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アラタカンガタリ~ 革神語 [Arata Kangatari] #7
Arata: The Legend, Vol. 07
An action-packed shonen fantasy from the acclaimed author of Fushigi Yûgi!Reads R to L (Japanese Style), for audiences T
While on his quest to help Princess Kikuri, Hinohara goes up against Yorunami, the Shinsho who controls water. But when Yorunami kidnaps Hinohara's beloved Kotoha and threatens to kill her unless Hinohara submits to him, what will he do?
While on his quest to help Princess Kikuri, Hinohara goes up against Yorunami, the Shinsho who controls water. But when Yorunami kidnaps Hinohara's beloved Kotoha and threatens to kill her unless Hinohara submits to him, what will he do?
200 pages, Paperback
First published June 18, 2010
About the author
Yuu Watase
356 books1,176 followersYuu Watase (渡瀬悠宇) is a Japanese shoujo manga-ka. She is known for her works Fushigi Yūgi, Alice 19th, Ceres: The Celestial Legend, Fushigi Yūgi Genbu Kaiden and Absolute Boyfriend. She likes all music, except heavy metal and old traditional music.
She received the Shogakukan Manga Award for shōjo for Ceres, Celestial Legend in 1997. Since writing her debut short story "Pajama de Ojama" ("An Intrusion in Pajamas"), Watase has created more than 80 compiled volumes of short stories and continuing series. Because of her frequent use of beautiful male characters in her works, she is widely regarded in circles[which?] as a bishōnen manga artist.[citation needed] In October 2008, Watase began her first shōnen serialization, Arata: The Legend in Weekly Shōnen Sunday.
Her name is romanized as "Yû Watase" in earlier printings of Viz Media's publications of Fushigi Yūgi, Alice 19th, and Ceres, The Celestial Legend, while in Viz Media's Fushigi Yūgi Genbu Kaiden and Absolute Boyfriend her name is romanized as "Yuu Watase". In Chuang Yi's English-language versions of Fushigi Yugi (spelled without a macron or circumflex), her name is romanized as "Yu Watase".
She received the Shogakukan Manga Award for shōjo for Ceres, Celestial Legend in 1997. Since writing her debut short story "Pajama de Ojama" ("An Intrusion in Pajamas"), Watase has created more than 80 compiled volumes of short stories and continuing series. Because of her frequent use of beautiful male characters in her works, she is widely regarded in circles[which?] as a bishōnen manga artist.[citation needed] In October 2008, Watase began her first shōnen serialization, Arata: The Legend in Weekly Shōnen Sunday.
Her name is romanized as "Yû Watase" in earlier printings of Viz Media's publications of Fushigi Yūgi, Alice 19th, and Ceres, The Celestial Legend, while in Viz Media's Fushigi Yūgi Genbu Kaiden and Absolute Boyfriend her name is romanized as "Yuu Watase". In Chuang Yi's English-language versions of Fushigi Yugi (spelled without a macron or circumflex), her name is romanized as "Yu Watase".
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 6, 2024
Submission to Arata's hayagami continues to feel a lot like psychotherapy. In Yorugami's case, it's his mommy issues. If his dialogue was like an okama's in the original, thankfully that was toned down in the translation.
The story continues to have a certain amount of fluidity in its gender roles. Other shonen manga have dealt with it in the past, such as Ranma 1/2 and Cheeky Angel, both of which were comedies. I am mildly curious about what its Japanese audience's response to this manga might have been. A more serious adventure tale with compassionate, healing male lead, whose fighting prowess isn't leveling up to any significant extent, is a little out of the ordinary for its category.
That said, Kotoha is 100% an ultra-traditional shonen heroine, so much so that she feels regressive, more a product of the 80s or 90s than the 2010s as she actually was. Her only motivation is to support and cheer Arata on (whichever Arata is close to hand), she's battered and damseled constantly, and is nearly as constantly in scenes where she's nude or in her loincloth so the audience can have a look at her body.
Suguru died offscreen, and the reader learns about it well after the fact, which made his death lack immediacy and not land very powerfully. Odd decision.
Arata and Kadowaki could have been friends. Okay, fine? Instead Kadowaki tortured Arata for six months, made him quit school, and he nearly lost his mind. As much as Watase might try to nudge me toward sympathizing with him, that is not going to happen. Much like Akito in Fruits Basket, it would take a lot more groveling than we're likely to ever see from this character for me to forgive him.
Worldbuilding quibble: since Yorugami and all of his henchmen submitted to Arata, there's a huge power vacuum where they used to be. I guess that land's citizens will sort that out for themselves, ideally not with some sort of autocrat. This question is not addressed, nor even acknowledged, before Arata and co. are off on their next adventure. Oversights like this make YA fantasy feel haphazard, focused more on a setting as a dramatic stage with pretty costuming than a living, breathing place with a vital history and society.
The story continues to have a certain amount of fluidity in its gender roles. Other shonen manga have dealt with it in the past, such as Ranma 1/2 and Cheeky Angel, both of which were comedies. I am mildly curious about what its Japanese audience's response to this manga might have been. A more serious adventure tale with compassionate, healing male lead, whose fighting prowess isn't leveling up to any significant extent, is a little out of the ordinary for its category.
That said, Kotoha is 100% an ultra-traditional shonen heroine, so much so that she feels regressive, more a product of the 80s or 90s than the 2010s as she actually was. Her only motivation is to support and cheer Arata on (whichever Arata is close to hand), she's battered and damseled constantly, and is nearly as constantly in scenes where she's nude or in her loincloth so the audience can have a look at her body.
Suguru died offscreen, and the reader learns about it well after the fact, which made his death lack immediacy and not land very powerfully. Odd decision.
Arata and Kadowaki could have been friends. Okay, fine? Instead Kadowaki tortured Arata for six months, made him quit school, and he nearly lost his mind. As much as Watase might try to nudge me toward sympathizing with him, that is not going to happen. Much like Akito in Fruits Basket, it would take a lot more groveling than we're likely to ever see from this character for me to forgive him.
Worldbuilding quibble: since Yorugami and all of his henchmen submitted to Arata, there's a huge power vacuum where they used to be. I guess that land's citizens will sort that out for themselves, ideally not with some sort of autocrat. This question is not addressed, nor even acknowledged, before Arata and co. are off on their next adventure. Oversights like this make YA fantasy feel haphazard, focused more on a setting as a dramatic stage with pretty costuming than a living, breathing place with a vital history and society.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2017
Holy cow! There are multiple big events in this volume.
First of all, this volume features lots of introspection for the crew in Amawkuni. Hinohara battles with another sho and I don't want to spoil anything, but Hinohara proves that he's worth of wielding Tsukuyo- while simultaneously showing how strong his bond is with Kotoha :D. The crew also gets slightly larger thanks to a new pair of enemies who aren't all that they appear to be.
Then there's a huge development with Arata in Japan. I'm glad it happened because it kept the stories of the Arata's closely related and really put some heat on both Arata's to figure things out.
No sketches at the end of this volume but there are some long notes from Yuu Watase talking about everything that happened in the volume. I continue to enjoy reading her notes just as much I like reading the main story.
First of all, this volume features lots of introspection for the crew in Amawkuni. Hinohara battles with another sho and I don't want to spoil anything, but Hinohara proves that he's worth of wielding Tsukuyo- while simultaneously showing how strong his bond is with Kotoha :D. The crew also gets slightly larger thanks to a new pair of enemies who aren't all that they appear to be.
Then there's a huge development with Arata in Japan. I'm glad it happened because it kept the stories of the Arata's closely related and really put some heat on both Arata's to figure things out.
No sketches at the end of this volume but there are some long notes from Yuu Watase talking about everything that happened in the volume. I continue to enjoy reading her notes just as much I like reading the main story.
December 10, 2025
I really like how Hinohara is getting stronger. He's growing in many ways. Kotoha is so sweet. I want them together but I fear for their future. At least, I have some of the moments in this volume to make me smile.
June 25, 2018
The middle part was good.
March 14, 2017
Another good volume with some good twists. I especially liked the end of this volume.
March 27, 2014
KADOWAKI THIS IS STILL WHY WE CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS.
Poor Miyabi. I have a feeling she's gonna be a casualty. And I call upon the 4 corners of Heaven - no wait wrong Watase portal fantasy...ANYWAY I sincerely hope that Kotoha doesn't become jealous over Mikusa. I mean seriously. Please don't. For any reason.
Poor Miyabi. I have a feeling she's gonna be a casualty. And I call upon the 4 corners of Heaven - no wait wrong Watase portal fantasy...ANYWAY I sincerely hope that Kotoha doesn't become jealous over Mikusa. I mean seriously. Please don't. For any reason.
October 8, 2016
Hinohara is able to get Lord Yorunami to 'submit'/'entrust' his soul to him. Another Sho sends out a challenge to Hinohara. Arata contacts Hinohara and tells him of the deaths occurring in the contemporary Japan, including that of his friend, Suguru. the Sho there is killing a person for each Sho that submits to Hinohara. Plus, it is revealed that Kadowaki and Hinohara were once friends before Kadowaki went insane and became Hinohara's tormentor.
February 7, 2013
That awkward moment when you realize the covers combine into one long "color wheel ribbon" illustration...
Why aren't there more modern world chapters!?!?! Isn't there anything interesting to see with Arata! Harunawa! Oribe! Or all the random High School murders that clearly must of triggered an investigation by now? dammit Watase-sensei, don't leave us hanging on that front
Why aren't there more modern world chapters!?!?! Isn't there anything interesting to see with Arata! Harunawa! Oribe! Or all the random High School murders that clearly must of triggered an investigation by now? dammit Watase-sensei, don't leave us hanging on that front
July 4, 2012
I might keep reading this, but I'm pretty bored by Watase's tropes. Ceres was one of the first manga I ever read so I feel some loyalty to her, but this star-crossed lovers over different worlds thing is getting way old.
September 5, 2013
Things get a bit more interesting toward the end of this book. I wish there was more time to develop some of the submitted characters, but I guess all we are going to hear about them are sob stories. :(
December 14, 2015
Makin gimana gitu sama yang namanya blind faith karena baca buku ini... :')
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews