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Kaze Hikaru review!
I wrote this for the Shojo Beat lj comm, but I decided to post it in my own journal. Maybe I'll start a little manga review library for myself. Wheee!
Kaze Hikaru left Shojo Beat magazine last year with a killer cliffhanger. And after waiting months for the new volume to come out, it finally arrived in February! XD With much enjoyment, I reread the series from the beginning, and I thought I'd do a bit of a review here. It's written under the assumption that everyone has read vols 1-3, since they were published in the mag. But anything spoilery from volume 4 will need to be highlighted to be read!
Uber-short version: Overall, my respect for Kaze Hikaru keeps increasing. Definitely worth a read for those who want more than "Eeeek!!1! Which guy do I love?!!111!!!" types of stories.
Uber-long version: Overall, my respect for Kaze Hikaru keeps increasing. The most telling trait, and the one most difficult to pull off, is Sei's gradual hardening to the violent life she finally chose back in vol 2. The mangaka could have taken the easy way out and simply ignored this conflict while focusing on fun stuff like Okita-sensei romance and verbal sparring with Hijikata-sensei, but she didn't. Watanabe Taeko realized how incredibly important this change in Sei is, how it define's the girl's character, and she faced it head-on. Sei did work through her acceptance during volumes 1-3, which appeared in the magazine, but seeing it in GN form where you can read without interruption really drives the impact of Sei's internal struggle home.
KH's magazine run ended in the same place as volume 3: Okita-sensei is told that the drunk and overly disruptive Serizawa-sensei must be eliminated for the good of the Mibu-Roshi/Shinsen Gumi. And Okita-sensei accepts with a smile. Wow. In vol 4's first chapter, we see what follows, and I admit I became rather tearful. But the sadness is expertly balanced by some excellent humor and a sweet ending. In this chapter, we see that Sei really has accepted being bushi.
The proof of this is in the second chapter of vol 4, when Hijitaka-sensei reveals new rules for the Shinsen Gumi that have harsh consequences. This chapter is one of my favorites, as it has an excellent divergent bit of humor that later shows to be not so divergent. I rather admire that kind of writing. ^^V This chapter is also imporant because it is the first time that Sei actually kills someone. And she doesn't kill him for self-defense in a battle, either. This chapter had a powerful ending not so much because of what happened, but because of the sheer signfigance of the event. Whoa.
The third chapter finally gives us more than a simple glimpse of Hijikata-sensei's character--even if the characterization is roundabout! Again, I must salute Watanabe-san for her skill in storytelling. This chapter also had me really laughing! It's about time something like this happened! Heehee! *^^*
Chapter four introduces another new character--though thankfully this one doesn't die!Being a new character in KH is rather like being a Red Shirt in the original Star Trek series. X_x This chapter will definitely be important for events later in the series. I wouldn't be surprised if it is addressed in many upcoming flashbacks.
Chapter five comes across as a bit of a rehash of vol 2, but it's saved by a twist ending and some fun panels with Sei and Saito-sensei. I rather like Saito-sensei, so I was pleased to see him get some non-battle page time. And drunk Sei is hilarious! Yay!
The omake pages show the development of the series, and the trials Watanabe-san endures for the sake of historical accuracy. I really am impressed with her devotion. KH was not something she started on a whim. She's invested an incredble amount of time and energy to producing this series. I have much respect for her!
I also am very impressed by the GN cover illustrations. They really appeal to my own sense of style, and the color choices are lovely. I hope the beautiful covers continue!! They make me wonder if KH art books have ever been produced. If so, I must buy them! XD
I do have a couple of non-glowy things to say about KH. First up, the lack of translation for the Kyoto "Iroha" Karuta Game. This involves a setence in Japanese that begins with a specific sound and appears to be a famous saying. The Japanese is romanized for the kana and kanji impaired, but it is not directly translated into English. Instead, an equivalent English saying is given beneath it. So if you can't understand the Japanese sentence, you're stuck with only the English version...which usually doesn't match the illustration at all. X_x I'm hardly bilingual, but I can read a few of the original Japanese sayings. For example, on page 40 of volume 4, the Japanese is "Neko ni koban." The illustration shows Okita-sensei petting a cat with a big gold coin in its mouth. The English we are given is "Pearls before swine." Um...how does that match a cat?? If you don't understand that "Neko ni koban" means "Koban gold coins to a cat", you're stuck knowing you're missing something about the animal switch. Another, more in-character example is the one on page 108. "Rainen no koto o ieba oni ga warau." This means, "If you talk about next year, an Oni will laugh." Fittingly, the illustration is of Hijikata-sensei--AKA the Oni Vice-Captain--having a good laugh. Very appropriate, no? The English version we are offered is, "Count not your chickens before they hatch." Um...yeah. *has a huge sweatdrop* Times like this I am very glad to be studying Japanese. Viz, I know it's rather late in the production process, but please be to include a literal translation of the Japanese sayings, in addition to their English equivalents. ><
Another quibble with the series--aside from the unfortunate fate of most new characters--is how Sei manages to be present at so many important events. If something big is about to happen, we know Sei will be there. Granted, the author uses this for a few inside jokes, but it is a touch tiresome. Of course, Sei is the main character in a famous historical story being told mostly through her eyes, so it's understandable. Ah well.
KH's magazine run ended in the same place as volume 3: Okita-sensei is told that the drunk and overly disruptive Serizawa-sensei must be eliminated for the good of the Mibu-Roshi/Shinsen Gumi. And Okita-sensei accepts with a smile. Wow. In vol 4's first chapter, we see what follows, and I admit I became rather tearful. But the sadness is expertly balanced by some excellent humor and a sweet ending. In this chapter, we see that Sei really has accepted being bushi.
The proof of this is in the second chapter of vol 4, when Hijitaka-sensei reveals new rules for the Shinsen Gumi that have harsh consequences. This chapter is one of my favorites, as it has an excellent divergent bit of humor that later shows to be not so divergent. I rather admire that kind of writing. ^^V This chapter is also imporant because it is the first time that Sei actually kills someone. And she doesn't kill him for self-defense in a battle, either. This chapter had a powerful ending not so much because of what happened, but because of the sheer signfigance of the event. Whoa.
The third chapter finally gives us more than a simple glimpse of Hijikata-sensei's character--even if the characterization is roundabout! Again, I must salute Watanabe-san for her skill in storytelling. This chapter also had me really laughing! It's about time something like this happened! Heehee! *^^*
Chapter four introduces another new character--though thankfully this one doesn't die!
Chapter five comes across as a bit of a rehash of vol 2, but it's saved by a twist ending and some fun panels with Sei and Saito-sensei. I rather like Saito-sensei, so I was pleased to see him get some non-battle page time. And drunk Sei is hilarious! Yay!
The omake pages show the development of the series, and the trials Watanabe-san endures for the sake of historical accuracy. I really am impressed with her devotion. KH was not something she started on a whim. She's invested an incredble amount of time and energy to producing this series. I have much respect for her!
I also am very impressed by the GN cover illustrations. They really appeal to my own sense of style, and the color choices are lovely. I hope the beautiful covers continue!! They make me wonder if KH art books have ever been produced. If so, I must buy them! XD
I do have a couple of non-glowy things to say about KH. First up, the lack of translation for the Kyoto "Iroha" Karuta Game. This involves a setence in Japanese that begins with a specific sound and appears to be a famous saying. The Japanese is romanized for the kana and kanji impaired, but it is not directly translated into English. Instead, an equivalent English saying is given beneath it. So if you can't understand the Japanese sentence, you're stuck with only the English version...which usually doesn't match the illustration at all. X_x I'm hardly bilingual, but I can read a few of the original Japanese sayings. For example, on page 40 of volume 4, the Japanese is "Neko ni koban." The illustration shows Okita-sensei petting a cat with a big gold coin in its mouth. The English we are given is "Pearls before swine." Um...how does that match a cat?? If you don't understand that "Neko ni koban" means "Koban gold coins to a cat", you're stuck knowing you're missing something about the animal switch. Another, more in-character example is the one on page 108. "Rainen no koto o ieba oni ga warau." This means, "If you talk about next year, an Oni will laugh." Fittingly, the illustration is of Hijikata-sensei--AKA the Oni Vice-Captain--having a good laugh. Very appropriate, no? The English version we are offered is, "Count not your chickens before they hatch." Um...yeah. *has a huge sweatdrop* Times like this I am very glad to be studying Japanese. Viz, I know it's rather late in the production process, but please be to include a literal translation of the Japanese sayings, in addition to their English equivalents. ><
Another quibble with the series--aside from the unfortunate fate of most new characters--is how Sei manages to be present at so many important events. If something big is about to happen, we know Sei will be there. Granted, the author uses this for a few inside jokes, but it is a touch tiresome. Of course, Sei is the main character in a famous historical story being told mostly through her eyes, so it's understandable. Ah well.
I am enjoying KH very much, and I am quite pleased to see the series is so long! And it's even still going in Japan. Sweet!! I certainly hope Viz continues to publish the manga. Not only because it's a welcome chance for everyone to learn about Japanese history and culture, but because I strongly suspect my Japanese isn't quite up to reading KH's period dialogue. *sheepish grin*
Okay, Viz! I'm ready for Volume 5!!!!!!