-The curtain has opened on the long awaited "LAST VISUALIVE -Saigo no Tsuki- LAST MOON". Firstly, I'd like to ask about the story this time, is it a continuation of "MOON SAGA -Secrets of Yoshitsune-" Part I and II?G: No, it isn't. There is a "MOON SAGA -Secrets of Yoshitsune- Part III", but this "LAST VISUALIVE -Saigo no Tsuki- LAST MOON" isn't ( Read more... )

3

March 1185, the second year of the Genryaku era.

In addition to the previous decree from the cloistered emperor to hunt down the Heike, Yoshitsune had also received orders from Yoritomo and could no longer remain in the capital, so he lead his army and set up camp at Bizen.

He still did not know the reason that Tsugunobu had been killed, and so had ( Read more... )

Part Three

The Remains of the Dream

1

The hut that stood alone in the forest fell silent, and only Tadanobu’s sobbing could be heard. At the sight of Tadanobu clinging to Tsugunobu, laid out on the straw mats, Yoshitsune desperately tried to hold back the sorrow and rage that boiled up in him. Saburō and Benkei were both lost for words, just staring ( Read more... )

5

February, the Heike encampment on Yashima Island.

The night was so quiet that the crackling of the firewood in the bonfires around the camp could be heard.

When they had first passed over to Yashima, the ships had been their living quarters, but now over a year had passed, and a manor had been prepared as a temporary location for the emperor, and ( Read more... )

3

Around three weeks had passed since the letter from Dennai had arrived.

On the shores of the lake where they had encountered Yoshitsune while slipping into Kyoto, Tomomori and the others were waiting for Yoshitsune to appear.

At this time of year, the fresh green of the new leaves was beautiful during the day, but now the sun had set and darkness ( Read more... )

Part Two

A Moonlit Sake Cup

1

“Naumaku sanmanda bodanan Enmaya sowaka… Naumaku sanmanda bodanan Enmaya sowaka...” 1

It was a pitch dark night, with no trace of the moon.

From deep inside the tatami-floored room came an ominous chanting. The owner of that voice was Masako.

The flame from a tall oil lamp illuminated her body, and a long shadow flickered ( Read more... )

5

The Genji, excluding Yoshitsune, continued their advance after the Battle of Ichi-no-Tani, but after repeated battles further and further from Kamakura, the soldiers began to show signs of fatigue. The Heike were luring them into further sea battles, however, the Genji were unable to procure their desired amount of ships, and so there was a lull ( Read more... )

3

To the south of Kyoto, in a forest even deeper into the mountains than Uji, Yoshitsune sat.

In front of him was a lake that exactly filled his field of vision, and the surface of the water was illuminated by sunlight shining through the gaps in the trees.

Yoshitsune had been sitting on the shore of the lake, staring out over its surface like that ( Read more... )

...

Part One

A Hostile Encounter

1

Since long ago, the Mononoke have existed in this world.

Some of them took forms that were indistinguishable from humans, while others took the form of beasts, and some even took forms that were not visible to human eyes.

The Mononoke, who had supernatural powers that humanity lacked, were feared as a cause of ( Read more... )

So I translated the 2014 MOON SAGA novelization, and the entire thing can be downloaded in PDF format here: http://moon-struck.net/story/Read more... )