Fushigi Yūgi

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Fushigi Yūgi
ふしぎ 遊戯
(Mystery Play)
Genre Shōjo, Bishōnen
Manga
Authored by Yuu Watase
Publisher Flag of Japan Shogakukan
Flag of Argentina Editorial Ivrea
Flag of Brazil Conrad
Flag of Finland Egmont Kustannus
Flag of Poland Japonica Polonia Fantastica
Flag of United States Viz
Serialized in Shōjo Comic
Original run May 1992 – July 1996
No. of volumes 18
TV anime
Directed by Hajime Kamegaki
Studio Studio Pierrot
Network Flag of Japan Animax, TV Tokyo
Flag of Philippines GMA 7

Flag of India Animax
Original run 6 April 1995 – 28 March 1996
No. of episodes 52
OVA: 1
Directed by Hajime Kamegaki
Studio Studio Pierrot
No. of episodes 3
Released 25 October 1996
OVA: 2
Directed by
Studio Studio Pierrot
No. of episodes 6
Released 25 May 1997
OVA: Eikoden
Directed by Nanako Shimazaki
Studio Studio Pierrot
No. of episodes 4
Released 21 December 2001

Fushigi Yūgi (ふしぎ 遊戯; literally Mystery Game but usually rendered Mysterious Play) is a Japanese manga (later an anime) created by Yuu Watase and serialized in the manga magazine Shōjo Comic. The name is rendered as Fushigi Yūgi in the Viz versions and as Fushigi Yugi in the Chuang Yi version. In the story, two teenage girls (Miaka Yuki and Yui Hongo) find a book in the restricted section of the National Library, entitled The Universe of the Four Gods. When they open the book and read the first page they are transported within the story, which is set in a world similar to feudal China.

The Fushigi Yūgi anime spans a total of 52 TV episodes, which are divided into two seasons (available in box sets from Geneon in North America). Additionally, there are 2 TV "specials", and a total of 13 OVAs, broken up into Series 1 (3 episodes), Series 2 (6 episodes) and Fushigi Yūgi Eikoden (4 Episodes).

The Fushigi Yūgi anime is released in Singapore by Odex. The manga is published in Japan by Shogakukan, in English in North America by VIZ Media (where it was also serialized in Animerica Extra), in the United Kingdom in English by Gollancz Manga, and in Singapore in Chinese and English by Chuang Yi.

Contents

[edit] Plot Summary

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Miaka Yūki is a junior-high student desperate to pass the entrance exam for the illustrious Jonan High School. Her best friend Yui Hongo is a straight-A genius applying for the same school, and her mother is pushing her also in an attempt to see Miaka gets the best education available, although Miaka would rather attend Yotsubadai High School. The result is Miaka is constantly under pressure to study and attends juku (cram school) every day, when she’d rather be with her friends and eating.

During a study session with Yui in the library, Miaka, in the manga, drops her pen; in the anime, she drools at the vending machine and drops her 100 yen coin. In both versions, as she chases it, she finds herself in the Restricted Section. As the girls go through the books, Miaka stumbles across The Universe of the Four Gods and both girls start to read. They’re then sucked into the book-world, and after an encounter with slave-traders and a man with "demon" written on his forehead (Tamahome), return to their world. They continue on as normal, believing the whole thing to be a dream, but neither want to forget about the book, and Miaka especially cannot get her mind off her handsome rescuer. After getting into an argument with her mother, she ends up back at the library. As she starts to read The Universe of the Four Gods again, she is shocked to find what happened in her "dream" has been written in the book. She then gets sucked into the book a second time.

Trying to find the boy who helped her earlier, she runs into a gang looking to sell her to a brothel. Tamahome steps in and helps her again, and in trying to repay him, gets them into a sticky situation with the Emperor’s men. They try to escape the dungeon, only to come across the Emperor Hotohori himself, who explains that they believe Miaka is the legendary Priestess of Suzaku (Suzaku-no-Miko), a girl from another world who will gather Konan’s Celestial Warriors and summon the phoenix god, Suzaku. Doing so will grant her the power to grant any three wishes. Miaka decides to accept the responsibility, and already has a head-start, as Tamahome and Hotohori are two of the seven Celestial Warriors, distinguishable by characters for their respective constellations on their bodies. The third, Nuriko, is found quickly afterwards in a somewhat unconventional fashion, and soon Miaka and company are setting out across Konan in search of the other four warriors.

The series describes their travels and their adventures along the way to summoning Suzaku, enduring various trials along the way, both quest-driven and personal. There are also frequent clashes with Yui, who has become the country of Kutou's Priestess of Seiryū and thus making the former best friends deadly enemies and rivals, along with the Seiryū Celestial Warriors. The manga can be split into two parts:

Part 1 (Volumes 1-13) documents the journey find the Celestial Warriors and summon Suzaku.

Part 2 (Volumes 14-18) was written due to popular demand, and tells of the characters' lives after Suzaku has been summoned.

[edit] Characters

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The main characters are a Japanese girl, Miaka Yūki, brought into the other world and declared to be the "Suzaku-no-Miko" or shrine maiden of Suzaku by the emperor Hotohori, and the seven Suzaku-seishi or celestial warriors of Suzaku. Suzaku is a red phoenix, the Guardian of the South in Chinese astrology, and the Suzaku-seishi correspond to the Chinese constellations.

Suzaku is a red Phoenix god and also the protector of the country of Konan (Hong Nan). He appears to Miaka later when she has returned to her world and asks for her help. He is compassionate as far as the beast gods go, and honestly tries to allow Miaka and Tamahome to be together forever. Element - Fire.

Seiryū is the blue dragon, protector of the country of Kutou (Qu Dong). Element - Water).

Genbu is the black tortoise-snake, the guardian of the country of Hokkan (Bei-Jia). Element - Wind.

Byakko is the white tiger, the guardian of the country of Sairou (Xi-Lang). Element - Earth or Wood.

[edit] Other Characters

  • Miaka's Mom
  • Miaka's mother is a single mother, who divorced her husband when Miaka was a little girl. Miaka clearly remembers how hard it was for Mrs. Yūki to get over her divorce and vows to make her proud at any costs. Extremely hardworking, she only wants what is best for her children, and pushes them to do their best. In the case of Miaka, she pushes her to apply for the prestigious Jonan high school even though Miaka really wants to go to Yotsubadai High School; this leads to tension, and causes Miaka to run away from home at one point in the manga. In the anime she criticizes Miaka for being happy that Yui decides to apply for Jonan as well, saying that if Yui makes it, the chances of Miaka getting in are unlikely. Despite sounding cold, Mrs. Yuki really believes that she is doing her daughter a favor by telling her such harsh truths, wanting to make her work her hardest so she can be the best.


  • Keisuke Yūki
  • Age: 20
  • Birthdate: January 20, 1972
  • Height: 1.8m (5 feet, 9 inches)
  • Bloodtype: B
  • Birthplace: Tokyo
  • Family: Mother and sister, Miaka
  • Hobbies: Computers, Basketball, Reading (history - is an Asian history major in college), Reading pornographic magazines
  • Abilities: Fluent in Chinese
  • Personality: Keisuke is the genuine nice guy. If he and a friend liked the same girl, he would give up the girl for his friend. That said, Keisuke became very protective of his baby sister after their father left. He becomes very concerned after Miaka explains to him about "The Universe of the Four Gods" and warns her to stay away from it. However after she enters the book, he becomes even more concerned and tries to help Miaka with her quest. In the anime he and Miaka are connected through a few strands of her hair that had been caught in the book; in the manga she gives him one of her hair ribbons. His dedication to Miaka is shown throughout the manga and in the OVA series, he tries to encourage Miaka and Taka (Tamahome) to stay together against all costs.


  • Tetsuya Kajiwara
  • Age: 20
  • Birthdate: September 21
  • Bloodtype: B
  • Height: 1.79m (about 5 feet, 9 inches)
  • Hobbies: Cars
  • Personality: Tetsuya is one of Keisuke's friends. When Keisuke first tells him about Miaka and Yui going into "The Universe of the Four Gods" he is skeptical. Eventually he becomes a believer and helps Keisuke discover the true nature of the book. He is smarter and richer (and in his opinion better looking) than Keisuke, but the two are quite the pair. He personally takes on the responsibility of reading the most difficult passages in the book to keep Keisuke from discovering that Miaka had nearly been raped, and instead tells his friend that nothing exciting is happening, rather they are just traveling about. He and Keisuke take turns reading the book to determine what is happening, and through this he comes to fall in love with the tragic figure of Yui. In the real world he expresses his love for her and they eventually start dating and are still together even after Miaka and Taka are married.


  • Koji
  • Age: 19
  • Title: Leader of the Mount Reikaku Bandits while Tasuki attends to business.
  • Koji is one of the most popular minor characters in the series. With a completely charming way of knocking on/answering doors, Koji is the only member of the Mount Reikaku Bandits who doesn't dream of putting a finger on Miaka (or Hotohori and Nuriko, for that matter). He is two years older than Tasuki, and technically had seniority, but Tasuki's special rank as a Suzaku Celestial Warrior ensured the younger bandit the title of leader. Despite an initial dislike of Tasuki when the boy first joined the Mount Reikaku Bandits, the two grew close and Koji had to admit a grudging respect for the whelp. When Tasuki leaves the bandits in order to fulfill his destiny, Koji takes the leader position, as it was down to either him or Tasuki. During the war between Kotou and Konan, Koji and his bandits offered to give assistance to Konan by agreeing to fight. After peace is restored to Konan, Tasuki returns to Mt. Reikaku and resumes his position as leader from Koji, though it is generally accepted that the pair shares the responsibility.


  • Taiitsukun
  • As the creator of "The Universe of the Four Gods", Taiitsukun watches over all. In the manga, she is known as Tai Yi-Jun. Usually appearing as a wrinkled old woman (giving rise to the Sunukake-baba (Sand Witch) nickname), she frightens all of the Suzaku Warriors (usually it would be Tasuki) except Chichiri who claims he is gotten used to her face in the three years he had studied under her. She resides at Mount Taikyoku, which is very beautiful, but to those with evil in their hearts will see nothing but rocky cliffs. She is aided by the Nyan-Nyans. Her true identity is eventually revealed to be the Jade Emperor.


  • Nyan-Nyan
  • The childlike goddesses serve Taiitsukun and reside at Mount Taikyoku with her. They are also known as Lai Lai. They can take the appearance of floating orbs and can appear when commanded. They have healed Miaka and her warriors when it was necessary, also offering to fix Nuriko's perversion (much to his dismay) and Taiitsukun's face (much to her dismay). Their other funcion is to serve as vessels for the spirits of the dead Celestial Warriors, so that they can fight along side their priestess, in which case they take on the appearance of whomever they are inhabited by, and have all of their powers.


  • Suzuno Ōsugi
  •  :The second priestess to enter the book, Suzuno Ōsugi served as the priestess of Byakko. She fell in love with her Celestial Warrior Tatara, but they were not allowed to stay together. When they asked Byakko to let them live together, he replied, "That is the one wish which cannot be granted." Suzuno returned to her world to live out the rest of her life. She and Tatara, across time and space, died at the exact same moment and found love in their eternal rest. Their spirits joined again. She is cared for by her grandson Toki Ōsugi, who takes Keisuke and Tetsuya to meet her just before she dies.


  • Toki Ōsugi
  •  :The grandson of Suzuno Ōsugi, priestess of Byakko, he always thought his grandmother's tales of her being a priestess in the Universe of the Four Gods were ludicrous. He took care of his grandmother in her old age. Toki finds out that Keisuke and Tetsuya know about the Universe of the Four Gods and takes them to his grandmother and tells them that his grandmother claimed to have been a priestess of the book. Until the passing away his grandmother, he's always been skeptical of his grandmother's story but realizes its truth when he sees Tatara's and his grandmother's (Suzuno's spirit is shown as how she looked like when she was the young priestess) rejoin again in their love.


  • Hahm Xi-Fang
  • The adopted daughter of Tokaki and Subaru. About the same age as Tamahome, she is told by Tokaki to make Tamahome forget about Miaka. While she and Miaka are talking, she tells Miaka that she thinks that Tamahome treats her (Miaka) like a littler sister. While their relationship did start this way, at this point it was clear that they couple had a strong love. However, deep down she knows that she cannot compete with the love that Miaka and Tamahome have.
Spoilers end here.

[edit] Manga volumes

  1. Priestess
  2. Oracle
  3. Disciple
  4. Bandit
  5. Rival
  6. Summoner
  7. Castaway
  8. Friend
  9. Lover
  10. Enemy
  11. Veteran
  12. Girlfriend
  13. Goddess
  14. Prophet
  15. Guardian
  16. Assassin
  17. Demon
  18. Bride

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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