Fushigi Yûgi Genbu Kaiden

"Shigi" redirects here. For the singer-songwriter that composed Plants vs. Zombies soundtrack, see Laura Shigihara.

Fushigi Yûgi Genbu Kaiden
Cover of volume 3
ふしぎ遊戯 玄武開伝
Genre	Adventure, Historical fantasy, Romance, Drama, Tragedy
Manga
Written by	Yuu Watase
Published by	Shogakukan
English publisher	Madman Entertainment Viz Media
Demographic	Shōjo
Magazine	Shōjo Comic, Fushigi Yûgi Perfect World, Flowers, Rinka
Original run	2003 – 2013
Volumes	12
Related
Fushigi Yûgi: The Mysterious Play, is a sequel manga series written before Fushigi Yûgi: Genbu Kaiden Fushigi Yûgi Byakko Ibun, is a prequel manga series written after Fushigi Yûgi

Fushigi Yûgi Genbu Kaiden (ふしぎ遊戯 玄武開伝) is a manga written by Yuu Watase. It premiered in Japan in 2003 in Sho-Comi, moved to an offshoot magazine, Fushigi Yûgi Perfect World, in 2004. It was serialized sporadically in Monthly Flowers until 2008 when the series went on hiatus until spring 2010, when it began serialization in Rinka magazine. Individual chapters are collected and published in tankōbon volumes by Shogakukan with the first volume was in October 2003; the twelfth and final volume was released in Japan in May 2013. A prequel to Watase's Fushigi Yûgi, the series details the creation of "The Universe of the Four Gods" and tells the full story of the Priestess of Genbu.

The series is licensed for English language releases in North America by Viz Media, in Singapore by Chuang Yi and Australia by Madman Entertainment, which distribute Australian English Chuang Yi manga.

Characters

See also: List of Fushigi Yûgi characters

Takiko Okuda (奥田 多喜子, Okuda Takiko)

A seventeen-year-old schoolgirl whose mother has recently died of tuberculosis and whose father seems to care more about his research than his own family. The storyline reveals her as the Priestess of Genbu, with the destiny of summoning the god Genbu with her own will after she has gathered the Celestial Warriors, and having it grant three wishes of her choosing. Takiko is impulsive and strong-willed, though she can be insecure at times. She can fight well with a naginata, a spear-like weapon, and does well in her studies. Takiko was in love with Takao Ohsugi, a friend of her father's, but her love was unrequited. She and Uruki both try to deny their growing love for one another. Later they accept it, though choose to ignore their feelings for fear of it getting in the way of their duties. Near the end they marry and become the rulers of Bei Jia. Takiko's father realizes they are connected by blood and takes his own life to prevent Takiko from being devoured by Genbu, effectively ending her life as well. Takiko dies having only used two of her three wishes. However, she placed an unvoiced wish which was for her and Uruki to remain together - it didn't matter at what time or in which world as long as they were together. Her third wish was finally granted 100 years later when she and Uruki were finally reincarnated. She is voiced by Satsuki Yukino in the drama CD.

Uruki/Limdo Roun (女宿 ロウン·リムド, Roun Rimudo)

Uruki is the first Genbu Celestial Warrior Takiko meets and as well as the crown prince of Hokkan, but was hunted down because of a fake prophecy given by the oracle 1. Though he initially refuses profusely to join Takiko he eventually reveals himself to the enemy and has no choice but to tag along with her. Though he still doesn't like it. Limdo, as a celestial warrior, has the ability to change his gender. "Limdo" has killed 1000 people with his Wind Power and is wanted throughout the world of the book. He is referred to in a great variety of ways: Wind Demon, Outlaw, and most famously; Limdo, the merciless wind slasher. Uruki shows to change very greatly throughout the prequel, considering that he realizes the value of love and friends at the end. In the end he has the opportunity to kill his father but does not. However another man takes the opportunity and finishes the Emperor. Uruki becomes Emperor Limdo. After Takiko's death and the peace treaty between the warring lands, Uruki lives for another hundred years before dying and going onto eternity with Takiko. In the drama CDs, he is voiced by Takahiro Sakurai. His female form is voiced by Miki Nagasawa.

Tomite/Chamuka Tan (虚宿 ターン·チャムカ, Taan Chamuka)

Sixteen-year-old Tomite is a bounty hunter from the Ha tribe and Hikitsu's childhood friend. He's a bit of a pervert, but sensitive about his mother Boraate (Borate). His mark means 'emptiness' or 'void' and he is a master archer. Combined with his ability to create ice, Tomite is able to shoot arrows of ice. He is the first Celestial warrior that Takiko convinces to join her. Similar to Uruki, the first found, Tomite refuses to acknowledge his destiny until his mother takes the blow of arrows for Takiko and begs him to protect the priestess. His village is in a delicate position with the Qu-dong army. Tomite appears to be jealous of Uruki concerning his relationship with Takiko, possibly because he has some feelings for her. However the author has stated they have a kind of brotherly/sisterly relationship. He later gains a love interest in the form of Hikitsu's sister, Aira.
Tomite dies in the end protecting Takiko while she summons Genbu in the midst of a full on attack on the Capital by Qu-Dong. Known to fans of the original Fushigi Yugi, Tomite and his friend Hikitsu became the guardians of the Shinzaho of the Genbu priestess after their deaths. In the drama CDs, is voiced by Tetsuya Iwanaga.

Hatsui/Zarra (室宿 エルタイ·ザラ-, Erutai Zaraa)

Twelve-year-old Hatsui is the son of healers who finds it difficult to trust in others. He cries a lot and also stutters when he speaks (at least in the Japanese version of the manga). When his parents died, they left him a large debt to pay off. The villagers picked on him until one day he accidentally killed them with his ability to fire needles from his body. When Takiko found him, he was being 'looked after'(or rather, being used to kill off enemies, particularly Takiko and company) by Fen (a female assassin who was hired by Uruki's father to kill the Celestial Warriors and priestess) Hatsui survive the attack on the Capital and goes on to live there, aiding Uruki in his role as Emperor. In the drama CDs, he is voiced by Megumi Ogata.

Namame (壁宿, "Wall")

Namame was born from the Seimei stone (Star-Life Stone) near Iferui. He usually takes the appearance of a little stone doll, although when Takiko first found him, he was a stone giant, protecting the oracle Anlu, who was in his mouth. After being traumatized by human cruelty when he attempted to fit in, Namame found it very hard to trust others; it took Anru a whole day of sitting right next to him to earn his trust. He was "protecting" Anru when Takiko and company found him. Namame was the fourth Celestial Warrior found by the Genbu priestess. His character, "Bi", is typically found on the back of his head. Namame has the power to control the earth, which allows him to manipulate the ground itself, create earthquakes, and shape stones into whatever he desires. In the end when Takiko makes her second wish for all living things to return to as they once were, Namame disappears back into the earth, promising to use his ability's to heal the country. Essentially, he dies as well.

Hikitsu/Emthatt Han (斗宿 チェン·エムタト, Chen Emutato)

Twenty-one-year-old Hikitsu is a member of the Kan tribe. He has a little sister named Aira and once saved Tomite from being killed by monsters (which also killed Tomite's father) when the two of them were children. He controls water in the form of snakes, but also has another power he called 'Shikyokan', where anyone who looks upon the eye with his Seishi mark is forced to remember their worst memories. The latter power doesn't seem to be under control, the eye is usually covered and it has accidentally been used on Takiko .
Hikitsu fights alongside Tomite in the final battle and dies shortly after him, having waited for Takiko to complete the summoning of Genbu before departing from the world. Known to fans of the original Fushigi Yugi, Hikitsu and his friend Tomite became the guardians of the Shinzaho of the Genbu priestess after their deaths. In the drama CDs, he is voiced by Nobuyuki Hiyama.

Inami/ Talma (牛宿 タルマ, Taruma)

Inami is a senior prostitute. She is not the owner of the brothel as previously thought, she is just the temporary owner. The original owner of the brothel had discovered that Taruma was a Celestial Warrior and knew of the persecution Inami would faced if found out, so they moved the brothel from Hokkan to Konan for her safety. Inami has the power of controlling her hair to great lengths and can use a pipe as her weapon. She joins Takiko and the other Seishi after great encouragement from the other prostitutes. It is later revealed that she'd gotten pregnant but lost her baby before becoming a prostitute. Inami survives the final battle and goes on to live in the Capital, offering aid to Uruki in his new role as Emperor. In the drama CDs, she is voiced by Masako Katsuki.

Urumiya (危宿 ハーガス & テグ, Hāgas)

It is revealed that Hāgas is only half of Urumiya (only half of the character is shown), therefore, he is not complete. His elder twin brother, Teg, carried the other half of the character. Though Hāgas fights against the celestial warriors of Genbu and has the ability to absorb their powers, he is not necessarily evil as he is seen saving children during some of the battles. He has a goal to destroy Uruki, in order for King Temdan to fulfill his promise of reuniting Hagus and Teg. He is under the command of Uruki's father, King Temdan. After leaving Takiko with the newly crowned Emperor Temdan, Hagus reunites with Teg in the underground maze. Sadly, he is impaled by a rock while saving Teg. There he reveals that he had the same illness as Emperor Temdan and was dying anyway. He dies in Teg's arms, making Teg's mark complete and turning him into the complete Urumiya. In the drama CDs, Hāgasu is voiced by Takehito Koyasu.

Urumiya (危宿 ハーガス & テグ, Teg)

Teg was the braver of the two brothers however his mark appeared first when they were younger. He saved Temdan and Tegil from monsters while they were out riding just before Temdan fell ill. Once Tegil was named the next in line in Temdan's place he had Teg imprisoned, promising him reunion with his brother only if he swears fealty to the Rouns. For twelve years Teg remained in the body of a child. He was able to sense when the other celestial warriors used their powers and would sing, effectively cutting off their powers and making them unusable. When Hagus died, Teg grew to an adult and his mark became complete. He joined the celestial warriors and fought in the final battle. After the war ended Teg, having survived, went off with Uruki's cousin Princess Efinluka to secure the safety of the people in Hokkan.

Media

Manga

See also: List of Fushigi Yûgi chapters § Fushigi Yûgi Genbu Kaiden

Written and illustrated by Yuu Watase, the first chapter of Fushigi Yûgi Genbu Kaiden was published in 2003 in an issue of Sho-Comi. The series moved to the magazine's offshoot, Fushigi Yûgi Perfect World, in 2004, where it was serialized quarterly until the magazines' cancellation in June 2008. The series then moved to Monthly Flowers where it was serialized sporadically until 2008 when it went on hiatus, due to Watase's health and other work commitments. She anticipated restarting the series in spring of 2010. On January 17, 2010 Watase revealed that she would begin working on the series again and that it would now be published in Rinka magazine. Chapter 32 was finally published in Rinka in June 2010, with the most recent being chapter 36, released in October 2011. Rinka is published every 4 months in February, June and October. The individual chapters are collected and published in tankōbon volumes by Shogakukan with the first volume published in October 2003; as of June 2011, ten volumes have been released in Japan. The North Americas release date for Volume 10 has finally been set for September 4, 2012 according to Amazon.com.

The series is licensed for English language releases in North America by Viz Media, in Australia and New Zealand by Madman Entertainment, in the United Kingdom by Gollancz Manga, and in Singapore by Chuang Yi. Viz released its first volume of the series in July 2005, with nine volumes released as of November 2009. The series is also licensed for regional language releases in France by Editions Tonkam, Spain by Glènat España, Italy by Planet Manga and Germany by EMA.

Drama CDs

A series of five Drama CDs based on the series have been recorded.

Video game

Idea Factory released the Sony PlayStation 2 video game Fushigi Yuugi — Genbu Kaiden Gaiden: Kagami no Miko in Japan on June 22, 2005. The adventure game puts players in the shoes of Mariko Kobayashi, an original character created for the game, who is taken into the Universe of the Four Gods through a mirror. While searching for her friend, Takumi Mochizuki, who was also taken into the mirror, Mariko is aided in her quest by Genbu no Miko and the Genbu Seven. A limited edition version of the game was released on the same date, containing an art book and a CD of interviews with the game voice actors. A PSP version of the game was released in Japan on September 28, 2006.

Reception

When it was released, the eighth volume of Fushigi Yûgi Genbu Kaiden ranked ninth in the Japanese Comic Ranking, listing the top ten selling manga volumes, for March 25–31, 2008. The ninth volume premiered in sixth place in the September 30–October 6 rankings.

External links

• Official Viz Media Fushigi Yûgi Genbu Kaiden website
• Official game website
• GenbuSeishi.com
• Fushigi Yûgi Genbu Kaiden (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia