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ふしぎ遊戯 [Fushigi Yûgi] #4
Fushigi Yûgi: The Mysterious Play, Vol. 4: Bandit
When best friends Miaka and Yui open an ancient Chinese book, they find themselves transported to a parallel world. Trapped in the Universe of the Four Gods, Miaka is identified as a priestess who must save an entire empire.
189 pages, Paperback
First published January 26, 1993
8 people are currently reading
377 people want to read
About the author
Yuu Watase
362 books1,167 followersYuu Watase (渡瀬悠宇) is a Japanese shoujo manga-ka. She is known for her works Fushigi Yūgi, Alice 19th, Ceres: The Celestial Legend, Fushigi Yūgi Genbu Kaiden and Absolute Boyfriend. She likes all music, except heavy metal and old traditional music.
She received the Shogakukan Manga Award for shōjo for Ceres, Celestial Legend in 1997. Since writing her debut short story "Pajama de Ojama" ("An Intrusion in Pajamas"), Watase has created more than 80 compiled volumes of short stories and continuing series. Because of her frequent use of beautiful male characters in her works, she is widely regarded in circles[which?] as a bishōnen manga artist.[citation needed] In October 2008, Watase began her first shōnen serialization, Arata: The Legend in Weekly Shōnen Sunday.
Her name is romanized as "Yû Watase" in earlier printings of Viz Media's publications of Fushigi Yūgi, Alice 19th, and Ceres, The Celestial Legend, while in Viz Media's Fushigi Yūgi Genbu Kaiden and Absolute Boyfriend her name is romanized as "Yuu Watase". In Chuang Yi's English-language versions of Fushigi Yugi (spelled without a macron or circumflex), her name is romanized as "Yu Watase".
She received the Shogakukan Manga Award for shōjo for Ceres, Celestial Legend in 1997. Since writing her debut short story "Pajama de Ojama" ("An Intrusion in Pajamas"), Watase has created more than 80 compiled volumes of short stories and continuing series. Because of her frequent use of beautiful male characters in her works, she is widely regarded in circles[which?] as a bishōnen manga artist.[citation needed] In October 2008, Watase began her first shōnen serialization, Arata: The Legend in Weekly Shōnen Sunday.
Her name is romanized as "Yû Watase" in earlier printings of Viz Media's publications of Fushigi Yūgi, Alice 19th, and Ceres, The Celestial Legend, while in Viz Media's Fushigi Yūgi Genbu Kaiden and Absolute Boyfriend her name is romanized as "Yuu Watase". In Chuang Yi's English-language versions of Fushigi Yugi (spelled without a macron or circumflex), her name is romanized as "Yu Watase".
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
September 27, 2016
Welcome back to another recap of Fushigi Yugi! In this volume we learn why Tamahome & Miaka are the best ever for each other (neither knows the meaning of the word "hostage"), that Hotohori is NOT above forcing his kisses on a girl who just found out that her love of life sacrificed himself for their cause, that there are apparently demons in this world...? and gosh I forgot Mitsukake existed at all (he's doesn't fall in love with Miaka after all).
Catching up in the territories:
Over in Qu-dong:
Oh also Yui may have a few lingering doubts about letting Miaka die (maybe? she was trying hard to talk herself out of them) and Nakago REALLY likes whipping hot guys chained up (which is just so wrong since he's like...20-something and Tama baby is only 17).
Over in Hong-nan:
Chichiri just can't mimic the innate gorgeousness of Hotohori to perfection. Literally that's all that's happening in a country on the brink of war.
Amazingly enough I really enjoyed this volume! Mostly because Tasuki shows up and he's all brash and conceited and apparently that's kind of a thing for me. Tasuki is very...larger than life (jumps into fights, hot headed, temper), but believes in his own innate strength. He doesn't let anyone's opinion get him down. I admire that a lot. Plus him and Nuriko eventually get along like besties. Which I love.
I really am getting a little tired of Yui's feud with Miaka though. I'm sorry. Look I understand that Yui (mistakenly) believes that she was raped and Nakago saved her and that its all Miaka's fault that it happened because Miaka didn't arrive in time. Then to find out that Miaka - who was genuinely there to save her, but got a bit sidetracked by DESTINY - had gotten the guy Yui had placed on a pedestal of unbelievable Greatness...well yes okay that sucks. And Nakago is manipulating her pretty hard core for his own reasons. But to talk yourself into being okay with your former best friend dying from a horrible disease? REALLY THOUGH?
This feud continues for at least another ten volumes I think so I should probably just learn to accept it.
Mitsukake is one of the Warriors who didn't make much of an impression on me and who I just barely appreciate now. He's older then the others (mid-20s?), not particularly bishie, has a reactive power (healing) and is quiet. I mostly remember him because of his cat (which Chichiri more or less later adopts so). His non-entity is really only seconded by Chiriko who is REALLY just sort of THERE after the initial introduction of drama.
I do find it awfully interesting that none of Miaka's other Seven are female. Genbu, Seiryu and Byakko all have females as part of their retinue and while Nuriko identifies as female, she also sort of starts edging back towards male the further into the series we go (though she refrains from gender identifying herself beyond "if I had been born female"). Also why does Seiryu have all the creepy people? Genbu I think also has someone kind of not completely human, but no one near the level of those we see later in Seiryu's retinue.
Oh dear lord I just realized what the next volume is about smh
Catching up in the territories:
Over in Qu-dong:
Oh also Yui may have a few lingering doubts about letting Miaka die (maybe? she was trying hard to talk herself out of them) and Nakago REALLY likes whipping hot guys chained up (which is just so wrong since he's like...20-something and Tama baby is only 17).
Over in Hong-nan:
Chichiri just can't mimic the innate gorgeousness of Hotohori to perfection. Literally that's all that's happening in a country on the brink of war.
Amazingly enough I really enjoyed this volume! Mostly because Tasuki shows up and he's all brash and conceited and apparently that's kind of a thing for me. Tasuki is very...larger than life (jumps into fights, hot headed, temper), but believes in his own innate strength. He doesn't let anyone's opinion get him down. I admire that a lot. Plus him and Nuriko eventually get along like besties. Which I love.
I really am getting a little tired of Yui's feud with Miaka though. I'm sorry. Look I understand that Yui (mistakenly) believes that she was raped and Nakago saved her and that its all Miaka's fault that it happened because Miaka didn't arrive in time. Then to find out that Miaka - who was genuinely there to save her, but got a bit sidetracked by DESTINY - had gotten the guy Yui had placed on a pedestal of unbelievable Greatness...well yes okay that sucks. And Nakago is manipulating her pretty hard core for his own reasons. But to talk yourself into being okay with your former best friend dying from a horrible disease? REALLY THOUGH?
This feud continues for at least another ten volumes I think so I should probably just learn to accept it.
Mitsukake is one of the Warriors who didn't make much of an impression on me and who I just barely appreciate now. He's older then the others (mid-20s?), not particularly bishie, has a reactive power (healing) and is quiet. I mostly remember him because of his cat (which Chichiri more or less later adopts so). His non-entity is really only seconded by Chiriko who is REALLY just sort of THERE after the initial introduction of drama.
I do find it awfully interesting that none of Miaka's other Seven are female. Genbu, Seiryu and Byakko all have females as part of their retinue and while Nuriko identifies as female, she also sort of starts edging back towards male the further into the series we go (though she refrains from gender identifying herself beyond "if I had been born female"). Also why does Seiryu have all the creepy people? Genbu I think also has someone kind of not completely human, but no one near the level of those we see later in Seiryu's retinue.
Oh dear lord I just realized what the next volume is about smh
November 10, 2020
All of the Hotohoriness bumped this up to a 5 star for me. Lol
July 26, 2023
I’m really enjoying this series so far. It’s fun, serious and comedic all at the same time. My only complaint would be that I think Miaka is finding the celestial warriors a little too quickly for the amount of volumes this series has. I hope it doesn’t affect the plot negatively.
October 25, 2025
Review for complete series
I am actually really sad and disappointed. Fushigi Yuugi was that one classic shoujo fantasy that I never got around to reading even though I was convinced I would love it. I love Watase's art - this is an older work and the art is a tad dated, but it's perfectly lovely. It's a portal fantasy quest story with Chinese lore and it's not ridiculously long like many of its peers (I'm looking at you Inu Yasha and Yona of the Dawn). Eighteen volumes seemed like the perfect length and there was just no way I wasn't going to love this. It turns out that this manga has some of the worst pacing I have ever come across.
At its core, the story is pretty straight forward: Miaka is your normal school girl who comes by a magic book, gets pulled into an ancient fantasy world and is sent on a quest to collect items that will help her save the world she's in. For this, she needs to pull together some preordained set of warriors who fight by her side. Of course she falls in love with one of them and there's the big drama or which world she will end up staying in. All of this is pretty standard in this type of portal fantasy but that's exactly what I am here for. So while the premise isn't hugely unique, it's definitely not the problem I had with this story.
The first couple of volumes were insta-everything. I'm not just talking about Miaka and Tamahome falling madly in love from volume one, all other relationships are established in the same way. Yui, Miaka's best friend, is also in love with Tamahome from the moment they meet. The emperor is in love with Miaka from before they meet. All allies join their ranks effortlessly and they become best buddies just because. There's no real effort in recruiting any of the characters nor even finding them. Part of the whole point of this quest was to find these characters yet they just sometimes stumble into a scene, introducing themselves and declaring they're part of the gang and are already set to join them on a quest - no questions asked. It was so extreme that I don't think the last two characters added to the group were given much of a personality and were completely forgettable.
The problem with tossing these characters together like that is that there are no real developments. They say they all love and care for each other but, as far as I am concerned, I can't really believe them. If I see characters get to know each other, grow and form bonds, I will care for them. If they just pop out of the blue and risk limb and life for each other I feel there is something sorely lacking. I can't invest into friendships or romances that just kind of happened without any development whatsoever.
The plot becomes continuously more dark and a lot of deaths and loss occur. I'd normally feel something for these characters by that point but everything feels so over the top dramatic given what it is all based on. The pacing did improve quite a bit halfway through the series and the last couple of volumes were over all well-paced. The problem is that the damage was already done - the characters grew on me to some extent and while their actions and motifs became more believable, it still didn't do away with how wishy-washy their starting point was.
I also need to dedicate a paragraph to Yui - I feel no sympathy for her whatsoever. I don't care if she was manipulated, her actions were shallow and selfish. She blames Miaka for things she didn't do and sets heaven and hell loose just to get an uncalled for revenge. It's such a shame because I liked Yui's character in the second arc but yet again, it was already ruined by how she acted in the first arc. I'm not saying a character can't redeem themselves, Yui did do her part to earn forgiveness. The problem is that her anger and bitterness was completely misplaced and out of proportion.
I am not saying that this is a bad manga. I do think that a lot of people who like this are driven by nostalgia and I think I would have liked it a lot more had it also been one of my first manga. But after years of manga reading, this just doesn't deliver emotionally what I would expect of a good fantasy manga. The art is its strongest point, the characters are nice but they were never given the time they needed to grow. I don't think that eighteen volumes was too short, I just think that Watase priorities the wrong things over proper character and relationship development. I am not even sure what I am going to do with my copies - it's a good chunk of eighteen volumes taking up shelf space and somehow I don't see myself reading it again. Yet there's a part of me that just really wants to like this - but of course, wanting to like something and actually liking it are not the same thing. I think it will ultimately depend on how much I like its prequel Genbu Kaiden - I expect it to be a better work as it was written later and Watase has already proven in other works and in Fushigi Yuugi's second arc that she can write a properly paced story.
January 1, 2020
Everything is happening so fast. I can't seem to remember this part which is good. Now on to the next one.
July 12, 2021
Things are moving, but I'm still just kind of reading this to say I've read it at this point.
I don't hate it, but Yui is annoying and the plot is rushed at times and meandering at others.
I don't hate it, but Yui is annoying and the plot is rushed at times and meandering at others.
April 15, 2022
Volume 4! I'm so glad that both of the 𝙲𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚊𝚕 𝚆𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚘𝚛 were found! But of course before that even happened Tamahome willingly gave himself to the enemy of the 𝐐𝐮-𝐃𝐨𝐧 Empire. While reading I noticed how in the manga he says "𝑻𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝑪𝒂𝒓𝒆" but in the show the English dub 𝚃𝚊𝚖𝚊 says "𝑻𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝑪𝒂𝒓𝒆, 𝒎𝒚 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆." I thought it was kinda cute that the writers of the show added that instead of the other line. Secondly, when trying to find the 5th 𝙲𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚊𝚕 𝚆𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚘𝚛 I got so annoyed with Huang- Lang is also known as Tasuki cuz he tricked them into believing that Tasuki was dead, but wasn't! And I think that low-key his friend, Knei-Gong looks like 𝚃𝚊𝚖𝚊𝚋𝚊𝚋𝚢, but I think the author did that as a joke? But other than that, I think Tasuki (Huang-Lang) has a thing for Miaka our main girl, but that could be a theory of mine. Now when trying to find the other warrior it was tricky, but kinda obvious that he would be healer with a tragic story! I mean having the power is great, but what's good of having it if you can't save the one you loved? Thankfully, 𝑴𝒊𝒂𝒌𝒂 told Nioh-An that in fact that he did save the one he loved! Oh, and I forgot something! The illness that took over the town. It starts with a fever than it makes you blind! What??? In the show 𝑴𝒊𝒂𝒌𝒂 didn't experience that! I guess they took that part out. So, 𝑴𝒊𝒂𝒌𝒂 was thankfully saved by Nioh the sixth warrior! And as for 𝚃𝚊𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚜 he's still a hostage and been Beat It Up by Nakago! What a jerk!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2021
Puh, das geht ja Schlag auf Schlag hier - in meiner Erinnerung hatte es länger gedauert, die ganzen Seishi zu finden. Da bin ich ja echt gespannt, was noch alles kommt (vorallem in den Bänden, die ich noch nie gelesen hatte...).
Und irgendwie ist Tasuki doch der gleiche Charakter wie Kouga von Inuyasha, oder? Bandit, Wölfe, er sieht ihm sogar irgendwie ähnlich...
Und irgendwie ist Tasuki doch der gleiche Charakter wie Kouga von Inuyasha, oder? Bandit, Wölfe, er sieht ihm sogar irgendwie ähnlich...
September 30, 2021
Two more Celestial Warriors found in this one! Our twist villain continues to be...twisty? Miaka tries to cope without Tamahome and Hotohori still is the best. <3 Overall this series continues on a decent pace but I do feel it's been stagnant for two volumes and needs something edgier upcoming to keep me invested.
December 7, 2021
3.5
Se sigue completando el álbum de las constelaciones, va mucho más rápido de lo que esperaba.
Hotohori no puede ser más bueno.
La segunda mitad me gustó mucho más que la primera, qué historia dulce y triste.
Le bajo medio punto porque el humor me chocó por momentos, hay chistes que realmente no envejecieron bien.
Se sigue completando el álbum de las constelaciones, va mucho más rápido de lo que esperaba.
Hotohori no puede ser más bueno.
La segunda mitad me gustó mucho más que la primera, qué historia dulce y triste.
Le bajo medio punto porque el humor me chocó por momentos, hay chistes que realmente no envejecieron bien.
January 21, 2022
Things move forward quickly as we find two more Celestial Warriors. Yay.
Yui keeps being the petty bitch she is, and making things difficult. Boo.
And we get a bit of zombie action, with a ghost-type character that can raise the dead?! Doble yay!
[P.S. If you're planning on reading this manga, have in mind that is a 30 year old series and some jokes and dialogue DID NOT aged well.]
Yui keeps being the petty bitch she is, and making things difficult. Boo.
And we get a bit of zombie action, with a ghost-type character that can raise the dead?! Doble yay!
[P.S. If you're planning on reading this manga, have in mind that is a 30 year old series and some jokes and dialogue DID NOT aged well.]
January 7, 2025
One of the most fascinating aspects of Fushigi Yuugi is the journey to gather the seven Suzaku Seishi. This quest is packed with adventure, emotional depth, and, notably, layers of deceit and secrecy. The reasons some Seishi conceal their identities add a level of intrigue and complexity to the narrative, making each character’s introduction and backstory more impactful.
Read
February 24, 2018Binge reading some of these volumes today because I'm in the mood for this world now
Yui still needs to calm down, now she's messing with Tamahome and Miaka's relationship?! SOMEONE STOP THIS PETTY GIRL.
Yui still needs to calm down, now she's messing with Tamahome and Miaka's relationship?! SOMEONE STOP THIS PETTY GIRL.
September 22, 2017
Ok this is where i lost it.
( I dont know but i think here)
Man ,Miaka...
This is where i cry.
( I dont know but i think here)
Man ,Miaka...
This is where i cry.
October 28, 2017
Reread. Such a great story
October 3, 2018
I will always love Tasuki <3
March 29, 2019
....Harmful to the psyches of young girls everywhere.
December 5, 2019
3,5 stars
February 3, 2020
SHOCKED PORQUE SÓLO LE FALTA UNA ESTRELLA DE SUZAKU POR ENCONTRAR Y ESTOY VA MUY RÁPIDO.
February 27, 2023
This one sucked me in!!!
January 17, 2024
Wasn't really feeling the first half, but zombies really turned it around for me.
November 5, 2024
2024 goal 160/150
November 30, 2024
I kind of expecting it that the 5th member of suzaku is actually the young guy who says Tasuki is already dead. He looks like one of the main characters.
January 18, 2025
My favorite episode in this manga is when Miaka and the gal was in journey to find the 5th member of suzaku warriors. It's so chaotic and fun to read!
September 17, 2025
This very fantastic book.I have a great time reading it.
December 19, 2025
This was pretty enjoyable. Maybe reading 14 more volumes won't be painful.
March 24, 2024
4 stars. This older school fantasy manga has such an interesting story development with the main plot. I am also enjoying the main character and art.
September 17, 2018
Today's post is on Fushigi Yugi: The Mysterious Play, Volume 4: Bandit by Yuu Watase. It is 189 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover has the two main characters on it facing the reader. The intended reader is someone who likes historical fantasy, high fantasy, romance, and shojo stories. There is mild foul language, mild sexuality, and violence in this story. The story is told from third person close of the main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.
From the back of the book- After being drawn into the world of a strange book with her ex-best friend and now-enemy Yui, Miaka searches to find the remaining three Celestial Warriors, leading her into the lair of bandits and to a plague-curses town.
Review- Lots of plot happens with Yui demanded that Tamahome come with her and stay as hostage. He does it to save everyone but Miaka is of course over the top about getting him back. So much so that she almost gets eaten by a demon. But she gets out ok and finds another warrior. Tamahome is in a really bad place because he tries to go back to help Miaka and gets tortured by the enemy general. Yui is in love with Tamahome as well so that is going to make things so much harder for everyone including herself. The enemy general is going to be a really bad guy if not the ultimate baddie. He is doing stuff behind the scenes that we are just getting hints of but Yui has no idea about. Watase is a master plotter and I am very curious about where the plot is going.
I give this volume a Five out Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.
From the back of the book- After being drawn into the world of a strange book with her ex-best friend and now-enemy Yui, Miaka searches to find the remaining three Celestial Warriors, leading her into the lair of bandits and to a plague-curses town.
Review- Lots of plot happens with Yui demanded that Tamahome come with her and stay as hostage. He does it to save everyone but Miaka is of course over the top about getting him back. So much so that she almost gets eaten by a demon. But she gets out ok and finds another warrior. Tamahome is in a really bad place because he tries to go back to help Miaka and gets tortured by the enemy general. Yui is in love with Tamahome as well so that is going to make things so much harder for everyone including herself. The enemy general is going to be a really bad guy if not the ultimate baddie. He is doing stuff behind the scenes that we are just getting hints of but Yui has no idea about. Watase is a master plotter and I am very curious about where the plot is going.
I give this volume a Five out Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.
January 4, 2024
How exciting was this volume! There were literal zombies... I just was not expecting that kind of action (not really sure why tho, it fits pretty well). Plus two more (harem) guys were added, leaving only one more. Has me curious what'll happen after Miaka finds them all, because we still have a lot more to read.
We got some really good character moments too. Miaka's attitude and perseverance was quite commendable here, because she was going through it, and she still refused to give up and lose her positive and hopeful attitude. It did a lot to make me like her and appreciate her as out heroine.
Yui was quite irritating though. She still refuses to consider that Miaka came back for her andTamahome, not one or the other, and that it's not her fault that Yui suffered so severely. It just makes her super unlikable.
Tamahome was still good, but we didn't get to see him as much, so he didn't get to have as many humorous or heartfelt scenes (the note wa so sweet though).
And Hotohori is vying for my heart, severely so. Honestly I really think I might prefer him and his overall disposition to Tamahome's. Plus his narcissism is really funny.
Can't wait to read volume 5!
We got some really good character moments too. Miaka's attitude and perseverance was quite commendable here, because she was going through it, and she still refused to give up and lose her positive and hopeful attitude. It did a lot to make me like her and appreciate her as out heroine.
Yui was quite irritating though. She still refuses to consider that Miaka came back for her andTamahome, not one or the other, and that it's not her fault that Yui suffered so severely. It just makes her super unlikable.
Tamahome was still good, but we didn't get to see him as much, so he didn't get to have as many humorous or heartfelt scenes (the note wa so sweet though).
And Hotohori is vying for my heart, severely so. Honestly I really think I might prefer him and his overall disposition to Tamahome's. Plus his narcissism is really funny.
Can't wait to read volume 5!
December 21, 2016
One star more! Yay
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews