Fushigi Yûgi: Genbu Kaiden, Vol. 09

ふしぎ遊戯 玄武開伝 [Fushigi Yûgi: Genbu Kaiden] #9

by Yuu Watase

Into China’s past, a young girl fights for love! R to L (Japanese Style). Back in her own world, Takiko tries to forget about the "Universe of the Four Gods." Determined to live the life of an ordinary girl in Tokyo in 1923, she returns to her father's home and concentrates on being a loyal daughter--and, soon, a dutiful bride. But she can't leave her other life behind. And while Takiko struggles to cool her still-burning heart, the Celestial Warriors battle through a new ice age! This exciting prequel to VIZ Media's best-selling fantasy series, Fushigi Yûgi , tells the story of the very first priestess of the Four Gods--the Priestess of Genbu!

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

192 pages, Paperback

First published March 26, 2008

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

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heading into the endgame, this is still... fine. The art's pretty good, the story's pretty good. For whatever reason, unlike with other mangaka, I feel bad about this when it comes to Yuu Watase. She's been a shoujo pro for thirty years, has been through some serious health crises during the serialization of this series, and over and above that, considers Fushigi Yuugi her life's work. Sadly, her manga--with one exception which I own and will be getting around to reading and reviewing in full later on--hasn't ever inspired me behind that half-hearted "it's fine."

Getting into the story of this volume specifically, I was 100% correct in my earlier guess about what was going on with Takiko's health. The doctor from Tokyo who took care of her mother has fallen in love with her, but Takiko's still hung up on Limdo/Uruki, so that plot arc didn't go much of anywhere. Conveniently enough, she's given a nice-sized packet of a medicinal preparation before heading back to the world of the book. Her relationship with her father's given a bit of resolution before that, which was nice.

In any case, I get Takiko's thought process here. If she's going to die regardless of where she is, why not be with the one she loves when that happens, and maybe save the world of the book on top of that?

Uruki asks Takiko to "become one with him" at the end of this volume. Anyone with any knowledge of Fushigi Yuugi knows that can't happen. Not if the world of the book is to be saved from a fate of ice and the starvation of its people...

[Kogiopsis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fewer stars than the rest because really, Limdo? I know you haven't seen her for a while (which is your fault anyhow) but in the middle of a war and an ice age is a bad time to get your freak on. Just saying.

[Ana Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5!
La manera en que por una razón u otra el final de ella será el que será... Watase tía, ya te vale.

[Mika · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fist half is...well, we knew where it was going. I get that it was hard for Takiko as she went through it, but it was something I read through quickly wanting to move on.

Until we learn that she's sick. It hit me in the gut. I...Honestly can say I have no idea where Watase will bring the story but the themes of accepting death take paint a picture for what may come. ;_;

The themes of poverty in Bei Jia are also a great way to get us to care for the country Takiko may die saving. In contrast to the OG FY, I really love THIS country and its people and I feel their pain. Like, we get a reveal about the Ice Age, but what really makes me want Takiko to go back (aside from being happy w her found family) is how well Watase has crafted the story. How real the country and its struggles feel, is a testament to good plotting and being a wise story teller.

[Laurianne Uy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Takiko's back at home again. Interesting development with her marriage proposal but the twist with her getting sick is quite tragic.

[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. 09 by Yuu Watase. It is 192 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover has Takiko in front of her Warriors. As it is the ninth volumes in the series, you need to have read the first eight volumes to understand the story. The intended reader is someone who likes fantasy, romance, and shojo manga. The story is told from third person close of the different characters. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence.
From the back of the manga- Determined to live the life of an ordinary girl in Tokyo in 1923, she returns to her father's home and concentrates on being a loyal daughter--and, soon, a dutiful bride. But she can't leave her other life behind. And while Takiko struggles to cool her still-burning heart, the Celestial Warriors battle through a new ice age!

Review- Back in her own world, Takiko tries to be normal but discovers that she has the same disease that killer her mother. So facing the fact that she is going to die either way, Takiko chooses to go back to Uruki and the Warriors. I'm not sure how I feel about that plot twist with Takiko going to die not matter what. I feel that makes her future sacrifice less emotional because there is no other way for the story to end. But I am going to see this story to the end and maybe I will feel differently.

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

[Leila Anani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thinking that the Celestial Warriors no longer want her Takiko returns to her own world. A young doctor who had cared for her mother reveals that he lovers her and proposes. Takiko could have a normal happy life... but then she starts coughing blood and it seems that she has contracted the same disease as her mother. Realising her mortality Takiko realises that she loves Limdo and returns to the universe of the four gods.

There's not too much action in this volume - its all centred on Takiko and my what melodrama there is: a love triangle, death by consumption if she remains at home, death as a sacrifice if she remains the priestess...

Emotion, drama and beautifully developed characters with Yuu Watase's usual high standard of artwork. Love this series and this volume's an emotional roller-coaster.

[-moonprismpower- · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why do I feel like there’s not going to be a happy ending???

Takiko and Limdo/Uruki reuniting at the end of this volume.... whewww I already know I’m going to be disappointed next volume when she says no because she needs to stay a virgin to summon Genbu though....

[E.S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

God!! Whyyyy! Takiko and Limdo, your love is damned! SHE'S GOING TO DIE EITHER WAAAAY.

Also, what, it's like -5,000 degrees outside and you want to have sex?

[Cress · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nope. I'm crying now.

[Kendall • thegeekyyogi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soooo many feels!!! Watase really knows how to get my heartstrings all twisted up.

[Maile Sarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good until we got to touching people without their consent. Nakago is now on my hit list as #2.5

[ⓘⓣⓐ · Rating 5 out of 5]

2024 goal 141/150

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mean i get why she returned but like the doctor was hottttt. I do love the art in this series. I am interested in how this will end over all but the final chapter of the volume get it girl

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the things I love about Genbu Kaiden is that it's character & story focused. It doesn't do things for the sake of adding more to the story. It's well thought out and these characters are the driving force behind it. Takiko is strong but still very caring about the Warriors & all the people she meets. Uruki or Rimundo or Limdo is changing (not just genders). I think they all changed because of Takiko & what she stands for. I did read the series online so I'm not exactly sure where the series break off and start, but I love this series. This one particularly broke my heart when the Warriors told her all that, & the new fight that she won't probably win.
--M

•Cherish -- Ai Otsuka

[Lucia · Rating 5 out of 5]

5+++++ stars!

Is it possible to be better than perfect? This is by far the best volume in the series! My God, the last 5 pages!-it more than makes up for all the sadness of the past two volumes! I almost don't want to continue reading- just let the rest unfold in my imagination! The plot is starting to snowball, its all going down very soon....:'(

[Princess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, as usual :D

[Debby · Rating 4 out of 5]

ahhh makin romentong aja.....