Ryo by Rinko Ueda (Trisha's manga pick!)

This manga was based on a famous Japanese legend. During the Heian era, there was once a strong warrior monk named Benkei, who planned to fight 1000 warriors who crossed the bridge he situated himself at. Each time he defeated his challenger, he took their sword as a trophy. However, during his 1000 duel, he fought a man named Ushiwakamaru (also known as Yoshitsune Minamoto, brother of the famous Yoritomo Minamoto who established feudal Japan). Although Ushiwakamaru was much smaller in size, he was still able to defeat Benkei. From then on, Benkei promised to become Ushiwakamaru's faithful protector for the rest of his life.

However, in the manga Ryo, Rinko Ueda put a different twist on the story. The main character Ushiwakamaru has been changed to a female character. Their battle at the bridge is never finished and Ushiwakamaru and Benkei fall from a cliff and mystically get transported to the present time period. Ushiwakamaru is found and is adopted by a family who lost their real daughter in an accident. They rename Ushiwakamaru as Ryo and she seems to have lost her memories of her past life. She doesn't remember anything until she meets Benkei in the present time.

Ryo finally learns who she is and realizes that she is actually from the Heian period. Her family, the Genji clan, is at war with the Taira clan during her past life. She decides that she must leave her present life and return to her past life in order to help them. However, in her past life, Ryo spent her life disguised as a boy otherwise she would have been taken away or killed. Also, as a female, she would have been married off to Koremori, one of the sons of the Taira clan. Now that she is transported with Benkei to her past life, she must face all these challenges once again while struggling with her identities as Ushiwakumaru and Ryo.

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Onmyouji by Reiko Okano (Yoshiko's manga pick!)

"Onmyouji" is a traditional Japanese fortune teller who tries to foretell disaster and good or bad luck. The manga of Onmyouji is a story a a mystical "Onmyouji," Seimei Abe, who lived during the Heian period. Seimei Abe is actually a famous figure in Japan because it is said that he is one of few who possessed a fortune telling talent in the Japanese history. There are novels, documentary, TV drama series, movie, and manga written about him.

This manga is based on the best-seller novels that are entitled Onmyouji by Yumemakurabaku. The story focuses on mysterious occurrences that happen in the capital and how Seimei Abe handles them with his power. Also, others of the Heian royalty are envy of Seimei Abe and challenge him. But, the manga also depicts simpler side of him when drinking with his best friend, Hiromasa Minamoto, who frequently comes over. Their conversation is actually really funny, similar to a manzai. (Manzai is a comic dialogue by two comedians.)

The pictures are very beautiful and are drawn extremely carefully, especially the scenery. The rate of the abstract expression increases as the story progresses. In order to understand all the contents of the story, a fairly deep knowledge about onmyouji may be required to fully understand the story. But, this manga has very beautiful pictures and is definitely worth of reading.

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