Arata: The Legend
Plot. Arata of another world called and Arata Hinohara of modern-day Japan switch places. An illusion hides the switch from people of both worlds, and Hinohara and Arata pass as each other. Kannagi, a wielder of special sword-spirits called , has led eleven other wielders against their ruler Princess Kikuri and framed Arata, the sole witness. The Imperial Court convicts Arata and exiles him to Gatoya Island, but due to the switch, Hinohara goes in Arata's place. Kotoha, Arata's childhood friend, accompanies Hinohara and gives him Tsukuyo, a Hayagami that Hinohara activated before his  trial. She also gives him a charm , through which he and Arata communicate. Barely alive, Kikuri also speaks to Hinohara through the charm and tasks him with restoring order to Amawakuni. Hinohara escapes Gatoya, learns to use Tsukuyo, and gains allies, including Kannagi. As he defeats the other rebels, Hinohara learns Masato Kadowaki, a bully from his past in modern-day Japan, has followed in his footsteps. After switching places with Harunawa, one of the mysterious Six Shinshō, Kadowaki activates a Hayagami of his own, Orochi, and faces Hinohara in multiple fights. Along the way, Hinohara and Kotoha grow close , and their relationship complicated when Kotoha discovers Hinohara's true identity and when he loses control of his growing power and hurts her. In modern-day Japan, Arata adjusts to high school and befriends Imina Oribe. Imina, a woman from Kikuri's clan who winded up lost on Earth fifteen years prior, is the true heir. Harunawa, who passes as Kadowaki, plots to kill Imina and end Kikuri's line. Arata and Imina search for information in prophecies on how to foil the Six Shinshō's ambition to rule both Amawakuni and Earth. Harunawa attacks the school and infects the  city to augment his powers. Imina counters the outbreak with her Amatsuriki abilities, unique to women of her clan, to protect Arata and the Hinohara family. Media. Manga. Written and illustrated by Yuu Watase, "Arata: The Legend" started in Shogakukan's "Weekly Shōnen Sunday" on October 1, 2008. In January 2014, Watase announced that the series was heading toward its climax. The same month, Watase also posted on her personal blog about negative experiences with a former editor for her series. After a chapter published on February 26, 2014, Watase put the series on hiatus. The series resumed publication from  July 8 to August 26, 2015, before entering another hiatus. In May 2018, Watase posted on Twitter that she was trying to resume the manga that year, adding that she was still recovering from depression. In December 2020, Watase reveled that she had planned the series' remaining plot. "Weekly Shōnen Sunday" started republishing chapters (that are set to be collected in the remastered edition) on May 19, 2021, while all-new chapters started in the magazine on July 7 of the same year. The manga finished its publication in the magazine on April 20, 2022, and it will be transferred  to "Sunday Webry" website starting on May 4 of the same year. Shogakukan collected its chapters into twenty-four individual "tankōbon" volumes, published from January 16, 2009, to September 18, 2015. Shogakukan started re-releasing the series in a two-in-one volume "remastered edition", which includes the original color page chapters from the magazine and various other modifications. The first volume was released on July 18, 2013. On May 14, 2021, Watase wrote on her blog that the "tankōbon" edition of the series would not continue being published and the series will only continue with the remastered edition. As  of April 18, 2022, fifteen volumes have been released. In North America, the manga was licensed for English release by Viz Media in 2009. Viz Media published the first volume on March 9, 2010. As of August 9, 2016, twenty-four volumes have been released. Anime. In December 2012, "Weekly Shōnen Sunday" announced that the manga would receive an anime television series adaptation. The 12-episode series is produced by Satelight and Korean studio JM Animation, and was broadcast on TV Tokyo from April 8 to July 1, 2013. The opening theme is "Genesis Aria", performed by Sphere, and the  ending theme is "The Misfit Go", performed by Oldcodex. The series was streamed by Crunchyroll in the United States and Canada. Reception. Rebecca Bundy of Anime News Network gave the first volume an overall B+ for "Great art and character designs; plus, Watase's ability to create interesting lore is as sharp as ever." She also noted, however, that the "Pathetic, cowardly main character makes everything involving him painful to read." Deb Aoki of About.com notes that the plot is "fairly formulaic fantasy fare that's just a bit too predictable to offer fans something truly fresh and new" but  that the series has her "hooked." Todd Douglass of Blogcritics.org says that the first volume is "strongly recommended," despite some reservations. Christopher Nadolsk of Mania.com says that the first volume offers "an entertaining and eye-pleasing escapist fantasy read."