Aoba and the others storm Enju's hidden palace to rescue Sakura. Byakuya must defeat Maimai for the key to the tower where Sakura is being held. Maimai is a ruthless killer, but Byakuya is about to unleash her secret powers...
Name in Japanese: 種村有菜 (Tanemura Arina) Western Zodiac: Pisces
Arina Tanemura was born on March 12, 1978. She's the author of Full Moon O Sagashite, Time Stranger Kyoko, Kamikaze Kaito Jeanne, The Gentlemen's Alliance Cross, Sakura Hime Kaden, and more.
Her favorite hobby is Karaoke. One song that she sings is Smile, originally by Myco. She has two cats, named Riku and Kai. She has one elder and one younger sister and one brother. She's the type who hates to lose in anything. She also likes Ribon.
True to shoujo manga, the battles in this book are more about the characters' feelings than they are about violence, though they don't do too badly with the latter. Of course, it all comes down to who is more worthy of protecting Sakura. :)
The vampire story that closes the book was really cute. I wouldn't have minded to see these two investigate more psychic phenomena. It's probably the only manga short that I've ever read that left any impression on me two minutes after I finished reading it, so that's another mark in its favor.
Volume 5 of Sakura Hime revolves around Byakuya and Kohaku.
Byakuya continues her battle with Maimai and we get to see her secret- she also can transform. In the battle, she was able to pull out Sakura's sword, but Sakura was able to feel it and call it back. Maimai doesn't die and Byakuya finds the key to the tower.
Kohaku battles with Shuri, but most of it is the back story of Shuri. He quickly becomes a character that is misunderstood and likable- and of course his defeat is heartbreaking.
This volume had some strong character development and as the series progresses, I'm more and more impressed.
Aoba and the others storm Enju's hidden palace to rescue Sakura. Byakuya must defeat Maimai for the key to the tower where Sakura is being held. Maimai is a ruthless killer, but Byakuya is about to unleash her secret powers...
My Thoughts:
There were some surprises in this volume. Byakuya's battle with Maimai goes in a way that I didn't expect at all. She's surprisingly violent.
Then, it's Kohaku up against Shuri, a ninja that betrayed their village. Only, that isn't the whole story. It was a pretty fierce battle and I'm still not completely sure how it turned out, but I guess I'll find out in v.6.
Princess Sakura is a descendant of the creatures of the moon whose hand has been promised to the Imperial Prince Oura. To hide the powers that lurk inside her, Princess Sakura has been raised in isolation. But Sakura is unwilling to enter a marriage without love and chooses to run away - even at the risk of her true nature being exposed.
Sakura Hime: The Legend of Princess Sakura is everything wrong with The Gentlemen's Alliance Cross done right - it includes the best of all Tanemura's previous works. After the mess that was The Gentlemen's Alliance Cross, I was really worried that the then newest series of a long time favourite mangaka of mine would disappoint again. Luckily, that was far from the case!
The setting of the Heian Period allowed for interesting folklore and absolutely gorgeous designs for the characters; all those beautiful kimono and long flowing hair! Just the art alone makes this a pleasure to read. And thanks to the fantasy setting, many story elements that fell flat in The Gentlemen's Alliance Cross unfolded beautifully; there certainly was drama, but it suited the circumstances and we are, after all, talking about an Imperial Court. And I was so pleased to see her old humour, which I so love, return.
Although I felt that the romance developed very rapidly, I can't say that it bothered me. The first volumes do revolve around Sakura and Oura, but the plot focuses on so much more than just the two once the story gets going. Thanks to the romance not being the only focus, this story was rich in wonderful characters who all had their share of spotlight. There were wonderful friendships, family bonds, court intrigues, action and a plot that keeps you guessing. It was just such a beautifully well-rounded story from beginning to end.
This is one of those stories that has so many great characters, I wouldn't even know where to begin looking for a favourite. Although I am tempted to say that it is Sakura's little spirit friend Asagiri, there are so many others that are equally lovable. Sakura herself is also a nice character, I loved how she was sincere and naive yet would also simply be lazy and childish. There is a lot of character growth - not only for her but for the majority of characters. As there are so many characters to love, it's so easy to get emotionally invested and there's a lot of sadness the cast needs to overcome. It is also great how, as the story progresses, the line between good and evil dims more and more.
The only thing I would criticise about Sakura Hime is how conveniently everyone seems to be connected. Every character is related to someone else one way or another. After a while, it felt like a repetitive plot twist when yet another character was revealed to be someone's long-lost lover, friend or sibling. However, given all the wonderful elements of this plot, it is a small matter that can easily be ignored.
A delightful surprise through and through - I am utterly in love with the setting, characters and plot and after this am inclined to believe that Tanemura's stories work out best if there is at least a hint of fantasy involved! Now if only there were an artbook...
Zum Inhalt: Aoba, Byakuya und Kohaku kämpfen mit Leibeskräften darum, Prinzessin Sakura aus Enjus Turm zu befreien. Dabei besiegt Byakuya Maimai, die sich in ein zerstörungswütiges Mondwesen verwandelt. Währenddessen muss Kohaku gegen ihren einstigen Jugendfreund Shuri antreten. Doch nichts ist, wie es zunächst scheint.
Um Sakura aus den Fängen von Enju zu befreien, machen sich Aoba, Byakuya und Kohaku samt Frosch Hayate auf den Weg zum Schloss der Mondwesen, mit dem Wissen, dass es sie das Leben kosten könnte. Während Sakura noch immer hin und her gerissen ist, ob sie nun für ihre Freunde oder ihren Bruder stehen soll, stellen sich den Menschen die Mondwesen entgegen. So muss Byakuya gegen MaiMai antreten und Kohaku gegen ihren Jugendfreund Shuri, der einst seinen Bruder und Kohakus guten Freund umgebracht hat. Während der Kämpfe erfahren die Freunde, welche Last auf den Seelen der Mondwesen liegen und warum sie sich dazu entschlossen haben sich Enju und seinen Machenschaften anzuschließen.
Die Fortsetzung des Mangas aus der Feder von Arina Tanemura ist gewohnt interessant. Die Zeichnungen sind sehr schön und detailliert, auch wenn die Charakterdesigns noch immer sehr langweilig gleich sind. In diesem Band erfährt der Leser mehr über die Mondwesen Shuri und MaiMai, welche ja einst Menschen waren und erst mit dem Trinken aus der Mondquelle zu dem geworden sind, was sie nun eben sind. MaiMai war einst ein Junge, der durch ein Mal entstellt und somit zum Außenseiter geworden war. Schönheit ist für ihn alles und so mutiert das eigentlich so sympathische Mondwesen zur Furie und macht Byakuya das Leben schwer. Was in Folge des Kampfes passiert und welche Geheimnisse aufgedeckt werden macht einfach Spaß. Auch Shuri, der Gegner von Kohaku hat sein eigenes Päckchen zu tragen, so muss er den Tod seines eigenen Bruders verantworten, den Kohaku nun rächen will. Doch auch hier ist der Hintergrund weit tief greifender, als es erst vermuten lässt. Sakura muss sich in der Zeit den Kampf ihrer Freunde hilflos mit ansehen, denn sie ist noch immer zwischen Freunden und Familie hin und her gerissen. Außerdem muss sie sich noch immer dem Hass ihres unfreiwilligen Zwillings Rurijo aussetzen.
Die Storyline, die Arina Tanemura hier geschaffen hat macht Spaß. Sie verbindet wahnsinnige Figuren mit liebevollen Elementen. Sie schafft es aus Opfern Täter zu machen und aus Tätern Opfer. Der Leser wird zwischen den Fronten hin und her geschoben, man weiß nicht, wer gut und wer wirklich böse ist. Das ist geschickt und macht wirklich Spaß. Empfehlen möchte ich den Manga weiterhin allen Fans von Arina Tanemura, wenn sie über die gleichbleibenden Charakterdesigns hinweg sehen können. Außerdem möchte ich es allen Fans von Magical-Girl-Mangas empfehlen.
The fifth volume continues the quest to rescue Sakura from Enju's moon palace and has even less Sakura herself than the previous volume. Instead, we learn of Byakuya's secret and Kohaku and her ninja friends' story.
Although fight with Maimai gets a conclusion, it only teases Byakuya's story actually. And as a teaser it worked perfectly, I'm dying to know who is really is! I of course have my prediction of the matter... Knowing Arina's way of weaving stories, and this one in particular, I'm pretty sure of the answer.
I liked Kohaku's part of the volume a lot! She's been the airhead of the group but here's another, more sad, side to her. She's been "the chipper sidekick" but now she gets more meat around her bones. I think this manga's theme could be "hidden selves", meaning that everybody is hiding their true self more or less. Some of them might show it (Sakura being the most obvious with her princess self and magical moon girl self) but others, like Kohaku, don't change physically but are keeping up the appearances. And that theme applies to Sakura and her friends and to Enju and the moon people.
This volume was very serious too. The flashbacks to Kohaku's childhood in ninja village had some humour yes, but the overall atmosphere was sad and serious. Arina's series aren't comedies but have often a lot of humour but this one has heavier feel in general. And that's fine! I prefer drama.
The series has turned into an ensemble piece during the last couple of books. It started as Sakura's story but now it has been everybody's story. I do like reading about the other characters because they are interesting and entertaining but I hope the story focuses on Sakura again soon too.
There's also 50-page short story unrelated to Sakura, called Vampire Rose. It's fun little manga about a school's occult club and a supposed vampire living in the school. It's a nice paranormal romance à la Arina.
Considering how much I really disliked the previous volume, I was hesitantly bracing myself that I could be potentially dropping this series. Imagine my surprise when I definitely did NOT feel that way!!
The first thing that had me completely shocked, asking questions, and not able to read fast enough was…WHAT HAPPENED TO BYAKUYA?!?! :o :o :o :o I totally need answers and even went back and reread parts of that chapter just to make sure I didn't miss anything! Not only that, I even reread the creator's notes about that specific chapter to see if she shared anything, but no, there was nothing. I am SOOOO curious as to what happened and what that means!! :o :o :o
The second thing that had me super engaged was the backstory surrounding Kohaku! That was a REALLY good chapter, especially how it tied into the big fight that takes place later on. I felt a VERY wide range of emotions and can say that on the final page of this part of the story (not the bonus story), I had tears in my eyes.
I'm unsure of why this volume pulled me in when the previous volume didn't, but I think this is my favorite volume yet as I felt VERY emotionally invested. I could feel the stakes in every action and decision, whether it was in the past or the present. Each choice by these characters, though especially Kohaku, was very intense and left me emotionally reeling.
I'm scared to know what is going to happen to one of the characters in the next volume. I have gotten attached to him just like the original cast and want a HAPPY ending for him and these characters. I'm truly hoping that it's possible even if some people are keeping their real selves hidden...
Byakuya almost finishes off Maimai. Next up, Shuri and Kohaku go up against each other and Kohaku confronts Shuri on his past misdeeds such as killing his own brother, Hato. Shuri responds that did it out of his love for Kohaku, Hato had infuriated him by telling him he would always be Kohaku's number 3, so he killed him. It turns out, Hato killed himself in order to save Shuri from Enju and the others.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Sakura wasn't even in this volume. The weakest entry this far, building on side characters we have no reason to care about and then they decided that it was a good idea to include a 50 page one shot at the end? I question what is going on behind theses decesions.
The Maimai/Byakuya battle ends with a surprising revelation. The story then moves on to ninjas Kohaku and Shuri. Through a series of flashbacks, Tanemura-sensei casts an air of tragedy over the fight between former friends, but from a battle standpoint, her depiction of the duel feels flawed.
The Review
At the end of the previous volume, Byakuya looked like she was in deep trouble, but given her abilities and wisdom, you’d suspect she’d be able to get out of it on her own. And she does – in a manner that’s surprising in more ways than one. Apparently, Sakura and Asagiri aren’t the only ones capable of transformation, and Byakuya’s triumph over Maimai unveils a previously unseen aspect that gives the hitherto mundane sage an air of mystery.
The story then moves on to the next fight between Kohaku and the deserter ninja Shuri. Those who are fans of the ninja characters will enjoy flashbacks of Kohaku, Shuri, and Hayate as children, but the focus is less on Enju’s minion Shuri and more on Kohaku.
With this arc, it feels like Tanemura-sensei’s trying to inject a bit of Naruto into the series with the ninja village and the child ninja who wants so badly to become the next leader. Kohaku, however, is not the underdog that Naruto is. As the current leader’s daughter, she’s hardly an outcast, and she’s beloved by her peers. So she doesn’t evoke the level of sympathy Naruto does and comes across instead as a klutzy crybaby, especially when she vows never to cry again and is bawling seven pages later. Given the mistakes Kohaku’s made thus far in the series, seeing her holding her own against Shuri is a bit of a stretch. It’s also rather strange that the Prince and the others don’t just leave Kohaku to dispatch Shuri and go rescue Sakura. Instead, everyone takes a seat to watch the fight, as if it’s a match in the ninja chunin exams, despite the fact that they’re very much in enemy territory.
By the way, Volume 5 includes several extras including bonus funnies, bonus illustrations, and the 50-page one-shot White Rose Academy: Vampire Rose.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Shoujo manga has trained me to believe these are the greatest most important relationships, full stop. I am super ready to read the story of the reconciliation of Shuri and Kohaku as facilitated by Hayate as mediator. Did you see that panel at the end when he picked the both of them up? I think my heart grew three sizes just then.
I'll see a doctor. Right after Shuri is reintegrated into the village and all the ninjas live happily ever after.
I dug the second half of this volume much more than the first because well childhood friends ninja kids backstory, of course I would. But also because I don't really understand Sakura's affection for Maimai. I mean dude turned into a murderer just because he wanted to be beautiful. Not cool. And Byakuya raised her, you think she'd be a bit more conflicted about being kind to the man who was trying to kill her three seconds ago. :l I'm generally Miss Sympathy For The Villain myself but that's just cold. You tried to kill my pseudo-grandma but hey it's cool, of course you're still pretty?
I give this 4 stars. Lovely illustrations. Nice to get the back stories for the characters. Lots of couples emerging which I like a lot. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Spoiler Note to Self:Heian Era Princess Sakura(14yo,sis,Princess Kaguya's(moon princess)granddaughter,orphan,immortal(mixed blood),pal)+Prince Oura(Aoba,17yo,betrothed,nephew,transforms to wolf,pal2),Fujimurasaki(Togu(next emperor),uncle),Asagiri(mononoke(spirit),mini,snow spirit,blood cursed,companion pal),Priestess Byakuya (old,mononoke(spirit),immortal,pal),Kohaku (ninja,8th ninja village leaders daughter,pal2)+ Hayate(frog,human ninja, pal2),Enju(older bro Kai,immortal,insane due to repeated drowning), Maimai(Den,male,immortal,Enju's team),Rurijo(Sakura elm doll,Enju's lover),Shuri(ninja,spy,immortal, Enju's team,pal2),Ukyo(Asagiri's lover,immortal,Enju's team).
Ich war den Tränen im 4. Band schon sehr nahe, als Byakuya da plötzlich in der Mangel von MaiMai steckte und der Tod schon ziemlich laut rief. Doch die plötzliche Nacht und die Verwandlung warfen Fragen auf: Wer war Byakuya wirklich? Meine Vermutung: Kaguya selbst.
Die Geschichte von Kohaku, Hayate und Shuri – und auch Aoba/Prinz Ora hat mich total bewegt. Vor allem die Darstellung (also Zeichnung) der kleinen Kohaku war soooo süß. Die Geschichte dahinter umso trauriger. Man versteht nun endlich, warum sie ihren alten Kinderfreund Aoba mit Prinz Ora anspricht, obwohl er das selbst nicht will.
Auch die Beziehung zwischen Kohaku und Hayate ist süß.
So the art is still as gorgeous and ever and the backstory involving the ninja was awesome - but other than that, nothing special is going on in this volume of Sakura Hime. I think it's time for me to accept that this Tanemura is different than the Tanemura who gave us treasures like Full Moon wo Sagoshite and Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne; a good few of the plot elements in this story feel borrowed from other sources. Plus, it feels like Sakura's been sidelined from most of the action - and this is her series, for goodness' sake. The 4-koma featuring Tanemura and her assistants are pretty adorable, though; can we have more of those please?
I got to hand it to Tanemura-san with this series... she really put a lot of thought into making this an exciting, action packed series. There is a lot more depth and mystery to all these characters than she's ever put in her stories before. This is definitely her best series!
What is up with the name Hikaru? This is the third series in row where there has been a character named Hikaru (though this one was in her one shot story at the end... which was kind of blah in my opinion).
I get really excited at the end of each of these volumes to read the next one. I am glad I saved this series for last!
I didn't enjoy this as much as the other volumes. I think it might be because I care more about Sakura more than I do about the moon people (Shuri's backstory was interesting, though). I'm still looking forward to seeing how this story ends up. Bring on the drama!
Also, the short story included in this volume (White Rose Academy: Vampire Rose, which has absolutely nothing to do with Sakura Hime) was bizarre but funny. And cute too. It's just kind of creepy that Hikaru looks like Enju. Just saying.
We not only get several fight scenes but we also start learning the past of the missing ninja via several flashbacks. As time passes I can't help but like the 'bad' guys a little. So far all the characters in the manga have an interesting past that makes them all flawed, and to me that makes them more real as characters.