Mirage of Blaze


Mirage of Blaze is a Japanese light novel series written by Mizuna Kuwabara, published under Shueisha's Cobalt label. It was partially adapted into an anime television series directed by Susumu Kudo in 2002 and an OVA directed by Fumie Muroi in 2004. The anime television series and the OVAs have since been released in North America by Media Blasters, and both have aired on Encore Action and Encore WAM.
A prequel series, Honō no Mirage: Kaikou-hen set in Sengoku period; all 15 volumes, Honō no Mirage: Bakumatsu-hen set in Edo period; all 2 volumes, Honō no Mirage: Shouwa-hen set in Shouwa period; 5 volumes are also published.
Prequel Shouwa-hen Vol.1 Honō no Mirage Showa-hen: Yonakidori Blues has been made into a plays in Theater Sun-mall on September 17–23, 2014. Vol.3 "Honō no Mirage Showa-hen: Ruritsubame Blues also has been made into plays in Theater 1010 on October 8–13, 2015. Moreover, they are going to third stage on October, 2016.

Plot

Takaya Ougi, a high school student, wants nothing more than to protect his best friend Yuzuru Narita and live a normal life. That is, until Nobutsuna Naoe, an intense and charismatic man, informs Takaya that he is in fact the reincarnation of Lord Kagetora, the adopted son of a noble samurai lord, Kenshin Uesugi. Naoe, himself a "possessor," or a soul reborn through time, reawakens Takaya's abilities to exorcise evil spirits and fight the Feudal Underworld, a collection of restless warrior spirits bent on modern-day conquest. While most possessors remember their former lives before being reincarnated, Takaya is one of the few who doesn't, and is often hostile towards any effort for the complete recovery of his memory. As the plot unfolds, the complex history of the characters and their past suggests why this is so, and the true nature of the tempestuous and somewhat ambiguous relationship between the two leads provides the backdrop for a melodrama that spans several generations of Japanese history. As they ascend to the living world to renew their ancient war, Naoe, Takaya, and two other possessors gear up to prevent that from happening. The series is set in Matsumoto, a large city in Nagano.

OVA

The OVA Rebels of the River Edge has animated the book with same title. The OVA resumes the plot of the anime television series, yet incorporates several new developments, among them the question of unswerving loyalty and personal honor. Takaya is sent to Kyoto to investigate the re-awakening of the Ikko sect and Murashige Araki, a one time member of the Ikkō sect who has since deserted the clan. With the help of his vassal and fellow possessor Haruie, the two are successful in tracking him down, only to discover that Murashige is after a 400-year-old mandala made of the hair of the deceased Araki clansmen. Unfortunately, by the time they meet up with Murashige, Haruie recognizes him as Shintarou, her former lover in a past life. Whether it's true or not, and despite the confusing emotional complication of this development, Takaya orders Haruie to eliminate Murashige once he becomes a true threat to the balance of power. Meanwhile, Takaya finally reunites with Naoe after a prolonged period of estrangement. Unresolved sexual and psychological tension dominates their initial exchange, and it's uncertain whether these two powerful possessors will resolve their differences and work together against this latest threat.

Characters

;Takaya Ougi
;Yoshiaki Tachibana
;Shuhei Chiaki
;Ayako Kadowaki
;Yuzuru Narita
;Kōsaka Masanobu
;Ujiteru Hojo
;Kotaro Fuma
;Irobe Katsunaga
;Satoshi Hatayama
;Nobunaga Oda
;Saori Morino
;Miya Ohgi
;Teruhiro Tachibana
;Minako Kitazato
;Shigeharu Hazuma
;Araki Murashige
;Rairen Watanabe
;Yuiko Takeda
;Kojiro Date
;Katakura Kagetsuna

Anime Episode list

  1. "Ill-Fated Destiny" - Two high school friends discover they are the reincarnation of ancient warriors who soon realize they are locked in a deadly battle with the spirit of a long-dead evil warlord.
  2. "Possessor From The Darkness" - Naoe talks with Takaya about his past, the battle 400 years ago, and the awakening of Takeda Shinken.
  3. "An Imperfect Awakening" - Yuzuru goes missing after the binding bracelet Naoe gives him is removed.
  4. "Premonition of a Chain Reaction" - Takaya meets a strange woman while riding his motorcycle to school. Afterwards he learns he has a new classmate and best friend he has no memory of. Later Uesugi meets Takaya at his school and senses an ominous presence.
  5. "Endless Conflict" - Spirits from Japan's Dark Ages, known as Possessors, are reappearing in modern times. Takaya has now met two others with spirit powers, Naoe and Ayoho. They insist his body is being possessed by a powerful samurai.
  6. "Golden Emblem" - Takaya's doubt meets its final test as his entire school turns into a spawning ground for the armies of the Undead.
  7. "Memories of Hateful Anguish" - For the past 2 months, Takaya and Naoe have been exorcising spirits left and right. For another lovely history lesson, Naoe takes Takaya to a special place where a war rages on.
  8. "At the End of Obsession" - Takaya is forced to confront his anger and mixed emotions about himself and Naoe. He must come to grips with these emotions quickly before he injures himself or someone else maliciously.
  9. "Endless Void" - Naoe searches for and confronts the evil beast Tsutsuga.
  10. "Sorrowful Betrayal" - Unable to accept his alternate identity, Takaya meets with Ujiteru Hojo, Kagetora's brother, and he is forced to remember his past with Naoe.
  11. "Eternal Blaze" - The Hojo clan begins a cataclysmic plan to take over Nikko. They've kidnapped Yuzuru and plan to burn him alive to release a burst of spiritual energy.
  12. "Choices of Conflict" - An unexpected answer is given to Lord Ujiasu's proposal.
  13. "Twilight of Beyond" - Naoe and Takaya search for the Tsutsuga mirrors to destroy them.

    OVA episode list

  14. "Chapter 1 - Dearest Wish"
  15. "Chapter 2 - Tiger's Eye"
  16. "Chapter 3 - Wind of the River's Edge"

    Novel Volumes List

  17. "Mirage of Blaze"
  18. "Traces of Scarlet"
  19. "Glass Lullaby"
  20. "Amber Meteoric Swarm"
  21. "Dragon God of Mahoroba"
  22. "Fragment - For You, My Beloved"
  23. "The Supreme Ruler's Demonic Mirror "
  24. "The Supreme Ruler's Demonic Mirror "
  25. "The Supreme Ruler's Demonic Mirror "
  26. "Rebels of the River Edge"
  27. "Youkihi the Sea Goddess "
  28. "Youkihi the Sea Goddess "
  29. "Youkihi the Sea Goddess "
  30. "The Windhole to the Underworld "
  31. "The Windhole to the Underworld "
  32. "Kingdom of the Fire Wheel "
  33. "Kingdom of the Fire Wheel "
  34. "Kingdom of the Fire Wheel "
  35. "Kingdom of the Fire Wheel - the Violent Wind"
  36. "Kingdom of the Fire Wheel - the Intense Wave"
  37. "Embrace the Cross to Sleep"
  38. "Fragment - Abandoned Suffering"
  39. "Rupture of the Star's Destiny"
  40. "The Fascinating Pioneer"
  41. "Gate of Vengeance - the Blue Sea"
  42. "Gate of Vengeance - the Crimson Sky"
  43. "Gate of Vengeance - the White Thunder"
  44. "Gate of Vengeance - the Black Sun"
  45. "Gate of Vengeance - the Yellow Earth"
  46. "Gate of Vengeance - the Damaged Earth"
  47. "The Eternal Pure Land"
  48. "The Twinkle Book of Revelations I - the Nachi chapter"
  49. "The Twinkle Book of Revelations II - the Futsu chapter"
  50. "The Twinkle Book of Revelations III - the Yata chapter"
  51. "The Twinkle Book of Revelations IV - the Jinmu chapter"
  52. "The Twinkle Book of Revelations V - the Demon chapter"
  53. "The Twinkle Book of Revelations VI - the Fire Rebellion chapter"
  54. "The Twinkle Book of Revelations VII - the Murky Destruction chapter"
  55. "Tolling the Bells of Revolution"
  56. "The Forelocks of Asura"
  57. "Battlefield of the Thunder"
  58. "Beyond 100 Billion Nights"
Extra
  1. "Exaudi nos"
  2. "Ultramarine"
  3. "Reverse the Crimson Flag"
  4. "Mirage of Blaze Memorial"
  5. "The Red Whales set to fly, the Vidro Kids"

    Drama CD

  6. "Dragon God of Mahoroba", 1992
  7. "For You, My Beloved", 1993
  8. "NIGHT WINGS", 1994
  9. "For Whom the Eagle Flies", 1997
The main voice actors in the drama CD series and the anime series are same. Besides, "Cobalt Tokimeki Telephone" that short stories or drama CDs which Seki Toshihiko and Sho Hayami reading the novels are made for premiums by Cobalt's all the applicants service.

Image Album and Anime OST

, Naoto Fuuga also sang image songs in the albums.
Image Album
  1. - MIRAGE OF BLAZE -, 1993
  2. Mirage of Blaze Off Vocal Version , 1995
  3. Mirage of Blaze II - Youkihi the Sea Goddess -, 1995
  4. Mirage of Blaze II - From Kingdom of the Fire Wheel -, 1996
  5. Mirage of Blaze IV - Obsessive love - , 1998
  6. Mirage of Blaze Off Vocal Collection , 1998
  7. Mirage of Blaze SPECIAL CD COLLECTION, 2002
Anime OST
  1. Mirage of Blaze Original Soundtrack, 2002
  2. Mirage of Blaze- Rebels of the River Edge Original Soundtrack, 2004