Fushigi Yuugi

Fushigi Yuugi

Fushigi Yūgi (ふしぎ 遊戯, Fushigi Yūgi^? lit. Mysterious Play) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yuu Watase. It was originally serialized in Shōjo Comic from May 1992 through June 1996. The manga series was given an English language release in North America by Viz Media, which started in 1999. Spanning eighteen volumes, Fushigi Yūgi tells the story of two teenaged girls, Miaka and Yui, who are pulled into “The Universe of the Four Gods”, a mysterious book at the National Library.

The series became very popular and was later adapted into a 52 episode anime series by Studio Pierrot. The series originally aired from April 6, 1995 through March 28, 1996 on the anime satellite channel Animax and the regular cable channel TV Tokyo. The anime series was followed by three Original Video Animation releases, with the first having three episodes, the second having six, and the final OVA, Fushigi Yūgi Eikoden, spanning four episodes. A thirteen volume Japanese light novel series also followed Fushigi Yūgi. The novels were published by Shōgakukan from January 30, 1998 to September 26, 2003. On October 25, 2003, Watase began releasing a prequel to the manga series, Fushigi Yūgi Genbu Kaiden.

Plot

Junior high school student Miaka Yūki is under a lot of pressure to pass the entrance exam for the competitive Jonan Academy. Her best friend, Yui Hongo, agrees to apply for the same school so that they can go together. While at the library one day, Miaka and Yui come into contact with a strange book there, known as The Universe of the Four Gods. As a result of reading this book, they are then transported into the novel’s universe. Inside the novel she finds Tamahome whom she seems to fall in love with and he as well. A twist happens with Miaka and Tamahome trying to stay together no matter what and discovering her best friend Yui turns evil.

The series describes the various trials that the two teenagers face, both quest-driven and personal. Miaka would discover that her greatest enemy would lie in her own best friend, Yui, due to a series of events set in motion. Feeling betrayed, the two oppose one another as priestesses, bringing together their own respective warriors and vying for the chance to be granted three wishes by the gods whom they hope to summon.