Fushigi Yûgi: The Mysterious Play, Vol. 15: Guardian

ふしぎ遊戯 [Fushigi Yûgi] #15

by Yuu Watase

Miaka must reenter The Universe of the Four Gods and collect the seven magic stones that contain her soulmate Taka's lost memories . . . or else risk losing him forever. Illustrations. Rated for older teens.

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novels, Shojo, Comics, Fiction

191 pages, Paperback

First published October 26, 1995

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

[AℳY♔Queen of Fat cats♔Ain't no lie Baby Byebyebye · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF
Guys! Do yourself a favor and stop reading when you're done with VOL 13.

[Jolly Ann Paciencia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Getting more exciting again.

[Bibliothecat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review for complete series



I am actually really sad and disappointed. Fushigi Yuugi was that one classic shoujo fantasy that I never got around to reading even though I was convinced I would love it. I love Watase's art - this is an older work and the art is a tad dated, but it's perfectly lovely. It's a portal fantasy quest story with Chinese lore and it's not ridiculously long like many of its peers (I'm looking at you Inu Yasha and Yona of the Dawn). Eighteen volumes seemed like the perfect length and there was just no way I wasn't going to love this. It turns out that this manga has some of the worst pacing I have ever come across.

At its core, the story is pretty straight forward: Miaka is your normal school girl who comes by a magic book, gets pulled into an ancient fantasy world and is sent on a quest to collect items that will help her save the world she's in. For this, she needs to pull together some preordained set of warriors who fight by her side. Of course she falls in love with one of them and there's the big drama or which world she will end up staying in. All of this is pretty standard in this type of portal fantasy but that's exactly what I am here for. So while the premise isn't hugely unique, it's definitely not the problem I had with this story.

The first couple of volumes were insta-everything. I'm not just talking about Miaka and Tamahome falling madly in love from volume one, all other relationships are established in the same way. Yui, Miaka's best friend, is also in love with Tamahome from the moment they meet. The emperor is in love with Miaka from before they meet. All allies join their ranks effortlessly and they become best buddies just because. There's no real effort in recruiting any of the characters nor even finding them. Part of the whole point of this quest was to find these characters yet they just sometimes stumble into a scene, introducing themselves and declaring they're part of the gang and are already set to join them on a quest - no questions asked. It was so extreme that I don't think the last two characters added to the group were given much of a personality and were completely forgettable.

The problem with tossing these characters together like that is that there are no real developments. They say they all love and care for each other but, as far as I am concerned, I can't really believe them. If I see characters get to know each other, grow and form bonds, I will care for them. If they just pop out of the blue and risk limb and life for each other I feel there is something sorely lacking. I can't invest into friendships or romances that just kind of happened without any development whatsoever.

The plot becomes continuously more dark and a lot of deaths and loss occur. I'd normally feel something for these characters by that point but everything feels so over the top dramatic given what it is all based on. The pacing did improve quite a bit halfway through the series and the last couple of volumes were over all well-paced. The problem is that the damage was already done - the characters grew on me to some extent and while their actions and motifs became more believable, it still didn't do away with how wishy-washy their starting point was.

I also need to dedicate a paragraph to Yui - I feel no sympathy for her whatsoever. I don't care if she was manipulated, her actions were shallow and selfish. She blames Miaka for things she didn't do and sets heaven and hell loose just to get an uncalled for revenge. It's such a shame because I liked Yui's character in the second arc but yet again, it was already ruined by how she acted in the first arc. I'm not saying a character can't redeem themselves, Yui did do her part to earn forgiveness. The problem is that her anger and bitterness was completely misplaced and out of proportion.

I am not saying that this is a bad manga. I do think that a lot of people who like this are driven by nostalgia and I think I would have liked it a lot more had it also been one of my first manga. But after years of manga reading, this just doesn't deliver emotionally what I would expect of a good fantasy manga. The art is its strongest point, the characters are nice but they were never given the time they needed to grow. I don't think that eighteen volumes was too short, I just think that Watase priorities the wrong things over proper character and relationship development. I am not even sure what I am going to do with my copies - it's a good chunk of eighteen volumes taking up shelf space and somehow I don't see myself reading it again. Yet there's a part of me that just really wants to like this - but of course, wanting to like something and actually liking it are not the same thing. I think it will ultimately depend on how much I like its prequel Genbu Kaiden - I expect it to be a better work as it was written later and Watase has already proven in other works and in Fushigi Yuugi's second arc that she can write a properly paced story.

[Hailley Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The volumes after vol 13 and kind of unnecessary, as the main story ends there. This second arc isn't as good as the main one. I'm also kind of confused about the time difference, between the book world and the real world, as it doesn't seem consistent with how it was with the first arc.

It was nice to see Hotohori meet his son though!

[Bee (BacchusVines) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm happy because YAY Hotohori but at the same time I'm like: this is dragging out too much!

[fawkes · Rating 3 out of 5]

TREMENDO WTF.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Today's post is on Fushigi Yugi: The Mysterious Play, Volume 15: Guardian by Yuu Watase. It is 183 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover has the two main characters on it facing facing the reader with excitement. The intended reader is someone who likes historical fantasy, high fantasy, romance, and shojo stories. There is mild foul language, mild sexuality, and violence in this story. The story is told from third person close of the main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Guardian of Taka's Memories
Miaka must re-enter The universe of the Four Gods and collect the seven magic stones that contain her soulmate Taka's memories... or else risk losing him forever! Taka's has always been the one who protected Miaka, so will she be able to handle this new responsibility? And there's something unsettling about the new exchange student at Miaka's high school..

Review- So much happens in this volume I hardly know where to begin. Miaka and Taka was still working on where to look next for Taka's memories and the bad guy is on the move. He has started at Miaka's school to be close her and he can control minds of others so that's fun for everyone. Yui is totally on Miaka and Taka's side and is doing everything she can to help them. Back in the The Universe of the Four Gods they are fighting with the demon god and he is slowly winning a place in palace. So much happening! In the end Taka gets another memory, Hotohori meets his son, and the bad guy is making his moves and we are getting close to the end with only three volumes left a I am very curious about how Watase is going to end it all.

I give this volume a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.

[Zennica Bunny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Volume 15 is the emotional crescendo we’ve all been bracing for—and it doesn’t hold back. Miaka and Tamahome’s love faces its ultimate test, while the Suzaku Seven give everything they’ve got in a battle that’s as heartbreaking as it is epic. Nakago’s schemes hit their peak, and his final moves are as cruelly calculated as you’d expect from a villain of his caliber.

[✨Sky✨ ♏ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 stars

[Andrea Aguas · Rating 5 out of 5]

At least this one isn't as dragging as Vol. 13 and 14.

[Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Argh. This series got decent. Good one. =)

[Lau · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5
Ugh, ¿qué le pasó a este manga? Lo mejor fue el final, el resto parece un fanfiction (malo).

[Lindsey Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad!

[Maile Sarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why did they kill off Hotohori like that and leave his child like that 😭

[Lemoona · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series has really gone downhill for me.

[David Doel · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's nothing like a good villain to elevate an adventure manga, and Lian fills that role quite nicely.

[Veronica Ika · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Race Against Time
Miaka is faced with a dire ultimatum: she must reenter the Universe of the Four Gods to retrieve the seven magic stones containing her soulmate Taka's lost memories, or risk losing him forever. With time ticking away, she embarks on a perilous journey to recover what was lost.

A Complicated Task
Despite the urgency of her mission, Miaka's path is fraught with challenges. She discovers that the next magic stone she seeks is hidden within the body of Hotohori's son, presenting a daunting obstacle that she must overcome to succeed in her quest.

Betrayal and Intrigue
As Miaka navigates the dangers of the fictional world, she also faces unexpected turmoil in her real life. The transfer student Lian, whom she had trusted, is revealed to be a pawn of Tenko, further complicating her efforts to balance her dual existence and fulfill her destiny.

[Leila Anani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another exciting volume as the evil demon God Tenko tries to destroy Miaka and Tamahome. His school boy agent, mind controlling Lian makes an excellent villain up there with the likes of Nakago.... he's just so wonderfully evil! We meet Hotohori's infant son, OMG is he cute!!! and the scene where Hotohori's ghost tries to interact is really poignant - I love the emotional range of this series; it can range from lol stupidity to touching melodrama all in one volume.

Great art, great characters make this series shojo manga at its finest.

[Indah Threez Lestari · Rating 4 out of 5]

#Program BUBU

Pertama kali dibeli dan dibaca pada tanggal 18 Februari 2003.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Closer closer closer

[Tamikan · Rating 1 out of 5]

1 star for the art

[Emi えみ Takami 鷹見 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Omg. Hotohori... that just breaks my heart into a thousand tiny pieces.

[Danyka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I watched and loved the Anime version of this since I was a kid. It also landed on my favorites.

For now, I got no plans for buying a copy.

[Stefanie Farrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like to see more of the villians and less of the relationship of Miaka and Taka. The relationship shown in this volume is a little too much.

[Myka · Rating 4 out of 5]

It got a 4 for the last ten pages and my bloodshot eyes. Otherwise it was a 3.

[Raechel · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a new evil grows, can the warriors protect not only their world, but Miaka's as well?

[Galion Public Library Teens · Rating 5 out of 5]

A.J. liked "all of it" and recommends the book to "anyone."

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

We got to meet Hotohori's son! I am so glad he found happiness, even if part of his heart will always belong to Miaka.

[Rei · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was lovely, but I wish their love weren't the center of all

[Kali · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first romance book that I actually like