Fushigi Yûgi Genbu Kaiden is a manga written by Yuu Watase. It premiered in Japan in 2003 in Sho-Comi, moved to an offshoot magazine, Fushigi Yûgi Perfect World, in 2004. It was serialized sporadically in Monthly Flowers until 2008 when the series went on hiatus until spring 2010, when it began serialization in Rinka magazine. Individual chapters are collected and published in tankōbon volumes by Shogakukan with the first volume was in October 2003; the twelfth and final volume was released in Japan in May 2013. A prequel to Watase's Fushigi Yûgi, the series details the creation of "The Universe of the Four Gods" and tells the full story of the Priestess of Genbu. The series is licensed for English language releases in North America by Viz Media, in Singapore by Chuang Yi and Australia by Madman Entertainment, which distribute Australian English Chuang Yi manga.
Characters
;Takiko Okuda ;Uruki/Rimudo Roun ;Tomite/Chamuka Tan ;Hatsui/Zarra ;Namame ;Hikitsu/Emthatt Han ;List of Fushigi Yūgi characters#Inami ;Urumiya ;Urumiya
Media
Manga
Written and illustrated by Yuu Watase, the first chapter of Fushigi Yûgi Genbu Kaiden was published in 2003 in an issue of Sho-Comi. The series moved to the magazine's offshoot, Fushigi Yûgi Perfect World, in 2004, where it was serialized quarterly until the magazines' cancellation in June 2008. The series then moved to Monthly Flowers where it was serialized sporadically until 2008 when it went on hiatus, due to Watase's health and other work commitments. She anticipated restarting the series in spring of 2010. On January 17, 2010 Watase revealed that she would begin working on the series again and that it would now be published in Rinka magazine. Chapter 32 was finally published in Rinka in June 2010, with the most recent being chapter 36, released in October 2011. Rinka is published every 4 months in February, June and October. The individual chapters are collected and published in tankōbon volumes by Shogakukan with the first volume published in October 2003 and the final volume published in May 2013 in Japan. As of March 2014, all 12 volumes have been released in North America. The series is licensed for English language releases in North America by Viz Media, in Australia and New Zealand by Madman Entertainment, in the United Kingdom by Gollancz Manga, and in Singapore by Chuang Yi. Viz released its first volume of the series in July 2005, with nine volumes released as of November 2009. The series is also licensed for regional language releases in France by Editions Tonkam, Spain by Glènat España, Italy by Planet Manga and Germany by EMA.
Drama CDs
A series of five Drama CDs based on the series have been recorded.
Video game
Idea Factory released the Sony PlayStation 2 video game Fushigi Yuugi — Genbu Kaiden Gaiden: Kagami no Miko in Japan on June 22, 2005. The adventure game puts players in the shoes of Mariko Kobayashi, an original character created for the game, who is taken into the Universe of the Four Gods through a mirror. While searching for her friend, Takumi Mochizuki, who was also taken into the mirror, Mariko is aided in her quest by Genbu no Miko and the Genbu Seven. A limited edition version of the game was released on the same date, containing an art book and a CD of interviews with the game voice actors. A PSP version of the game was released in Japan on September 28, 2006.
Reception
When it was released, the eighth volume of Fushigi Yûgi Genbu Kaiden ranked ninth in the Japanese Comic Ranking, listing the top ten selling manga volumes, for March 25–31, 2008. The ninth volume premiered in sixth place in the September 30–October 6 rankings.
