Fushigi Yûgi: Genbu Kaiden


is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yuu Watase. A prequel to Watase's Fushigi Yûgi, it details the creation of The Universe of the Four Gods and tells the full story of the Priestess of Genbu. The manga was initially serialized in Shōjo Comic Zōkan beginning in 2003. It moved to Perfect World Fushigi Yûgi in 2004 and ran until the magazine's cancellation in 2008. Watase then placed the manga on hiatus for two years due to her health issues and other work commitments. Genbu Kaiden resumed serialization in Rinka in 2010. When Rinka folded in 2012, the manga moved once again to Zōkan Flowers, where it ended its serialization in 2013. Genbu Kaiden was collected in twelve volumes published in Japan by Shogakukan. It is licensed for an English-language release in North America by Viz Media. In addition to the manga, Genbu Kaiden inspired five audio drama CDs produced by Marine Entertainment and an adventure video game created by Idea Factory.

Characters

;Takiko Okuda
;Uruki / Rimudo Roun
;Tomite / Chamuka Tan
;Hatsui / Zarra
;Namame
;Hikitsu / Emthatt Chen
;List of Fushigi Yūgi characters#Inami / Tarma
;Urumiya / Hagus
;Urumiya / Teg

Media

Manga

Fushigi Yûgi: Genbu Kaiden was written and illustrated by Yuu Watase. It was initially serialized in Shōjo Comic Zōkan, a special edition of Shōjo Comic, beginning in March 2003. It moved to Perfect World Fushigi Yûgi, a spin-off of Shōjo Comic, in May 2004 and was serialized quarterly until the magazine's cancellation in June 2008. Watase originally planned to continue the manga in Monthly Flowers. Instead, Genbu Kaiden was placed on hiatus for two years due to Watase's health issues and other work commitments. It eventually resumed serialization in Rinka, a spin-off of Monthly Flowers, on June 14, 2010. When Rinka folded two years later on June 14, 2012, Watase announced that Genbu Kaiden would move to Zōkan Flowers, a new spin-off of Monthly Flowers. The series debuted in Zōkan Flowers Winter 2012 issue on November 14, 2012, and finally ended in the magazine's Spring 2013 issue on February 14, 2013. The individual chapters of Genbu Kaiden were collected in twelve volumes published by Shogakukan under its Flower Comics imprint. The first volume was published in Japan on October 25, 2003; the twelfth and final volume was published in Japan on May 17, 2013.
Genbu Kaiden is licensed for an English-language release in North America by Viz Media. The company's Shojo Beat imprint published all twelve volumes from July 5, 2005, to March 4, 2014. The Viz release was distributed in the United Kingdom by Gollancz Manga beginning in 2005. A second English-language translation was produced in Singapore by Chuang Yi and distributed in Australia and New Zealand by Madman Entertainment. It went out-of-print when Chuang Yi ceased operations in 2014. Genbu Kaiden is also licensed for regional language releases in France by Editions Tonkam, in Spain by Glènat España, in Italy by Planet Manga, and in Germany by EMA.

Drama CDs

A series of five audio drama CDs based on the manga were produced in Japan by Marine Entertainment. The first was released on January 26, 2005; the second was released on August 24, 2005; the third was released on December 22, 2005; the fourth was released on August 25, 2006; and the fifth and final drama CD was released on July 25, 2007.

Video game

released the Sony PlayStation 2 video game in Japan on June 23, 2005. The adventure game puts players in the shoes of Mariko Kobayashi, an original character created for the game, who is taken into The Universe of the Four Gods through a mirror. While searching for her friend, Takumi Mochizuki, who was also taken into the mirror, Mariko is aided in her quest by the Priestess of Genbu and the Genbu Seven. A limited edition version of Kagami no Miko was released on the same date, containing an art book and a CD of interviews with the game's voice actors. A PSP version of the game was released in Japan on September 28, 2006. A Nintendo DS version of the game was released in Japan on June 25, 2009, bundled with another Fushigi Yûgi game, Suzaku Ibun.

Reception

Critical reception

In Manga: The Complete Guide, writer Jason Thompson gave Fushigi Yûgi: Genbu Kaiden three out of five stars. He noted that Watase "clearly enjoys returning to the Fushigi Yûgi world", but he felt that the sequel's "theme of father-child angst" and its "lack of humor... make for a less welcoming read" than the original series.

Sales

The eighth volume of Fushigi Yûgi: Genbu Kaiden ranked ninth in the Japanese Comic Ranking, listing the top ten selling manga volumes, for March 25–31, 2008. The ninth volume premiered in sixth place in the September 30October 6 rankings.