Fushigi Yūgi

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Fushigi Yūgi (ふしぎ遊戯; lit. Mystery Game but usu. rendered Mysterious Play) is a Japanese manga (later an anime) created by Yuu Watase and serialized in the manga magazine Shōjo Comic. The name is rendered as Fushigi Yūgi in the Viz versions and as Fushigi Yugi in the Singaporean manga. In the story, two teenage girls (Miaka and Yui) find a book in the restricted section of the National Library, titled "The Universe of the Four Gods". When they open the book and read the first page they are transported within the story, which is set in a world similar to feudal China.

The Fushigi Yūgi anime spans a total of 52 TV episodes, which are divided into two seasons (available in box sets from Geneon in North America). Additionally, there are 2 TV "Specials", and a total of 13 OVAs, broken up into Series 1 (3 episodes), Series 2 (6 episodes) and Fushigi Yūgi Eikoden (4 Episodes).

The Fushigi Yūgi anime is published in Singapore by Odex. The manga is published in Japan by Shogakukan, in English in North America by VIZ Media (where it was also serialized in Animerica Extra), in the United Kingdom in English by Gollancz Manga, and in Singapore in Chinese and English by Chuang Yi.

Contents

1 Plot Summary
2 Characters

2.1 Suzaku
2.2 Seiryū
2.3 Other Characters

3 Character Relationships
4 Manga volumes
5 See also
6 External links

Plot Summary

[Spoiler warningSpoiler warning]: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Miaka Yūki is a junior-high student desperate to pass the entrance exam for the illustrious Jonan High School. Her best friend Yui Hongo is a straight-A genius applying for the same school, and her mother is pushing her also in an attempt to see Miaka gets the best education available, although Miaka would rather attend Yotsubadai. The result is Miaka is constantly under pressure to study and attends juku (cram school) every day, when she’d rather be with her friends and eating.

During a session with Yui in the library, Miaka drops her pen, and, chasing it, finds herself in the Restricted Section. As the girls go through the books, Miaka stumbles across “The Universe of the Four Gods” and both girls start to read. They’re then sucked into the book-world, and after an encounter with slave-traders and a guy with ‘demon’ written on his forehead (Tamahome), return to their world. They continue on as normal, believing the whole thing to be a dream, but neither want to forget about the book, and Miaka especially can’t get her mind off her handsome rescuer. After getting into an argument with her mother, she ends up back at the library. As she starts to read “The Universe of the Four Gods” again, she’s shocked to find what happened in her ‘dream’ has been written in the book. She then gets sucked into the book a second time.

Trying to find the boy who helped her earlier, she runs into a gang looking to sell her to a brothel. Tamahome steps in and helps her again, and in trying to repay him, gets them into a sticky situation with the Emperor’s men. They try to escape the dungeon, only to come across the Emperor Hotohori himself, who explains that they believe Miaka is the legendary Priestess of Suzaku (Suzaku no Miko), a girl from another world who will gather Konan’s Celestial Warriors and summon the phoenix god, Suzaku. Doing so will grant her the power to grant any three wishes. Miaka decides to accept the responsibility, and already has a head-start, as Tamahome and Hotohori are two of the seven Celestial Warriors, distinguishable by characters for their respective constellations on their bodies. The third, Nuriko, is found quickly afterwards in the most unconventional fashion, and soon Miaka and company are setting out across Konan in search of the other four warriors.

The series describes their travels and the various adventures they get up to, enduring various trials along the way, both quest-driven and personal. There are also frequent clashes with Yui, who has become the country of Kutou's Priestess of Seiryu and thus making the former best friends deadly enemies and rivals, along with the Seiryu Celestial Warriors. The manga can be split into 2 parts:

Part 1 (Vols 1-13) documents the journey find the Celestial Warriors and summon Suzaku.

Part 2 (Vols 14-18) was written due to popular demand, and tells the tale of after Suzaku has been summoned.

Characters

[Spoiler warningSpoiler warning]: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The main characters are a Japanese girl, Miaka Yūki, brought into the other world and declared to be the "Suzaku no Miko" or shrine maiden of Suzaku, and the seven "Suzaku Seishi" or celestial warriors of Suzaku. Suzaku is a red phoenix, the Guardian of the South in Chinese astrology, and the Suzaku Seishi correspond to the Chinese constellations.

Suzaku

Suzaku is a red Phoenix god and also the protector of the country of Konan (Hong Nan). He appears to Miaka later when she has returned to her world and asks for her help. He is compassionate as far as the beast gods go, and honestly tries to allow Miaka and Tamahome to be together forever. {| |valign=top|

Seiryū

Seiryū is the blue dragon, protector of the country of Kutou(Qu Dong).

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*Yui Hongo A very intelligent girl and Miaka's best friend in the real world. Yui becomes trapped in the book universe while trying to rescue help Miaka to return to the real world, and is subsequently caught and 'raped' by bandits. Distraught, she tries to slit her wrists but is is found by Nakago and who brings her to Kutou.

:Not realising that her rape was orchestrated by Nakago, Yui begins to blame Miaka for what happened to her and turns against her former best friend, becoming the Priestess of Seiryū (Seiryū No Miko), swearing to fight against Miaka and to take Tamahome from her (Yui is also in love with Tamahome).

:After succeeding in summoning Seiryū, Yui used her first wish to seal away Suzaku's powers. Her second wish was to take Miaka and herself back to their world, hoping to separate Miaka and Tamahome, but Tamahome also arrives at their world with them. Upon learning the truth that Nakago used her all along, she had a change of heart and redeemed herself by using her third and last wish to disable the seal on Suzaku, allowing Miaka to summon it, but she is absorbed by Seiryū afterwards. After summoning Suzaku, Miaka used her first wish to rescue Yui, and they became friends again.

:It should be noted that Yui was not in fact raped, but led to believe she was raped. Nakago rescued her shortly after she was knocked out by the bandits and let her come to her own conclusions after she regained consciousness.

:*Date of Birth: 26 October 1977

:*Age: 15

:*Height: 1.62m (5 feet, 3 inches)

:*Bloodtype: AB

:*Birthpalce: Tokyo

:*Family: Parents

:*Hobbies: Reading mystery novels, appreciates music

:*Abilities: Excels in studying and exercising, and can speak English.

:*Personality: In keeping with her looks, she is more mature than an average 15-year-old. Bold and confident in everything she does. Tends to see the world in black and white. Passionate, but passions turn to fury with perceived betrayal. On the outside, she's supremely self-confident, but underneath, she longs for someone to take care of her.

:*Voices: Yumi Touma (Japanese), Wendee Lee (English)

*Nakago is considered to be the ringleader of all the Seiryu warriors, his cold demeanor and presence are often the drive behind Yui's decisions during the early story stages and is the main antagonist in the tv series. He is also the blonde haired, blue eyed shogun of Kutou, the eastern country and enemy of Konan. All of the Seiryū fear him. His life force is superior to all of the Suzaku warriors combined. When he was younger, he accidentally killed his mother and her assaulter, due to uncontrollable powers. The Emperor of Kutou learned that he was one of the Seiryū's seishi, hence he became the Kutou's general. The mark on his forehead means 'Heart,' which is ironic because he's the only warrior who hates everyone (except for Soi). He arrives at the Real World, attempting to take it over, but is killed by Tamahome when Miaka finally seals away Seiryu.

:*Real Name: Gi Ayuru

:*Character: Heart, located on forehead

:*Constellation: Scorpio

:*Date Of birth: 17 November

:*Age: 25

:*Height: 193 cm (6 feet, 3 inches)

:*Bloodtype: ???

:*Birthplace: In the West, of the Hin Tribe

:*Weapons / Powers: Chi attack techniques.

:*Family: Mother (Matuta) and father (Koyuu)

:*Hobbies: Threatening and picking on Tamahome

:*Abilities: General of two-thirds of the Kutou army; can control life energy and uses psychokinesis

:*Personality: Beyond cold, he's artic ice! His name is a misnomer (a dwelling for the heart); his plans and actions show a complete lack of mercy. He allows for no emotional distraction nor wasted action. Once someone's usefullness is exhausted, the person is eliminated. On the other hand, he has an undeniable charisma which allows him to skillfully manipulate people. But what goes on in his mind is a mystery.

:*Voices: Tōru Furusawa (Japanaese)

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*Soi

:She was rescued by Nakago when she was a child and afterwards developed a crush on him. Despite being enemies with Suzaku, she actually shows a tiny sympathy towards Miaka and Tamahome. She is killed by Tasuki in a battle between Konan and Kutou in an attempt to save Nakago: she puts herself between Nakago and Tasuki's sword. Nakago then carries her dead body until he passes from the world of the book into the Real World. She is seen again by Nakago in "paradise," along side his mother, when he dies.

:*Real Name: Haku Kaen ~ Bai Hua-Wan

:*Character: Chamber (could also mean breasts), located on her left thigh

:*Constellaion: Scorpio

:*Date Of Birth: 30 October

:*Age: 19

:*Height: 170 cm

:*Weapons / Powers: Special Feng Shui powers to control lightning, electro-magnetic fields, and Fhangzang (bedding) and chi-raising techniques.

:*Personality: Because her family was so poor, as a child, she was sold to a brothel and grew up there. She fell in love with Nakago at the age of 12 when she first met him. She knew her love was unrequited, and that she was being used so he could recover and heighten his chi, but that didn't stop her from giving him everything she had.

:*Family: Parents and younger siblings

:*Voices: Atsuko Tanaka (Japanese)

She is normally bound in armor, speaks like a man, and is formidable as a fighter. But now, everything she does is, in one way or another, to try to assist Nakago. In fact, she is very feminine and kind. Because of her jealousy toward Yui, she is sympathetic to Miaka. Like Tomo, she has no desire to harm Miaka but she says she would do anything for the sake of Nakago.

*Miboshi The last of the Seiryu Senshi to appear. He takes over Chiriko's body, but after regaining control, Chiriko stabs himself, taking both of them to their deaths.

**Real Name: Mimadou

**Character: Basket, located at the nape of his neck

**Constellation: Sagittarius

**Date Of Birth: 04 December

**Age: 200+

**Height: ??

**Weapons / Powers: Can enter people's bodies and take over. Always is seen carrying a tibetan prayer wheel with sutras inscribed on it, this is how he summons monsters.

**Chracteristics: Very evil

**Family: ??

:*Voices: Midori Nakazawa (Japanese)

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*Amiboshi The older twin brother of Suboshi, he first appeared impersonating as Chiriko, under orders from Nakago. After being discovered, he falls into a river and is believed to be dead. He is found by an old couple and, pretend that he has amnesia, they adopt him as a son and called him Kaika. Miaka is saved by him while searching for the shinzaho, he pretended that he doesn't recognize her. He is the only surviving Seiryu Senshi at the end of the story. in the end, his younger brother gave him something to drink after he nearly died and lost his memory forever.

**Real Name: Bu Koutoku ~ Wu Gang-De

**AKA: Kaika ~ Huai-ke

**Character: High spirits (can also mean neck or throat), located on his right shoulder

**Constelation: Virgo

**Date Of Birth: 26 August

**Age: 15

**Height: 1.68m (5 feet, 5 inches)

**Bloodtype: A

**Birthplace: Tenryo, San'un Province in Kutou Empire

**Weapons / Powers: Can emit chi through his mouth and channel it through a fllute to control people's will. Not exactly a power but he's ambidexterous. When he emits chi through his flute he holds the flute to the left, when he is just playing it he holds it to the right.

**Personality: Tranquil and reserved, but at times he can be single-minded and merciless. Before the events of the book, he was a kind young man determined to judiciously protect his younger brother. And for that reason, he was faced with a dilemma and the pain of choosing between the Seiryu warriors and the Suzaku warriors.

**Family: Father (Kanri), younger brother (Shunkaku)

**Hobbies: Composing

:*Voices: Yuji Ueda (Japanese), Steve Cannon (English)

*Suboshi Twin brother of Amiboshi. He loves Yui and hates Miaka and Tamahome. Believing Tamahome to be the one who killed Amiboshi, Suboshi murders Tamahome's father and younger siblings. He later arrives at the Real World trying to kill Miaka and Tamahome, but is killed by his own weapon.

**Real Name: Bu Shunkaku ~ Wu Jun-Jia

**Character: Horns (could also mean angle or corner), located on right shoulder

**Constellation: Virgo

**Date Of Birth: 26 August

**Age: 15

**Height: 1.68m (5 feet, 5 inches)

**Blood Type: A

**Weapons / Powers: He can use a secret weapon (a double meteor hammer) called the Ryusei-sui, and control it with his will (actually there is no other way it can be a weapon). He and his twin brother Amiboshi can communicate to each other through their minds.

**Personality: The exact opposite of his brother, he's fierce, and if he get's an idea stuck in his head, he won't listen to reason--he'll just rush in like a madman.They lost their parents at a very young age and had a very tough childhood, so he's vey much bonded with his brother. The bond is so strong that he would not hesitate to kill for his brother. Yui was the first person besides his brother to show him any tenderness and he quickly fell in love (first love) with her. It's because of Yui that he feels anger toward Miaka and jealousy toward Tamahome.

**Family: Father (Kanri), elder brother (Koutoku)

:*Voices: Yuji Ueda (Japanese), Steve Cannon (English)

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*Ashitare is a half-wolf, half-human beast from Hokkan whom Nakago found in a circus tent. Nakago later killed him after being half-killed by Nuriko.

**Real Name: ??

**Character: Tail, located on right hip

**Constellation: Scorpio

**Date of Birth: 21 November

**Age: 34

**Height: 2.13m

**Family: Mother was an inmate at a pental settlement in Hokkan

:*Voices: Ryuzaburo Otomo (Jap)

Ashitare is actually never fully killed by Nuriko in the manga. The first time he faces off with Nuriko he retreats after injury and Nakago beats him, but after a fight with Nuriko on the mountain he has his neck snapped, although he fatally wounded Nuriko. Nakago explains in the manga that Ashitare's human side was what really died and that his beast side stayed alive, took over, and, upon order of Nakago, stole the Shinzaho of the Genbu preistess.

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*Tomo is an illusionist among the seven seishi of Seiryū. In the manga he is in love with Nakago, but the anime ignores this. He tries to trap Miaka in an illusion world but it is later broken by Amiboshi. As he tries to kill Amiboshi, he is killed by Suboshi who appears to rescue his brother.

**Real Name: ??

**AKA: Ragun ~ Luo-Jun

**Character: Root (could also mean shoulder or base), located on the right side of his abdomen

**Constellation: Libra

**Date of Birth: 13 October

**Age: 21

**Height: 1.84m

**Family: Parents abandoned him, took in by performers

**Characteristics: Long time established homosexual. Reasoning behind this is that the performers that took him in were all men, so he grew up around men and began to establish himself as a homosexual. Likes Nakago, has no desire to harm Miaka. He says that he dislikes taking advantage of women but he would do anything for the sake of Nakago. This is true for Soi as well.

**Weapons/Powers: Hypnosis and illusion using a "Shin"(Shell).When Tomo can not only create illusions that you see but illusions of the other senses as well. The shin can trap a person's mind and body within it and extracts their memories and plays a sort of movie scenario for the victim. As is done to Miaka. Tomo can also have the shin memorize things to further relay the information at a later time.

:*Voices: Nobuo Tobita (Japanese)

Other Characters

Miaka's Mom

*Miaka's mother is a typical single mother. Extremely hardworking, she only wants what's best for her children, and pushes them to do their best. In the case of Miaka, she pushes her to apply for Jonan high school even though Miaka really wants to go to Yotsubadai High School. This leads to tension, and causes Miaka to run away from home at one point in the manga. In the anime she criticizes Miaka for being happy that Yui decides to apply for Jonan as well, saying that if Yui makes it, the chances of Miaka getting in are unlikely. Despite sounding cold, Miaka's mother really believes that she's doing her daughter a favor by telling her such harsh truths.

Keisuke Yuki

*Age: 20

*Birthdate: January 20, 1972

*Height: 1.8m (5 feet, 9 inches)

*Bloodtype: B

*Birthplace: Tokyo

*Family: Mother and sister, Miaka

*Hobbies: Computers, Basketball, Reading (history - is an Asian history major in college)

*Abilities: Fluent in Chinese

*Personality: Keisuke is the genuine nice guy. If he and a friend liked the same girl, he would give up the girl for his friend. That said, Keisuke became very protective of his baby sister after their father left. He becomes very concerned after Miaka explains to him about "The Universe of the Four Gods" and warns her to stay away from it. However after she enters the book, he becomes even more concerned and tries to help Miaka with her quest. In the anime he and Miaka are connected through a few strands of her hair that had been caught in the book; in the manga she gives him one of her hair ribbons.

Tetsuya Kajiwara

*Age: 20

*Birthdate: September 21

*Bloodtype: B

*Height: 1.79m (about 5 feet, 9 inches)

*Hobbies: Cars

*Personality: Tetsuya is one of Keisuke's friends. When Keisuke first tells him about Miaka and Yui going into "The Universe of the Four Gods" he is skeptical. Eventually he becomes a believer and helps Keisuke discover the true nature of the book. He's smarter and richer (and in his opinion better looking) than Keisuke, but the two are quite the pair. He personally takes on the responsibility of reading the most difficult passages in the book to keep Keisuke from discovering that Miaka had nearly been raped, and instead tells his friend that nothing exciting is happening, rather they are just traveling about. That action shows that even if Keisuke owes him money, he still cares about Keisuke's feelings. He and Keisuke take turns reading the book to determine what is happening, and through this he comes to fall in love with the tragic figure of Yui. In the real world he expresses his love for her and they eventually start dating and are still together even after Miaka and Taka are married.

Koji

*Age: 19

*Title: Leader of the Mt. Leikaku Bandits while Tasuki attends to business

*Koji is one of the most popular minor characters in the series. With a completely charming way of knocking on/answering doors, Koji is the only member of the Mt. Leikaku Bandits who doesn't dream of putting a finger on Miaka (or Hotohori and Nuriko, for that matter). He's two years older than Tasuki, and technically had senority, but Tasuki's special rank as a Suzaku Celestail Warrior ensured the younger bandit the title of leader. Despite an intial dislike of Tasuki when the boy first joined the Mt. Leikaku Bandits, the two grew close and Koji had to admit a grudging respect for the whelp. When Tasuki leaves the bandits in order to fufill his destiny, Koji takes the leader position, as it was down to either him or Tasuki. After peace is restored to Konan, Tasuki returns to Mt. Leikaku and resumes his position as leader from Koji, though it's generally accepted that the pair shares the responsibility.

Taiitsukun

*As the creator of "The Universe of the Four Gods", Taiitsukun watches over all. In the manga, she is known as Tai Yi-Jun. Usually appearing as a wrinkled old woman (giving rise to the Sunukake-baba (Sand Witch) nickname), she frightens all of the Suzaku Warriors, except Chichiri who claims he's gotten used to her face in the three years he had studied under her. She resides at Mt. Taikyoku, which is very beautiful, but to those with evil in their hearts will see nothing but rocky cliffs. She is aided by the Nyan-Nyans.

Nyan-Nyan

*The childlike goddesses serve Taiitsukun and reside at Mt. Taikyoku with her. They are also known as Lai Lai. They can take the appearance of floating orbs and can appear when commanded. They have healed Miaka and her warriors when it was necessary, also offering to fix Nuriko's perversion (much to his dismay) and Taiitsukun's face (much to her dismay).

Character Relationships

Miaka

*Tamahome: True Love/ His priestess.

*To other celestial warriors: Friend/ Their Priestess.

*Yui: Best friends turned enemies.

Hotohori

*Miaka: Her Celestial Warrior/ Unrequited love.

*Other warriors: Friend.

*Houki: Husband.

*Boushin: Father.

Tasuki

*Miaka: Her Celestial Warrior/ Unrequited Love (as seen on the second series of the oav)

*Other warriors: Friend.

Chichiri

*Miaka: Her Celestial Warrior.

*Other warriors: Friend.

Chiriko

*Miaka: Her Celestial Warrior.

*Other warriors: Friend.

Mitsukake

*Miaka: Her Celestial Warrior.

*Other warriors: Friend.

*Tama (the cat): Owner.

Tamahome

*Miaka: Her Celestial Warrior/ True love.

*Other warriors: Friend.

*Tokaki: Pupil.

*Yui: Unrequited love.

Nuriko

*Miaka: Her Celestial Warrior/Unrequited love

*Hotohori: Unrequited love.

*Other warriors: Friend.

Tama

*Miaka: Cuddly friend.

*Mitsukake: Pet.

*Chichiri: Pet (After Mitsukake's death).

*Other warriors: Cuddly friend.

Tokaki

*Miaka: Friend.

*Tamahome: Teacher.

*Other Suzaku Warriors: Friend.

*Subaru: Husband.

*Tatara: Friend.

Subaru

*Miaka:Friend.

*Tokaki: Wife.

*Tatara: Friend.

Tatara:

*Miaka: Friend.

*Other Genbu Warriors: Friend.

*Other Suzaku Warriors: Friend.

Yui

*Miaka: Best friend turned enemy.

*Tamahome: Unrequited love.

*To Celestial Warriors: Accquaintance.

Nakago

*Yui: Her Celestial Warrior.

*Soi: Basically her sex partner.

*Ashitare: Master.