Fushigi Yûgi: Genbu Kaiden, Vol. 06

ふしぎ遊戯 玄武開伝 [Fushigi Yûgi: Genbu Kaiden] #6

by Yuu Watase

Takiko has found another Celestial Warrior--in a house of ill repute! But the proud, bitter Inami has no interest in following the priestess, and she intends to test Takiko's mettle in a duel. Can Takiko's skill with the naginata withstand a full Celestial attack? And when a dark force engulfs the women of the brothel, can Takiko and Inami join forces to save them?

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novels, Shojo, Comics, Adventure

200 pages, Paperback

First published November 26, 2004

About the author

Yuu Watase (渡瀬悠宇) is a Japanese shoujo manga-ka. She is known for her works Fushigi Yūgi, Alice 19th, Ceres: The Celestial Legend, Fushigi Yūgi Genbu Kaiden and Absolute Boyfriend. She likes all music, except heavy metal and old traditional music.

She received the Shogakukan Manga Award for shōjo for Ceres, Celestial Legend in 1997. Since writing her debut short story "Pajama de Ojama" ("An Intrusion in Pajamas"), Watase has created more than 80 compiled volumes of short stories and continuing series. Because of her frequent use of beautiful male characters in her works, she is widely regarded in circles[which?] as a bishōnen manga artist.[citation needed] In October 2008, Watase began her first shōnen serialization, Arata: The Legend in Weekly Shōnen Sunday.
Her name is romanized as "Yû Watase" in earlier printings of Viz Media's publications of Fushigi Yūgi, Alice 19th, and Ceres, The Celestial Legend, while in Viz Media's Fushigi Yūgi Genbu Kaiden and Absolute Boyfriend her name is romanized as "Yuu Watase". In Chuang Yi's English-language versions of Fushigi Yugi (spelled without a macron or circumflex), her name is romanized as "Yu Watase".

Reviews

[Elliot · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wait...what???
Also, there are twins? Well hot damn. Also also, I like the inclusion of a middle aged woman who is a badass.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

The manga industry is brutal--here's yet another mangaka who had to take several months' break because of what she calls "exhaustion," and what I'd call a breakdown. Another thing Watase mentions in her creator's notes is that her readers weren't very accepting of Inami because she's middle aged. Humph. I know, when you're a teenager, anybody 30 or older has one foot in the grave and couldn't be a proper hero at all. It's still kind of depressing, because I think she's one of the cooler characters. I mean, she wields a huge pipe for a weapon, and she has super hair! Her past is quite poignant, too, and not one that could ever have happened to a teenaged character in a shoujo fantasy manga.

Some interesting developments in this volume, including the identity/identities of the last celestial warrior. It'll take some doing to get them onto the team, for sure. There's a war going on, but I think I'd have to reread the whole manga to figure out which country's which, and I don't care enough about this story to do that. There's a plot point where the emperor is given custody of the scroll of the four gods, and the war seems unimportant except for determining who will end up with the scroll and/or to what uses it might be put, so the details seem not to matter all that much anyhow. So, (shrug).

This volume features a short Ayashi no Ceres story set in the distant past, where Ceres meets one of her future lovers in a small fishing village, while being pursued by one from her past. I only got about halfway through the original series before getting tired of the po-faced melodrama (there needs to be some absurdity in melodrama for me to enjoy it), so this story didn't resonate with me the way it would if I'd seen Aya and Touya through to their happy ending*. Ceres was pretty interesting here, seeming to be torn between being a kind of immortal childbearing succubus and a vulnerable human woman.

* presumably, considering they're in "romance epilogue" mode in this short story.

[Ana Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es más cortito porque el cap final es el anexo de Ayashi No Ceres pero aún así vaya tomo!
Me hice spoiler sin querer de la séptima estrella (ups) por lo que no me ha sorprendido y además he clavado mi teoría de lo de la octava 🥳
Honestamente no sé como van a convencerla but oh well, ya se verá.
En fin, esto ya es el punto de inflexión, como la misma autora ha dicho, y ya sé que va a empezar a morir gente so let's goooo

[-moonprismpower- · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t know if my excitement for the series is starting to taper off but to me this wasn’t the most interesting volume. Also, it doesn’t help that 1/4 of this volume is a short side story from Ceres, another manga series by Watase. I feel like this is out of place and just a waste of space in the volume. If you haven’t read Ceres, you won’t really understand the story. I have read it but I personally didn’t care for Ceres, so this side story meant nothing to me.

[Cress · Rating 3 out of 5]

Derp. This is what happens when you take a break for almost a year when making a manga. Unfortunately the Inami arc suffers from Watase forgetting what she was doing, and rushing to get us back on track. But heeeeeeey, final warrior appeared!

[Pearl Angeli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this in 2010 because I simply could not move on with the Fushigi Yugi: The Mysterious Play. I really had fun. So nostalgic!!!

[Neus Gutiérrez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yuu es maravillosa. Qué dura es esta historia.

[Bibliothecat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review for complete series



Despite Fushigi Yuugi being a classic fantasy shoujo manga, I only got around to it long after its original publication. Sadly, I was rather disappointed by it, especially given that it is a popular work. Genbu Kaiden is a newer work of Watase's and serves as a prequel to the original series and this series is everything I hoped the original would have been.

All the things wrong with the original were made right here: our main character Takiko largely makes sensible decisions - sure, they are sometimes also emotionally loaded and not always strategic, but she never left me shaking my head in frustration over stupid decisions. Takiko and her love interest don't fall in love from the start allowing for a much more natural flow which in turn led me to genuinely care about them. The pacing was just right for this kind of plot with only a few chapters seeming a little rushed. The characters we meet along the way are more fleshed out and contribute to the story beyond being yet another follower of the main character - they've got agendas and dreams of their own. The fact that they still chose to follow Takiko just makes their bonds seem a lot stronger than in the original series. While I love a bit of comedy here and there, it was far more subtle than in the original which at times came across as silly.

Having fixed all that, this is a wholesome fantasy series with lovely friendships, interesting family dynamics and bittersweet turn of events. Takiko is a strong main character both in her determination but also in her willingness to lift a weapon despite being physically weaker than her companions. The world is interesting and the art is simply beautiful. Although I doubt it will ever happen, if Watase were ever to redraw the original series at this standard, I have no doubt I would love it. Instead, I will hope that her other prequel series, Byakko Senki, will soon no longer be on hiatus and be drawn to the end.

Only one little beef I had with this series: it's common for many manga, especially in the shoujo area, to have a style in which the characters look very much alike. It's usually hair and clothing more than anything else that makes characters look different from each other. This has never been an issue for me but I don't mind when artists add some more diversity. What I don't like is when authors add diversity purely for diversities sake. I am not sure if this is what Watase's intention was but the Genbu Kaiden cast was a lot more diverse than the original series' was (e.g. I was very pleased to have some more important female characters besides the main character). But, as I have already found with some of Watase's other works, she tends to add some goofy or stereo typical cartoonish characters. Hatsui is an overweight character and everything from design to behaviour and personality feels like a joke rather than a proper member of the group. Why not add a competent overweight character rather than, apologies, a bumbling idiot who is treated more like an overgrown child?

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Today's manga post is on Fushigi Yûgi: Genbu Kaiden, Vol. 06 by Yuu Watase. It is 200 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover has Takiko and two of the Celestial Warriors on it. As it is the sixth volume in the series, you need to have read the first five to understand the story. The intended reader is someone who likes shojo manga, epic historical fantasy, and slow burn love stories. There is no foul language, no sex, and mild action violence in this manga. The story is told from third person close of Takiko. There Be Spoilers Ahead.
From the back of the book- Takiko has found another Celestial Warrior--in a house of ill repute! But the proud, bitter Inami has no interest in following the priestess, and she intends to test Takiko's mettle in a duel. Can Takiko's skill with the naginata withstand a full Celestial attack? And when a dark force engulfs the women of the brothel, can Takiko and Inami join forces to save them?

Review- Takiko has found the next Celestial Warrior but she does not want anything to do with her or summoning Genbu. She has had a very hard life and just wants to protect what she has. But of course with fate and the heavens moving, there is no hiding now. Then they discover that one of the Celestial Warriors is working for the enemy. The plot continues to be strongest aspect of this series with action moving the plot forward more than the characters. But works in this manga. I would like more in-depth time with the characters but the story is so interesting, that I do not mind being pulled along.

I give this volume a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.

[Leila Anani · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first half of this has Takiko trying to convince Inami to join the celestial warriors - there's nice nods to Japanese horror here - killer hair and a grudge and I really like the fact that Inami is a mature woman which adds more diversity to the characters in Genbu Kaiden than the original FY.

In the second half we find out that Hagus is the final warrior - I love the character design for him and we finally learn why he's joined the enemy army and has it in for Limdo.

Not much humour in this one its melodrama and angst all the way, but addictive reading.

There's a bonus Ceres Celestial Legend story at the end which isn't bad either, lovely artwork.

[Mika · Rating 4 out of 5]

(12/22/2020)
Inami is kinda a badass. I wasn't sure how to feel about her at first, but I appreciate having a female warrior who's trying to stand up for poor women who need to eat. (Also interesting note, Soi, Nuriko, the other female warriors in the OG FY, were also sex workers. I'm curious now to learn the Byakko warriors 'backstories now to see if the trend continues)

Also constantly amazed by how much I like Limdo with Takiko. They're cute together. I'm not used to shipping the straights, but it keeps me engaged. I generally think Limdo is a good character as well.

[Allegra · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the first book back after a year+ long hiatus recovering from serious burnout and health issues…and you can tell… ufda dufda this was not great. Stinky stinky. Not as bad as Absolute Boyfriend but homegirl is really being forced to produce books in an unhealthy way and it’s not good for anyone expect her publisher’s bottom line.

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

The twist, I did not see that coming.

[ⓘⓣⓐ · Rating 5 out of 5]

2024 goal 138/150

[Nina Sakura · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5

[David Doel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perhaps my score is unfair since I've not read volumes 1 through 5. I did read "The Mysterious Play" (all 18 volumes), and this is similar.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this series forever ago. I think it was like in 2003. I never knew what it's about & just picked it up at my library. I was not even old enough for the rating that they gave it, but I was intrigued. I believe they only had up to volume 5 so I just stopped reading it. Somehow (thankfully) I was reminded if this story and so I began re-reading it online and oh my gods I feel in love. It's great Takiko is such a great priestess and I love her connection with all the Celestial Warriors.
I didn't have any idea that it was a prequel, & I'm very tempted to read it just so I can see if the other priestess lives up to Takiko & her journey with the Celestial Warriors. I seriously feel in live with these characters & I'm pretty sure they will be hard to live up to.
--M

•Planetarium-- Ai Otsuka

[Yume Yoru · Rating 5 out of 5]

No sé cómo se las apañan para tener tantas complicaciones en su viaje. No sólo tienen enemigos que intentan destruirlos dentro y fuera del país, sino que cada vez que van a buscar una estrella aparece un problema extra. ¡Qué dura es la vida de sacerdotisa! Encima en este tomo se desvela uno de los principales problemas de las estrellas de Genbu: Urumiya, algo que no será tan fácil de resolver como los anteriores. Y como colofón Uruki y Takiko se han tenido que volver a separar, lo que conlleva todo su drama. Definitivamente aumenta la intensidad de la serie.

[Stewart Tame · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is moving along nicely, and there's a bit of a nod and wink for those who've read the original Fushigi Yûgi. This volume is rounded out by a short story from Ceres, Celestial Legend that apparently wasn't included in any of the volumes of that manga. Despite being largely unfamiliar with the series, I really enjoyed the story, and found it more memorable than the Genbu Kaiden chapters.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am really starting to wonder if Takiko's story is going to wrap up the way it was described in the main FY series!! It's not the most cheerful story! Just that curiosity alone is enough to make me keep reading. Also, I want to go back and see what the two Genbu warriors that we've met looked like again. :D

[Nisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This really is the turning point book. I loved it. Not that it is any surprise, but we find out who the last celestial warrior - but he's a twin, just one half of a celestial warrior, so there's definitely more to come.

I especially loved the last chapter, the Ceres short story. It makes me really want to re-read that series.

[Kogiopsis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two things:

1. Is it possible to pwn one's self? If so, Watase has done it.

2. The original Fushigi Yugi may have been the one called a 'classic', but this one is the one I'd be willing to re-read.

[Debby · Rating 4 out of 5]

seruuuu... kesatria bintang nya mulai terkumpul, tinggal sedikit lagi. konflik perorangnya juga makin tajam oke banget lah.

semoga makin seru di vol selanjutnya.

oh iya link antara fushigiyugi yang miaka juga sedikit di jelaskan oleh mangakanya. hmmmm... jadi pengen baca ulang fushigiyugi. lol

[S.A. Felix · Rating 5 out of 5]

Takiko is, far by, the best priestess out of the three, since Byako isn't out yet, but I'm sure Byako priestess will be very likeable, unlike Miaka and Yui. Miaka is so annoying! And Yui was likeable at first but her pathetic attention seeking attitude from Tamahome is disgusting.

[Lucia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still good, but vol. 6 focuses mainly on the looming war, which is my least favorite part, and could not possibly compare to the terribly romantic vol. 5!!!!!

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The tale at the end makes me want to go check out Ceres!

[E.S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Come on, Hagus, come to the good side.

Also why are all the men in this series insanely attractive?