Sakura of DOOM

I picked this up because both coffeeandink and rachelmanija mentioned that they liked it, despite me never having read Fushigi Yuugi. Fushigi Yuugi: Genbu Kaiden is apparently a prequel of the events in the original FY, but so far, it seems to be ok that I haven't read the original yet.

Okuda Takiko is a young girl living in Taisho Japan (1920s). Her mother is sick, her father is lost in his world of scholarship and woefully neglects his family. Takiko seems pretty cool -- she learns naginata (some weapon that's a long stick with a blade on top) at school and doesn't seem too irritating. Anyhow, Taki basically feels abandoned by everyone she loves in the real world and ends up being sucked into a mysterious book that her father has translated from Chinese.

I have no idea how close this is to the original FY.

Regardless... Taki is apparently the mystical priestess of Genbu and needs to find the seven celestial warriors to save the world. I personally don't care too much about the prophecy plot/plot coupon type thing, but the warriors she has been finding so far are really cute.

Also, one of the warriors turns into a girl when he uses his powers! Ahh shoujo manga, how I love you and your on crack gender-bending devices!

So far all the warriors seem to be men -- are there ever cool girl warriors? Or does that completely defeat the point of having seven guys in love with Taki? I want a cool girl warrior, damnit, and warrior-who-turns-into-girl doesn't count.

I am also deriving great joy from the setting in Japan! It's not quite Meiji Japan, but it's close enough! I really like the little historical notes that Watase puts in the side, down to Taki's hakama and boots being historically accurate, along with her naginata classes. (I adore hakama. That was the best part about taking kendo.)

Only... obviously the majority of the story isn't going to be taking place in Taisho Japan, since it's in the Universe of the Four Gods. Oh well. It is one of my favorite historical periods though, just because it's so interesting seeing the blend of what's thought of as "traditional Japanese culture" and "Western culture."

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