Exhibition celebrating 35 years in the manga industry is now open in Tokyo, Japan!

This large-scale art exhibit features collections of Yuu Watase's original illustrations from all throughout her career.

This is such a well earned and much deserved celebration of Watase and her works. It brings me so much joy to see my favorite mangaka celebrated in such a way!

Here are some images gathered from Twitter and throughout the web from:

https://x.com/fushigiyugi_30/status/1821699741857800612 https://x.com/FushigiGenga https://x.com/wataseyuu_/status/1821550482000838982 https://x.com/comic_natalie/status/1821831833602142577 and Comic Natalie's Article: https://natalie.mu/comic/news/585812

[accidentalencounter]

FUSHIGI YUUGI PERFECT WORLD MASTERPOST

I'm planning to scans all the Perfect World volumes that I have. I will scans everything minus the chapters and ads.

I know is old materials, but if someone want to translate something they are welcome to do so. Just please credit me for the scans!

Volume 1 | Volume 2 | Volume 3 | Volume 4 | Volume 5

Volume 6 | Volume 7 | Volume 8 | Volume 9 | Volume 10

Volume 11 | Volume 12 | Volume 13 | Volume 14

[beermanoftana]

Aside from the occasional Yona sidelines, I want to finish a series before reading another. Currently in volume 7 of Devils’ Line. I really wanna read Fushigi Yugi already but my order of Genbu Kaiden hasn’t arrived and I don’t want to finish FY without GK just in case :(