Just started reading the next book in the 12 Kingdoms series, Tonan no Tsubasa [ 図南の翼 ] ! I’ve seen it translated both “Wings of Dreams” and “The Aspired Wings” but I’m partial to the latter. There are no official English translations of the novels further than Kaze no Banri, Reimei no Sora [ 風の万里 黎明の空 ] “Great distance of the Wind, Skies of Dawn,” which is where the Anime left off though technically the anime broke up Higashi no Watatsumi, Nishi no Soukai [ 東の海神 西の滄海 ] “Sea-god in the East, Ocean of the West” (translated also as “Vast Spread of the Seas”) into two separate arcs based on the canon timeline and smooshed “Great Distance of the Wind, Skies at Dawn” in the middle HOWEVER you can read a super well made fan-translation of the next few books here at Eugene’s Blog ! Everybody say “thank you Eugene!”
So excited to read more about how this sharp-tongued 12y/o girl takes on the Shouzan and becomes one of the wisest Kings we’ve seen from the series thus far. Shushou left such a strong impression on me despite only showing up in a few chapters of “Great Distance in the Wind, Skies of Dawn” until now, and I can’t wait to see her prove the idiotic english translators of the Anime who called her the “Cruel Queen of Kyou” flat out wrong.
That’s all for now! I plan on translating the 30 year anniversary guidebook into English sometime soon too, but for now you’ll find me crying about how the gatekeeps at shincho-shop.jp won’t ship them goods to America 💔
RECOMENDATION CHART IF YOU LIKE GIRLS WITH RED HAIR AND INTERESTING WORLD BUILDING (and are willing to watch some AWESOME old animes)
because we get so many new amazing shows that sometimes we forget that there is years of awesome hidden gems that might end up being your fave but that you don’t even know exist.
So lets start!
A few years ago Akatsuki no yona came out and everyone was surprised by how deep it went into the ruling of the kingdom and political drama. So if you enjoyed this:
But want something with more action, less romance and more on character growth and and political drama (with a side of great world building and a isekai that is NOT a europe medieval fantasy world with a guy that is overpowered ) you might want to check this!:
The 12 kingdoms!
Youko Nakajima has only ever wanted to be normal. She does what she is asked, gets good grades, is the class president, and even helps her classmates whenever she can—but because of her red hair, she has never fit in. With her pushover attitude, Youko lets classmates take advantage of her, so she has nobody she can really call a friend.
But on an otherwise ordinary day, a man who claims to be from another world barges into Youko's classroom and bows before her. This elegant blond-haired man, Keiki, claims that Youko is his master and belongs on the throne of his kingdom. However, their first meeting is cut short as Keiki has been followed by otherworldly beasts called youma. He is able to escape with Youko into his own realm, but two other classmates—Ikuya Asano and Yuka Sugimoto—are caught up in the madness as well. Unfortunately, their troubles have only just begun, as the youma attack leaves them separated from Keiki. Alone in this strange new land, these ordinary students must learn to fend for themselves or die.
But now you actually wanted something with MORE romance and less action but still political drama!
then nothing will please you more than...AKAGAMI NO SHIRAYUKI HIME!
Although her name means "snow white," Shirayuki is a cheerful, red-haired girl living in the country of Tanbarun who works diligently as an apothecary at her herbal shop. Her life changes drastically when she is noticed by the silly prince of Tanbarun, Prince Raji, who then tries to force her to become his concubine. Unwilling to give up her freedom, Shirayuki cuts her long red hair and escapes into the forest, where she is rescued from Raji by Zen Wistalia, the second prince of a neighboring country, and his two aides. Hoping to repay her debt to the trio someday, Shirayuki sets her sights on pursuing a career as the court herbalist in Zen's country, Clarines.
Akagami no Shirayuki-hime depicts Shirayuki's journey toward a new life at the royal palace of Clarines, as well as Zen's endeavor to become a prince worthy of his title. As loyal friendships are forged and deadly enemies formed, Shirayuki and Zen slowly learn to support each other as they walk their own paths.
BUT now you kinda want something with still a new set of different fantasy world building and more medecine and less romance with a bigger focus on a character growing up in front of us into an amazing young woman.
Then you want KEMONO NO SOUJA ERIN!
In the land of Ryoza, the neighboring provinces of Shin-Ou and Tai-Kou have been at peace. Queen Shinou is the ruler of Ryoza and her greatest general, Grand Duke Taikou, defends the kingdom with his army of powerful war-lizards known as the "Touda." Although the two regions have enjoyed a long-standing alliance, mounting tensions threaten to spark a fierce civil war.
Within Ake, a village in Tai-Kou tasked with raising the Grand Duke's army, lives Erin, a bright girl who spends her days watching the work of her mother Soyon, the village's head Touda doctor. But while under Soyon's care, a disastrous incident befalls the Grand Duke's strongest Touda, and the peace that Erin and her mother had been enjoying vanishes as Soyon is punished severely. In a desperate attempt to save her mother, Erin ends up falling in a river and is swept towards Shin-Ou.
Unable to return home, Erin must learn to lead a new life with completely different people, all while hunting for the truth of both beasts and humanity itself, with tensions between the two regions constantly escalating.
BUT now you kinda wish you had a story with a mix between all of these with a more serious tone. THEN YOU WANT : SEREI NO MORIBITO
On the precipice of a cataclysmic drought, the Star Readers of the Shin Yogo Empire must devise a plan to avoid widespread famine. It is written in ancient myths that the first emperor, along with eight warriors, slew a water demon to avoid a great drought and save the land that was to become Shin Yogo. If a water demon was to appear once more, its death could bring salvation. However, the water demon manifests itself within the body of the emperor's son, Prince Chagum—by the emperor's order, Chagum is to be sacrificed to save the empire.
Meanwhile, a mysterious spear-wielding mercenary named Balsa arrives in Shin Yogo on business. After saving Chagum from a thinly veiled assassination attempt, she is tasked by Chagum's mother to protect him from the emperor and his hunters. Bound by a sacred vow she once made, Balsa accepts.
Seirei no Moribito follows Balsa as she embarks on her journey to protect Chagum, exploring the beauty of life, nature, family, and the bonds that form between strangers.
BUT NOW YOU WANT TO GO BACK TO SOMETHING LIGHTER WITH LESS ACTION, MORE ROMANCE BUT STILL A BIT OF POLITICAL DRAMA AND MORE HUMOR. YOU THEN WANT: SAIUNKOKU MONOGATARI.
Most people think being born into a noble family means a life of comfort and wealth. That couldn't be further from the truth for Shuurei Kou. Despite the Kou family being an old and important bloodline, they've fallen on hard times. Shuurei's father works as an archivist in the Imperial library, which is a prestigious position, but unfortunately not one that pays much. To put food on the table, Shuurei works odd jobs such as teaching young children or playing live music in a restaurant―and even then, it's barely enough.
Then, one day, a court advisor makes Shuurei an offer. If she becomes the concubine of the new, but lazy, emperor and teaches him how to become a good ruler, then she will receive 500 pieces of gold. Never one to turn down good money, Shuurei accepts the proposition. After all, the new emperor only prefers men so her virtue is safe… or so she thinks.
The more time she spends in the palace, the more her old dream of becoming a court official is reignited. There's only one problem: she's a woman and women do not become government officials. Shuurei may be able to turn the emperor into a good ruler, but will it be at the expense of her own aspirations?
and thats it for now! and I still 100% recommend all those anime!
Underrated Sunday: The Twelve Kingdoms This one is one of those anime that everyone has heard vague good things about, but not actually watched. I wouldn't call it a masterpiece (partly because it never finished the story), but it is most definitely worth the watch. It's the classic drawn into another world by its NEED storyline, and it does it very well. I don't think I can say too much without spoiling it, but there's a lot of good plot lines, kishins, and morphing rat-men, mixed in with economic and social undertones. It's very enjoyable, well done, and not at all what I thought it would be after watching the first couple episodes.
A mix playing tribute to the emotional journey the…
A mix playing tribute to the emotional journey the sword-slinging, ex-good girl Empress of Kei, Youko Nakajima, tracking her character development throughout the series. From Good Girl to Angry Woman to Amazing Queen.
Detailed Tracklist: http://ladyloveandjustice.tumblr.com/post/96913544382/i-need-no-scabbard-a-youko-nakajima-mix
Just finished “chapter” 1 of The 12 Kingdoms anime and oh my gosh??? It’s instantly one of my top 10? Rat boy… my beautiful rat boy… he makes the show. I have not loved a character as much as I love Rakushun in a long while. Anyway, can’t wait to become part of the community! Hi guys!
(Also don’t look at the gifs if you haven’t passed episode 10 yet!)
