Kaze Hikaru (風光る, which means "Shining Wind" or "The Wind Shines") is a manga series by Taeko Watanabe, which started publication in 1997. It was later picked up in the USA by Viz, appeared for some time in the magazine Shojo Beat, and is currently reaching over 23 volumes in length.
Despite it's obvious popularity in the land of the rising sun, hardly anyone talks about it in the states. You'd be hard pressed to find too much more than a few reviews in someone's blog, or a Wikipedia entry. I am not sure why this is, but I have attempted to list a few possible reasons:
MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!
-"Strange" art style. Admittedly it takes some getting used to.
-Addresses issues such as male/male love, brothels, etc. But actually, these were quite normal at that time. The mangaka is just trying to be historically accurate - and, as she discusses in the back of each volume, she puts a LOT of work into research!
-Lack of "real" romance between Soji and Sei (at least, in the volumes Viz has released so far - past that, I don't know anything). As shoujo go, this is not a typical story!
-Can be very graphic - if somebody gets hacked up with a sword, you WILL see it, blood and all!
But through all of these things that would keep people away, and though I prefer to gloss over the brothel, etc. stuff, it really is gold. Sei's devotion to Soji is so sweet - she wants nothing more than to die by his side - she doesn't even need an "I love you" from him to be happy. We don't know if he'll ever return her affections, however, but at the very least he considers her a close friend. The stories are touching and deep, that will really affect you if you let it. And it's a GREAT window into Japanese culture/history - especially if you're interested in the Shinsengumi.
2 comments:
Eh, the Graphics isnt as bad as Dazzle is at times at the parts of, ' Okay, you die now. >D'
I think . .why its not so popular talk in the states is more due to how she focus alot on the history-points, and Sei and Soji are cute. Really, just.. .a bit more romance would be nice.
>w< Regardless, I, however am a fan of this manga.
Hahah, I have so much trouble finding it in Australia as it is probably less popular here than the States, cryface.
I think the romance is more subtle than the usual, 'BANG! almost kiss scene', 'KIRAKIRA! bishie overwhelmingly close up frame' type of typical shoujo. It's a shame though; it really is such a good manga! T_T
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