Kaze Hikaru: Beyond the call of society
Why this manga isn't getting any love is beyond me.
History. Action. Drama. Comedy. Romance. Going beyond the call of duty and the call of society.
If those appeal to you, then you should check out Watanabe Taeko's Bakumatsu-based manga, Kaze Hikaru.
A story about a girl wanting to avenge her family, the main heroine, 15-year old Tominaga Sei took on the name Kamiya Seizaburou and joined one of Japan's most famous movements - the Shinsengumi, and was taken under the legendary samurai Okita Souji's wing. If you're thinking that it sounds like your typical shoujo manga where the main boy and girl characters fall in love at first sight and live happily ever after, well think again. Because that's not the case at all. In an era where society is strict about gender roles, Kamiya is always on her toes to keep her identity a secret while swearing to avenge her family - and later, to protect her Okita-sensei as a full-fledged bushi.
History buffs will enjoy this piece because it tackles every major event that the Shinsengumi went through, including the timeless Ikedaya Affair. It also includes the lives of the Shinsengumi members and their pasts, which is always a sight to read because it gives the reader another insight in their personality. You may find yourself hating one character in one chapter, and loving him in the next. Yes, it's that good. And since Watanabe-sensei was painstaking in her research in the Shinsengumi and its members, you can be assured that they're not fabricated, which makes it even more pleasant.
As of this writing, the manga has reached 28 volumes in Japan, and is still going strong. Overseas, Viz is responsible for the localization of the English version, and has released 18 volumes so far.
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So if you have the time and the money, go buy this series, because it's worth every penny. Then again, no amount of money can match a really well-written story.
You won't be sorry, I promise!
--
Title: Kaze Hikaru (The Shining Wind)
Author: Taeko Watanabe
Year Released: 1997
Publisher: Shogakukan (JP), Viz (US)
Genre: Action, History, Comedy, Romance, Shoujo ~ Josei
No. of volumes: 28 (JP), 18 (US)
--
History. Action. Drama. Comedy. Romance. Going beyond the call of duty and the call of society.
If those appeal to you, then you should check out Watanabe Taeko's Bakumatsu-based manga, Kaze Hikaru.
A story about a girl wanting to avenge her family, the main heroine, 15-year old Tominaga Sei took on the name Kamiya Seizaburou and joined one of Japan's most famous movements - the Shinsengumi, and was taken under the legendary samurai Okita Souji's wing. If you're thinking that it sounds like your typical shoujo manga where the main boy and girl characters fall in love at first sight and live happily ever after, well think again. Because that's not the case at all. In an era where society is strict about gender roles, Kamiya is always on her toes to keep her identity a secret while swearing to avenge her family - and later, to protect her Okita-sensei as a full-fledged bushi.
History buffs will enjoy this piece because it tackles every major event that the Shinsengumi went through, including the timeless Ikedaya Affair. It also includes the lives of the Shinsengumi members and their pasts, which is always a sight to read because it gives the reader another insight in their personality. You may find yourself hating one character in one chapter, and loving him in the next. Yes, it's that good. And since Watanabe-sensei was painstaking in her research in the Shinsengumi and its members, you can be assured that they're not fabricated, which makes it even more pleasant.
As of this writing, the manga has reached 28 volumes in Japan, and is still going strong. Overseas, Viz is responsible for the localization of the English version, and has released 18 volumes so far.
--
So if you have the time and the money, go buy this series, because it's worth every penny. Then again, no amount of money can match a really well-written story.
You won't be sorry, I promise!
--
Title: Kaze Hikaru (The Shining Wind)
Author: Taeko Watanabe
Year Released: 1997
Publisher: Shogakukan (JP), Viz (US)
Genre: Action, History, Comedy, Romance, Shoujo ~ Josei
No. of volumes: 28 (JP), 18 (US)
--