Fushigi Yûgi

## Fushigi Yûgi: Byakko Senki

***Fushigi Yûgi*** (ふしぎ遊戯, lit. "Mysterious Game"), also known as ***Fushigi Yûgi: The Mysterious Play*** or ***Curious Play***, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yuu Watase. It 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 Diet Library. It is essentially based on four mythological creatures of China. Shogakukan serialized *Fushigi Yûgi* in *Shōjo Comic* from December 1991 to May 1996 and later compiled the manga into eighteen *tankōbon* volumes.

Studio Pierrot adapted it into a fifty-two episode anime series that aired from April 1995 to March 1996 on TV Tokyo. The anime spawned three original video animation (OVA) releases, with the first having three episodes, the second having six, and the final OVA, *Fushigi Yûgi: Eikoden*, spanning four episodes. In North America, Viz Media licensed the manga series for an English-language release in 1999. The anime series was first licensed by Geneon Entertainment and re-licensed by Media Blasters in 2012.

A thirteen-volume Japanese light novel series, written by Megumi Nishizaki, followed *Fushigi Yûgi*. Shogakukan published the novels from January 1998 to September 2003. Watase also released two prequel manga series: *Fushigi Yûgi: Genbu Kaiden*, which ran from March 2003 to February 2013, and *Fushigi Yûgi: Byakko Senki*, which began serialization in August 2017.

As of November 2015, *Fushigi Yûgi* had over 20 million copies in circulation, making it one of the best-selling manga series of all time.

## Synopsis

During a visit to the National Library, Miaka Yuuki and Yui Hongo stumble upon a strange old book that casts a red light, sucking them inside its unfamiliar world. Upon arrival, the two encounter hostile slave traders and barely escape with the help of Tamahome—a powerful young man bearing a Chinese symbol on his forehead. But, a moment later, the red light returns and takes Yui away.

Desperate to reunite with her companion, Miaka asks Tamahome for assistance. However, the situation escalates when the pair encounters the land's emperor, Hotohori, who believes Miaka is the foretold priestess of the kingdom's protector god Suzaku. By gathering the god's seven Celestial Warriors, the priestess can summon Suzaku and have all her wishes granted. Hotohori hopes this will save his country, and since it appears to be a fitting solution to the girl's problems as well, he convinces her to accept the role.

Meanwhile, Yui realizes she has been brought back alone at the library. Unable to intervene, she helplessly witnesses Miaka traversing through courageous trials as the mysterious book's heroine.

## Bibliographic information

### *Light Novel*

Over a series of five years, Megumi Nishizaki (西崎めぐみ, *Nishizaki Megumi*) wrote thirteen Japanese light novels based on *Fushigi Yûgi*. Illustrated by Yuu Watase, *Fushigi Yûgi Gaiden* primarily explores the lives of the various Celestial Warriors before they are seen in the manga. The only two novels to be set after the manga, *Eikō Den (Jōkan)* and *Eikō Den (Gekan)*, later became the basis for the third *Fushigi Yûgi* original video animation, *Fushigi Yûgi: Eikoden.* Originally published by Shogakukan, none of the novels have been licensed for English release.

LN 1LN 2LN 3LN 4LN 5LN 6LN 7LN 8LN 9LN 10LN 11LN 12LN 13
### *Manga*

Written and illustrated by Yuu Watase, *Fushigi Yûgi* originally appeared in serial form in the semimonthly manga magazine *Shōjo Comic*. It premiered in January 1, 1992 (No. 1) issue, released in December 1991, and ran for over five years, ending in the June 5, 1996 (No. 12) issue, released in May 1996. The series was simultaneously published in eighteen collected volumes by Shogakukan, with new volumes being released on a quarterly schedule.

Manga Vol. 1Manga Vol. 2Manga Vol. 3Manga Vol. 4Manga Vol. 5Manga Vol. 6Manga Vol. 7Manga Vol. 8Manga Vol. 9Manga Vol. 10Manga Vol. 11Manga Vol. 12Manga Vol. 13Manga Vol. 14Manga Vol. 15Manga Vol. 16Manga Vol. 17Manga Vol. 18
In 1992, Viz Media licensed the manga for an English-language release in North America. The series was originally released in a flipped trade paperback format, starting in August 1998. Several characters have both Japanese pronunciations and Chinese pronunciations. In 1998, Watase visited the United States and met with Viz staff members at their San Francisco headquarters. Viz kept the original Chinese names of the characters at her request. Bill Flanagan, the editor of the English version, asked Watase if he should use Chinese names for popular characters such as Tai Yi-Jun (Taitsukun), and she also asked for the Chinese names to be used there. The characters with names remaining in Japanese in the English version are the characters such as Tamahome who have Japanese pronunciations of ancient constellations; there was never any intention of them having Chinese names.

This caused some confusion for fans as the anime version uses Japanese names. For example, in the manga, Hotohori's country is named "Hong-Nan" rather than the "Konan" found in the anime series. After eight volumes, Viz stopped publication of *Fushigi Yûgi*, reviving it in June 2003 when it released the first two volumes in unflipped standard manga size volumes. The remaining volumes were released on a quarterly schedule, including the remaining ten volumes. The final volume of the series was released in April 2006. The dates and ISBN numbers given for the first eight volumes in the table on the link above are for the second edition releases.

Manga Vol. 1Manga Vol. 2Manga Vol. 3Manga Vol. 4Manga Vol. 5Manga Vol. 6Manga Vol. 7Manga Vol. 8Manga Vol. 9Manga Vol. 10Manga Vol. 11Manga Vol. 12
Viz also serialized *Fushigi Yûgi* in their manga anthology magazine, *Animerica Extra*, starting with the October 1998 debut issue and running until the December 2004 issue, the magazine's final issue. In 2009 and 2010, Viz re-released the series as part of their "VIZBIG" line, combining three individual volumes of the original release into each single, larger volume.

Manga Vol. 1
### Other media

An art book, *Fushigi Yūgi: Watase Yū Irasuto-shū* (不思議遊戯：渡瀬悠宇イラスト集), was published by Shogakukan in May 1995. It was licensed in North America by Viz Media under the title *The Art of Fushigi Yûgi* and published in October 2006.

## Miaka Yuki

"...this book...wasn't a magic book or a dangerous book...it was better than any other book I've ever read..."

### Affiliation:

* Suzaku *(Beast God)*
* Celestial Warriors of Suzaku

### Allied:

* Yui Hongo *(Bestfriend)*
* Hotohori
* Chichiri
* Tasuki

## 「Biographical Information」

### Relatives:

* Unnamed mother
* Unnamed stepfather
* Keisuke Yuuki *(Brother)*
* Taka Sukunami *(Husband)*
* Hikari *(Daughter)*

### Occupation:

* Priestess of Suzaku
* Housewife
* Middle School Student *(Former)*
* High School Student *(Former)*

## 「Voice Actor」

### Japan VA:

* Araki, Kae *(Anime)*
* Aina Hashimoto (Amipro version)
* Risako Ito (Nelke version)
* Reina Tanaka (musical version)

### English VA:

Hoffman, Bridget

Middle school student Miaka Yūki and Yui Hongo are both preparing for the exams for Jonan Academy, a highly competitive high school. Miaka is an average student, while the brilliant Yui Hongo is applying so she and Miaka can go to the same high school. While at the National Library, Miaka follows a vision of a phoenix to a special collections room where she finds a book called the Universe of the Four Gods. When the two girls start reading it, they are pulled into the book and taken to a world similar to ancient China. As they try to get their bearings, they are attacked by two slave traders.

A young man with the "ogre" symbol on his forehead appears and fights off the traders. He asks the two girls to pay him for saving them, but they have no money so he leaves. While Miaka is searching her pockets, Yui is transported back to the library and begins reading the book again. Miaka looks up to find that Yui and the young man were gone. Presuming he had taken Yui with him, she hitches a ride on a wagon to the nearest city to search for him. As she searches the city, another man tells her he is friends with the man she is looking for her. He leads her to a secluded area where four of his friends are waiting to rape her and sell her "strange" clothes. Miaka fights them off at first, but they manage to knock her off her feet and pin her to the ground.

The young man shows up again and easily beats up the four men, saving Miaka again. When the young man is unable to tell Miaka where Yui is, Miaka doggedly follows him demanding he helps her search. After she loudly accused him of selling Yui and being a slave trader, the embarrassed man stops to talk. Seeing the imperial procession nearby, the young man remarks that one jewel from the emperor's crown would make him rich, so Miaka runs up to the palanquin and asks if she can have a jewel. She trips and grabs one the cloth decorations to catch herself, ripping it. The guards attack her for dishonoring the emperor, but the young man rescues her using a smoke bomb.she is a kindness spirit in heart. She is yui hongo kindergarten childhood friends. She can change the heart of suzaku friends and turn them into some called love. With a big warm heart.

Unbreakable bond between her suzaku warrior/friends. The man introduces himself as Tamahome. When she reminds him she has no money, he kisses her forehead as payment, just as the emperor's guards discover them. Suddenly, Miaka begins emitting a red light and starts to vanish. Slipping between worlds, she is relieved to see Yui is safe and reading the book in the library before the light fades and she returns to the world in the book. On the emperor's orders, she and Tamahome are captured and imprisoned. When Miaka chews some gum and blows a bubble, it terrifies the guard who runs away, leaving the keys behind. After they escape the cell, Tamahome tells Miaka about the four gods of the universe. He explains that the Konan empire is ruled by the phoenix Suzaku. He returns to find Miaka gone. (Miaka smells food and wanders off to eat.)

While searching for Tamahome, she meets a beautiful person named Hotohori who seems excited to learn Miaka is from another world. As they talk, Tamahome is captured by guards nearby. The "woman" hides Miaka, but Miaka reveals herself to help Tamahome. When the guards roughly grab Miaka, Tamahome quickly breaks free from the guards holding to fight the ones hurting her. Seeing the symbol that appears on Tamahome's forehead as he fights, Hotohori stops the guards and reveals that he is really the emperor and a man. In the throne room, Hotohori asks Miaka to become the Priestess of Suzaku to save his country of Konan. In doing so, she will obtain the power to fulfill her wishes. After thinking of all the wishes she could make, including passing the exams and going to high school with Yui (and having a sexy body and having all the boys drool over her), Miaka accepts and all in the palace bow before the Priestess of Suzaku. Miaka dreams about her big brother, but she wakes up and finds Tamahome instead. He's checking on her because Hotohori is worried that she's sad.

He offers to be her honorary big brother, and tells her that with the power of Suzaku, she can go home. This galvanizes Miaka into action. Hotohori explains that there are seven constellations in the south that belong to Suzaku, and the names of the constellations appear on the bodies of seven people. When all seven are gathered together, the priestess will gain the power of Suzaku. The finest warriors in the kingdom are gathered and Miaka tries to provoke them, thinking that the Suzaku Seven would not try to harm her, but they all chase her and make a building fall down around her. Back in the real world, Yui notices blood on her leg. Tamahome has shielded Miaka from most of the rubble, but her leg was injured. Tamahome struggles to keep the building from falling on them both, almost killing himself to save Miaka, but luckily one of the royal consorts quickly digs them out, displaying superhuman strength. She is one of the Suzaku Seven, Nuriko. She says she really wanted to save Tamahome and gives him a kiss. Miaka washes her clothes and thinks about how to make friends with Nuriko, as she needs her to get home. Tamahome barges in, hoping to hide from Nuriko.

Miaka decides to serve as Nuriko's maid, but Nuriko makes her tasks difficult and flirts with Tamahome in front of Miaka. Later that day, Tamahome escapes from Nuriko and talks to Miaka, who is depressed about Nuriko and Tamahome's possible relationship. He tends to her leg. As Tamahome tends to her leg, Miaka asks him if he loves Nuriko. He laughs and calls her jealous, and says he wants money more than love. Nuriko overhears them. Later, she asks Miaka to search for a lost earring by the lake in the dark. Hotohori is being criticized by his advisers about not taking an Empress near the lake.

Miaka and Hotohori meet, he offers to order Nuriko to behave, and Miaka says no, she'd rather become Nuriko's friend. Miaka falls in the lake, and gets caught in the weeds. Nuriko gloats that she sent Miaka on a false errand. Tamahome overhears and Nuriko reveals she's in love with Hotohori. Miaka comes back from the pond. They slap each other, make friends and Miaka promises to put in a word for Nuriko with Hotohori. Hotohori tells Miaka that he's only ever loved the priestess of Suzaku, but he senses Tamahome and Nuriko listening in. He proposes to Miaka. The next morning both Tamahome and Nuriko are cold to Miaka, and she follows them to the market. Tamahome tries to sell some of Miaka's bubblegum, but the crowd doesn't like it, so Miaka reveals herself. The crowd goes wild and they have to escape quickly. Later, a gang set upon them and Tamahome and the gang leader haggle over a price for Miaka. Miaka and Tamahome fight the gang and win, but Miaka is furious at Tamahome for rescuing her, as the gang leader said it would be impossible for Tamahome to work in the town without his say-so.

Miaka tells Tamahome she loves him, but is rebuffed. She falls down in a fever. Hotohori questions Tamahome about Miaka's illness. Tamahome is evasive. Miaka is seriously ill, so Hotohori resolves to send her home, using Taiitsukun, the ultimate ruler of the universe. Hotohori tells Miaka of this, asking her to come back once she's well again. Outside, Nuriko accuses Tamahome of being jealous of Hotohori, telling him to apologize to Miaka so that Hotohori will be free for Nuriko. They set off to go to Taiitsukun, with a tense feeling between Miaka and Tamahome. That night, Nuriko tells Miaka to bathe in the mineral spring near where they are camped. She tells Tamahome to go to the spring, saying Miaka asked him to meet her out there. Miaka undresses to bathe and she is frightened by a dark shape. Tamahome comes running, and "saves" her from the dark shape, a log. After realizing Miaka wasn't clothed, they both turned their backs on one another, and they both apologize. Tamahome is very embarrassed by Miaka's appearance.

Tamahome leaves and Nuriko reveals herself. Miaka hugs Nuriko and Nuriko's top falls off enough to reveal that "she"'s a man! The next day, Hotohori and Miaka have a heart-to-heart discussion, which makes Tamahome and Nuriko jealous. Taiitsukun decides she will have to test the group. She sends a thick fog. Tamahome insults Miaka and she runs off. She sees a dinner table and runs towards it, and is trapped in a mirror, where she is confronted by an evil mirror-Miaka. The mirror-Miaka insults her and tells Miaka she'd be taking over Miaka's life from now on. The impostor grinned evilly, saying Hotohori was "a much better catch" than Tamahome, and steps out of the mirror, trapping Miaka there, and walks back to camp, carrying the mirror. She reveals the secret of Nuriko's gender, and tries to kiss Hotohori, but Hotohori realizes that something's wrong. They try to fight mirror-Miaka, but she uses the mirror to suck out all their power. Taiitsukun goads Miaka to think of something to defeat the mirror-Miaka.

Miaka breaks a plate from the dinner table and stabs herself deeply in the heart to wound the mirror-Miaka, who is a part of Miaka. The mirror-Miaka is defeated by the three warriors, and Miaka reappears, nearly dead. Nuriko treats her wound. In the real world, Yui is also wounded. Yui and Miaka talk while Miaka is between death and life. Miaka sees a paradise, but returns to the world of the four gods. Taiitsukun reveals herself to the group, and tells them she can get Miaka home. Taiitsukun takes the group to her palace atop Mt. Taikyoku where her assistants, the Nyan-Nyans, heal Miaka, Tamahome, and Hotohori's wounds. As they heal Miaka's wounds, Taiitsukun says Miaka doesn't have enough power to go home because of the blood loss, so Tamahome and Hotohori offer to give her some of their blood, though it means their powers will be cut in half. Once the transfusion is done, Taiitsukun notes that with only three Suzaku warriors, the processing of sending Miaka home will be difficult, but they are all determined to help her. Miaka has trouble concentrating out of concern for the others, but then she hears Yui calling out to her. Remembering her friendship with Yui and their years together, Miaka is enveloped in the red light of Suzaku.

As she is transported home, a comet-like ray of blue light passes her going back towards the book world. Miaka wakes up on the floor of the library with the open book nearby, but Yui is not there. As the library is closing, Miaka returns the Universe of the Four Gods to its shelf and leaves. She runs into two of their school friends. Thrilled to be reunited after so long, she learns that for them, it had only been two hours since she and Yui had left them to go to the library. Wondering if Yui returned home, Miaka calls her house. Learning that Yui is still not home, Miaka goes to her own home where she tells her big brother, Keisuke about the events in the Universe of the Four Gods. Though he says he doesn't believe her, he also warns her to stay away from the book. However, Miaka had already promised her Warriors that she would return she also realizes that Yui may have been taken into the book in exchange for her. After packing some of her things and some snacks, she returns to the library. Keisuke sees her and tries to stop her, but Miaka tells him good-bye and is absorbed into the book. In the other world, Hotohori welcomes her back and tells her that it has been three months since she left and that their country is now caught up in a war. He asks her to hurry to summon Suzaku. She looks for Tamahome to ask him to help find the rest of the Celestial Warriors, but he has left the palace. Miaka, joined by Nuriko, go to find him. Miaka wonders how Tamahome could have left, but Nuriko explains her that Tamahome really missed Miaka while she was gone and that he does love her. Suddenly, the surroundings become pitch-dark.

Nuriko and Miaka are thrown from their horse, and a man with a pickax towers over Miaka. When the man speaks, Miaka realizes it's Tamahome. They are glad to be reunited, and Tamahome introduces Miaka to his companions. However, the torches suddenly go out and a pair of hands pull Miaka into the forest. A fox-like monk reveals himself to Miaka, warning her that people from the rival kingdom of Kutou are after her. He disappears, leaving only his hat, as Tamahome arrives. They hear a scream and run back to find all of the men that had been with Tamahome dead, and an unharmed Nuriko pinned to a tree by arrows. Nuriko recalls that as soon as Miaka had been taken and Tamahome had run after her, a volley of arrows had appeared, killing all but him. The three go to the local village Tamahome was hired to protect. In the morning, Miaka spots Tamahome leaving town and quickly wakes Nuriko so they can follow him.

They soon arrive in Tamahome's home village. Tamahome's father is very ill and his four younger siblings tend the farm while Tamahome works. As he goes to leave, one of his younger sisters faints with fever and Miaka reveals herself to shout out instructions on how to treat the girl. She goes to the river to get some water, but is attacked by a group of assassins. Tamahome, sensing Miaka is in danger, runs to find her, but the fox-monk saves her by using a strike of energy from within the hat he left behind. He introduces himself as Chichiri and warns Miaka that unless she starts acting more responsibly, people around her are going to suffer.

When they return to Tamahome's home, they find his family and Nuriko have been tied up in wires by another assassin. Tamahome is also captured and the assassin demands Miaka let him kill her to save the others. She consents, but Chichiri saves her and frees the others. During the battle, his Suzaku symbol is revealed. Nuriko pins the assassin and he starts to question him but he is killed by a flurry of arrows before he can saw more than that his kingdom is seeking their "Priestess of Seiryuu." Miaka, worried that Yui is the one they are searching for and not wanting to put anyone in more danger, sneaks out of the house and runs off to Kutou. Miaka takes a shortcut to Kutou through a forest, but is attacked by a tiger. She tries to defend herself, but Tamahome arrives to save her. She tells him to leave her be, not wanting to cause him anymore trouble, but he insists that he must be by her side and protect her. because he was in love with her. Accepting his words, Miaka falls and tells him she is too hungry to move and asks him to bring her a bag of food from her horse. However, as soon as he leaves, she runs off again, catching a wagon to the next village.

Tamahome follows on her horse after sending Nuriko to report back to Hotohori. Hotohori, unable to abandon his responsibilities as emperor, wants to send soldiers to find her but his advisers remind him that doing so would be an act of aggression against Kutou and make the war worse. Miaka arrives at the gate to Kutou, but does not have a passport. Chichiri, who was following her the whole time, uses his power to freeze the guards so she can get into the city. A general appears and breaks the spell, then asks who she is.

Miaka claims to be the Priestess of Seiryuu, so he tells her he will take her to the emperor immediately.
Miaka initially declines, saying she has something to do first, but then sees Tamahome trying to get past the guards and agrees to go immediately. Chichiri stops Tamahome, explaining the situation to him as Miaka is taken away. The general, Nakago takes her to the emperor, and then Yui is also brought in. The two friends tearfully embrace, but in doing so Miaka drops her bag and the scarlet Suzaku copy of the *Universe of the Four God* falls out. Nakago picks it up and opens it, revealing Miaka's true identity as the Priestess of Suzaku.

### Abilities

She decides to become the Priestess of Suzaku in order to ask Suzaku (*Vermillon of the South*) to grant her wish to join her best friend, Yui, at the same high school. Outgoing and optimistic, Miaka shows herself amiable with friends and strangers, and has a tendency to be guileless and sentimental. She is naïve, but sometimes surprises adults with an insightful comment. Miaka is generous and cares greatly for other people and perceives herself to be a considerate person. She can be unassuming and unsophisticated, but also magnanimous and courageous. Because she creates the impression of a person who always needs help, Miaka has the good fortune of almost always having someone looking after her. Miaka has a primary weakness: her gluttony. She is an avid fan of anime, imitating several characters during the course of the story.

Because of Miaka connected to the Suzaku (*Vermillon of the South*), she has given a blessing on her journey.

* *Aura of Suzaku*: Each Priestess can give off a colored glow based on the beast God. It represents herself as chosen Priestesses.
* *Vermillon of the South Blessing [Protection Barrier]*: As Priestess Suzaku Miaka is protected by a divine barrier of red light. This is shown in episode 36 when Nakago tries to assault her.
* *Prayer for the gods [Summoning the Gods]:* The priestesses are given the gift of being able to summon one of the beast gods (Suzaku, Seiryuu, Genbu, Byakko). Once the summoning ceremony is complete, she is able to grant three wishes.

## TV Anime

This is a complete episode listing for the anime series *Fushigi Yûgi*. Directed by Hajime Kamegaki, the fifty-two episode series was produced by Studio Pierrot. It is based on the first fourteen volumes of the *Fushigi Yûgi* manga series written and illustrated by Yuu Watase. The series premiered on TV Tokyo and on the satellite channel Animax on April 6, 1995 and concluded on March 28, 1996. The series was followed by three original video animation (OVA) releases. The first three-episode OVA, released October 25, 1996, was not based on the manga, but was purely an anime creation. The second OVA is based on the final four volumes of the manga series. Spanning six episodes, the series was released as two three-episode volumes, with the first released on May 25, 1997, and the second coming over a year later on August 25, 1998. The final OVA, titled *Fushigi Yûgi: Eikoden*, is based on two related light novels written by Megumi Nishizaki. Released on December 21, 2001, the series spans four episodes.

## Ending Theme

### ED Title:

* Tokimeki no Doukasen (eps 1-32,34-51)
* Kaze no Uta (eps 33)
* For Epilogue… (eps 52)

### ED Composer:

* Yukari Konno
* Chika Sakamoto
* Yukari Konno & Akemi Satou

The entire *Fushigi Yûgi* anime series, including the three OVAs, were licensed for Region 1 release by Geneon Entertainment. The series was released under the expanded title *Fushigi Yûgi: The Mysterious Play*. The TV series was released in eight individual volumes that contained 6–7 episodes each. It was also released in two collectible box sets, with season one contained in the *Suzaku* set and season two named the *Seiryu* set. The first two OVAs were released together in a set titled *Fushigi Yûgi: The Mysterious Play*, while *Fushigi Yûgi: Eikoden* was released as a single disc volume. The two box sets and the two OVAs were released with similar packaging, to give them a consistent look. All four of these sets were taken out-of-print and no longer available. With the closure of Geneon USA, the individual volumes may now also be out-of-print. On their Facebook page, the company Media Blasters announced that they have rescued the TV series and will release the first season in April 2012.

The episodes are summarized, below, using in-universe tone.

### Season 1

* ***Staff***
	+ Original work - Yuu Watase (published by Shogakukan Bunko)
	+ Director - Hajime Kamegaki
	+ Series composition - Yoshio Urasawa
	+ Character design, epilogue for each story Chief animation director - Hideyuki Motohashi
	+ Art Director - Hitoshi Nagasaki
	+ Main Color Design - Mayumi Nagashima
	+ Color Design - Iwami Mika
	+ Opening Animation - Yoshinori Kaneda, Yuko Kusumoto, Hirohito Tanaka
	+ Cinematographer - Tomoyoshi Ishizuka
	+ Music - Yusuke Homma
	+ Sound Director - Katsunori Shimizu
	+ Animation Producer - Shigeo Aoki
	+ Producers - Keisuke Iwata (TV Tokyo), Kyotaro Kimura, Ken Hagino
	+ Production - TV Tokyo, Yomiuri Advertising, Studio Pierrot

The series' English version was made available in DVD and VHS formats by Geneon Entertainment, formerly known as Pioneer, under the expanded title *Fushigi Yuugi: The Mysterious Play*. The DVDs were released as eight volumes between July 27, 2004 and September 20, 2005. It was also released as two box sets: *Suzaku* on November 30, 1999 and *Seiryuu* on December 12, 2000.

## Ending Theme

### ED Title:

* Tokimeki no Doukasen (eps 1-32,34-51)
* Kaze no Uta (eps 33)
* For Epilogue… (eps 52)

### ED Composer:

* Yukari Konno
* Chika Sakamoto
* Yukari Konno & Akemi Satou

*Fushigi Yûgi* uses three pieces of theme music. All fifty-two episodes feature the song "Itōshii Hito no Tame ni" (いとおしい人のために), performed by Akemi Satō, as the opening sequence theme. Yukari Konno's "Tokimeki no Dōkasen" (ときめきの導火線) is used as the series closing theme, except for episode thirty-three which uses "Song of the Wind" (風の旋律, *Kaze no Uta*), performed by Chika Sakamoto, is used as a memorial sequence for Nuriko. For the final episode, the regular ending theme is used along with the opening theme "Itōshī Hito no Tame ni."

### Season 2

* ***Staff***
	+ Original work - Yuu Watase (published by Shogakukan Bunko)
	+ Director - Hajime Kamegaki
	+ Series composition - Yoshio Urasawa
	+ Character design, epilogue for each story Chief animation director - Hideyuki Motohashi
	+ Art Director - Hitoshi Nagasaki
	+ Main Color Design - Mayumi Nagashima
	+ Color Design - Iwami Mika
	+ Opening Animation - Yoshinori Kaneda, Yuko Kusumoto, Hirohito Tanaka
	+ Cinematographer - Tomoyoshi Ishizuka
	+ Music - Yusuke Homma
	+ Sound Director - Katsunori Shimizu
	+ Animation Producer - Shigeo Aoki
	+ Producers - Keisuke Iwata (TV Tokyo), Kyotaro Kimura, Ken Hagino
	+ Production - TV Tokyo, Yomiuri Advertising, Studio Pierrot

Despite presenting some disturbing imagery, *Fushigi Yuugi* was broadcasted at 6 p.m. during its airing in Japan, a timeslot that now no longer permits such content.

Seven years later, Media Blasters released another two DVD box sets and a collection with the entire series using the original title. The sets, *Fushigi Yuugi* Season 1 and Season 2, were released on June 19, 2012 and February 12, 2013 respectively. The collection was made available on April 28, 2015.

## Opening Theme

### OP Title:

Before the Day Breaks (夜が明ける前に, Yo ga Akeru Mae Ni)

## Ending Theme

### ED Title:

* Ashita no Watashi wo Shinjitai (明日の私を信じたい)
* Ashita wa Ii Hi ni Naru (あしたはいい日になる)

### ED Composer:

* Saori Ishizuka
* Akemi Satou

The first *Fushigi Yûgi* original video animation, *OVA 1*, was directed by Hajime Kamegaki and is set one year after the end of the main series. The OVA was released by Bandai Visual as a single disc volume in Japan on October 25, 1996. It was re-released in Japan on August 25, 2002.

Geneon Entertainment, which licensed the entire *Fushigi Yûgi* anime series for Region 1 release, combined this OVA with *OVA 2* into a single box set titled *Fushigi Yûgi: The Mysterious Play OVA*. Released June 5, 2001, the two-disc set included English and Japanese language tracks, and English subtitle track, an image gallery, and a color booklet with an episode list, character images, and the credits for the Japanese cast and crew. Geneon's English dub version of the series premiered on the International Channel on December 30, 2003/ The *Fushigi Yûgi: The Mysterious Play OVA* set is now out of print.

The opening theme for the three episode series is "Before the Day Breaks" (夜が明ける前に, *Yo ga Akeru Mae Ni*) by Akemi Satō and Saori Ishizuka's "Ashita no Watashi o Shinjitai" (明日の私を信じたい) is used for the ending theme.

* ***Staff*** (OVA 1)
	+ Original work - Yuu Watase
	+ Director - Hajime Kamegaki
	+ Screenplay - Motoki Yoshimura
	+ Storyboard/Direction - Hajime Kamegaki
	+ Character design/animation director - Hideyuki Motohashi
	+ Art Supervision - Yuji Ikeda
	+ Art Director - Hitoshi Nagasaki
	+ Music - Yusuke Homma
	+ Music Director - Akihiko Fujita
	+ Acoustic Director - Katsunori Shimizu
	+ Effect - Shoji Kato
	+ Adjustment - Narikiyo amount, Masato Muto
	+ Animation Production - Studio Pierrot
	+ Producers - Chitsuko Kanno, Michiyuki Homma, Koichi Kikuchi
	+ Production - Bandai Visual, Studio Pierrot, Movic

*Fushigi Yuugi OVA* received two DVD releases in Japan from Bandai Namco Arts, formerly known as Bandai Visuals. The first was released on October 25, 1996, with the second being released on August 25, 2002. Between the two, on June 5, 2001, a DVD combo set titled *Fushigi Yuugi: The Mysterious Play OVA* was made available by Geneon Entertainment, bundling the first OVA together with *Fushigi Yuugi: Dai Ni Bu*.

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 Afraid "Nakago" is going to hurt Yui, the Genbu warriors attack him. Chichiri blocks them and knocks them out to protect them. Nakago uses a chi blast to destroy Tomo's shin, returning Yui to normal. Tomo escapes to a chamber where he begs someone to forgive his failure, but the person kills him. Taiitsukun pops in and explains that Miaka and Yui's summoning of their gods at the same time has thrown off the usual 100 year cycle, and that everything that happened with Tamahome since he met Kaen was an illusion. The man who killed Tomo reveals himself to be Tenkou, the god Nakago once served, and captures Yui in a globe. Nuriko, Chiriko, Mitsukake and Hotohori materialize as well, as a precursor to Miaka's arrival. Tenkou attacks her, but a Nyan-Nyan protects her. Suboshi uses his Ryuseisui to shatter the globe holding Yui, after Amiboshi assures him it is okay. Before he dies Suboshi tells Yui that he loves her. Tamahome struggles against the spell of the kodoku, but he finally breaks free when he hears Miaka calling him. Yui uses her two of her wishes as the Priestess of Genbu to seal Tenkou and to revive Takiko. She then must use her last wish to permanently seal the book, severing the connection between the two worlds. Miaka and Tamahome tearfully say goodbye, and he returns the ring she gave him. As the two crying girls are being transported home, Miaka was still holding the ring, but Yui tells it to return where it belongs and it falls back into the book world. The next day, as they head to school, they decide to skip. In the book world, Taiitsukun tells Tamahome that if he wants to be with Miaka, he must find seven globes which will allow him to be reborn in the real world. Tamahome grins and says he only lives for Miaka. In the real world, Miaka and Yui visit a restaurant, where a waiter wearing Miaka's ring - Tamahome, reincarnated as Taka - approaches to serve them.

Fushigi Yuugi: Dai Ni Bu (OVA)

## Ending Theme

### ED Composer:

The S.H.E.

The second *Fushigi Yûgi* original video animation, *OVA 2*, was directed by Hajime Kamegaki.

### *Fushigi Yuugi: Dai Ni Bu*

* ***Staff*** (OVA 2)
	+ Original work - Yuu Watase
	+ Director - Hajime Kamegaki
	+ Screenplay - Motoki Yoshimura
	+ Storyboard/Direction - Hajime Kamegaki
	+ Character design/animation director - Hideyuki Motohashi
	+ Art Supervision - Yuji Ikeda
	+ Art Director - Hitoshi Nagasaki
	+ Art Setting - Shigenori Takada
	+ Color setting/color specification - Iwami Mika
	+ Finish Inspection - Yoshiko Takiguchi
	+ Special Effects - Kenji Ikeda
	+ Acoustic Director - Katsunori Shimizu
	+ Music - Yusuke Homma
	+ Music Director - Akihiko Fujita
	+ Effect - Shoji Kato
	+ Adjustment - Norio Nishizawa, Masato Muto
	+ Producers - Chitsuko Kanno, Michiyuki Homma, Koichi Kikuchi
	+ Production - Bandai Visual, Studio Pierrot, Movic

The set—presently out of print—includes additional content such as English and Japanese language tracks, an image gallery, and a brochure with supplementary information and pictures.

Geneon Entertainment also made available an English dubbed version of *Fushigi Yuugi OVA* that aired on the International Channel starting December 30, 2003.

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 Taka and Tasuki awaken, only to realize that Taka has no reflection in a mirror. Taka, frightened of what this could mean, begs Tasuki not to tell anyone, especially Miaka. Things get worse when Chichiri alerts them of trouble. In the real world, a military ship crashes into an island form that has seemingly appeared out of nowhere. The impact releases a strange light from the island-like form, which destroys the ship and sinks it.Back in the scroll, Tamahome tells Miaka and the Suzaku warriors how he has come to be with them; having sensed that Taka's form would not survive much longer, Suzaku awakened Tamahome's sleeping form, and had ordered him to return to Miaka. Tenkou's power, apparently, has gotten far too strong, and although the plan had been for Tamahome and Taka - his "phantom replacement" - to eventually merge, this would no longer work, and Suzaku requires Tamahome's strength. Taka is distraught by this, feeling as though everything they had done for him to be reborn to join Miaka and for him to become who he once was has been for nothing, since Suzaku has decided to wake Tamahome anyway. Although the warriors see how this is plausible, they are somewhat reticent to accept this, although they voice that they do. Miaka, in shock and confusion, faints. While she's unconscious, Taka makes the decision to leave, feeling as though there is no more reason to stick around. He returns Tamahome's keepsakes to him, asking him to take care of Miaka. The Suzaku Seven try to convince him to stay, reminding him that he, not Tamahome, had gotten them where they are now, from lending Hotohori his body so he could hold his son, to believing in the goodness and courage of Tasuki, but Taka refuses to stay - his presence will just confuse and hurt Miaka. He is taken back to his room, where Keisuke confronts him for giving up and walking away after everything he and Miaka had been through.Back in the scroll, Miaka has awakened and realized that Taka is nowhere to be found. She searches in vain for him, while Tamahome decides to tell Miaka "everything." Before accomplishing this, however, he appears to Taka in a mirror in the real world, and reveals his true nature to him—that he had been the phantom, until Tenkou stole all of Taka's memory orbs, including those that hadn't yet been found by Miaka and the others, and planted them in Tamahome, reversing their roles. Horrified and angered, Taka wanders the streets alone.Tamahome finds Miaka and tells him that Taka had made a "hard" decision to leave, knowing he couldn't stay because he was only a shadow. He tries to convince Miaka that *he* is the Tamahome she has always loved, and she needs to forget about Taka. Despite his best attempts, however, Miaka cannot forget Taka, and she can sense that there is "something wrong" with Tamahome. Taka, finding strength in his love for Miaka, calls her to him, and she is returned to him in the real world by the real Suzaku's power. While the lovers happily reunite, a news update reports that the island that had appeared in the Pacific is headed to Tokyo. While Tetsuya and Yui discuss whether they should warn the authorities of Tenkou's impending arrival, Keisuke realizes that Tamahome is up to something.Tasuki and Chichiri ask Tamahome where Miaka has gone. Tamahome, angered that Miaka has left her, attacks his former friends as Tenkou reveals himself and his control over Tamahome. As Tasuki and the Suzaku warriors decide to challenge Tenkou and Tamahome in the name of Miaka and Taka's love, Taka and Miaka make plans of their own in the real world. They bid goodbye to Yui, who belatedly realizes that the couple mean to go back into the scroll to fight, and may never return.Taka and Miaka are brought directly to Tenkou's lair, where Tamahome, as the demon god Yousue, immediately traps and wounds Miaka. Tamahome challenges Taka, blaming Miaka for hurting him by choosing Taka over him. Taka, in turn, accuses Tamahome of being jealous of him, and momentarily breaks through his resolve. This only serves to anger Tamahome further, who then declares that he refuses to lose to Taka *and* to himself. He fires a bolt of red energy and thinks Taka is defeated, only for the smoke to clear and reveal that Miaka broke free of her trap and jumped in front of Taka to protect him. As Miaka lays dying in Taka's arms, the Suzaku warriors - the spirits aided by Nyan-Nyan - finally break through the first of Tenkou's barriers, only to find Taka wounded and Miaka dead. This has given Tenkou enough time and power to regain a form in which he can return to the real world and conquer as a god the way he has always wanted to.Taka, frozen in shock, is awakened by the voice of Miaka, who reminds him that he is stronger than he thinks he is. She promises that she already is and always will be with him. Taka finally understands his strength and purpose, and with the help of Miaka, finally defeats Tamahome by merging with him at last. Suzaku returns a fully formed Taka, carrying Miaka in his arms, to the real world to confront Tenkou. The rest of the Suzaku Seven join them, prepared to defend Taka and Miaka as they always have. Before anything can happen, Taka and Miaka sacrifice their lives and begin to invoke Suzaku, who is joined by Seiryū, Byakko and Genbu. The reawakened Suzaku reminds Tenkou that he was never a god, but merely a mortal whose greed and corruption led him to be executed for sorcery in the Universe of the Four Gods. The Four Gods come together to seal Tenkou away forever.The Suzaku Seven are returned to Mt. Taikyoku, where Taiitsukun explains that Taka and Miaka had given up their physical forms to bring Suzaku back and save both the real world and the Universe of the Four Gods. Taiitsukun offers Taka and Miaka a choice of where to be returned to physical form. Although Miaka at first rejoices in the thought of staying in this Universe, the Suzaku warriors convince them both to return to the real world. Miaka awakens in the real world to Taka promising that he is there with her.

OVA 3

## Ending Theme

### ED Composer:

Takehito Koyasu

*Fushigi Yûgi: Eikoden* was originally released on four single episode DVDs starting on December 21, 2001, and with a new episode released every two months. Geneon USA owned the license for the Region 1 release of the series, and put them together into a single volume named *Fushigi Yûgi: Eikoden* that was released on November 11, 2002. This release is now out of print.

### Fushigi Yûgi: Eikoden

*Fushigi Yuugi: Eikouden* adapts the seventh and eighth volumes of Megumi Nishizaki's *Fushigi Yuugi Gaiden* light novel.

* ***Staff*** (OVA 3)
	+ Original work - Yuu Watase
	+ Work - Megumi Nishizaki (Published by Shogakukan Palette Bunko)
	+ Director - Nanako Shimazaki
	+ Screenplay - Hiroki Sato
	+ Character Design - Hideyuki Motohashi
	+ Animation director - Akiyuki Kubo
	+ Art Director - Shigenori Takada
	+ Color design - Mika Iwami
	+ Cinematographer -Tomoyoshi Ishizuka
	+ Acoustic Director - Katsunori Shimizu, Yuko Suzuki
	+ Music - Ryo Sakai
	+ Producer - Fumio Ueda, Maki Oshikiri, Yukio Sonobe, HIROE TSUKAMOTO
	+ Animation Production - Pierrot
	+ Production - Shogakukan, Pierrot, FCC, PIONEER ENTERTAINMENT

Yoko Ueno's song "Chijō no Seiza" (地上の星座) is used for the series opening theme in all episodes, as well as for the ending theme in the last episode. The first three episodes use "Yes – Koko ni Eien ga Aru" (YES-ここに永遠がある-), performed by Takehito Koyasu, for their closing theme.

The OVA was made available in North America on DVD by Geneon Entertainment and Media Blasters on November 12, 2002 and June 11, 2013 respectively. Additionally, the 2002 DVD was a limited edition and included 10 pencil boards.

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 Taiitsukun appears to warn them that the Shinzaho is in danger. Keisuke uses a cell phone charm as a medium to talk to Taka and tell him about Mayo's condition. Realizing Mayo plans to die, Taka has Chichiri teleport the group back to the palace. Mayo is attacked by the fake Suzaku, and her body begins to flicker in and out of existence. Depressed, she tries to drown herself but Taka arrives in time to save her and the Shinzaho, Miaka and Taka's baby. While they wait for Nuriko and Hotohori's memories to awaken, they learn Miaka had sent the baby with Mayo to save Konan, as she herself could not go. Before the summoning ceremony, Mayo and Miaka disappear, but as things seem hopeless they reappear and summon the *real* Suzaku. Suzaku uses Taka's body to destroy the imposter. Taka and Mayo return to the real world and the *Universe of the Four Gods* disappears. Mayo is wiser for her troubles and more appreciative of her life. Miaka also returns and wakes up in the hospital. Miaka later gives birth to a girl whom she names Hikari, hoping she will be like the stars that are always shining down on Earth. (just like from the end of the episode 9 of OVA 2 that young Hikari playing as she tells her parents that the stars are looking at them) At school, the *Universe of the Four Gods* reappears once again on the shelf waiting for its next priestess.

## Stage

### Stage plays

Amipro produced three stage plays based on the *Fushigi Yûgi* manga. The first, simply titled *Fushigi Yûgi*, was staged at The Pocket theater in Nakano from October 20 to October 24, 2010. The second, *Fushigi Yûgi: Suzaku-hen* (ふしぎ遊戯～朱雀編～), was staged at the Theater Sun Mall in Shinjuku from March 30 to April 3, 2011. The third, *Fushigi Yûgi: Seiryū-hen* (ふしぎ遊戯～青龍編～), was staged at the Hakuhinkan Theater in Ginza from April 25 to May 2, 2012. All three plays were written and directed by Shintarō Sugano and starred Mao Miyaji in the lead role.

A fourth play, produced by Nelke Planning, was staged at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel Club eX venue in Tokyo from March 19 to March 29, 2015. It was written by Keiko Ueno, directed by Naoyoshi Okumura, and starred Golden Bomber band member Yutaka Kyan in the lead role of Tamahome. The play aimed to depict a "new version of *Fushigi Yûgi* through the eyes of Tamahome".

### Stage musicals

A live-action 2.5D musical stage adaptation, *Fushigi Yûgi: Ake no Shō* (ふしぎ遊戯～朱ノ章～), ran at the Owlspot theater in Tokyo from April 8 to April 17, 2016. It was produced by Amipro and written and directed by Kōtarō Yoshitani. The cast featured former Morning Musume member Reina Tanaka as Miaka, Ryō Hirano as Tamahome, Juri Aikawa as Nakago, Takahisa Maeyama as Hotohori, Mao Miyaji as Nuriko, Yoshikazu Kotani as Tasuki, Eiji Takigawa as Mitsukake, Tatsumaru Tachibana as Chichiri, Tsubasa Hattori as Amiboshi, Daiki Tomida as Chiriko, Mina Kuryū as Shouka, Zendō Ware as Eiken, Shiori Sakata as Yui, and Jun Fujimiya as Taiitsukun.

A sequel, *Fushigi Yûgi: Ao no Shō* (ふしぎ遊戯～蒼ノ章～), ran at Zenrosai Hall Space Zero in Tokyo from October 13 to October 21, 2018. It was also produced by Amipro, but written and directed by Sayaka Asai. Several cast members from the 2016 musical returned to reprise their roles, including Reina Tanaka as Miaka and Ryō Hirano as Tamahome. New cast members included Rina Miyazaki as Yui, Yoshiki Tani as Hotohori, Ken Ogasawara as Mitsukake, Subaru Hayama as Chichiri, and Kunta Yamasaki as Tasuki.

## Video Game

Idea Factory created a Sony PlayStation 2 video game based on the *Fushigi Yûgi* series called *Fushigi Yûgi: Suzaku Ibun* (ふしぎ遊戯 朱雀異聞). It was released in Japan on May 29, 2008, in both regular and limited editions. A Nintendo DS version of the game was released in Japan on June 25, 2009, bundled with another game, *Fushigi Yûgi: Genbu Kaiden Gaiden – Kagami no Miko*, based on the prequel manga series *Fushigi Yûgi: Genbu Kaiden*.

## Reception

### Manga

As of November 2015, *Fushigi Yûgi* had over 20 million copies in circulation.

In a column for *Anime News Network*, writer Jason Thompson called *Fushigi Yûgi* a "great mix of monsters, magic, fighting and the more typical *Shōjo Comic* material, romance." In his expanded review of the series for *Manga: The Complete Guide*, Thompson further praised it as "one of the best 'schoolgirl in a strange land' *shōjo* fantasies." He singled out Watase's writing, which he believes "successfully balances" romance, action, comedy, and cliffhangers, as well as the series' compact supporting cast full of "strong personalities".

### Anime

*THEM Anime Reviews* preferred the manga to the anime, criticizing the latter's production values, repetitious dialogue, and reuse of footage in flashback episodes. *DVD Verdict* criticized the "convoluted" plot and "nonsensical" dialogue. Another review noted that although Miaka "makes out with her boyfriend quite a bit", the climax is "of the heart and soul", despite the many battles that the characters go through. Her strength and belief in herself give her the strength and courage to change the world. Patrick Drazen, author of *Anime Explosion!*, considers the humor in *Fushigi Yûgi* to be based on super deformed caricatures and therefore strange to Western audiences. *Anime News Network* argued that the show is "always entertaining throughout," while *CBR* criticized that Nakago is a pretty character even when "committing horrendous crimes like mass murder and sexual assault."

Winnie Chow of *Animerica* was disappointed by the ending of the anime adaptation, finding the final battle that resolves the series to be "lame at best" that left her cheering more for Nakago than the "good guys". Throughout the series, she notes that the scenes between Miaka and Tamahome became "increasingly sickening" and "overdone". *Fushigi Yûgi: Eikoden* was panned by *THEM Anime Reviews*, which considered the animation to be its only strong point. In particular, the reviewer found the new main character to be unlikeable.

## External Link

***Fushigi Yuugi***

* *Official Viz Media: Fushigi Yuugi* ***─*** Manga Website
* *TV Anime "Fushigi Yuugi"* Official Website (defunct; link via the Wayback Machine)
* Official stage play websites: *Fushigi Yuugi* *2010*, *Fushigi Yuugi* *2011*, *Fushigi Yuugi* *2012*, *Fushigi Yuugi* *2015*
* Official stage musical websites: *Fushigi Yuugi* *2016**, Fushigi Yuugi 2018*
* *Fushigi Yuugi DS* ***─*** Game Official Site
* *Fushigi Yuugi* *Game* ***─*** Ibun Game Official Site
* *Fushigi Yuugi* ***─*** Wikipedia **EN**
* *Fushigi Yuugi: Byakko Senki* **─** Wikipedia **EN**

***Fushigi Yûgi: Genbu Kaiden***

* *Fushigi Yuugi: Genbu Kaiden* **─** Official manga website at *Shojo Beat* (defunct; link via the Wayback Machine)
* *Fushigi Yuugi: Genbu Kaiden* **─** Official video game website (defunct; link via the Wayback Machine) (in Japanese)
* *Fushigi Yuugi: Genbu Kaiden* **─** Wikipedia **EN**