Yuu Watase

From the back cover:
To save her newly adoptive country of Konan, Miaka must venture into the heart of the enemy’s capital. Her mission: to retrieve her true love, Tamahome; outwit the unscrupulous general Nakago; and confront Yui, the girl who was once her best friend but is now her vindictive rival!

Review:
Things have really started to come together in this volume, making it my favorite of the series thus far. In some respects, I wish I hadn’t seen the anime first, because I’d be free to be surprised by things again, but my memories of watching it (my first shoujo) are so fond, I can’t really wish too strenuously. Knowing what I do, I must question this choice of spoilery cover.

Miaka is actually not too stupid or annoying this volume, and I liked her scenes with Yui, especially. I actually felt for her at the end of the volume, which is rather unprecedented. In the squee department, I totally love Chichiri and Tasuki, and even Mitsukake’s kitty. It also seems to me, just from a few cute little panels where Mitsukake talks, that he might have more personality in the manga than the anime, which would be welcome.

This volume was good enough that I am considering a marathon read on this nice, long weekend. Perhaps I shall get all the way through the series.

From the back cover:
To save her newly adopted country of Konan, Miaka must scour the nation for the remaining three of the seven Celestial Warriors who will help her in her quest. But the search takes her into the lair of bandits, and to a plague-cursed town where she has to die to survive!

Review:
A lot happens in this volume, keeping with the very fast pace mentioned this far. Sometimes it seemed like more time could’ve been spent on certain elements, especially on places where I think the anime did an episode break, but overall I’m still a fan of keeping things moving.

There are all kinds of cute bits in this volume, especially Hotohori and Nuriko in the bandit’s lair. Plus—Tasuki! He really adds something significant to the group (besides fangs). Mitsukake shows up too, but almost as an afterthought. I wonder whether he’ll be any more interesting in the manga than the anime, but somehow I doubt it.

Miaka was only mildly stupid in this volume, and at least one of her crazy actions seems to’ve actually had some thought behind it. Shokku!

From the back cover:
Miaka Yuuki is an ordinary junior high school student who is suddenly transported into the world of a book, The Universe of the Four Gods. Surrounded by enemies with mystic power, she can only rely on her Celestial Warriors and a mysterious monk, a disciple of the oracle, to help her fulfill her quest! Miaka’s best friend, Yui, also enters the book, but suffers a fate much crueler than Miaka’s.

Review:
Miaka is only a little stupid in this volume, running away like an idiot just once, and for at least a reason, if not the best one ever. Chichiri is introduced, and immediately brings value to the team and also helps impart some lessons of responsibility and strength to Miaka.

One thing I particularly noticed is that the little dramatic moments, scenes of angst and stuff, really don’t last very long. There are a few pages where Miaka tries to squash her feelings for Tamahome so she can focus on her task, and then… gone. It makes the overall mood a bit flighty, I suppose, but it’s better than wallowing overlong.

Things are starting to get very interesting, now that we are on the “collecting constellations” arc rather than the “I wanna go home, now back, now home again” phase of the story. I hope Tasuki shows up soon. Then all my favorites will be accounted for.

Book Description:
During a pilgrimage to the oracle Taitsukun, Miaka is trapped inside a cursed mirror while her evil reflection goes free! Can Tamahome, Hotohori, and Nuriko save the real Miaka? Can Yui, now back in the real world, help her missing friend come home? When Miaka does make her way back to Tokyo, things are not as expected.

Review:
There once was a twit named Miaka,
Personification of “baka.”
For some unknown reason,
The men find her pleasin’.
Maybe the other chicks in Konan could use some Binaca.

Poetic meter? Piffle. *Waves hand dismissively.*

I heart Nuriko in this volume. I normally like Hotohori, but he’s pretty dumb in this one, even if he doesn’t fall for the mirror Miaka trick. I think I’m just generally irritated with this phase of the story, because it seems so vague with the going home and then coming back and working to get home again and then coming back. Just get on with finding the other constellations, already!

One original element that I thought was cute are the little parodies of the angsty drama moments included in this volume. It gives the impression that Watase is fully aware of how silly and over the top this manga is and has a lot of fun spoofing it herself.

There is plenty of stuff to snicker or eyeroll over in this volume, yet regardless of whether it’s intentional, it’s still entertaining. For all its faults, I’m in for the long haul.

Book description:
Miaka Yuuki is an ordinary junior-high student who is suddenly whisked away into the world of a book, The Universe of the Four Gods. In a land reminiscent of ancient China, she becomes the priestess of the god Suzaku, and is charged with finding all seven of her Celestial-Warrior protectors, including dashing mercenary Tamahome and wannabe empress Nuriko. Only then can Miaka summon the power of the god Suzaku, find her true love, and get home safely.

Review:
Fushigi Yûgi was the first shoujo anime I ever saw, and the first with rampant bishounen and gender fun, etc. So, even though it has its flaws, I’m still fond of it. It’s been a while since I saw the series, so I decided to revisit it in manga form.

The art style surprised me. I’ve read a couple of Watase’s later things, and this earlier style is actually reminiscent of Rumiko Takahashi in spots. I prefer it to her later, more stylized approach. It’s more comical and the characters don’t look as similar.

Miaka is certainly just as stupid as I remembered, and has already done quite a few dumb things and fainted a few times for incredibly goofy reasons. Tamahome… doesn’t… love me?! *swoon* Three of her Celestial Warriors are introduced here, found essentially under her nose: Tamahome, Hotohori, and Nuriko. I’m definitely reading more for these side characters, the latter two more so than Tamahome. He doesn’t really do much for me. I do like the story, and the manga seems to be a little clearer on certain elements of the logistics involved.

Fushigi Yûgi is a shoujo classic, but is also recommended if one simply wants a bit of fun fantasy.