Arata: The Legend, Vol. 05

アラタカンガタリ~ 革神語 [Arata Kangatari] #5

by Yuu Watase

Reads R to L (Japanese Style) T audience.

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...

Hinohara is surprised to learn that Kotoha no longer believes he’s Arata of the Hime clan. Meanwhile, a group within the Twelve Shinsho sets in motion a diabolical plan to eliminate Hinohara!

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Shonen, Adventure, Romance, Action, Graphic Novels

192 pages, Paperback

First published December 18, 2009

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

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's something both satisfying and disappointing in a story going exactly as expected. As soon as the story started focusing on Kadowaki and all his problems, interspersed with scenes featuring the six inner shinsho, I knew that Kadowaki was going to end up in Amawakuni, and probably obtain his own hayagami as well, since without one he'd just be a kid in a strange land with nothing in particular to recommend him as a player in this game.

Maybe it's because this story bears a number of superficial similarities to Fushigi Yuugi. I can see Arata and Kadowaki as masculine analogues of Miaka and Yui, two earth students transported to fantasyland, and set in opposition to each other by the storyline. Other than that, the similarities aren't all that strong.

I'm torn about Kadowaki as a character. There are circumstances surrounding him, like the (presumed) Yakuza hangers-on seniors who are shaking him down for money, and his corrupt wastrel father, that are genuinely beyond his control. Helpless against them, he develops a fixation on Arata as the cause of all his problems. Those problems, at least in part, are coming from inside the house, as Kadowaki's father ends up pointing out. Instead of improving himself in track and beating Arata that way, he bullies him. I'm not a fan of a bully character who's somewhere between pitiable and contemptible--there are reasons for that, but I won't go into it here. I'll take a emotionally oblivious, redeemable bully any day, even if he isn't realistic.

I am mildly confused about the world building here. It seems rather too convenient for Orochi to have been sitting around for years waiting for a wielder, and for Kadowaki to be its perfect partner. And what's happened to Harunawa's hayagami? Is it on Earth with him? In any case, now that Arata and Kadowaki are both in Amawakuni, I have a guess how their conflict will play out. What Harunawa will be up to on Earth is a mystery to me, though.

[Derek · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Japan, Arata meets a very intriguing girl. I don't want to put any spoiler here but I'm very interested to see how her relationship with Arata grows.

In Amawkuni, Arata Hinohara and Kotoha grow ever closer! (If you've read my previous reviews of this series, then you know I am all for these two getting together.) In fact, they spend the night together in a hotel room (ow ow). We also learn more about the sho who are vying for power. Although some of the sho are clearly set on fighting each other (to make each other submit) it looks like some of the sho are working together toward a larger end goal. And in an attempt to keep Arata Hinohara from succeeding on his journey, they introduce a new hayagami and a new (yet quite familiar) sho.

[Ashley (gotbookcitement) · Rating 4 out of 5]

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 3.7/5

Around The Year in 52 Books: Week 10: A dual-timeline novel (I might have cheated again because it's a manga, but I don't care.)

The more I read of this series, the more that I like it. I don't think it's Yuu Watase's best series, but it's still pretty good. I really liked how we got more of past Arata's stuck in the present story in this one. I find that Arata to be more entertaining. Also that cliffhanger! I need to know what happens next.

[Supermomochan (PeachyFishyBooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhh.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far this series is worth it for the Naru/Nagu story arch alone. Also, I’m finding I like when the story takes place in the real world much more than the fictional one. Hmm.

[Bee (BacchusVines) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the volume that really sets off the story for me, as we see how the magical land and the 'normal' land are intertwine. Also the introduction the inner six Shos.

[Isel · Rating 5 out of 5]

That guys anger towards Arata is just too much. And honestly it's misdirected anger. He needs to calm down and see what's wrong with himself and hopefully fix it.

[Erin Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

And the plot thickens. The girls both know who Arata is but no one else yet. Worst of all, here comes the high school bully. Fun volume to read but there were a few leaps from one moment to another.

[Amanda Setasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one had some really interesting twists that I wasn't expecting. Definitely looking forward to the next volume.

[Philippe Lhoste · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tomes 1 à 5.

Encore une bonne surprise !
À la base, nous avons là un shônen de fantasy assez classique, avec des armes magiques aux pouvoirs variés (les porteurs, appelés fourreaux de façon assez imagée, peuvent les cacher dans leur corps, un peu comme dans Beet.
C'est plutôt bien fait, avec décors soignés, design intéressant des armes, costumes variés, etc.
Mais d'après l'auteur elle-même, ce n'est qu'un prétexte !
Elle s'intéresse surtout à l'évolution émotionnelle des personnages, adolescents comme il se doit. Et, ma foi, elle le fait fort bien, de façon relativement réaliste et fine.

Le personnage principal se trouve propulsé de sa vie contemporaine à cet univers de fantasy (échangeant avec un clone (à la couleurs des cheveux près) de cet univers). Et, contrairement au héros de Mär, par exemple, fort à l'aise dans son nouvel univers, de façon plus réaliste, il est affolé, a peur face aux déchaînements de violence autour de lui, etc.

L'auteur ménage aussi des respirations comiques, avec les quiproquos, certes un peu attendus, mais efficaces, résultant du déracinement des personnages (le "sauvage" dans notre univers moderne, notamment).

On alterne les scènes entre les deux univers (les personnages peuvent communiquer à l'occasion), apportant variété et maintenant le suspense.

Pas révolutionnaire, mais bien fait.

[Judyth · Rating 3 out of 5]

~3.5/5
This series is just getting better the more I read. I'm liking both of the Arata's, the romance is getting better, the story line is going pretty well. I'm glad that I'm enjoying it more, but not so glad that I'm almost fully caught up.
This volume switches back and forth between Arata and Hinohara quite often, which was nice, and definitely an improvement.
It starts with Hinohara and all of them helping Nagu. Hinohara and Kotoha want to bring him with them, while Kanate disagrees, and Kannagi wants Hinohara to realize that he's going to have to make people submit to him. Hinohara disagrees and tries to convince Nagu that he should join them. Only Nagu seems to know more than they think, and he submits to him. This is rather sad. I don't like that all of them are going to have to submit to him, because I don't like saying goodbye to so many good characters.
Then he slips up a bit and says something untrue to Arata...
(Read the rest here: http://geekyreading.blogspot.com/2012... )

[Avery Engstrom · Rating 4 out of 5]

GEEZ WHAT THE HECK. I feel really bad for Kadowaki, even though he's the "villain." I believe that a bad upbringing can do this to people. They either become weak and bullied, or they become sociopaths. Just like kids who are bullied either become rich and famous, or sociopaths. At least in stories... This teaches you never to pick on other kids, because they'll come back and kill you.
Kadowaki in Arata's world is probably the worst thing that could possibly happen TT.TT I doubt he'll kill Hinohara though. The protagonist's got to win. Right...?

[A'ledyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story continues to rev up. I can't imagine where the next ~10 volumes will go, but I am excited to see what Watase twists are given to the story. She loves corrupting her stories with suprising deaths and twists and having terrible things happen to characters.

This story focuses more on the Earth side of the story, rather than the fantasy side and has less action and more emotion. Which is what I love in a story.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

and the Paranoid Violent Psychotic award goes to ... Kadowaki! Absolutely no surprises there

This book finally spends some time with Arata in modern-day world, almost the entire volume, yeaaah! Introduces a new character or two... and has a hella twist in the end.
My interest is once again piqued

[Laurel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this out of order, thinking I got the first volume, but I was able to catch up easily and grasp what was going on. It's a good read and honestly I like all the characters especially the female roles of Kotoha and Imina!

[Lexie · Rating 4 out of 5]

GOD DAMMIT KADOWAKI THIS IS WHY YOU CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS.

Also Oribe and Kotoha are BOSS. I'm also enjoying the comedy styling of Kanate & Kannagi. "Some things can't be taught they must be experienced." try as he might Kannagi is TOTALLY loving being part of Hinohara's group.

[Kris Ivy · Rating 4 out of 5]

the adventure continues with some added twists. the girl issue is amped up in the fantasy world and introduced in the real world. a certain real world villain is pulled over to the fantasy in order to become a Sho and take on Arata Hinohara. A child Sho gifts Arata with his Sho.

[Anna]

Ha, that was an unexpected development.

[Doremili · Rating 4 out of 5]

y justo cuando creí que iba a abandonarlo ¡pum! Remonta y lo continuo

[Maia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Damn it, Kadowaki! Why are you so intent on making Arata's life miserable? Hmph.

[Infinite Scythe · Rating 4 out of 5]

But I liked Nagu :(

[Cee Sturdy · Rating 3 out of 5]

What to make me less interested in your story? Make the bully one of the main characters.

I like this series, but I hope it picks up some in the next volume.