Fushigi Yuugi, Part Two

Back in high school, when I first was obsessed with Fushigi Yuugi, there was no translation available. For the most part I relied on the dial-up version of scanlations: panel by panel translations of the manga that I read side-by-side with the tankous. When it came to the second half of the story (volumes 14-18) there were far less translations available, mainly because people felt like a second part was unnecessary and tacked-on. Luckily for me I had learned enough Japanese to get the gist of the story, thanks to the furigana.

I just finished the 5th volume of the VizBig reprints where the second half picks up and while I’m enjoying revisiting the story – and seeing how much of my translation was correct – I’m beginning to see why the people who gave up on the second half did so.

Arata: The Legend

Arata: The Legend (アラタカンガタリ) is a new offering from one of my favorite manga-ka, Yuu Watase, that is currently being serialized on Viz’s new Shonen Sunday website.

In an alternate world of tribes and gods, only a girl from the Hime Clan may become the ruling princess and receive the protection of the 12 Shinsho. Unfortunately for a young man named Arata, the Hime Clan hasn’t produced a daughter in 60 years. Rather than condemn his grandmother and himself to death he agrees to dress as a girl to buy some time and attempt to become the ruling princess, not expecting there to be another agenda at work in the shadows. At the same time, another Arata in our world is being bullied and shunned by his classmates. On his way home, wishing he would disappear, he somehow steps out of his own world and into the world of the boy who shares his name.

Manga Recommendation: Fushigi Yuugi

Fushigi Yuugi (ふしぎ遊戯) follows one of the most irritating heroines in shojo manga, Miaka Yuki, who is trying to pass her high school entrance exams in between eating every piece of food known to man. Her best friend Yui is also taking those same exams, but isn’t under nearly as much pressure. While at the library they find a strange, handwritten book called the “Universe of the Four Gods” and are pulled into it, much to their surprise. When Miaka returns to the world of the book she finds that she is meant to be Suzaku no Miko, the priestess who will summon the beast god and save the country.