[MANGA] Amatsuki
Kon, Toki, and Kuchiha
Well, today, I just finished reading a manga called Amatsuki (あまつき). My first impression after reading is “What the….”, which, if you’ve read it before, is probably what you thought as well. It’s not very well-known, but TVTropes has a page on it (If you’re reading the English versions, don’t read the page, it’s got spoilers up till chapter 100 or so, while the manga at this time is only translated up to chapter 72), so it’s somewhat well-known.
The plot of Amatsuki is insanely complicated, which is why I had the aforementioned reaction. Backgrounds of characters are revealed in flashbacks, with little to no indication that they’re flashbacks, and yet some characters have no backstory at all, including one of the main characters. In addition, no one’s really sure what’s going on for the first 50 chapters or so, as allegiances seem to keep changing.
The story follows Tokidoki Rikugou (六合鴇時), aka “Toki”, who has failed his history test. Toki is a bit of an idiot, but it’s hinted throughout the story that he has a traumatic past. In any case, because he has failed his test, his teacher orders him to go on a field trip to visit an Edo Period Museum boasting state of the art Virtual Reality. As long as he wears the goggles issued at the entrance, it appears as if he is actually in the Edo period (1603 – 1868). However, everything changes when the fire nation attacks (just kidding) when he gets attacked by supernatural Youkai known as the “Youkou” (resembling a human in traditional robes) and a Nue (the Japanese version of a Chimera, possessing the face of a monkey, body of a Tanuki, limbs of a tiger, and tail of a snake). After being saved from the Nue by a girl named Kuchiha (朽葉), who wields a sword, and turns out to be quite badass over the course of the story, he realizes that the goggles have broken, and that he’s stuck in the Edo period. Soon after, he meets with a classmate, Kon Shinonome (篠ノ女紺), who turns out to have been there for two years already, despite having been on the field trip with him.
The story is really cool and interesting, and from what I know of youkai and history, the author really has done her work, looking up obscure creatures and really keeping to the time period. The art is really beautiful, and the mangaka loves to draw characters in modern clothes on those intro pages you see before the story itself. Although many people mistake it for Shonen (I thought it was Seinen), the story is apparently classified as Josei in genre.
My Recommendation: If you’ve got the time to sit down and read 70+ (at the moment) chapters, and you’re fine with a Sci-fi Historical Fantasy (My best guess), then yes, read it. It may have a confusing plot, but I absolutely loved the characters, and the drama is absolutely riveting. I don’t really understand the modern flash-forwards (backs? I dunno), but they are interesting in and of itself, especially in the more recent chapters.
Ash to the Wind 