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An action-packed shonen fantasy from the acclaimed author of Fushigi Yû gi! Reads R to L (Japanese Style), for audiences T.

In a mythical world where humans and gods coexist, a ceremony marking the new governing princess is about to occur for the first time in 60 years. Only a girl from the Hime Clan may take this position, but the lack of females born to this family means that a boy called Arata must pose for the role. Meanwhile in modern-day Japan, a boy named Arata Hinohara is starting his new life in high school. He wants to put memories of his difficult past behind him, but things aren't going to be simple when he discovers a mysterious connection to the first Arata...

While on a mission disguised as a girl, Hinohara becomes utterly dismayed when Shinsho Kugura takes a liking to him. Meanwhile, Hinohara’s rival Kadowaki shows up and initiates a showdown! Will Kadowaki manage to best Hinohara?

200 pages, Paperback

First published December 17, 2010

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About the author

Yuu Watase

362 books1,163 followers
Yuu 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".

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
Profile Image for Miss Susan.
2,769 reviews65 followers
October 11, 2012


Otherwise this volume was a little dull. I mean things happened certainly but nothing that felt like new information on the characters or a significant change to their stories. Just your standard shonen adventure as usual. 3 stars
Profile Image for Anna.
1,042 reviews62 followers
February 7, 2013
The GREAT DESTINY Legend reveal... meh. Sure, we knew where Arata himself was heading from nearly page 1 (well ok, maybe from volume2 onwards at most), but it still doesn't quite explain the Princess part of the power mechanics

Wouldn't be Watase series w/out some jokes done fanservice-style & at least one chara pretending to be the opposite gender, nope (which again, could have used more explaining)
Profile Image for Josephine.
Author 4 books79 followers
January 10, 2013
Second part of the Kugura arc: Volume nine, chapters 78 to 87.

The siblings Kugura's and Etos' story... it's full of sadness and sufferings, it seemed. But their experiences had made them a stronger person. Like the story of each shinshou, I love theirs, it may even be my most favorite, but we shall see. ^_^
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Derek.
366 reviews18 followers
November 4, 2017
There's a lot in this volume.

The volume starts where the previous one left off. Hinohara and shinsho Kugura are together. Then Kadowaki returns to try and take down Hinohara. In the resulting battle, Hinohara awakens Tsukuyo further. We also get to see some rare kindness/mercy out of Kadowaki.

Then we learn more about where Mikusa is from. We learn more about Arata as the chosen one, and Kotoha gets to talk to Arata to ask him how he feels.
Profile Image for Lexie.
2,066 reviews357 followers
August 27, 2015
Hmph Kadowaki did something good >.> I don't trust him! Nor that smile.

Kanate stop proving why you can't have nice things.

All my love Kugura...and Eto! I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL. Damn family >. <

Meanwhile to no one's surprise Mikusa is getting all fluttery around Hinohara. Oh and inn as you're worried that Watase would make this a simple cross dimensional lovers things, she added in PS there's a chosen woman for you already to rule the world with. Hohoho :shot of Mikusa and Kotoha: not that Hinohara knows Mikusa is a girl.

So either Hinohara will defy the gods and be like KOTOHA FOREVER or Kotoha is the chosen woman. It's a toss up which is likely as both occur repeatedly throughout her works.

And yeah if Kadowaki doesn't demonize because something happens to Miyabi I'll eat my hat. remember kids busty clumsy sweet girls are kryptonite to "good guys playing at being evil" Every. Single. Time.
Profile Image for ariane.
148 reviews
March 24, 2014
Hrmm. Kugura and Eto's story was standard Yuu Watase stuff, but it was a little too soap-opera-y for my tastes. And I've got to say, this "King of Hinowa" thing is kind of irritating. So all of these centuries the female rulers have been stand-ins for a prophesied male ruler? I'm glad that nobody bothered to explain why, because any explanation would have grated on my modern-woman's nerves. If this doesn't become a running topic, though, I'll stick with Arata. This series has been a lot of fun so far and I really hope Watase doesn't ruin it with nonsense.
Profile Image for Kris Ivy.
1,255 reviews48 followers
October 8, 2016
it is revealed that Lord Kugura and Eto are brothers when Kadowaki shows up to challenge him and Hinohara (still in drag as Nao). Kugura entrusts his soul to Hinohara who then instructs the remaining Sho under Kugura to take care of the land and the people. the Hime clan have been awaiting the King and they believe that Hinohara is he. Kotoha communicates with Arata to find that he regards her as family.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews

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