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Basara [バサラ] #27
Basara 27
Very good overall quality. Please keep in mind that this manga is in Japanese and that there may be some slight yellowing due to the age of the paper. Please feel free to ask us any questions you may have.
Paperback
First published February 26, 2000
2 people are currently reading
149 people want to read
About the author
Yumi Tamura
239 books194 followersName (in native language): 田村由美
Birth Date: September 5
Zodiac: Virgo
Tamura is an avid RPG videogamer - Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, etc. She also loves to read mystery books, and going on the computer to chat with her fans.
Birth Date: September 5
Zodiac: Virgo
Tamura is an avid RPG videogamer - Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, etc. She also loves to read mystery books, and going on the computer to chat with her fans.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
January 25, 2019
Ini review untuk garis besar cerita vol 1-27 yang akhirnya aku tamatkan tahun ini.
Sampul vol 27 sebenarnya cukup menjadi spoiler ending, tapi perjalanan menuju ending itu sangat jauh dan berliku (25 volume kalau tak menghitung cerita tambahan), jadi worth it untuk mengingat di akhir ada HEA yang menanti ToT
***
Di sebuah desa di padang pasir yang dahulu disebut Jepang, lahir dua anak kembar, Sarasa dan Tatara. Peramal menyebutkan bahwa salah satu anak itu adalah bintang terpilih yang bisa menyelamatkan negeri dari tirani dinasti yang sudah berkuasa selama 300 tahun. Sesuai dengan prinsip patriarki, Tatara, sang anak lelaki, dianggap sebagai penyelamat (the savior) dan adik perempuannya, Sarasa, diperlakukan seperti anak biasa.
Sayangnya, sebelum mereka siap, desa mendapat serangan dari Raja Merah, putra Maharaja, dan Tatara tewas. Untuk membangkitkan semangat warga desa, Sarasa berpura-pura menjadi kakaknya.
Sejak itu, gadis remaja yang biasa-biasa saja harus berperan sebagai prajurit, pendekar, dan pemimpin. Sarasa harus menjadi Tatara, pemuda yang ditakdirkan. Sesuai pesan dari kakeknya, Sarasa harus mengumpulkan empat pedang bersejarah yang dahulu dimiliki oleh empat tokoh yang ingin memberontak pada kerajaan. Mungkin pedang-pedang itu hanya simbol, tapi di masa yang kental dengan kepercayaan lama, simbol adahal sesuatu yang penting.
Untuk itu, Tatara harus menjelajahi Jepang sambil menghindari kejaran tentara merah yang memburunya. Untungnya, Tatara yang bersemangat dan cerdas dapat mengumpulkan sekutu-sekutu dengan kepribadian menarik yang memiliki tujuan sama dengannya. Bersama mereka, Tatara belajar bagaimana mengerikannya perang, bahwa musuh-musuhnya juga manusia yang kompleks, dan apa yang harus dipilihnya untuk dikorbankan demi masa depan.
Sarasa tak lagi memiliki kebebasan sebagai seorang gadis muda, namun di antara petualangannya, dia malah jatuh cinta dengan Shuri, pria yang tanpa dia ketahui berada di kubu lawan. Hebatnya, Shuri juga nggak tahu kalau Sarasa itu Tatara! Ini trope favorit saya, sodara-sodara ToT (Mulan 2.0)
Basara kental dengan trope the chosen one(s) yang merupakan orang terpilih, mulai dari para pemegang pedang yang menjadi sekutu, hingga keluarga kerajaan yang menjadi musuh... tapi di sepanjang cerita terungkap peran penting lain dari orang-orang yang memilih takdir mereka sendiri;
"Untuk mendirikan negara baru, kalian harus bisa memilih untuk diri sendiri!" kata seorang tokoh di pidatonya yang berapi-api.
Pesan lain yang sangat jelas disampaikan komik ini adalah memberi maaf. Jujur saja, aku sendiri nggak selalu setuju dengan kelapangan hati tokoh-tokohnya (scorpio: dendam dibawa mati), tapi di Basara tema tersebut sangat penting, banget! Kenapa?
Dalam setting zaman perang, dengan begitu banyak variabel, seorang manusia tidak bisa mengubah satu negara sendirian. Dia harus bekerja sama dengan beragam kelompok, bahkan mantan musuhnya, karena mereka toh sesama penduduk Jepang. Setiap prajurit, pelayan, tukang bangunan, pedagang, sampai wartawan memiliki peran penting (yap, di Basara ada wartawan dan koran gelap juga). Akhirnya, seperti terbukti dengan happy ending, keputusan untuk memaafkan memang tepat, karena manusia yang diberi kepercayaan (biasanya) akan membalas kepercayaan tersebut (biasanya loh (aku emang sampai gemes sama salah satu tokoh)).
(Ada juga yang bilang kalau memaafkan itu berarti memaafkan diri sendiri, so there's that)
**Komik ini mengandung unsur kekerasan yang tidak sesuai dengan anak di bawah umur (tw: rape, pedophilia, lots or murder)
Sampul vol 27 sebenarnya cukup menjadi spoiler ending, tapi perjalanan menuju ending itu sangat jauh dan berliku (25 volume kalau tak menghitung cerita tambahan), jadi worth it untuk mengingat di akhir ada HEA yang menanti ToT
***
Di sebuah desa di padang pasir yang dahulu disebut Jepang, lahir dua anak kembar, Sarasa dan Tatara. Peramal menyebutkan bahwa salah satu anak itu adalah bintang terpilih yang bisa menyelamatkan negeri dari tirani dinasti yang sudah berkuasa selama 300 tahun. Sesuai dengan prinsip patriarki, Tatara, sang anak lelaki, dianggap sebagai penyelamat (the savior) dan adik perempuannya, Sarasa, diperlakukan seperti anak biasa.
Sayangnya, sebelum mereka siap, desa mendapat serangan dari Raja Merah, putra Maharaja, dan Tatara tewas. Untuk membangkitkan semangat warga desa, Sarasa berpura-pura menjadi kakaknya.
Sejak itu, gadis remaja yang biasa-biasa saja harus berperan sebagai prajurit, pendekar, dan pemimpin. Sarasa harus menjadi Tatara, pemuda yang ditakdirkan. Sesuai pesan dari kakeknya, Sarasa harus mengumpulkan empat pedang bersejarah yang dahulu dimiliki oleh empat tokoh yang ingin memberontak pada kerajaan. Mungkin pedang-pedang itu hanya simbol, tapi di masa yang kental dengan kepercayaan lama, simbol adahal sesuatu yang penting.
Untuk itu, Tatara harus menjelajahi Jepang sambil menghindari kejaran tentara merah yang memburunya. Untungnya, Tatara yang bersemangat dan cerdas dapat mengumpulkan sekutu-sekutu dengan kepribadian menarik yang memiliki tujuan sama dengannya. Bersama mereka, Tatara belajar bagaimana mengerikannya perang, bahwa musuh-musuhnya juga manusia yang kompleks, dan apa yang harus dipilihnya untuk dikorbankan demi masa depan.
Sarasa tak lagi memiliki kebebasan sebagai seorang gadis muda, namun di antara petualangannya, dia malah jatuh cinta dengan Shuri, pria yang tanpa dia ketahui berada di kubu lawan. Hebatnya, Shuri juga nggak tahu kalau Sarasa itu Tatara! Ini trope favorit saya, sodara-sodara ToT (Mulan 2.0)
Basara kental dengan trope the chosen one(s) yang merupakan orang terpilih, mulai dari para pemegang pedang yang menjadi sekutu, hingga keluarga kerajaan yang menjadi musuh... tapi di sepanjang cerita terungkap peran penting lain dari orang-orang yang memilih takdir mereka sendiri;
"Untuk mendirikan negara baru, kalian harus bisa memilih untuk diri sendiri!" kata seorang tokoh di pidatonya yang berapi-api.
Pesan lain yang sangat jelas disampaikan komik ini adalah memberi maaf. Jujur saja, aku sendiri nggak selalu setuju dengan kelapangan hati tokoh-tokohnya (scorpio: dendam dibawa mati), tapi di Basara tema tersebut sangat penting, banget! Kenapa?
Dalam setting zaman perang, dengan begitu banyak variabel, seorang manusia tidak bisa mengubah satu negara sendirian. Dia harus bekerja sama dengan beragam kelompok, bahkan mantan musuhnya, karena mereka toh sesama penduduk Jepang. Setiap prajurit, pelayan, tukang bangunan, pedagang, sampai wartawan memiliki peran penting (yap, di Basara ada wartawan dan koran gelap juga). Akhirnya, seperti terbukti dengan happy ending, keputusan untuk memaafkan memang tepat, karena manusia yang diberi kepercayaan (biasanya) akan membalas kepercayaan tersebut (biasanya loh (aku emang sampai gemes sama salah satu tokoh)).
(Ada juga yang bilang kalau memaafkan itu berarti memaafkan diri sendiri, so there's that)
**Komik ini mengandung unsur kekerasan yang tidak sesuai dengan anak di bawah umur (tw: rape, pedophilia, lots or murder)
June 5, 2021
"Some readers have lamented: 'Why does she have to go through all this - she's a girl!' ... but I think she rises to the challenge because she's a girl!"Basara is truly a gem of a series and I hope people will rediscover it someday. It had one of the best character ensemble I've read so far, well written characters especially the protagonist Sarasa, one of the best well written female mc in fiction I've ever had the pleasure of reading. The struggles she went through and how she overcame them all was such an experience to read. It's as if I was suffering with her and experiencing her pain.
- Yumi Tamura (about Basara's amazing heroine, Sarasa)
Basara greatly explores the female psyche and the psychological strain of being a woman. Sarasa poses as a man and tries to stand up as a leader of a revolution so that people will accept her without question. Not just Sarasa but there were so many relatable female characters that felt helpless and ashamed in a sea of powerful men. I love that the author made them out to be strong and didn't tone down the traits that makes them feminine (eg. crying and being empathic to a fault). It was such a powerful message especially reading it as a woman myself. Rarely do I read fiction where female leadership, and just the overall experience of being a woman, gets a really nice representation and I sincerely want to give my thanks to the author for that.
More than that, I loved the politics in this series. I'm not much to talk about politics because I feel like I'm not intellectual enough and don't know much about it to argue with anyone but just seeing all those people, not just the main and supporting characters, but how everyone in the background was essential in Sarasa's revolution against the monarchy and their tyrannic leaders was an enlightening experience. The interplay of the villains and all their scheming and how everything was resolved by the oppressed working together was amazing to see. It was hard not to root for their cause and I felt like I was with them cheering them on. And for a girl like Sarasa to lead such a big group of people was very inspiring indeed.
I loved how the author made the politics central to the plot and not just the romance. But the romance is deserving of praise as well. How Shuri and Sarasa went from enemies to lovers, the battles they fought and how they went from hating to loving each other was such a difficult trial which both of them overcame nonetheless. In the appendices, we get a glimpse of how Shuri and Sarasa struggled to rekindle their trust and connection with each other. It's nice to see that the author made Shuri suffer first so he can redeem himself.
In war there will certainly be many deaths, betrayals and chaos but Basara showed us that communication, forgiveness, loyalty, friendship, and love will always prevail.
Basara is truly a remarkable manga series in the shoujo category that I hope people will never forget. It has a strong female lead and female supporting characters, crossdressing characters, morally grey characters, well-layered characters, enemies to lovers trope, explores and discusses politics, slavery, and trauma, and most of all...it has beautiful androgynous men. If that doesn't make you want to read this, then I don't know what will. But in all seriousness, I know for certain that Basara is one of the stories that will linger with me forever and I sincerely hope a studio will pick up this series soon for an anime reboot.
August 13, 2011
Sigh...I think I need to cry. This...was...the end of Basara. I wish I could take it back and just read it all over again. This is definitely one of the most unique mangas I have ever read. This was another extra-volume to tie everything up, pair everyone up with someone, and make at least, everyone live happily ever after somehow. I was especially emotional with the last page, since it ended with Sarasa as a kid again, right before she meets the Red King. In this volume, we find out what happens to Hayato, Shuri and Sarasa (kids?), Shinbashi, Masunga and Tamon, Hachiya's origin (leader of the Yarogumi), Asagi and Muratake, and it really is just the wrap-up volume. What happened to the world after Tatara? What will happen to the world afterwards? I was so happy with the ending, but as usual, I didn't want it to end in the first place. So, overall, I give this manga 4.7 stars in general. I loved it so much, and although it was a little longer than anything I've ever read manga-wise, it was a complex manga always bringing something good from within you. I love it when a manga makes me reflect about something inside myself, Basara made me wonder about dedication, courage, and forgiveness. It lost that .3 because at times during the middle, it would REALLY stretch out the story, but in the end, everything was perfect and I enjoyed it whole-heartedly.
January 7, 2021
Enjoyed reading this, it's been three years since the last time I read manga.
I like these characters the most: ( Tatara, Shuri, and Ageha ).
Cried a little, got excited too.
Had fun reading it.
I like these characters the most: ( Tatara, Shuri, and Ageha ).
Cried a little, got excited too.
Had fun reading it.
July 24, 2020
The final volume, and we finally get to learn more about what happened to the characters after the main story! This volume is definitely worth reading.
These are the stories in this volume:
Appendix 6: Kanata, about Sarasa and Shuri (finally!). It shows a little of their lives after the main story. Mysterious artifacts have been washing ashore, so they take a trip to the Huang Empire (formerly part of what was Russia, the south-eastern lands). They have an adventure and also deal with some pains of the past.
Appendix 7: Saraba, a short (2 page) story about the tiny owl Shinbashi
Appendix 8: Takara, about Tamon and Masunaga and the past ritual to decide the inheritance of the Genbu sword.
Appendix 9: Hakama, about Hachiya's (the Yellow Jacket of Kyoto) past.
Appendix 10: Pajama, takes place after Kanata. Sarasa and Shuri talk about how the other characters are doing, giving us a glimpse into their lives.
Appendix 11: Wakaba, about Hayato. Takes place several years (something like 15, if I had to guess) after the Basara main story. About the political aftermath of the Basara main story and a little more.
Appendix 12: Sarasa, a short story about fate. There's not much I can say without spoiling the entire thing.
I'm so glad to finally get closure for all of the characters (for the most part). It's been such a journey. I went into this series with low expectations because of its age and artstyle, but damn did it show me. This has got to be one of the best manga series I've read.
These are the stories in this volume:
Appendix 6: Kanata, about Sarasa and Shuri (finally!). It shows a little of their lives after the main story. Mysterious artifacts have been washing ashore, so they take a trip to the Huang Empire (formerly part of what was Russia, the south-eastern lands). They have an adventure and also deal with some pains of the past.
Appendix 7: Saraba, a short (2 page) story about the tiny owl Shinbashi
Appendix 8: Takara, about Tamon and Masunaga and the past ritual to decide the inheritance of the Genbu sword.
Appendix 9: Hakama, about Hachiya's (the Yellow Jacket of Kyoto) past.
Appendix 10: Pajama, takes place after Kanata. Sarasa and Shuri talk about how the other characters are doing, giving us a glimpse into their lives.
Appendix 11: Wakaba, about Hayato. Takes place several years (something like 15, if I had to guess) after the Basara main story. About the political aftermath of the Basara main story and a little more.
Appendix 12: Sarasa, a short story about fate. There's not much I can say without spoiling the entire thing.
I'm so glad to finally get closure for all of the characters (for the most part). It's been such a journey. I went into this series with low expectations because of its age and artstyle, but damn did it show me. This has got to be one of the best manga series I've read.
November 28, 2012
This manga/book was soooo good. Definitely one of the best ones that I have read. I rank it along the lines of Skip Beat and Tokyo Crazy Paradise. The setting was quite broad, the whole frickin' Japan!, but Yumi did a great job in not confusing the audience. The transition of Sarasa was quite amazing and sometimes too amazing... There were "are you kidding me?!" moments in this series like the uptillion coincidences and with the brains of Shuri, it was kinda odd how he did not have a slight clue that Sarasa was Tatara. The killing off of important characters made the story realistic and heartfelt. There were many plot twisters that hit me pretty hard because I did not expect them at all. Yumi carried the story through with the many twists and turns from the change of events and introduction of characters. The aftershock from completing the novel is a sense of despair: it...really...is... over??? *tear jerker*
ps: this manga is going to make you reminiscent a lot
ps: this manga is going to make you reminiscent a lot
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2020
One more quest for the amazing couple. The aftermath of trauma, loss, and war. They often get flashbacks but they will learn to move on and be at peace with one another. It's so sweet how much Shuri contemplates and regrets and still wholeheartedly loves her. She is learning to love him without smothering and being by his side. I love their little adventures. There was no big wedding. There was no visits to see old friends. They continue on to pursue good for Japan, hearing good things about the wonderful changes they brought to their country.
June 27, 2017
I didn't like the side stories.
But at least it touched on Shuri and Sarasa. I feel like there was a lot more potential for these two characters (and is currently super pissed that the anime adaption Legend of Basara never got finished).
Kanpai.
But at least it touched on Shuri and Sarasa. I feel like there was a lot more potential for these two characters (and is currently super pissed that the anime adaption Legend of Basara never got finished).
Kanpai.
August 17, 2019
A wonderful and fun story!!!! It was so Good. I love all the characters because they are gray and I just love the development of them. I want more sweet between Shuri and Sarasa though. It was a bit short after the war, but IT DEFINITELY WORTH to read
February 16, 2017
This volume starts off with Chapter 6.1: Appendix 6.1: KANATA Red Story- Silvervine
I'll write more when my editing mode hits.
Happy Readings!
Fly my Pretties! Fly!
I'll write more when my editing mode hits.
Happy Readings!
Fly my Pretties! Fly!
November 21, 2025
review de manga completo: 4.5 estrellas
me sorprendió mucho este manga, lo empecé creyendo que iba a ser típico shoujo de romance histórico, pero es mucho más que eso: es una historia de valentía, dedicación y de perdón, tratando estos temas mediante la revolución contra una monarquía tiránica en un japón post apocalíptico.
sarasa lidera esta revolución fingiendo ser el “niño de la profecía”, pero al mismo tiempo luchando internamente con su deseo de ser sarasa. la neta, ella representa una figura de liderazgo femenino que pocas veces es representada en manga y anime, y que verdaderamente inspira y motiva tanto en la historia como a los lectores.
bueno, ahora sí el romance!!! un súper enemies-to-lovers demasiado bien hecho. al inicio pensé: “no hay manera de que sarasa vaya a quedarse con el wey que mató a su familia y destruyó su aldea”, pero yumi tamura me demostró lo contrario. shuri y sarasa son tan perfectos el uno para el otro 🙂↕️🙂↕️.
le quité .5 estrellas porque al inicio el arte está horrible y súper confuso, pero mientras avanza va mejorando muchísimo; y también porque después del big reveal la historia introduce a un montón de personajes y lugares que medio confunde y aburre.
pero bueno, me faltó hablar de muchísimas más cosas y personajes que hacen este manga ser tan memorable, pero en conclusión entiendo por qué este manga es uno de los shoujos más populares de los 90s y siento que será uno que voy a recordar por siempre.
me sorprendió mucho este manga, lo empecé creyendo que iba a ser típico shoujo de romance histórico, pero es mucho más que eso: es una historia de valentía, dedicación y de perdón, tratando estos temas mediante la revolución contra una monarquía tiránica en un japón post apocalíptico.
sarasa lidera esta revolución fingiendo ser el “niño de la profecía”, pero al mismo tiempo luchando internamente con su deseo de ser sarasa. la neta, ella representa una figura de liderazgo femenino que pocas veces es representada en manga y anime, y que verdaderamente inspira y motiva tanto en la historia como a los lectores.
bueno, ahora sí el romance!!! un súper enemies-to-lovers demasiado bien hecho. al inicio pensé: “no hay manera de que sarasa vaya a quedarse con el wey que mató a su familia y destruyó su aldea”, pero yumi tamura me demostró lo contrario. shuri y sarasa son tan perfectos el uno para el otro 🙂↕️🙂↕️.
le quité .5 estrellas porque al inicio el arte está horrible y súper confuso, pero mientras avanza va mejorando muchísimo; y también porque después del big reveal la historia introduce a un montón de personajes y lugares que medio confunde y aburre.
pero bueno, me faltó hablar de muchísimas más cosas y personajes que hacen este manga ser tan memorable, pero en conclusión entiendo por qué este manga es uno de los shoujos más populares de los 90s y siento que será uno que voy a recordar por siempre.
December 17, 2023
I read this series last year and I haven’t stopped thinking about it. This is an amazing story with political implications, moral decisions, and an incredible, moving love story. The undeniable feeling within the story makes this my favorite manga of all time. I only wish it could have gotten animated past what it did!
October 23, 2025
huge spoilers in this review
i love basara
enemies to lovers trope UNMATCHED
the ending made me very upset. everyone lives happily ever after! except ageha, my favorite character in the entire story!! 😖😖 i kept holding on to hope there was a backstory that shows he actually survived. why did he have to die? i was too attached to him. agehaaaaaaaaaa
i love basara
enemies to lovers trope UNMATCHED
the ending made me very upset. everyone lives happily ever after! except ageha, my favorite character in the entire story!! 😖😖 i kept holding on to hope there was a backstory that shows he actually survived. why did he have to die? i was too attached to him. agehaaaaaaaaaa
January 8, 2021
Un tome sympathique, j'ai bien aimé savoir ce qui arrive après l'histoire à chacun des personnages.
Dans l'ensemble cette saga est vraiment belle, et c'est vraiment un shojo à lire ! Originale, beau et très intéressant !
Dans l'ensemble cette saga est vraiment belle, et c'est vraiment un shojo à lire ! Originale, beau et très intéressant !
May 21, 2023
Overall story 4⭐️
The 3⭐️ are for this last volume.
I thought it was a good read but the last volume confused me a lot. I think I would have preferred to just to read the ending without all the extras.
The 3⭐️ are for this last volume.
I thought it was a good read but the last volume confused me a lot. I think I would have preferred to just to read the ending without all the extras.
February 13, 2019
本書是架空戰記類少女漫畫最好的代表：故事設定在文明崩壞後、被國王嚴酷統治的日本，女主角繼承兄長未完的任務，從九州發起革命，一路打到本州，終於推翻王權。即便仇人莫名其妙遇見而相愛的設定很刻意，女主角又理想主義到有一點點瑪莉蘇，這部作品對政治權謀的刻畫、對民主體制及琉球主體性的宣揚，仍可謂一絕。（寫於2014年）
全文：https://hou26.org/zeta/comic-gender.htm
全文：https://hou26.org/zeta/comic-gender.htm
Read
August 31, 2020nice
June 20, 2021
this manga absolutely killed me. it has great characters, amazing story and an actual enemies to lovers romance. i love it.
Read
December 17, 2021Read the whole series between Nov-Dec 2021
July 12, 2023
i'm so sad that it's over 😭
December 19, 2025
A wonderful conclusion to the series
January 20, 2022
I'm just adding the last volume in the series in my Goodreads since...well, it will clutter up my list.
I consider the entire series as one story, as one book.
....
ASDDFHGJKL;'~@#$%^&*@!
Basara you dummy, why are you so perfect!!!
ASDDFHGJKL;'~@#$%^&*@!
Why are you not popular? Why aren't there many people who knows about you? You're better than most manga out there!?! You and Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori, where have you been all my life!?!
You guys, you guys, you really have to read this!
One of the best dystopian stories, I've ever read.
Well..... Despite it being supposed to be set waaayyy in the future, it felt like I was reading some sort of an alternative sort of Japan. But who cares? It's perfect!
-----
At first glance, you wouldn't think that Basara is a dystopian (Wikipedia says it's post-apocalyptic but I'm going with dystopia) manga. Well, the opening pages describe what has befallen Japan - from a mountainous land filled with rainforests and natural wonders, most of Japan has become a desert. Except for northern Japan where it reverted back to being the unassailable, snowy north. And Okinawa - Okinawa will always be a tropical paradise where our main characters, Sarasa and Shuri spent their last happy days together before everything went downhill.
Actually, everything went downhill in the first two chapters. You see, the mangaka loved to torture her characters especially the main ones. One minute they are meeting in the hot springs naked, the next thing they were I'll kill you! I'll rip you into shreds! Of course, neither one knew the real identity of the other not until the latter volumes when they went into existential crisis. I honestly thought they were going to spontaneously combust because of the sheer, jaw-dropping revelation.
The angst and confusion, the anger and passion, the dark, sadistic nature of this one character that even if you really wanted to hate him you couldn't because he was also a victim of circumstance and manipulation. Oh yeah, bishounen abound here like my favorite Ageha, a cross dresser. No whiny female characters here like *cough*Miaka*cough* although Sasara had her crying jags here, typical of Japanese shoujo manga. Shuri, you little sh*t, I love you you imperfect creature. Though, now that I think about it, something about your nature will be unhealthy for me.
You have to read the manga in its entirety to really feel the full impact of the story. It's described as a "highly Shakesperean story" by its English-translation editor due to its convoluted plot. I even forgot that this was a dystopia and was set in Japan and just imagined it as an alternative universe. Honestly, I really don't know why this manga is not as popular as others - IT IS REALLY VERY GOOD. It was popular in the 90s in Japan but it was relatively unknown worldwide (or maybe just here in my country). Some may categorize it as shoujo manga but to me it is not. DEFINITELY not. Sailor Moon is shoujo. Magic Knight Rayearth is shoujo.
Basara is somewhat geared towards mature audiences. Uhm, no erotica here. It's just that there are "themes and languages that are not suitable for very young audiences". It covers almost anything you can think of - action, adventure, romance, betrayal, torture, journey, twists, girls-disguised-as-boys, rape, boys-disguised-as-exotic-dancers, Asagi's tongue, WTF-I-thought-he-was-the-real-villain, beaches, snowy mountains... you get the idea.
Go read it. It's only 27 volumes including appendices, omakes, epilogue. Also there's an anime (yes, I'll watch tomorrow) but it's only 13 episodes. I don't know why they didn't continue it. It's not that long compared to others.
I consider the entire series as one story, as one book.
....
ASDDFHGJKL;'~@#$%^&*@!
Basara you dummy, why are you so perfect!!!
ASDDFHGJKL;'~@#$%^&*@!
Why are you not popular? Why aren't there many people who knows about you? You're better than most manga out there!?! You and Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori, where have you been all my life!?!
You guys, you guys, you really have to read this!
One of the best dystopian stories, I've ever read.
Well..... Despite it being supposed to be set waaayyy in the future, it felt like I was reading some sort of an alternative sort of Japan. But who cares? It's perfect!
-----
At first glance, you wouldn't think that Basara is a dystopian (Wikipedia says it's post-apocalyptic but I'm going with dystopia) manga. Well, the opening pages describe what has befallen Japan - from a mountainous land filled with rainforests and natural wonders, most of Japan has become a desert. Except for northern Japan where it reverted back to being the unassailable, snowy north. And Okinawa - Okinawa will always be a tropical paradise where our main characters, Sarasa and Shuri spent their last happy days together before everything went downhill.
Actually, everything went downhill in the first two chapters. You see, the mangaka loved to torture her characters especially the main ones. One minute they are meeting in the hot springs naked, the next thing they were I'll kill you! I'll rip you into shreds! Of course, neither one knew the real identity of the other not until the latter volumes when they went into existential crisis. I honestly thought they were going to spontaneously combust because of the sheer, jaw-dropping revelation.
The angst and confusion, the anger and passion, the dark, sadistic nature of this one character that even if you really wanted to hate him you couldn't because he was also a victim of circumstance and manipulation. Oh yeah, bishounen abound here like my favorite Ageha, a cross dresser. No whiny female characters here like *cough*Miaka*cough* although Sasara had her crying jags here, typical of Japanese shoujo manga. Shuri, you little sh*t, I love you you imperfect creature. Though, now that I think about it, something about your nature will be unhealthy for me.
You have to read the manga in its entirety to really feel the full impact of the story. It's described as a "highly Shakesperean story" by its English-translation editor due to its convoluted plot. I even forgot that this was a dystopia and was set in Japan and just imagined it as an alternative universe. Honestly, I really don't know why this manga is not as popular as others - IT IS REALLY VERY GOOD. It was popular in the 90s in Japan but it was relatively unknown worldwide (or maybe just here in my country). Some may categorize it as shoujo manga but to me it is not. DEFINITELY not. Sailor Moon is shoujo. Magic Knight Rayearth is shoujo.
Basara is somewhat geared towards mature audiences. Uhm, no erotica here. It's just that there are "themes and languages that are not suitable for very young audiences". It covers almost anything you can think of - action, adventure, romance, betrayal, torture, journey, twists, girls-disguised-as-boys, rape, boys-disguised-as-exotic-dancers, Asagi's tongue, WTF-I-thought-he-was-the-real-villain, beaches, snowy mountains... you get the idea.
Go read it. It's only 27 volumes including appendices, omakes, epilogue. Also there's an anime (yes, I'll watch tomorrow) but it's only 13 episodes. I don't know why they didn't continue it. It's not that long compared to others.
April 5, 2014
Synopsis:
In this special collection of side stories, join Sarasa and Shuri after the war, as they rebuild Japan and travel the world together. In the distant Huang Empire, Sarasa is infected with a fatal disease--but will Shuri betray the Huang Emperor to save her? And when the new Japanese government is beset with turmoil, it's up to two children to convince a reclusive hermit named Hayato to lead his country.
Finally, Yumi Tamura offers a glimpse of life before the apocalypse...before the ruined world Sarasa knows...before the beginning of Basara!
My Thoughts:
I really loved the short stories in this volume. We got to see Sarasa and Shuri after the revolution. Things weren't magically happy for them at first. Shuri was suffering because of the things he did to Sarasa as the Red King and she's unsure of how to treat him with his left arm missing. It takes a new a new adventure, but they manage to reconnect and reaffirm their love. They even help save another country from civil war. These two are amazing. I'm so happy for them.
The other stories were really nice, too, but I especially liked the one called "Pajama" where Sarasa and Shuri are spending a lazy morning in bed in their place in Europe discussing what everyone was up to since the revolution ended. It was cute and sweet. I also especially loved the chapter featuring Hayato after a small skip to the future. The last story "Sarasa" was good, too. We got to see a glimpse of a previous Sarasa and Shuri who were lovers before the world ended and became the world of Basara that we got to know. I like knowing that Sarasa and Shuri have a tie that brings them together even in future lives.
I never expected to love this series so much, but I blasted right through it. Part of me wishes I hadn't read it so fast, but it was impossible not to. This will definitely be one of the series that I re-read, but I really need to get hard copies of this. I want to be able to display it on my shelves.
In this special collection of side stories, join Sarasa and Shuri after the war, as they rebuild Japan and travel the world together. In the distant Huang Empire, Sarasa is infected with a fatal disease--but will Shuri betray the Huang Emperor to save her? And when the new Japanese government is beset with turmoil, it's up to two children to convince a reclusive hermit named Hayato to lead his country.
Finally, Yumi Tamura offers a glimpse of life before the apocalypse...before the ruined world Sarasa knows...before the beginning of Basara!
My Thoughts:
I really loved the short stories in this volume. We got to see Sarasa and Shuri after the revolution. Things weren't magically happy for them at first. Shuri was suffering because of the things he did to Sarasa as the Red King and she's unsure of how to treat him with his left arm missing. It takes a new a new adventure, but they manage to reconnect and reaffirm their love. They even help save another country from civil war. These two are amazing. I'm so happy for them.
The other stories were really nice, too, but I especially liked the one called "Pajama" where Sarasa and Shuri are spending a lazy morning in bed in their place in Europe discussing what everyone was up to since the revolution ended. It was cute and sweet. I also especially loved the chapter featuring Hayato after a small skip to the future. The last story "Sarasa" was good, too. We got to see a glimpse of a previous Sarasa and Shuri who were lovers before the world ended and became the world of Basara that we got to know. I like knowing that Sarasa and Shuri have a tie that brings them together even in future lives.
I never expected to love this series so much, but I blasted right through it. Part of me wishes I hadn't read it so fast, but it was impossible not to. This will definitely be one of the series that I re-read, but I really need to get hard copies of this. I want to be able to display it on my shelves.
June 1, 2015
I can't believe the story is really over! It pains me that I can only give this manga 5 stars - it deserves many more! When I first found it, I was sure it would be something like Fist of the Northern Star, extremely shounen - just goes to prove that you really can't judge a book by its cover! Though it is a post-apocalyptic action-adventure war story, it is still very much a shoujo manga, with a lot of complicated emotions surging here and there and everywhere. The characters are some of the most compelling I've ever come across in manga, and there are so many wonderful, colorful, larger-than-life characters to fall in love with in Basara. What's great about the treatment of the characters is that all of them, even the relatively minor ones, were extremely well-developed, and were given significance that stood on its own, even as it contributed to the story - the characters take on lives of their own and one gets the feeling that they do not merely exist to tell this story, but almost as if they would live on even if the story weren't being told. It's really that powerful - or at least it was for me! Basara has enthralled me! Tamura-sensei expertly blended the intrigue, drama and suspense with the light-hearted, funny and sweet, along with artwork to steal your breath away, to create a story both heart-warming and heart-breaking by turns. I know that this is going to be one of my favorite stories of all time, one that I will revisit again and again. I hope everyone else enjoyed it as much as I did - if you haven't read it, you don't know what you're missing!
December 2, 2013
Nah inilah jadinya kalau seseorang seperti saya mementingkan cover diatas segalanya. Saya jadi nggak jeli dengan isi dari komik yang panjangnya ada 27 volume ini.
Setelah mencicipi volume 1, bisa dibayangkan betapa besarnya penyesalan sekarang karena baru aja tau kalo komik ini SANGAT BAGUS.
Sasara yang berubah dengan kesadaran sendiri menjadi Tatara, seorang perempuan berumur 16 tahun yang menguatkan diri dengan tujuan membalaskan dendam desanya yang hancur dan kakak serta ayahnya yang mati diakibatkan serangan dari Raja Merah. Sasara hanya bisa menjadi dirinya sendiri saat ia berada di Onsen yang kemudia benar benar tertarik dengan seorang pemuda humoris tapi juga kharismatik dan seenaknya sendiri bernama Shuri. Tipikal kan? Nggak ada yang aneh dari jalan cerita ini. kecuali kalau Shuri ini adalah sang Raja Merah.
Hebatnya lagi yang membuatku sangat sangat kagum, Yumi Tamura menguatkan ikatan mereka tanpa terburu-buru dan alur yang keren, bisa dibuktikan dengan terbongkarnya identitas Shuri sang Raja Merah di buku ke-5.
Tidak perlu ragu lagi, inilah lambang dari cover not worth anything. :D
September 4, 2016
They both have mental and physical scars from the war, some which will heal overtime and some which probably never will. But Shuri's new arm is definitely an improvement. (Thanks Kikune)
Seeing their two children was wonderful, although I did hope that they would see a better Japan. But that's reality for you.
That last chapter though, with the whole 'before the end' stuff, was mind blowing. I wish I could see more of their lives like that.
And now, let's all be grateful that the world survived into the 21st century!
Seeing their two children was wonderful, although I did hope that they would see a better Japan. But that's reality for you.
That last chapter though, with the whole 'before the end' stuff, was mind blowing. I wish I could see more of their lives like that.
And now, let's all be grateful that the world survived into the 21st century!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 2, 2008
I really enjoy this series. This volume was centered around the other characters how some of them meet, how some of them are doing now. It also had a little of how Sarasa and Shuri are doing in the future. They even had a story about the great grandparents. I enjoyed reading these stories. Some of them where really cute and made me laugh, others where sad. I enjoyed this series. I hope if you read it you do to.
April 20, 2014
At first i thought that this manga would be boring, but it's turns out it is actually a great read!
So many love triangles you'll still be wondering who Sarasa chooses in the end.
Basically it has to do with an era where people are trying to overturn the kings positions so that they can be free from tyranny....stuck in the middle is a young girl who has no other choice than to lead these people towards their new future...
So many love triangles you'll still be wondering who Sarasa chooses in the end.
Basically it has to do with an era where people are trying to overturn the kings positions so that they can be free from tyranny....stuck in the middle is a young girl who has no other choice than to lead these people towards their new future...
August 4, 2014
More stories should do fleshed-out epilogues like this. It's always sad to see a world and group of characters end after the main conflict. If you really love a group of characters, you should be glad to see more stories about them and what happens to them.
December 7, 2015
I read this series in Japanese. I didn't particularly care for the pictures with big eyes at first, but what a great story! There's no good vs evil. Every side has its own life story, belief, struggles, people they love and reasons that feed into complicated wars.
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