Arata: The Legend, Vol. 1

by Yuu Watase

Book Overview

An action-packed shonen fantasy from the acclaimed author of Fushigi Y gi R to L (Japanese Style). An action-packed shonen fantasy from the acclaimed author of Fushigi Y gi In a mythical world where humans and gods co-exist, Arata has the unfortunate honor of being the successor to the matriarchal Hime Clan. This means he has to pretend to be a girl or face death if his true gender is discovered On the day of his inauguration, an assassination plot...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1421534207
• ISBN13: 9781421534206
• Release Date: March 2010
• Publisher: Viz Media
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 4.9" x 7.4"
• Age Range: 12 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 7 to 12

Customer Reviews

A New Legend Begins

In Yuu Watase's latest, Arata is a boy living the world of Amawakuni. Amawakuni is ruled by a princess, and it's time for the princess to be succeeded. But there's a problem: the new princess must come from the Hime clan, but that clan has no eligible females. The whole clan is in danger if they can't produce an heir, so Arata's grandmother makes him pose as a candidate princess to stall for time until a real one can be found. Arata isn't happy about the situation, but he's willing to do it to protect the people he loves. He disguises himself as a girl and travels to the capital accompanied by his attendent and friend, Kotoha. Arata is taken to the princess and a ceremony to name the new princess begins. But before the ceremony can be completed, the princess is betrayed and killed by Kannagi, one of her shinsho, guardians who are sworn to protect her. Kannagi then tries to kill Arata, the only witness, but he escapes. The shinsho blame Arata for the murder to the public and chase after him, but Arata escapes to a forest. The way out closes behind him, but he finds a strange portal... Meanwhile, in present day Japan, Arata Hinohara is a typical high school student. He had trouble with bullying at his previous school, and he's hoping to make a fresh start in high school. He makes friends, but an old enemy returns and things take a turn for the worse. Arata is betrayed by his friends, and he's feeling disgusted with his life. Walking home after a particularly bad day, he hears a voice calling his name. Not caring where he ends up, he follows the voice down an alley and into a tunnel. When he emerges, he discovers that he's crossed from Japan into Amawakuni. He meets up with Kotoha, and she mistakes him for the other Arata. So does everyone else, and soon, Arata's running for his life from Kannagi. He takes up the Hime clan's hayagami, a god in the form of a sword, to defend himself, and it chooses him as its wielder. But can Arata save Amawakuni from the shinsho's rebellion? The plot may take a while to summarize, but it's pretty simple and typical. Amawakuni is a pretty generic fantasy world. However, its government interested me. As Arata Hinohara astutely points out, it's like a fantasy version of Feudal Japan. The princess seals and controls Kamui, the gods who take the form of hayagami. She lends the power to the sho, weilders of the hayagami, and the stronger ones rule land themselves. The shinsho are the strongest sho, and it's their job to protect the princess. This is comparable to the system of daimyo and warlords of old Japan. The shinsho's usurpation reminded me of how the emperor lost power. It's fun to see the historical elements in the story, and it actually makes the real history a bit easier to understand. There's a good mix of drama, action, and humor, too. One problem is that it's never explained why everyone confuses the two Aratas when they look nothing alike. Did reality shift so they look the same to everyone else? Or what?