Fushigi Yugi: Genbu Kaiden, Vol. 1 [Paperback]

Yuu Watase (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 22, 2005

This exciting prequel to VIZ's best-selling fantasy series FUSHIGI YUGI tells the story of the very first of the priestesses of "The Four Gods"-the Priestess of Genbu! As referred to in Volume 12 of FUSHIGI YUGI, Takiko Okuda was the first of the priestesses to enter "The Universe of the Four Gods." With this latest work from the pen of best-selling artist Yu Watase (ALICE 19TH), Takiko's full story is told.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

When schoolgirl Takiko Okuda attempts to destroy her father's translation of "The Universe of the Four Gods," she is instead literally sucked into the story, becoming the Priestess of Genbu in an epic journey to find the seven Celestial Warriors!

In her first encounter, she meets the mysterious Rimudo, one of the Celestial Warriors who has a tattoo of the Chinese character for "woman" on his chest. As it turns out, it's there for a good reason: Rimudo can not only summon the wind as one of his special powers, but also transform into a woman! Caught up in pursuit, because Rimudo is regarded an outlaw, Takiko falls in with the bowman Chamuka, who is hunting Rimudo. Chamuka regards Takiko an outlaw as well, but they eventually become traveling companions, for it seems Chamuka is a one of the seven Celestial Warriors as well...

About the Author

A manga artist for over ten years, Yuu Watase's debut came in 1989 at the age of 18 when her short story Pajama de Ojama (An Intrusion in Pajamas) appeared in the monthly Sh?jo Comic manga anthology. Since then she has written and drawn some 50 volumes worth of different short stories and long-running manga series, including the fantastically popular Fushigi Y?gi, also available in English from VIZ. Her works have provided the basis for two television series, an OVA series, anime soundtrack CDs, and a string of novels.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: VIZ Media LLC; 1 edition (June 22, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591168961
• ISBN-13: 978-1591168966
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #906,529 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars prequel to Fushigi Yuugi, July 22, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Fushigi Yugi: Genbu Kaiden, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

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. ^_^

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THANK YOU YU WATASE!, May 18, 2006

By 

Alex Aguirre - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fushigi Yugi: Genbu Kaiden, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

(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 invading Bei-jia trying to conquer it since it is the biggest country of the four. We also find out that Limdo is Uruki's birthname. A bounty hunter is after Limdo and is at the inn. He trys to kill Limdo, but fails. Later on Limdo and Takiko are surrounded by a bunch of people who want to kill Limdo. When they are about to attack, Takiko blinds them all by giving off her Legendary Silver Light, which she doesnt even know how she did. Limdo escapes, and Takiko is taken away by the bounty hunter who we find out is Tomite of the Celestial warriors. Remember him from the original, he and Hikitsu guarded Takiko's Shinzaho even after dying 200 years earlier. Thats how vol.1 ends. It's a very good manga, so give it a try! Also thanks for reading my long review!

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Prequel to Fushigi Yuugi - Watase is still my hero!, August 15, 2005

By 

Elaina S. (Missouri) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fushigi Yugi: Genbu Kaiden, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

Fushigi Yuugi Genbu Kaiden is one the newest series by the amazing Yuu Watase, who has also created the popular Fushigi Yuugi (Genbu is FY's prequel), Ceres, Alice 19th, and Imadoki series. She is well known for her beautiful artwork, intricate plots (most of which are fantasy-based), and her drool-worthy bishounens. :3 FY:GK definitely delivers all three.

Takiko is a seventeen year old teenager living in 1920s Japan. Her life is difficult from the get-go: her father cares more for his writing and books than his family, her mother is ill, and she is in love with a married man. When her father returns home, Takiko explodes with rage at his lack of regard for his ailing wife and neglected daughter. As a result, she attempts to destroy the book that her father is so obsessed with. To everyone's shock, Takiko does not destroy the book, but is sucked into it instead.

Thus, the next FY adventure begins, this time with the god Genbu, as opposed to Suzaku in the first FY series. Takiko is a heroine many girls can relate to, what with having an imperfect family and hurt and bitterness toward her father. She is also brave and stands up for what she believes in, which I hope she sticks to throughout the series. (Watase has a tendency to let her female protaganists to become a little pathetic later on...).

The only reason I'm giving this series 4 stars is because of Viz's translation. It makes me sad how Viz has changed the names of so many of the characters: Rimudo is Limdo (?), Chamuka is Chamka, Boraate is Borate, and Oosugi is Ohsugi. Also, Viz has left off honorifics, i.e., Okuda-sensei is Professor Okuda, Okuda-san is Miss Takiko, etc. Many of the English translations leave off honorifics, not just this series, but it would be nice if they were used all the time, not just in some series. ::sigh:: I'm quite sad at the change in names, though. I know that they were done for Western readers (the letters "r" and "l" can be interchanged, and the letter "u" isn't said in Japanese) but I'm a firm believer in leaving translation as close to the original as possible.

I'll continue to buy the series, though, b/c Watase deserves support, and I'll always be a fan of hers! She will always be amazinginly talented to me. ^_^;;

Elaina S.