"Those who are right will win in the end."
Happy Christmas, flist!
I've meant to write, but I just haven't. You are all drowning in holiday fests anyway, so I suppose you don't mind at all.
Instead, I'm going to share a favorite of mine. I've been pimping this to everyone for years, but think it's time for a proper post.
.
.
BASARA by Tamura Yumi is the epic shoujo war manga of my heart.
The setting is feudal Japan in the far future after civilization has collapsed and mankind has reverted back to ancient traditions. The story begins in a desert village where a set of twins are prophecised to save the country from an age of tyranny. The boy - named Tatara - is proclaimed to be the Savior. And the girl - named Sarasa - just has the same face. Everything changes when they turn 15. After Tatara is brutally murdered by the enigmatic Red King, Sarasa must step into her brother's shoes and assume the role of the Savior in disguise. Thus our story begins... [summery from Midori]
SARASA
One of the things I adore the most about this series is Sarasa. She's the main character in what is a true assembly cast. Her plight and complexity are fascinating, and the enduring strength she possesses makes me fall in love with her again and again.
Easily of the most dynamic characters in the series, Sarasa grows from bring a bratty kid, bitter over her savior brother, to the leader of a revolution, general of an army for the people and for the land and for the future. It's an incredible journey that she never sought, never wanted. She fills a need, through sacrifice and determination, and there is no greater enemy that she faces, than her own self doubt.
During the early 90s when Basara was running, Sarasa stood alone among other shoujo heroines, who whined and cried and couldn't function without a man.
Early on, a wealthy man (who, unknown to her, happens to be the Emperor's son and her hated enemy :D) propositions her.
SHURI: Sarasa. Come with me.
SHURI: I'll give you the most luxurious time of your life.
SARASA: I'm not interested in luxury.
SARASA: I'll kill the people who murdered my family. That's all.
SHURI: Well. At least you had a family worth avenging.
SHURI: "Those who are right will win in the end."
Shuri is, quite frankly, an ass. He's the unfavorable youngest son of the Emporer, prophesied to be the end of the royal family. He's brass and arrogant, but he's small and knows how to get shit done. Determined to take Japan from his worthless relatives, Shuri dreams of restoring the vast desert of Kyoto to a greener land.
One who rules with an iron fist, Shuri views Tatara's presence as a hindrance to his own plans, and seeks to snuff out the flame of his rebellious followers while it is still inconsequential.
Shuri is also very dynamic, having to fall to nothing and build himself back up again. The man has more come backs than Rocky and more hair seizures than Atobe.
And in the end, he's still an ass. <3
SHURI/SARASA
NIGHTINGALE: Why would you ever regret loving a person, Sarasa?
SARASA: Because I'm scared that if I can't hate him, I can't fight him.
NIGHTINGALE: Are you trying to overthrow him because you hate him? Do you fight because of your hate? Is that what the Child of Fate is? Why... does Tatara fight?
Shuri and Sarasa have a passionately tragic love.
For those of you who scoff at the Romeo and Juliet troupe, have no fear. There is no "OMG I MET YOU ONCE AND NOW I AM WILLING TO KILL MYSELF FOR YOU" nonsense. Their relationship grows over years; they are each other support through the hard times (usually induced by each other), and the reader wibbles with every encounter-- drawing closer and closer to the climax of hurt. It's a painful, heart wrenching ride, and it's worth every second of it.
ART SPAM:
DOWNLOADS:
MANGA vol. 1-14
ANIME eps. 1-13
ETA- stream the anime from crunchy roll
I've meant to write, but I just haven't. You are all drowning in holiday fests anyway, so I suppose you don't mind at all.
Instead, I'm going to share a favorite of mine. I've been pimping this to everyone for years, but think it's time for a proper post.
.
.
BASARA by Tamura Yumi is the epic shoujo war manga of my heart.
The setting is feudal Japan in the far future after civilization has collapsed and mankind has reverted back to ancient traditions. The story begins in a desert village where a set of twins are prophecised to save the country from an age of tyranny. The boy - named Tatara - is proclaimed to be the Savior. And the girl - named Sarasa - just has the same face. Everything changes when they turn 15. After Tatara is brutally murdered by the enigmatic Red King, Sarasa must step into her brother's shoes and assume the role of the Savior in disguise. Thus our story begins... [summery from Midori]
SARASA
One of the things I adore the most about this series is Sarasa. She's the main character in what is a true assembly cast. Her plight and complexity are fascinating, and the enduring strength she possesses makes me fall in love with her again and again.
Easily of the most dynamic characters in the series, Sarasa grows from bring a bratty kid, bitter over her savior brother, to the leader of a revolution, general of an army for the people and for the land and for the future. It's an incredible journey that she never sought, never wanted. She fills a need, through sacrifice and determination, and there is no greater enemy that she faces, than her own self doubt.
During the early 90s when Basara was running, Sarasa stood alone among other shoujo heroines, who whined and cried and couldn't function without a man.
Early on, a wealthy man (who, unknown to her, happens to be the Emperor's son and her hated enemy :D) propositions her.
SHURI: Sarasa. Come with me.
SHURI: I'll give you the most luxurious time of your life.
SARASA: I'm not interested in luxury.
SARASA: I'll kill the people who murdered my family. That's all.
SHURI: Well. At least you had a family worth avenging.
SHURI: "Those who are right will win in the end."
Shuri is, quite frankly, an ass. He's the unfavorable youngest son of the Emporer, prophesied to be the end of the royal family. He's brass and arrogant, but he's small and knows how to get shit done. Determined to take Japan from his worthless relatives, Shuri dreams of restoring the vast desert of Kyoto to a greener land.
One who rules with an iron fist, Shuri views Tatara's presence as a hindrance to his own plans, and seeks to snuff out the flame of his rebellious followers while it is still inconsequential.
Shuri is also very dynamic, having to fall to nothing and build himself back up again. The man has more come backs than Rocky and more hair seizures than Atobe.
And in the end, he's still an ass. <3
SHURI/SARASA
NIGHTINGALE: Why would you ever regret loving a person, Sarasa?
SARASA: Because I'm scared that if I can't hate him, I can't fight him.
NIGHTINGALE: Are you trying to overthrow him because you hate him? Do you fight because of your hate? Is that what the Child of Fate is? Why... does Tatara fight?
Shuri and Sarasa have a passionately tragic love.
For those of you who scoff at the Romeo and Juliet troupe, have no fear. There is no "OMG I MET YOU ONCE AND NOW I AM WILLING TO KILL MYSELF FOR YOU" nonsense. Their relationship grows over years; they are each other support through the hard times (usually induced by each other), and the reader wibbles with every encounter-- drawing closer and closer to the climax of hurt. It's a painful, heart wrenching ride, and it's worth every second of it.
ART SPAM:
DOWNLOADS:
MANGA vol. 1-14
ANIME eps. 1-13
ETA- stream the anime from crunchy roll