Justin Oct 19, 2011
Honest, intelligent news and reviews for manga romantics
Arata: The Legend, translated from Arata Kangatari, is Yuu Watase’s first attempt at a shonen audience comic. Published in Weekly Shonen Sunday since 2008, Arata: The Legend provides a comical action adventure story with flirty romance, that’s sure to please prior fans while inciting new followers as well.
The Gist: Arata of Amawakuni is the grandson of Makari, ancestor of the famous Hime Clan. When summoned to perform a 60 year ritual for the princess, Arata must pose as a girl. He doesn’t realize his presence makes him the perfect scapegoat to become the murderer of the princess when she is attacked by her guardians known as the Twelve Shinso. Arata barely escapes with is life and jumps into a magical tree. Meanwhile Arata Hinohara is starting high school in modern day Japan after recovering from bullying at his previous school. After making a friend the first day, he discovers that the boy is actually helping others to bully him. In despair he runs away from the situation and finds himself in an alley. There he enters a portal that sends him to Amawakari, while Arata of the Hime Clan arrives in modern day Japan. Arata Hinohara soon discovers he is being hunted and has the power to wield the Hayagami, a god-like sword. His journeys take him on a quest to make all of the Shinso’s Hayagamis submit their power to his in order to bring peace to the land and save the princess. But making the Shinso submit rather than taking their powers by force is not an easy task.
Watase has been writing shoujo for decades. I think it’s about time that her work gets aimed at a broader audience, and Arata: The Legend is just that. Don’t miss out on one of her best series yet.
I’m not sure…I brought Vol 1, liked it, then didn’t buy another one. I need to get back into the series…