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Yukarism #1
ゆかりズム 1
Yukari, at the tender age of 17, is a renown Edo period novelist who claims visions of Yoshihara during the Edo period gush from his heart. After meeting Mahoro, a girl he swears he knows and has met before, Yukari finds himself falling asleep and waking up in the Edo period as an Oiran. The past and present collide in this time traveling romance.
182 pages, Comic
First published June 20, 2011
13 people are currently reading
499 people want to read
About the author
Chika Shiomi
57 books100 followersChika Shiomi has an amazing talent for depicting chilling and provocative horror stories that appeal to both shojo and shonen readers. Having created manga since 1993, starting with short stories in Akita Shoten's Mystery Bonita magazine, she has had a bountiful career of publishing both long-running series and short stories that have become popular both in Japan and abroad. Shiomi-sensei loves to travel and listen to Guns 'n Roses.
See also 潮見 知佳.
See also 潮見 知佳.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
May 30, 2021
Intriguing enough to go on with, as my library proves to have it as an e-manga. Modern Japanese high school boy turns out to be the reincarnation of an Edo-period courtesan, with enough memories of the past life to make a living writing historical novels (without having to do all that pesky research, though the manga artist clearly had to.) His present life gets complicated as he begins to have flashbacks and the reincarnations of people s/he knew then start to turn up. Nice artwork. My star rating might go up depending on how the 4-volume tale develops.
Ta, L.
Later: finished all 4 volumes, which seemed about the right length for the tale being told. It went more-or-less where I'd expected. I suppose I'd describe it as a reincarnation cold-case.
I'd think that people who actually believe in reincarnation might find its ramifications subtly disturbing to contemplate. Certainly memory and amnesia issues of all sorts turn up as recurring themes in these media.
L.
Ta, L.
Later: finished all 4 volumes, which seemed about the right length for the tale being told. It went more-or-less where I'd expected. I suppose I'd describe it as a reincarnation cold-case.
I'd think that people who actually believe in reincarnation might find its ramifications subtly disturbing to contemplate. Certainly memory and amnesia issues of all sorts turn up as recurring themes in these media.
L.
May 19, 2017
The concept is sooooo interesting! I really didn't expect that it would be rendered so amazingly (is that even a word?) by the mangaka. Yukari is a 17 year old write of historical novels. Everyone thinks he is a genius but he is only writing about his previous life.
Enter Mahoro. A total fan-girl of Yukari's novels. They both land up in the same school and Yukari feels he has met this girl before! Now it shouldn't take much to guess the rest of the plot, except
There are other re-incarnations from Yukari's past life in his current life as well. All of them are are really interesting characters but my favorite has to be Yukari & Mahoro (and both there past lives).
The manga has strong elements of drama, comedy and romance. The plot pacing is fantastic and so is the art style.
Enter Mahoro. A total fan-girl of Yukari's novels. They both land up in the same school and Yukari feels he has met this girl before! Now it shouldn't take much to guess the rest of the plot, except
There are other re-incarnations from Yukari's past life in his current life as well. All of them are are really interesting characters but my favorite has to be Yukari & Mahoro (and both there past lives).
The manga has strong elements of drama, comedy and romance. The plot pacing is fantastic and so is the art style.
September 20, 2016
Все-таки прекрасная вещь эта реинкарнация. Люблю читать литературу где поднимается подобная тема, да вот она не всегда годная получается. А тут просто шикоз. Я вдоволь насмеялась, погрустила и полюбовалась рисовкой. Все было на высоте: что драма, что юмор что качество прорисовки персонажей. Хотелось бы себе эту мангу на полочку, рил, ее и перечитывать не грех время от времени. Прекрасная история любви сквозь века.
Кому советую: любителям красивой романтической линии, отсутствию любовного треугольника (ваще это спойлер, но немаловажный факт) и любителям красивой рисовки.
Статус: выпуск завершен, перевод завершен.
Качество эдита: отличное.
Итоговая оценка: 10 из 10
Кому советую: любителям красивой романтической линии, отсутствию любовного треугольника (ваще это спойлер, но немаловажный факт) и любителям красивой рисовки.
Статус: выпуск завершен, перевод завершен.
Качество эдита: отличное.
Итоговая оценка: 10 из 10
July 16, 2016
This manga is certainly fascinating. I'm not sold on the characters just yet, but I do like the idea of seeing your past life and being able to interact with it. It does beg the question, though... Does what Yukari changes in the past affect the future? Or was the past already accounting for this? Or is this just a dream thing and none of it matters?
May 31, 2015
I was asked by my friend to read this graphic novel.. Fly through read quite funny and was interesting how the character is a male author in modern world one minute then in his sleep he crosses over to old world Japan and wakes up a woman.. Recommended to all graphic novel/manga fans
July 16, 2016
Oh my god. That was beautiful. So captivating. Being history fantic reading this book gives me double the pleasure. I want to read more!!!!!
I completely recommend to any manga reader. Captivating story with interesting characters with good development.
I completely recommend to any manga reader. Captivating story with interesting characters with good development.
August 16, 2016
This was very fun to read! Lots of mystery and kept me interested the whole time. Loved how it intertwined two timelines. It was fun to guess who was who and how each character acted in the modern world.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 19, 2021
3.5 - amusing!
plot: maybe not the most original plot but I personally haven't read anything in this genre before! enjoyable even though it's a bit predictable. I can't tell what point of view it is in nor who's the main character but, regardless, it reads semiclearly.
characters: the design is honestly really boring for all of the characters. typical visuals for 2000s manga. i wish that the mc(?) had a more unique visual even though i know he's supposed to be the average handsome japanese student.
art: not the greatest but it worked. nothing really stood out except for some gorgeous eyes that the artist drew occasionally.
definitely worth a shot, esp if you're willing to play around with genres like this does!
plot: maybe not the most original plot but I personally haven't read anything in this genre before! enjoyable even though it's a bit predictable. I can't tell what point of view it is in nor who's the main character but, regardless, it reads semiclearly.
characters: the design is honestly really boring for all of the characters. typical visuals for 2000s manga. i wish that the mc(?) had a more unique visual even though i know he's supposed to be the average handsome japanese student.
art: not the greatest but it worked. nothing really stood out except for some gorgeous eyes that the artist drew occasionally.
definitely worth a shot, esp if you're willing to play around with genres like this does!
November 4, 2014
It's been a long time since I've read a gender bending romance. It's been a long time since I've read a gender bending romance that it took me backtracking to make sure I have everyone's present and past self accounted for.
I truly enjoyed the premise though. It opens as Yukari is this amazing author that has an almost fradulent label due to such an authentic portrayal of the Edo period. Fortunately, for him, he has really lived that period as he discovers Moharo is his jump start to time traveling back to his reincarnated self----a high class prostitute. It's just the first book is an introduction to gender reincarnated characters that I currently need to read more about.
What I did like with the initial story set-up is that this book gave a whole new meaning to past high school students lives. It has to be a little disconcerting to go from past and present by random touching narcolepsy. Also, having this identity battle with past lives of magicians and high-class-prostitution and who KNOWS what else we'll discover about them. Yukari is likeable in both forms as is his companion, Moharo. What was a little odd for me is that the main antagonist didn't change genders---he just got a haircut. *side-eye* STILL! I look forward to diving deeper into this world.
Thanks for the ARC Edelweiss
I truly enjoyed the premise though. It opens as Yukari is this amazing author that has an almost fradulent label due to such an authentic portrayal of the Edo period. Fortunately, for him, he has really lived that period as he discovers Moharo is his jump start to time traveling back to his reincarnated self----a high class prostitute. It's just the first book is an introduction to gender reincarnated characters that I currently need to read more about.
What I did like with the initial story set-up is that this book gave a whole new meaning to past high school students lives. It has to be a little disconcerting to go from past and present by random touching narcolepsy. Also, having this identity battle with past lives of magicians and high-class-prostitution and who KNOWS what else we'll discover about them. Yukari is likeable in both forms as is his companion, Moharo. What was a little odd for me is that the main antagonist didn't change genders---he just got a haircut. *side-eye* STILL! I look forward to diving deeper into this world.
Thanks for the ARC Edelweiss
March 6, 2015
It's a cute story and definitely different than the average manga but its has a typical 'time travel' motif. I love the characters and can't wait to read more. I especially like the cross over from present day to Edo period when Yukari is sent back to his past as a courtesan. Shiomi did a good job to make it non-sexist and developed the character to be respectful and emphasize the strength and grace of a Courtesan.
January 4, 2015
I enjoy it so far
This is only the first volume so I don't have too much to say regarding outlines and character development. But I'm thoroughly enjoying what I've read so far! I'm interested in seeing where the manga artist is going with her characters. Looking forward to Volume 2!
This is only the first volume so I don't have too much to say regarding outlines and character development. But I'm thoroughly enjoying what I've read so far! I'm interested in seeing where the manga artist is going with her characters. Looking forward to Volume 2!
December 10, 2016
I checked out all four volumes of the series of the series and read them back to back. It's nice to read a manga that doesn't get drawn out for 20+ volumes with lots of filler and side-trips from the main plot. And "nice" pretty much sums up this series. It's no great shakes, but it has an engaging protagonist and a few interesting turns in the story. It is slight but satisfying.
January 18, 2016
Interesting premise. I am curious where it'll go from there.
March 19, 2016
See our review on https://read3rzrevublog.wordpress.com...
February 6, 2018
At his birth, Yukari was declared to have retained memories of his past life. In the series' present, seventeen-year-old Yukari is a prolific author of books set in the Edo period. He doesn't particularly like writing and he never does any research, but his memories of his past life compel him to write.
His lackluster attitude towards writing dismays Mahoro, a student at Yukari's school who happens to be a huge fan of his work. Yukari feels a connection to Mahoro, which he immediately realizes is due to the fact that they knew each other in the past - Yukari's past self was cut down by a sword and died in a fire, and it seems that Mahoro's past self died right beside him.
It'd merely be an interesting discovery, except that Yukari suddenly finds himself drawn into the past and deposited into the body of his former self, Yumurasaki, a popular oiran (according to the translator's notes, a class of courtesan). For some unknown reason, Yukari keeps getting pulled backward and forward in time, meeting people in his present who are reincarnations of people he knew when he was Yumurasaki.
I didn't realize until I started looking up more info about the meaning of "oiran" that I had probably mistaken this series for Sakuran, another series starring an oiran. Whoops. Well, I can try to hunt that series down later.
Yukarism wasn't exactly bad, but it left me feeling very underwhelmed. Yukari's reaction to being transported into the body of his past self seemed extremely muted considering that 1) his past self was female, 2) sex was very likely to come up at some point, and 3) it was possible he could end up experiencing his past self's death. Oh, and he had no idea whether his actions in the past might have some effect on the future - although he inhabited the body of his past self, his mind was very much that of his current self.
In this first volume, Yukari met three people he knew in his past life: Mahoro, who was once Kazuma, Yumurasaki's (male) bodyguard; Emi, who was once Hitoha, Yumurasaki's apprentice; and a young man who once Takamura, a good-looking but menacing client of Yumurasaki's. Everyone seems to be at least a little affected by their past lives, even though most of them have no memories of their past selves. From the look of things, the series is going to be focused on the mystery of how Yumurasaki died, and whether history will end up repeating itself.
Since the series is only four volumes long, I plan on continuing on. I hope it improves, though. The premise is interesting enough, but the execution is a little weak. At least the artwork is decent.
Extras:
- A couple pages of translator's notes.
- Author sidebars. Writing/illustrating a historical manga was very much outside the author's comfort zone.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
His lackluster attitude towards writing dismays Mahoro, a student at Yukari's school who happens to be a huge fan of his work. Yukari feels a connection to Mahoro, which he immediately realizes is due to the fact that they knew each other in the past - Yukari's past self was cut down by a sword and died in a fire, and it seems that Mahoro's past self died right beside him.
It'd merely be an interesting discovery, except that Yukari suddenly finds himself drawn into the past and deposited into the body of his former self, Yumurasaki, a popular oiran (according to the translator's notes, a class of courtesan). For some unknown reason, Yukari keeps getting pulled backward and forward in time, meeting people in his present who are reincarnations of people he knew when he was Yumurasaki.
I didn't realize until I started looking up more info about the meaning of "oiran" that I had probably mistaken this series for Sakuran, another series starring an oiran. Whoops. Well, I can try to hunt that series down later.
Yukarism wasn't exactly bad, but it left me feeling very underwhelmed. Yukari's reaction to being transported into the body of his past self seemed extremely muted considering that 1) his past self was female, 2) sex was very likely to come up at some point, and 3) it was possible he could end up experiencing his past self's death. Oh, and he had no idea whether his actions in the past might have some effect on the future - although he inhabited the body of his past self, his mind was very much that of his current self.
In this first volume, Yukari met three people he knew in his past life: Mahoro, who was once Kazuma, Yumurasaki's (male) bodyguard; Emi, who was once Hitoha, Yumurasaki's apprentice; and a young man who once Takamura, a good-looking but menacing client of Yumurasaki's. Everyone seems to be at least a little affected by their past lives, even though most of them have no memories of their past selves. From the look of things, the series is going to be focused on the mystery of how Yumurasaki died, and whether history will end up repeating itself.
Since the series is only four volumes long, I plan on continuing on. I hope it improves, though. The premise is interesting enough, but the execution is a little weak. At least the artwork is decent.
Extras:
- A couple pages of translator's notes.
- Author sidebars. Writing/illustrating a historical manga was very much outside the author's comfort zone.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
September 12, 2018
Volume 1-4.5 Stars
In this volume we meet the main character Yukari and the two other characters Mahoro and Katsuhiko who are friends with Yukari.
Yukari is a 17 year old famous male author in the modern day. Yukari was born with memories from his past life. In his past life he was an Oiran (a beautiful, renowned high class female courtesan) from the Edo time period.
The two characters Mahoro and Katsuhiko are also reincarnation from the same time period as Yukari. These two characters don’t have their memories, but during the Edo time period they knew each other in the red light district.
– Meredith
..........
Yukarism volumes 1-4 is a fantastic manga series about past lives, love and an ancient curse binding three incredible characters from the Edo period Japan to modern day. Story building, back story and characterisation are amazing. The story explores themes about belonging, self-sacrifice, acceptance, connections and love. The drawings are beautiful and intricate, I loved it so much that I was inspired to draw a large fan-art poster for Meredith (see below, it’s obviously not as beautiful as the actual drawings!). Recommended if you’re after a manga series that is short and sweet (some manga series can span 10+ volumes). If you like endearing characters, magic, intricate drawings and a heartfelt story about love transcending time, this is a great read to sink your teeth into!
– NJ
In this volume we meet the main character Yukari and the two other characters Mahoro and Katsuhiko who are friends with Yukari.
Yukari is a 17 year old famous male author in the modern day. Yukari was born with memories from his past life. In his past life he was an Oiran (a beautiful, renowned high class female courtesan) from the Edo time period.
The two characters Mahoro and Katsuhiko are also reincarnation from the same time period as Yukari. These two characters don’t have their memories, but during the Edo time period they knew each other in the red light district.
– Meredith
..........
Yukarism volumes 1-4 is a fantastic manga series about past lives, love and an ancient curse binding three incredible characters from the Edo period Japan to modern day. Story building, back story and characterisation are amazing. The story explores themes about belonging, self-sacrifice, acceptance, connections and love. The drawings are beautiful and intricate, I loved it so much that I was inspired to draw a large fan-art poster for Meredith (see below, it’s obviously not as beautiful as the actual drawings!). Recommended if you’re after a manga series that is short and sweet (some manga series can span 10+ volumes). If you like endearing characters, magic, intricate drawings and a heartfelt story about love transcending time, this is a great read to sink your teeth into!
– NJ
October 25, 2022
This was kind of a slow start to the series, and I don't know if I'll bother reading more (at least it's free on Libby).
The most interesting supporting character was a young woman who was traumatized in her past life in the Edo period (her parents tried to kill her in order to have one less mouth to feed). Now, in her current/modern life she has a lot of unexplained anxiety. The main character was an Oiran (female courtesan) in the Edo period but a young male author today.
I did learn about a facet of Japanese culture which I hadn't heard of before- the Oiran's unique way of walking called Soto-hachimonji (moving their heavy wooden sandal in a sort of figure 8). Look it up on youtube. It is certainly something to see.
The most interesting supporting character was a young woman who was traumatized in her past life in the Edo period (her parents tried to kill her in order to have one less mouth to feed). Now, in her current/modern life she has a lot of unexplained anxiety. The main character was an Oiran (female courtesan) in the Edo period but a young male author today.
I did learn about a facet of Japanese culture which I hadn't heard of before- the Oiran's unique way of walking called Soto-hachimonji (moving their heavy wooden sandal in a sort of figure 8). Look it up on youtube. It is certainly something to see.
April 3, 2018
I loved the concept of reincarnation especially gender bendinger reincarnation but there was a something missing in this series that made me love the previous one This author wrote. The main character’s ability to travel into his previous life should have been a lot more reactive than that I know of I suddenly found myself in a mans body I would be freaked out or something. The guys yukari’s reaction was not believable to me.
April 9, 2021
I really loved Rasetsu, so I thought I would check out another series by Chika Shiomi and I’m not disappointed!!! This was great. Super interesting with the whole past lives ordeal. Plus, the main character not only is a woman in his past life but a high class prostitute! Anyway, his past life did not end well and he’s trying to figure out why/how he died.
Basically, it’s interesting enough for me to read more! Haha
Basically, it’s interesting enough for me to read more! Haha
March 12, 2018
Series Review: 3/5
It's a very interesting idea and I loved the flashbacks into the historical Edo period. However, I just didn't get that into it. I didn't really like the characters in the present time, just the old ones. It's a good thing it wrapped up quickly or I probably would have lost interest.
It's a very interesting idea and I loved the flashbacks into the historical Edo period. However, I just didn't get that into it. I didn't really like the characters in the present time, just the old ones. It's a good thing it wrapped up quickly or I probably would have lost interest.
December 4, 2019
This manga has such an interesting concept that I haven't been able to experience since I first read it. The characters and plotline are engaging, and even if that doesn't do it for you? The art is phenomenal. I strongly urge any shoujo lover to read this series. Bonus points if you like history, angst and shorter series!
August 26, 2022
ive been trying to cry or let the suppressed suffocation out for weeks now, and i did cry at the end it was really good. i felt what they felt alongside my own feelings when i sobbed silently. and i feel freed rn like what shizuka takamura wanted for yukari.
November 24, 2024
Not my style but that doesn't warrant anything under 3 stars, I feel like there's an audience for this! Read if you like romantic shojo with a little gender fluidity, I can see fans of MDZS / Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation by MXTX liking this
August 5, 2017
I like so much this manga is one of my favorite .
December 8, 2017
A unique tale. I wonder where the mangaka is going with it?!
December 30, 2017
This is an interesting first volume for a series I’d never heard of before today. It makes me think of the podcast Another Kingdom where you find yourself split between two worlds.
November 18, 2019
Definitely not what I was expecting. Would recommend this if you want a fast paced read.
December 28, 2019
Certainly did not expect that! So far it’s about a 2.5 for me.
January 13, 2021
Not sure what I was expecting in this series but found this and thought "I haven't read this so why not?". already have book 2 and then I will see from there if I want to get more.
June 14, 2021
A young man meets a new girl at school which leads to him having visions of his past life, when he lived in the Edo period in the entertainment district.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews