Fushigi Yûgi: Genbu Kaiden, Vol. 4

(SPOILERS INCLUDED) I want to start off by sayin that I'm so happy that Yu Watase made this manga. It can be enjoyed by both female and males, it has a lot of action-adventure and drama to it, and the lovy dovy stuff definetly isnt as much as the original. I always wanted to know more about the Priestess of Genbu, since she was the first priestess to get pulled into the book, and yet we know so little about her. To everyone that doesnt know yet, her name was Takiko Okuda and her Father Einosuke brougth the Universe of the Four Gods from China to Japan around 1923.This story is very much more mature and darker than the original Fushigi Yugi. Takiko is a 17 year old girl who moves to Morioka from Tokyo because her mother wanted to move back to her hometown since she's dying. Anyways she hasnt seen her father in like a year and then he finally comes home with the Universe of the Four Gods, he is obsessed with the book, and continues to translate it, ignoring both his daughter and sick wife. Takiko's mother ends up dying, so she goes to her father, who has just finished translating the book. She is filled with rage, since he hasn't stopped working on the book, and it seems that he doesnt even care about his own wifes death. Takiko tells her father that she know he wished she would have been a boy, and he says "perhaps if you were a boy maybe i could have..." and right after he says that, takiko in her rage grabs the Universe of the Four Gods and is about to start to rip it when shes pulled into it. She end up in Bei-jia a.k.a Hokkan, the Land of Genbu. She is on a snow-covered mountain, this is were she finds Uruki of the Genbu Celestial Warriors, he is a man, but when using his power, he turns into a woman, and he's chained to a wall. He is supposed to be put to death since he has killed 1000 men(most of them being assassins sent to kill him). Takiko goes up to him(he's in his female form) and just as she does, snow demons come out of the ground to feast on the humans. Takiko grabs a stick(mind you she is very skilled with the Naginata) and she trys to fight them, in order to defend Uruki who she doesnt even know. Right when she is about to be killed by the group of demons, Uruki uses his wind powers to kill them all. He is very weak after spending the night chained to the wall, and has a fever. Takiko takes him(still in his female form the whole time) to a inn, where she lays(not sex!) with him to reduce his fever. After she does, they wake up the next morning and he's in his male form. She starts freaking out, and talks about how now no one will ever want to marry her now. He thanks her and she asks him what is the animal on the wall panel, which is Genbu(a turtle mixed with a snake). He tells her about the legend of the Priestess from another world, and how everyone looks at the Priestess and Celestial Warriors as a bad omen. Since the Priestess appears when the country is on the brink of collapse. Qu-dong a.k.a Kutou whos guardian is Seiryu, is

Fushigi Yugi: Genbu Kaiden is probably my favorite Yu Watase title up to date. Takiko, the female lead, is a strong young woman who is not afriad to do what she knows is right and doesn't back down. She can handle herself and will fight to protect what she holds dear. When I first picked up the title, it wasn't because I was a huge fan of the original Fushigi Yugi. Honestly, Miaka irritated me with her generally weak and helpless behavior. To me, it seemed like she always needed to be saved. However, I could not have been more pleasantly surprised when I realized in just the first volume that Takiko was a strong, deep character with many layers to her personality and her fair share of human flaws. All in all you realized very quickly that Genbu Kaiden is significantly darker and aimed towards an older audience than most of Yu Watase's other works. Definitly a manga for you if you're a fan of the creater's work and are becoming immune to the Imadoki-style fluff. The romance in this manga is much more alluring and mature.

I am still reading the original Fushigi Yugi series (I think I'm on Volume 12) which I enjoy but wish it had been shorter (under 9 or 10 volumes). It's not necessary to have read the original FY to get into this one. I think I like Takiko better than Miaka --- she seems smarter & spunkier --- and the two warriors introduced in this book are well --- intriguing (wink). My only complaint is that the books are coming out so infrequently (only four per year?). Watase's artwork is gorgeous and the story pacing & emotional involvement is a big improvement over the original FY (which I still recommend!).

Ok,so I'm wasn't a BIG fan of Fushigi Yuig, although I liked it to a certain degree.When I saw the advertisement in a mag, I thought, 'oh, I should check it out', and I did, and it was THE BEST. Takiko isn't as whiny as Miaka, but she's still so funny, and of course the there's a love interest, but it's also so much CUTER. The characters don't get together so fast,and Takiko's love interest is what's the word..I don't know more outgoing than Tamahome maybe? Anyway, wether you're a FY lover or not, if you like Yuu Watase's stuff, this one is THE ONE!!!

As a fan of Fushigi Yuugi, I am excited that Genbu Kaiden is finally here! Genbu Kaiden is the story of the Priestess of Genbu, Takiko Okuda. Genbu Kaiden has a heavier theme than the original Fushigi Yuugi and it's more fast paced. The first volume introduces what Takiko is like as a person and her problems, how she entered the book and how she became the Priestess. And of course, it introduces 2 of her celestial warriors. Plus, it foreshadows the path Takiko must take to fulfill her destiny. As for the art, Yuu Watase is getting better and better. ^-^ As for translations, there are some minor and major name changes. I don't mind Chamuka being turned to Chamka much but Rimudo into Limdo is what I cannot ignore. =_= Other than that, the translations were ok. Hopefully, those mistakes will be corrected in the following volumes. If you liked the original Fushigi Yuugi, you should read Genbu Kaiden. It may be the prequel of Fushigi Yuugi but even if you have not read the original Fushigi Yuugi, Genbu Kaiden can stand on its own. It may have some similarities but it will still seem original. ^_^