What do you think?
Rate this book
ふしぎ遊戯 玄武開伝 [Fushigi Yûgi: Genbu Kaiden] #4
Fushigi Yûgi: Genbu Kaiden, Vol. 04
This exciting prequel to VIZ's best-selling fantasy series FUSHIGI YUGI tells the story of the very first of the priestesses of "The Four Gods"-the Priestess of Genbu!
As referred to in Volume 12 of FUSHIGI YUGI, Takiko Okuda was the first of the priestesses to enter "The Universe of the Four Gods." With this latest work from the pen of best-selling artist Yu Watase (ALICE 19TH), Takiko's full story is told.
192 pages, Paperback
First published October 25, 2003
9 people are currently reading
286 people want to read
About the author
Yuu Watase
362 books1,166 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".
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
September 13, 2021
In the middle of a scene featuring Hagus, I had the thought: "his powers are just like Kirby's."
And now I'm never going to be able to take that character seriously.
Anyhow, rereading the first couple of these, and moving on to the next couple, my impression hasn't changed. The characters and their emotions are depicted well, and the story is pure melodrama with sometimes-spotty plotting. It's a fun fantasy soap opera in comics form, with points of irritation that can make it hard for me to enjoy.
**
Reread 9/12/21: the first half of this book is erratic and feels poorly plotted. Takiko & co. show up in a village that has only a few children and next to no adults. Limdo and Takiko have an argument and Limdo goes off in a snit for some reason, and returns when the bad guys attack the village. And then he pledges his eternal loyalty to Takiko. Um, okay...? A dragon piloted by Tai Yi-Jun sweeps the characters off to meet their next companion. I guess that village didn't matter, huh?
The second half is better, and gives us some background about Tomite along with meeting the new Genbu warrior. I like Tomite and the other Genbu warriors a lot, except, sadly, Limdo/Uruki. He bores me, and he and Takiko's love feels slight and adolescent. Well, I'm not a big fan of Watase's romances in general, so there's some bias there. Watase's own confession that she isn't a romance fan, but feels she must include it because of shoujo manga conventions, added to my feeling of indifference about that aspect of the story.
After four volumes, I feel like this wasn't worth its taking up shelf space in my library for over fifteen years. I've mentioned in other reviews that although I am a fan of fantasy novels, I don't like fantasy manga all that much, and FY:GK is not changing my mind even slightly. Watase's being forced to serialize this a little slower by personal circumstance, as mentioned in her sidebar, might help with its storytelling moving forward. We'll see. I have to say that despite the messy storytelling, the art has been quite good throughout.
And now I'm never going to be able to take that character seriously.
Anyhow, rereading the first couple of these, and moving on to the next couple, my impression hasn't changed. The characters and their emotions are depicted well, and the story is pure melodrama with sometimes-spotty plotting. It's a fun fantasy soap opera in comics form, with points of irritation that can make it hard for me to enjoy.
**
Reread 9/12/21: the first half of this book is erratic and feels poorly plotted. Takiko & co. show up in a village that has only a few children and next to no adults. Limdo and Takiko have an argument and Limdo goes off in a snit for some reason, and returns when the bad guys attack the village. And then he pledges his eternal loyalty to Takiko. Um, okay...? A dragon piloted by Tai Yi-Jun sweeps the characters off to meet their next companion. I guess that village didn't matter, huh?
The second half is better, and gives us some background about Tomite along with meeting the new Genbu warrior. I like Tomite and the other Genbu warriors a lot, except, sadly, Limdo/Uruki. He bores me, and he and Takiko's love feels slight and adolescent. Well, I'm not a big fan of Watase's romances in general, so there's some bias there. Watase's own confession that she isn't a romance fan, but feels she must include it because of shoujo manga conventions, added to my feeling of indifference about that aspect of the story.
After four volumes, I feel like this wasn't worth its taking up shelf space in my library for over fifteen years. I've mentioned in other reviews that although I am a fan of fantasy novels, I don't like fantasy manga all that much, and FY:GK is not changing my mind even slightly. Watase's being forced to serialize this a little slower by personal circumstance, as mentioned in her sidebar, might help with its storytelling moving forward. We'll see. I have to say that despite the messy storytelling, the art has been quite good throughout.
April 26, 2011
EDIT: I was going to give Genbu Kaiden four stars, but then I got to volume 6 and Takiko made me want to stand up and cheer, so five stars it is. She makes up for Miaka so much. Go Takiko!
I moved directly from Fushigi Yugi to this series, with only a very short break in between, and as a result skipped about a decade of Watase's career...
...and I'm so very, very glad.
From one series to the next, everything has improved. True, I'm only four volumes in, but I can already tell you I like Genbu Kaiden a lot more than I liked Fushigi Yugi at the same point. The art is more interesting, the enormous shojo eyes less exaggerated, the character designs compelling. Takiko, priestess of Genbu, actually and legitimately kicks ass. She's brave, and she knows how to use a weapon, and she does use it. She's also got that deep inner strength that Watase argued was Miaka's sort, but in Takiko it's much more compelling. Her love interest is fascinating, and frankly not the least what I would have expected from this series. Every character has inner conflicts, and there are parallels between the troubles of the Genbu Celestial Warriors and Takiko's own father problems.
The formula is basically the same: Girl sucked into book, becomes priestess, meets her first few warriors, searches for others with the help of various supernatural characters, gets sucked back into real world when things get truly tense. It could have been trite and boring, but the amount Watase has improved in her storytelling, characterization, and art make it refreshing and new.
While probably best for someone who's already familiar with Fushigi Yugi, this series could stand on its own and is definitely better than the original. (So far, that is.)
I moved directly from Fushigi Yugi to this series, with only a very short break in between, and as a result skipped about a decade of Watase's career...
...and I'm so very, very glad.
From one series to the next, everything has improved. True, I'm only four volumes in, but I can already tell you I like Genbu Kaiden a lot more than I liked Fushigi Yugi at the same point. The art is more interesting, the enormous shojo eyes less exaggerated, the character designs compelling. Takiko, priestess of Genbu, actually and legitimately kicks ass. She's brave, and she knows how to use a weapon, and she does use it. She's also got that deep inner strength that Watase argued was Miaka's sort, but in Takiko it's much more compelling. Her love interest is fascinating, and frankly not the least what I would have expected from this series. Every character has inner conflicts, and there are parallels between the troubles of the Genbu Celestial Warriors and Takiko's own father problems.
The formula is basically the same: Girl sucked into book, becomes priestess, meets her first few warriors, searches for others with the help of various supernatural characters, gets sucked back into real world when things get truly tense. It could have been trite and boring, but the amount Watase has improved in her storytelling, characterization, and art make it refreshing and new.
While probably best for someone who's already familiar with Fushigi Yugi, this series could stand on its own and is definitely better than the original. (So far, that is.)
January 25, 2024
Qué final señorrrr. Literal que iba a darle menos nota, pero esta señora sabe cómo recuperar mi fe en sus obras.
Aún así he puesto los ojos en blanco un par de veces because im not buying la pareja. Es que no sé qué me pasa pero me dan tremenda pereza, supongo que x la misma razón que Miaka y Tamahome en la original aka 0 desarrollo (aunque aquí hay un pelín más puede). Es que os queréis?? Girl, cuántas conversaciones habéis tenido de más de dos minutos sin ser interrumpidas x un enemigo?? Make it make sense.
En fin, Tomite lo mejor del tomo aparte del final.
Aún así he puesto los ojos en blanco un par de veces because im not buying la pareja. Es que no sé qué me pasa pero me dan tremenda pereza, supongo que x la misma razón que Miaka y Tamahome en la original aka 0 desarrollo (aunque aquí hay un pelín más puede). Es que os queréis?? Girl, cuántas conversaciones habéis tenido de más de dos minutos sin ser interrumpidas x un enemigo?? Make it make sense.
En fin, Tomite lo mejor del tomo aparte del final.
March 30, 2022
Don't mind me. I'll just be over here having feelings about Tomite and Hikitsu's backstory. I am nothing if not predictable.
May 4, 2021
Great volume. Definite fireworks between Takiko and Limdo. And of course, misunderstandings as well lol
We learn more about Chamka/Tomite’s past and just as things are getting interesting, Takiko is sent back home!!!!
***Off topic rant here so feel free not to read all this but...
Most of these reviews are hating on Miaka from the original series... Why though???
So what that she’s not a fighter like Takiko. Not all of us are fighters. So what that she can be ditzy and immature? Newsflash! That’s her PERSONALITY. Everyone is different. Not all main characters can be badass fighters/leaders. Otherwise, we’d be reading the same kind of story over and over. Anyway, if you’re new to Fushigi Yugi and haven’t read the original because you see all of these negative reviews bashing on Miaka, please try it out. Keep in mind that she’s a teenage girl who didn’t have the same kind of family life as Takiko. I honestly find her personality cute. She’s funny as hell.
*** end of rant. Thank you for listening! Haha***
We learn more about Chamka/Tomite’s past and just as things are getting interesting, Takiko is sent back home!!!!
***Off topic rant here so feel free not to read all this but...
Most of these reviews are hating on Miaka from the original series... Why though???
So what that she’s not a fighter like Takiko. Not all of us are fighters. So what that she can be ditzy and immature? Newsflash! That’s her PERSONALITY. Everyone is different. Not all main characters can be badass fighters/leaders. Otherwise, we’d be reading the same kind of story over and over. Anyway, if you’re new to Fushigi Yugi and haven’t read the original because you see all of these negative reviews bashing on Miaka, please try it out. Keep in mind that she’s a teenage girl who didn’t have the same kind of family life as Takiko. I honestly find her personality cute. She’s funny as hell.
*** end of rant. Thank you for listening! Haha***
August 2, 2009
Enjoyable story and characters.
January 21, 2018
3.5 stars
October 26, 2025
Review for complete series
Despite Fushigi Yuugi being a classic fantasy shoujo manga, I only got around to it long after its original publication. Sadly, I was rather disappointed by it, especially given that it is a popular work. Genbu Kaiden is a newer work of Watase's and serves as a prequel to the original series and this series is everything I hoped the original would have been.
All the things wrong with the original were made right here: our main character Takiko largely makes sensible decisions - sure, they are sometimes also emotionally loaded and not always strategic, but she never left me shaking my head in frustration over stupid decisions. Takiko and her love interest don't fall in love from the start allowing for a much more natural flow which in turn led me to genuinely care about them. The pacing was just right for this kind of plot with only a few chapters seeming a little rushed. The characters we meet along the way are more fleshed out and contribute to the story beyond being yet another follower of the main character - they've got agendas and dreams of their own. The fact that they still chose to follow Takiko just makes their bonds seem a lot stronger than in the original series. While I love a bit of comedy here and there, it was far more subtle than in the original which at times came across as silly.
Having fixed all that, this is a wholesome fantasy series with lovely friendships, interesting family dynamics and bittersweet turn of events. Takiko is a strong main character both in her determination but also in her willingness to lift a weapon despite being physically weaker than her companions. The world is interesting and the art is simply beautiful. Although I doubt it will ever happen, if Watase were ever to redraw the original series at this standard, I have no doubt I would love it. Instead, I will hope that her other prequel series, Byakko Senki, will soon no longer be on hiatus and be drawn to the end.
Only one little beef I had with this series: it's common for many manga, especially in the shoujo area, to have a style in which the characters look very much alike. It's usually hair and clothing more than anything else that makes characters look different from each other. This has never been an issue for me but I don't mind when artists add some more diversity. What I don't like is when authors add diversity purely for diversities sake. I am not sure if this is what Watase's intention was but the Genbu Kaiden cast was a lot more diverse than the original series' was (e.g. I was very pleased to have some more important female characters besides the main character). But, as I have already found with some of Watase's other works, she tends to add some goofy or stereo typical cartoonish characters. Hatsui is an overweight character and everything from design to behaviour and personality feels like a joke rather than a proper member of the group. Why not add a competent overweight character rather than, apologies, a bumbling idiot who is treated more like an overgrown child?
May 25, 2017
I adore Fushigi Yugi but so far Genbu Kaiden is blowing it out the water - Takiko is a far more mature heroine than Miaka and less annoying. She kicks ass with her Naginata and is always prepared to stand up and fight for those she cares about.
I love the characters too - The celestial warriors are really interesting from super cute silent rock monster Namame to timid fat boy Hatsui who creates a basket like shell and shoots quills when he becomes afraid or angry.
The romance between Takiko and gender switching Limdo is beautifully played out and well balanced with the rest of the story.
Have volume 5 on hand though, as this one ends on a real cliff hanger.
I love the characters too - The celestial warriors are really interesting from super cute silent rock monster Namame to timid fat boy Hatsui who creates a basket like shell and shoots quills when he becomes afraid or angry.
The romance between Takiko and gender switching Limdo is beautifully played out and well balanced with the rest of the story.
Have volume 5 on hand though, as this one ends on a real cliff hanger.
August 29, 2017
I got eight more volumes to read. I CAN DO IT.
The feels are getting stronger. God. It's only going to get worse from here with Uruki joining the party and Takiko getting that first cold. Excuse me as I sob in a corner.
The feels are getting stronger. God. It's only going to get worse from here with Uruki joining the party and Takiko getting that first cold. Excuse me as I sob in a corner.
January 8, 2021
(12/18/2020)
Of course after he stays she says she don't love him. Alas. So not here for the love drama tbh, but it's less annoying than in the OG one just not my prefrence.
Otherwise a solid volume. Hikitsu introduced, and a cliffhanger ending.
Of course after he stays she says she don't love him. Alas. So not here for the love drama tbh, but it's less annoying than in the OG one just not my prefrence.
Otherwise a solid volume. Hikitsu introduced, and a cliffhanger ending.
January 9, 2021
J'ai adoré ce tome ! L'histoire avance super bien, j'aime beaucoup le rythme. On en apprend un peu plus sur les personnages à chaque tome. Et cette fin !!!!!!! WOW !
April 19, 2021
Aaaah!
The kiss was soooo good! That ending!!! No! What’s going on here! Installment was great! Can’t wait to read the next one!
The kiss was soooo good! That ending!!! No! What’s going on here! Installment was great! Can’t wait to read the next one!
March 15, 2024
A very emotional read, but powerful. And Takiko is my favourite protagonist. I'm so inspired by her the more I progress through the story.
September 4, 2024
Well... chapter 19 was different. Yui is doing way too much holding Tamahome hostage just because she "loves him"
October 4, 2024
That cliff hanger...omg I need to put in for the next book from the library asap.
October 19, 2024
2024 goal 136/150
March 20, 2025
Reading that Shojou Manga author Yuu Watase has never really liked romance made me want to explode
September 29, 2025
The art is gorgeous, but the story is just lacking so far.
February 19, 2010
Hagus appears ready to get them, as Yuruki is discovered by Ziyi and Feiyan to be a Celestial Warrior and not their companion, Tai Yi-Jun a smiling boy who controls a dragon rescues Takiko and the warriors just in time. The dragon is the only dragon of heaven left of the 4 there once were. They go to an ice cave where the Celestial Warrior Hikutsu can control water. He is bitter that Tomite (Chamka) froze his sister when he was attacking the maws (monsters) by freezing them. That was when his power was new and he didn't understand it. Hikutsu wears an eye patch because he has an over seeing mirror eye. He waits in the cave to stay by his frozen sister and wait for revenge on Tomite. Tomite has suppressed this memory. It is hard but he uses his power in reverse for the first time, and he unfreezes the ice. As Hikitsu's sister is unfronzen, then so too are the maws! They reunite to fight the maws, and at that instant Takiko is transported back to her home in Japan.
March 9, 2013
I started this series forever ago. I think it was like in 2003. I never knew what it's about & just picked it up at my library. I was not even old enough for the rating that they gave it, but I was intrigued. I believe they only had up to volume 5 so I just stopped reading it. Somehow (thankfully) I was reminded if this story and so I began re-reading it online and oh my gods I feel in love. It's great Takiko is such a great priestess and I love her connection with all the Celestial Warriors.
I didn't have any idea that it was a prequel, & I'm very tempted to read it just so I can see if the other priestess lives up to Takiko & her journey with the Celestial Warriors. I seriously feel in live with these characters & I'm pretty sure they will be hard to live up to.
--M
•Planetarium-- Ai Otsuka
I didn't have any idea that it was a prequel, & I'm very tempted to read it just so I can see if the other priestess lives up to Takiko & her journey with the Celestial Warriors. I seriously feel in live with these characters & I'm pretty sure they will be hard to live up to.
--M
•Planetarium-- Ai Otsuka
September 8, 2016
"You truly are like the wind... it's not possible to hold on to you." - Takiko, Legendary Priestess of Genbu
July 27, 2016
Aparece una de las estrellas con esa aura de misterio que en realidad nos encanta. Con ello surge el otro "bromance" de la saga: Tomite y Hikitsu. Amigos de la infancia separados por un malentendido y que se vuelven a encontrar. Quién puede pedir más, si encima Hikitsu viene acompañado de una hermana muy adorable y sienta las bases para su reaparición en la serie original. Quizás la autora se haya pasado a la hora de darle poderes, qué se le va a hacer.
July 21, 2016
Some of this stuff is like straight up porn at times (light porn) but oh man, I have never shipped a couple more than Limdo and Takiko. Also, the author writes in her little note that Tomite thinks of Takiko more as a big sister and to that I say: bullshit! He gets turned on when he sees her naked and I feel like that is not something that would have happened if he thinks of her as just a big sister.
January 15, 2014
So much happened!!
There were more characters introduced. I like learning about each warrior and the love part of the story has progressed further as well. it left off on a big cliff hanger and I can't wait to read the next one!
There were more characters introduced. I like learning about each warrior and the love part of the story has progressed further as well. it left off on a big cliff hanger and I can't wait to read the next one!
June 5, 2007
JUST READ IT!!!
July 19, 2007
i luuuuuv fushig yugi!!! It's a comedy and action manga with a bit of romance. Any manga with action GIVE IT TO MUAH! ANY WITH COMEDY? GIVE IT TO MUAH! MAYBE BOTH? GIVE IT TO MUAH!
July 19, 2007
same as 1-3
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews