Mirage of Blaze


Mirage of Blaze is a Japanese light novel series written by Mizuna Kuwabara, published under Shueisha's Cobalt label. It had over 6.83 million copies in circulation as of January 2018. There were plans to establish the Mirage of Blaze Museum in Yonezawa in 2007, but the project was eventually cancelled.
Mirage of Blaze is considered a milestone in the boys' love genre, although it is not officially categorized as a boys' love series. Its narrative style, characterized by mature themes and action-oriented storytelling, represented a significant break from the prevailing yaoi genre conventions at the time, which typically focused on romance and eroticism between male characters. The series is also regarded as one of the early examples of a work that inspired the practice of seichi junrei, a form of pop culture tourism or film tourism. From the outset of its serialization, Mirage of Blaze has been supported by a dedicated fan base that frequently make visits to locations featured as backgrounds and settings for the series, including temples, shrines, and historical landmarks. This phenomenon came to be called "Mirage Tour ", and resulted in a significant economic benefits for the regions involved.
The novel is renowned for its distinctive writing style, described as "a series of poetic yet sharp portrayals flowing like an uninterrupted, unlimited torrent". The thoughts, feelings, and motivations of characters are well captured in its meticulous and intense depictions, which become increasingly longer as the series progresses. This narrative mode, commonly referred to as "Kuwabara style " among fans, is usually in the form of an interior monologue and a dialogue.
The original series consists of 40 volumes and 7 extras. The main story is divided into four parts: the first part, the second part, the third part, and the fourth part. Two extras, Fragment - For You, My Beloved and Fragment - Abandoned Suffering, are closely connected to the main story, making them essential for a full understanding of the series. Three gaiden prequels have been made: Honō no Mirage: Kaikou-Hen set in Sengoku period which consisted of 14 volumes, Honō no Mirage: Bakumatsu-Hen set in Edo period and had a total of 2 volumes, and Honō no Mirage: Shouwa-Hen set in Shouwa period with a total of 11 volumes.

Synopsis

Setting

The story is set in 1990s Japan, where the spirits of historical clans possess modern individuals and battle for supremacy, while influencing the land of the living. This war, unseen to the average human being, called the Feudal Underworld. While many central characters originate from the Sengoku era, the series also features characters from various periods of Japanese history, spanning from ancient to modern times. In this world, supernatural elements, deeply rooted in Buddhist beliefs and Japanese folk spirituality, play a vital role. Numerous mystical creatures, such as Tengu, Yatagarasu, and Tsutsuga, appear alongside mystical artifacts, such as the Three Sacred Treasures, mandalas, and Retsumyousei, a meteorite with magical power. The narrative begins in Matsumoto, a city in Nagano, before expands to various locations across the entire country, including Kyoto, Nikko, Kamakura, Aso, and Shikoku Island.

Kanshou (換生)

The story centers on the Yashashuu, a group of exorcists who have lived for over 400 years to continue their fight against vengeful spirits. They are known as Kanshousha, individuals who can be reborn with their memories intact through a process called Kanshou, in which a spirit possesses a living person, expelling the host's soul and taking over the body. They generally perform Kanshou on a fetus, as the host has not yet developed a sense of identity or formed connections with others.
The Yashashuu are described as experiencing guilt over living lives that were not originally their own, while often questioning the purpose of their prolonged existence and expressing a sense of fatigue with immortality. The story examines the ethical implications of their existence: Although protecting the living through exorcisms, they must continue taking over living people's bodies to keep themselves alive, and although also being dead themselves, they must continue to battle other dead people.

Ryoku (力)

The supernatural power, called the Ryoku, is broadly divided into two categories: the power of telekinesis, which causes change in the state and motion of a substance, and the power of spiritual waves, which affects the consciousness, mind, and soul of a target. The power of telekinesis includes abilities such as waves of will, waves of body-protection, and barrier, while the power of spiritual waves includes abilities such as telepathy, spiritual investigation, and hypnosis. Each ability is further divided into various types.
Choubuku, one form of the power of spiritual waves, is an ability used to exorcise vengeful spirits. It is a special power granted to the Yashashuu by their guardian deity, Bishamonten, who is the god of war and wealth, the punisher of evildoers, and the commander of the Yasha and Rasetsu. There are various types of Choubuku, each beginning with the incantation "bai", the seed syllable mantra of Bishamonten, and a specific hand gesture, the mudra of Bishamonten. These are followed by different spells, depending on the type of Choubuku performed. Throughout the series, the spells usually appear as Buddhist chants such as mantras and dharanis, or Shinto chants like norito.

Plot

Takaya Ougi, a high school student, wants nothing more than to protect his best friend Yuzuru Narita and live a normal life. That is, until Nobutsuna Naoe, an intense and charismatic man, informs Takaya that he is in fact the 400-year-old Kanshousha, or soul reborn through time with memories intact, of Kagetora Uesugi, the adopted son of a feudal lord, Kenshin Uesugi. Naoe, who is also a Kanshousha, reawakens Takaya's abilities to exorcise evil spirits and fight the Feudal Underworld, a collection of restless warrior spirits bent on modern-day conquest. While Kanshousha generally remember their former lives, Takaya is the one who doesn't because he sealed his own memories when he was reborn into his current body, and is often hostile towards any effort for the complete recovery of his memory. As the plot unfolds, the complex history of the characters and their past suggests why this is so, and the true nature of the tempestuous and somewhat ambiguous relationship between the two leads provides the backdrop for a melodrama that spans several generations of Japanese history. As they ascend to the living world to renew their ancient war, Naoe, Takaya, and other members of Yashashuu, the Uesugi clan's most powerful group of exorcists and supernatural warriors, gear up to prevent that from happening.

Past Storyline

Kagetora Uesugi was an adopted son of Kenshin Uesugi, a feudal lord in the 16th century. After Kenshin's death, Kagetora fought with Kagekatsu, also an adopted son of Kenshin, over the succession to the clan leadership. Kagetora was ultimately defeated and died. Naoe served as a retainer to Kagekatsu, which placed him in opposition to Kagetora and made him indirectly responsible for Kagetora's death. He also died later.
After their deaths, Kagetora and Naoe became vengeful spirits. However, Kenshin persuaded them to accept a duty to exorcise other vengeful spirits and bring peace to the living world. They were brought back to life through Kanshou, becoming a liege/retainer relationship by Kenshin's order. At first, they harbored mutual hostility. Later, Naoe came to love Kagetora, though he also experienced intense envy toward him, as Kagetora was seen as a charismatic and natural leader whom Naoe felt he could never match. Naoe viewed Kagetora as a “winner” and became increasingly fixated on surpassing him. Kagetora refused to accept Naoe's love because he believed it stemmed from Naoe's desire to overcome his inferiority complex by physically dominating him, and because he had not forgiven Naoe for his role in his death. Another reason was his deep sexual trauma: he had been raped by several men when he was young in his first life.
Despite this, Kagetora was emotionally dependent on Naoe and felt unable to live without him. Suffering from low self-esteem, he only felt a sense of superiority or fulfillment through Naoe's love and complex. To keep Naoe by his side without accepting his love, Kagetora constantly invoked the lingering guilt Naoe felt over his indirect role in Kagetora's death, and continued their exorcism duties for nearly 400 years while disregarding Naoe's emotional state. Eventually, Naoe became mentally and emotionally exhausted, leading to a series of harmful actions toward Minako Kitazato, which caused significant psychological distress to Kagetora. Soon after, Kagetora died with fatal wounds to the soul by enemy attacks, and then chose to disappear from everyone he had known, particularly Naoe. Over the next 30 years, Naoe fell into despair, uncertain whether Kagetora's soul had been destroyed, until he finally found Takaya, who is the Kanshousha of Kagetora, although he had no memory of his past lives, as he sealed them himself when he was reborn into his current body.

OVA

The OVA Rebels of the River Edge has animated the book with same title. The OVA resumes the plot of the anime television series, yet incorporates several new developments, among them the question of unswerving loyalty and personal honor. Takaya is sent to Kyoto to investigate the re-awakening of the Ikko sect and Murashige Araki, a one time member of the Ikkō sect who has since deserted the clan. With the help of his vassal and fellow possessor Haruie, the two are successful in tracking him down, only to discover that Murashige is after a 400-year-old mandala made of the hair of the deceased Araki clansmen. Unfortunately, by the time they meet up with Murashige, Haruie recognizes him as Shintarou, her former lover in a past life. Whether it's true or not, and despite the confusing emotional complication of this development, Takaya orders Haruie to eliminate Murashige once he becomes a true threat to the balance of power. Meanwhile, Takaya finally reunites with Naoe after a prolonged period of estrangement. Unresolved sexual and psychological tension dominates their initial exchange, and it's uncertain whether these two powerful possessors will resolve their differences and work together against this latest threat.

Characters

;Takaya Ougi
;Yoshiaki Tachibana
;Shuhei Chiaki
;Ayako Kadowaki
;Yuzuru Narita
;Kōsaka Masanobu
Irobe Katsunaga
The oldest member of the Uesugi clan. He appears after Part 2 in the book; because he possessed to a baby at Part 1. He has loyalty to Kenshin Uesugi and is calm, judicious person. In "Kaikou-hen" that the pre-sequel set in Japan 400 years ago, he exorcised the evil spirit of Kagetora that cursed his violent death, then he welcomed Kagetora who's guided by the soul of Kenshin. he has trouble with the arbitration of the Uesugi clan that hated each other, because members except for him made war against each other since they divided into the Kagetora vs. Kagekatsu factions before they died.
;Satoshi Hatayama
;Nobunaga Oda
;Minako Kitazato
;Kojiro Date
;Kagetsuna Katakura
;Ujiteru Hojo
;Kotaro Fuma
;Shigeharu Hazama
;Araki Murashige
;Rairen Shimozuma
;Saori Morino
;Yuiko Takeda
;Miya Ohgi
;Teruhiro Tachibana
Yoshiaki Mogami
Yoshiyasu Mogami
Nagi Shiohara
Narimasa Sassa
Maiko Asaoka
Rairyuu Shimozuma
Makoto Kaizaki
Reiko Nikaidou
Juri Mikuriya
Koichi Nezu
Ayukawa
Ushio Muto
Reijirou Kada
Kamon Nakagawa
Seibei Kusama
Chikamune Akutagawa
Hayato Hyoudou
Kogenta Higaki
Miho
Ichizou Katsuragi
Neiha
Seigetsu
Rei Motomiya
Kaoru Shigeno
Teru Isomura
Takaya Torigoe
Motoharu Kikkawa
Mitsuhide Akechi
'''Shingo Kanemitsu'''

Related Media

Anime

The novels were partially adapted into a 13-episode anime television series directed by Susumu Kudo in 2002 and an OVA directed by Fumie Muroi in 2004. Both were animated by Madhouse and produced by SME Visual Works. The anime television series and the OVAs have since been released in North America by Media Blasters, and both have aired on Encore Action and Encore WAM.

Stage play

The Shouwa-Hen gaiden was adapted into a five-part stage play produced by Trifle Entertainment. The first part was held at Theater Sun Mall in Shinjuku on September 17 to 23, 2014. The second part was held at Theater 1010 in Kita-Senju on October 8 to 13, 2015. The third part was held at Theater Sun Mall in Shinjuku on October 21 to 30, 2016. The fourth part was held at Theater 1010 in Kita-Senju on October 12 to 17, 2017. The fifth and final part was held at Space Zero Renrouzumi Hall in Shinjuku on August 11 to 19, 2018. A DVD was released a few months after each part was completed.

Anime Episode list

  1. "Ill-Fated Destiny" - Two high school friends discover they are the reincarnation of ancient warriors who soon realize they are locked in a deadly battle with the spirit of a long-dead evil warlord.
  2. "Possessor From The Darkness" - Naoe talks with Takaya about his past, the battle 400 years ago, and the awakening of Takeda Shinken.
  3. "An Imperfect Awakening" - Yuzuru goes missing after the binding bracelet Naoe gives him is removed.
  4. "Premonition of a Chain Reaction" - Takaya meets a strange woman while riding his motorcycle to school. Afterwards he learns he has a new classmate and best friend he has no memory of. Later Uesugi meets Takaya at his school and senses an ominous presence.
  5. "Endless Conflict" - Spirits from Japan's Dark Ages, known as Possessors, are reappearing in modern times. Takaya has now met two others with spirit powers, Naoe and Ayoho. They insist his body is being possessed by a powerful samurai.
  6. "Golden Emblem" - Takaya's doubt meets its final test as his entire school turns into a spawning ground for the armies of the Undead.
  7. "Memories of Hateful Anguish" - For the past 2 months, Takaya and Naoe have been exorcising spirits left and right. For another lovely history lesson, Naoe takes Takaya to a special place where a war rages on.
  8. "At the End of Obsession" - Takaya is forced to confront his anger and mixed emotions about himself and Naoe. He must come to grips with these emotions quickly before he injures himself or someone else maliciously.
  9. "Endless Void" - Naoe searches for and confronts the evil beast Tsutsuga.
  10. "Sorrowful Betrayal" - Unable to accept his alternate identity, Takaya meets with Ujiteru Hojo, Kagetora's brother, and he is forced to remember his past with Naoe.
  11. "Eternal Blaze" - The Hojo clan begins a cataclysmic plan to take over Nikko. They've kidnapped Yuzuru and plan to burn him alive to release a burst of spiritual energy.
  12. "Choices of Conflict" - An unexpected answer is given to Lord Ujiasu's proposal.
  13. "Twilight of Beyond" - Naoe and Takaya search for the Tsutsuga mirrors to destroy them.

OVA episode list

  1. "Chapter 1 - Dearest Wish"
  2. "Chapter 2 - Tiger's Eye"
  3. "Chapter 3 - Wind of the River's Edge"

Novel Volumes List

Original Series

  1. "Mirage of Blaze"
  2. "Traces of Scarlet" #2
  3. "Glass Lullaby" #3
  4. "Amber Meteoric Swarm" #4
  5. "Dragon God of Mahoroba" #5
  6. "Fragment - For You, My Beloved" #5.5
  7. "The Supreme Ruler's Demonic Mirror " #6
  8. "The Supreme Ruler's Demonic Mirror " #7
  9. "The Supreme Ruler's Demonic Mirror " #8
  10. "Rebels of the River Edge" #9
  11. "Youkihi the Sea Goddess " #10
  12. "Youkihi the Sea Goddess " #11
  13. "Youkihi the Sea Goddess " #12
  14. "The Windhole to the Underworld " #13
  15. "The Windhole to the Underworld " #14
  16. "Kingdom of the Fire Wheel " #15
  17. "Kingdom of the Fire Wheel " #16
  18. "Kingdom of the Fire Wheel " #17
  19. "Kingdom of the Fire Wheel - the Violent Wind" #18
  20. "Kingdom of the Fire Wheel - the Intense Wave" #19
  21. "Embrace the Cross to Sleep" #20
  22. "Fragment - Abandoned Suffering" #20.5
  23. "Rupture of the Star's Destiny" #21
  24. "The Fascinating Pioneer" #22
  25. "Gate of Vengeance - the Blue Sea" #23
  26. "Gate of Vengeance - the Crimson Sky" #24
  27. "Gate of Vengeance - the White Thunder" #25
  28. "Gate of Vengeance - the Black Sun" #26
  29. "Gate of Vengeance - the Yellow Earth" #27
  30. "Gate of Vengeance - the Damaged Earth" #28
  31. "The Eternal Pure Land" #29
  32. "The Twinkle Book of Revelations I - the Nachi chapter" #30
  33. "The Twinkle Book of Revelations II - the Futsu chapter" #31
  34. "The Twinkle Book of Revelations III - the Yata chapter" #32
  35. "The Twinkle Book of Revelations IV - the Jinmu chapter" #33
  36. "The Twinkle Book of Revelations V - the Demon chapter" #34
  37. "The Twinkle Book of Revelations VI - the Fire Rebellion chapter" #35
  38. "The Twinkle Book of Revelations VII - the Murky Destruction chapter" #36
  39. "Tolling the Bells of Revolution" #37
  40. "The Forelocks of Asura" #38
  41. "Battlefield of the Thunder" #39
  42. "Beyond 100 Billion Nights" #40
Extras
  1. "Exaudi nos"
  2. "Ultramarine"
  3. "Reverse the Crimson Flag"
  4. "Mirage of Blaze Memorial"
  5. "The Red Whales set to fly, the Vidro Kids"

Kaikou-Hen Series

  1. "Pure White Echo: The Birth of a Yaksha" #1
  2. "Pure White Echo: Magical Sword Dance" #2
  3. "Pure White Echo: Lord Gaidoumaru" #3
  4. "Pure White Echo: Thirteen Gods" #4
  5. "Pure White Echo: Princess Biwajima" #5
  6. "Pure White Echo: Ice & Snow, Questions & Answers" #6
  7. "Pure White Echo: Strange Life, Weird Clothes" #7
  8. "Pure White Echo: Sixteen-Night Mirror" #8
  9. "Pure White Echo: Revenge & Rebirth" #9
  10. "Pure White Echo: Spirited Away Area" #10
  11. "Pure White Echo: Ranryou the Demon King" #11
  12. "Pure White Echo: Circle of Transmigration" #12

Bakumatsu-Hen Series

  1. "Devouring a Guardian Lion" #1
  2. "Burning a Guardian Lion" #2

Shouwa-Hen Series

  1. "Nightingale Blues" #1
  2. "Swallowtail Butterfly Blues" #2
  3. "Lapis Lazuli Swallow Blues" #3
  4. "Hoarfrost City Blues" #4
  5. "Dream Magic Lantern Blues" #5
  6. "Yaksha Squad Boogie-Woogie" Side Story
  7. "Hoodlum Star Blues" #6
  8. "Bridge of Dear Wishes Blues" #7
  9. "Bright Red Hill Blues" #8
  10. "Nirvana Moon Blues" #9
  11. "Dying a Glorious Death Blues" #10

Drama CD

  1. "Dragon God of Mahoroba", 1992
  2. "For You, My Beloved", 1993
  3. "NIGHT WINGS", 1994
  4. "For Whom the Eagle Flies", 1997
The main voice actors in the drama CD series and the anime series are same. Besides, "Cobalt Tokimeki Telephone" that short stories or drama CDs which Seki Toshihiko and Sho Hayami reading the novels are made for premiums by Cobalt's all the applicants service.

Image Album and Anime OST

Mai Yamane, Naoto Fuuga also sang image songs in the albums.
Image Album
  1. - MIRAGE OF BLAZE -, 1993
  2. Mirage of Blaze Off Vocal Version, 1995
  3. Mirage of Blaze II - Youkihi the Sea Goddess -, 1995
  4. Mirage of Blaze III - From Kingdom of the Fire Wheel -, 1996
  5. Mirage of Blaze IV - Obsessive love -, 1998
  6. Mirage of Blaze Off Vocal Collection, 1998
  7. Mirage of Blaze SPECIAL CD COLLECTION, 2002
Anime OST
  1. Mirage of Blaze Original Soundtrack, 2002
  2. Mirage of Blaze- Rebels of the River Edge Original Soundtrack, 2004