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Shiki Tsukai 1
MAGIC WARRIOR
On the day he turns fourteen, Akira discovers his He’s a shiki tsukai, a warrior with the magical power to control the seasons. He also meets the beautiful Koyomi, another warrior, who is sworn to protect him. For there are evil forces intent on destroying Akira–and the entire universe!
Includes special extras after the story!
[Rating ] T Ages 13+
On the day he turns fourteen, Akira discovers his He’s a shiki tsukai, a warrior with the magical power to control the seasons. He also meets the beautiful Koyomi, another warrior, who is sworn to protect him. For there are evil forces intent on destroying Akira–and the entire universe!
Includes special extras after the story!
[Rating ] T Ages 13+
208 pages, Paperback
First published August 28, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 13, 2018
3.5 stars
The first volume of shiki tsukai was an enjoyable read.
The first volume of shiki tsukai was an enjoyable read.
January 15, 2015
Even before the story begins there is a very nice introductory note explaining the lunisolar calendar vs. the Gregorian calendar most American readers are familiar with and goes on to explain the meaning of the Japanese months since they are a key element to the action of this manga.
It opens in media res with an action scene that won’t make complete sense until we get much further in the book since it’s set one day after the main action. We then flash back to the day before to Akira’s fourteenth birthday. His mom is a tiny woman (I thought she was a sister at first) which becomes a running joke. She possesses an overwhelming personality. We meet his friends Fumiya and Satsuki, who wants to be on a first name basis with Ah-chan (a nickname Akira believes he has outgrown). Akira’s teacher is interesting though with her large boobs, mini-skirt and her long hair in an up-do that looks like cat ears, she’s drawn a tad too stereotypically for my tastes. This teacher, Rei, assigns Akira some birthday chores. While moping over this in class, Akira gets a glimpse of a pretty, long-haired girl in a cherry tree.
His friends give him a hand after class with the chores only to see Akira attacked by a ‘bubble’ of intense summer heat, technically another dimension, created by his attacker. The pretty stranger from before comes to his rescue; she is Koyomi Sakuragi, the Shiki Tsukai of Spring. In Akira’s hand, she becomes a sword, winning him his first battle.
Koyomi takes him home and, in what will become another running joke, she gets caught in various states of undress and his parents and friends think Akira is becoming a sexual master at the tender age of fourteen (embarrassing the boy to no end). Having moved into Akira’s household – Koyomi being the daughter of the owner of the company Akira’s dad works for – Koyomi explains who the Shiki Tsukai are and how they can control the seasons corresponding to their birth months. However, they require shiki-fu, ‘power cards’, to help them access their abilities (technical note, these cards come with full page explanations with tons of birth information on whatever month and day they happen to be discussing at the time).
As it turns out, Akira is special. He doesn’t have to use a card to access his power. In fact, he might be able to use all the Seasons abilities which is why everyone is after him. Koyomi has been designated as his protector. Along the way Akira finds a Kijyuu, an elemental beast created by human malice which he pities. Akira has a soft heart and this is going to cause him no end of trouble because he doesn’t want to fight the Kijyuu or other Shikis.
To Akira’s surprise, his teacher, Rei, is also a Shiki and it might be that his parents are also involved. Certainly Rei and his mom are old rivals, especially for his father’s affections. Volume one ends in a cliffhanger, after an intense battle scene. Rei annoyed me a bit because of how she's drawn (enormous boobs, skin tight mini-skirt dress while teaching)
I was surprised by how much I liked this since I was dubious when I picked it up. At my age, relating to a fourteen year old boy is a stretch and the story does have some stereotypic plot points, like these cards (though the creators claim they did this manga quite some time ago and the cards were ‘ahead of their time.’). The art is good, though the back cover art is annoying. Well, it’s not so much art as it is that for some reason in the blurb they randomly underlined letters and, for reasons unknown, it really bugged me. The storyline, even with some of the clichés, is still interesting enough to keep me reading and wanting to see what happens next. I like poor hapless Akira. He’s endearing.
It opens in media res with an action scene that won’t make complete sense until we get much further in the book since it’s set one day after the main action. We then flash back to the day before to Akira’s fourteenth birthday. His mom is a tiny woman (I thought she was a sister at first) which becomes a running joke. She possesses an overwhelming personality. We meet his friends Fumiya and Satsuki, who wants to be on a first name basis with Ah-chan (a nickname Akira believes he has outgrown). Akira’s teacher is interesting though with her large boobs, mini-skirt and her long hair in an up-do that looks like cat ears, she’s drawn a tad too stereotypically for my tastes. This teacher, Rei, assigns Akira some birthday chores. While moping over this in class, Akira gets a glimpse of a pretty, long-haired girl in a cherry tree.
His friends give him a hand after class with the chores only to see Akira attacked by a ‘bubble’ of intense summer heat, technically another dimension, created by his attacker. The pretty stranger from before comes to his rescue; she is Koyomi Sakuragi, the Shiki Tsukai of Spring. In Akira’s hand, she becomes a sword, winning him his first battle.
Koyomi takes him home and, in what will become another running joke, she gets caught in various states of undress and his parents and friends think Akira is becoming a sexual master at the tender age of fourteen (embarrassing the boy to no end). Having moved into Akira’s household – Koyomi being the daughter of the owner of the company Akira’s dad works for – Koyomi explains who the Shiki Tsukai are and how they can control the seasons corresponding to their birth months. However, they require shiki-fu, ‘power cards’, to help them access their abilities (technical note, these cards come with full page explanations with tons of birth information on whatever month and day they happen to be discussing at the time).
As it turns out, Akira is special. He doesn’t have to use a card to access his power. In fact, he might be able to use all the Seasons abilities which is why everyone is after him. Koyomi has been designated as his protector. Along the way Akira finds a Kijyuu, an elemental beast created by human malice which he pities. Akira has a soft heart and this is going to cause him no end of trouble because he doesn’t want to fight the Kijyuu or other Shikis.
To Akira’s surprise, his teacher, Rei, is also a Shiki and it might be that his parents are also involved. Certainly Rei and his mom are old rivals, especially for his father’s affections. Volume one ends in a cliffhanger, after an intense battle scene. Rei annoyed me a bit because of how she's drawn (enormous boobs, skin tight mini-skirt dress while teaching)
I was surprised by how much I liked this since I was dubious when I picked it up. At my age, relating to a fourteen year old boy is a stretch and the story does have some stereotypic plot points, like these cards (though the creators claim they did this manga quite some time ago and the cards were ‘ahead of their time.’). The art is good, though the back cover art is annoying. Well, it’s not so much art as it is that for some reason in the blurb they randomly underlined letters and, for reasons unknown, it really bugged me. The storyline, even with some of the clichés, is still interesting enough to keep me reading and wanting to see what happens next. I like poor hapless Akira. He’s endearing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 19, 2015
Shiki Tsukai: Volume 1 is an interesting story that fits in with what is going on today in the world. With the threat of Global Warming looming over our heads, the Earth may soon see radical changes. Humans are altering the world they live in by releasing chemicals into the atmosphere, which is causing the temperature of the planet to vary greater than normal. As the polar ice caps melt due to the increase in temperature, the oceans will rise, weather patterns will be affected, and ultimately, we will pay the price for not taking care of the Earth.
The Keepers of the Seasons try to bring this relationship between humans and nature back into balance. Most of the keepers control just one season. Akira has the ability to control all seasons, but does not yet know how to command his powers.
I did enjoy the beauty of the artwork in Shiki Tsukai: Volume 1 and found the storyline to be very interesting. I was a little confused by some of the terms thrown out as they have not been translated into English.
The translation and adaptation to English could have been better as i found some of it rather awkward. The story is fun and this series has a lot of potential.
Overall, Shiki Tsukai: Volume 1 is a great start to a manga series that promises a lot of action, fighting, and magic. I wonder what is going to happen in Shiki Tsukai: Volume 2? I look forward to finding out.
I rated this book an 8 out of 10.
The Keepers of the Seasons try to bring this relationship between humans and nature back into balance. Most of the keepers control just one season. Akira has the ability to control all seasons, but does not yet know how to command his powers.
I did enjoy the beauty of the artwork in Shiki Tsukai: Volume 1 and found the storyline to be very interesting. I was a little confused by some of the terms thrown out as they have not been translated into English.
The translation and adaptation to English could have been better as i found some of it rather awkward. The story is fun and this series has a lot of potential.
Overall, Shiki Tsukai: Volume 1 is a great start to a manga series that promises a lot of action, fighting, and magic. I wonder what is going to happen in Shiki Tsukai: Volume 2? I look forward to finding out.
I rated this book an 8 out of 10.
March 10, 2012
Waaaaaaaaay to preachy. "It's all the humans fault that the world is going to crap! We must sacrifice them all!" ...I don't mind environmental stories, but this one's taking it to the degree of "lame."
Basically, the plot is that a boy named Akira has the ability to control/sense the seasons and can use the "Shiki Tsukai," people with the powers of the seasons, as weapons. In other words, he gropes them and they turn into a sword or something. At least, that's the impression I get from his interactions with the March Shiki Tsukai, Sakuragi (cherry blossom is in her name. Seriously?)
It's like every other summon battle manga out there... Lame.
Also, there are huge blocks of text. And I mean HUGE blocks of TINY text. Explanations are great, but break them up across a few panels.
The only reason it got two rather than one star is that the art is kinda pretty.
Basically, the plot is that a boy named Akira has the ability to control/sense the seasons and can use the "Shiki Tsukai," people with the powers of the seasons, as weapons. In other words, he gropes them and they turn into a sword or something. At least, that's the impression I get from his interactions with the March Shiki Tsukai, Sakuragi (cherry blossom is in her name. Seriously?)
It's like every other summon battle manga out there... Lame.
Also, there are huge blocks of text. And I mean HUGE blocks of TINY text. Explanations are great, but break them up across a few panels.
The only reason it got two rather than one star is that the art is kinda pretty.
April 4, 2016
To-Ru Zekuu's and Yuna Takanagi's "Shiki Tsukagi 1" is a cute manga featuring Akira (and Koyomi), a warrior with the power to control the seasons. It's relatively original, though not entirely, and a wee bit cheesy at times. With that being said, Yuna Takanagi's artwork is pretty cute and is probably the highlight of this particular manga series.
Mayumi Kobayashi did an excellent job with the translation and I had no problem reading any of the print in the book; I thought it was formatted quite well. Whereas it is not one of my all time favorite series, I will probably continue to buy it simply because it is cute and I do not like to leave series unfinished. I would rate it about a 4.3.
Mayumi Kobayashi did an excellent job with the translation and I had no problem reading any of the print in the book; I thought it was formatted quite well. Whereas it is not one of my all time favorite series, I will probably continue to buy it simply because it is cute and I do not like to leave series unfinished. I would rate it about a 4.3.
March 30, 2008
Shiki Tsukai (don't pronounce the "t") Was A really good Manga, it dealt with the seasons. Talking about how certain people had the power to influence the season that they were born in. Then there's Akira, The main character and apperently able to control all of the seasons.
November 23, 2008
I think this manga is ridiculous with non-sensical action scenes. Reminds me of a failure of a manga named Mai-Hime. I guess it all makes more sense in japanese but in english it's a real mess. I had troubles to finish this book.
November 15, 2008
XD
I <3 manga!!
I <3 manga!!
March 12, 2016
Loved it!!!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews