Arata: The Legend, Vol. 22

アラタカンガタリ~ 革神語 [Arata Kangatari] #22

by Yuu Watase

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...

Desperate to save Kotoha, who hovers near death, Arata and the others decide to enter the town ruled by Ikisu, one of the Six Sho. In the midst of an intense battle against the team of Ikisu and Ameeno, Arata realizes that the townspeople are getting hurt. What does he decide to do...?!

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Shonen

200 pages, Paperback

First published December 18, 2013

About the author

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".

Reviews

[Derek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, it appears as though (some of) the six sho have turned on each other. No major battles for Hinohara and the crew in this volume but they have found themselves in another body-swapping type of situation. (This one isn't as fun as the previous ones.) Back in Japan, Harunawa is after Arata and Oribe again.

There is some very nice artwork in this volume as we see the demonized forms of different people.

[Chris · Rating 1 out of 5]

Huh? This got even worse, if such a thing were possible.

[emily_oriley · Rating 4 out of 5]

....it’s because I mentioned Ranma a few books ago, isn’t it? Or maybe Watase got bored drawing so many guys. Aw, well - hijinks.

[Amanda Setasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the first part of this one, but the new arc seems to be focused on gender swap... Greaaaaat...

[Jenny Derochemont · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was pretty good. I wonder if Arata really does like Oribe? It seems like he might. I think it's funny that Hinohara, Kannagi, and Yataka are all women because of the potion. Also, the girls being boys now is funny.

I really miss Kanate. I wish he would have stayed with Hinohara and his group. I don't understand why he submitted to Kadowaki.

[L. Petunia · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

[Abbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 stars. Things certainly took an... interesting turn in this volume. LOL. I can't wait to read the next volume, especially with that cliffhanger!