Afterward

Watase Yuu-sensei's ultra moving shoujo manga saga "Fushigi Yuugi" has at last become a novel!

The main character for "Fushigi Yuugi Gaiden 1" is the most popular among the many characters, comic relief specialist "Tasuki"-kun. It's a side story of the time when Tasuki became a bandit and got the name "Genrou".

Now, I also previously wrote the novels for Watase-sensei's "Shishunki Miman Okotowari" series. This time there will be 5 books. While writing "Fushigi Yuugi" I met Watase-sensei for the first time.

We~ll, just as I had imagined she was young and cute but what really surprised me, oh my, she has a thick Kansai accent! (Since she was born and raised in Osaka it isn't strange but)

And this story's hero, Genrou, also speaks with a Kansai accent.

<Nishizaki starts writing in Kansai-ben> I held my head going ooh--, what'll I do? I was born and raised in Tokyo. I'm in trouble. But, I stood up saying oh well, I'll try and do it somehow. (It's already turning into strange Japanese.)

So, "Genrou Den" is almost entirely in Kansai Yoshimoto mode but for the final Kansai dialect check I got the Kansai dialect fluent Watase-sensei, though she was busy, to do it. She really helped me. <End of Nishizaki in Kansai-ben mode>
 
 

By the way, the reason why Genrou became Gaiden's top batter is because "Tasuki" got all of the reader's overwhelming support, because of course his past was hardly touched on in the manga.
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
You had no idea that the 15 year old Tasuki was small and scrawny, or of the existence of a girl who desperately loved Tasuki, or of the tessen's history and that cool incantation, or of how Tasuki became the bandit leader, did you? Hmf hmf hmf.

What am I hmf hmf hmfing about?! Your image of him comes crumbling down!............ Kidding, don't get angry. Shrink shrink (As usual, I'm a coward.)
 
 

But, though Genrou is an idiot, he's really a good guy.  If Mt. Leikaku was in this world I would definitely want to go there to meet Genrou! Wouldn't it be great if there was a "Let's go to Mt. Leikaku to meet Genrou tour"? No, wait, Mt. Leikaku is a sacred mountain that instantly sees through the good and evil of a person. What'll I do if I'm striped of my belongings? No, no, Genrou would surely give unblessed destitute me lots of money, wouldn't he? (I'm already evil with that kind of thought! I'll be turned into barbecue with a Lekka Shinen...)
 
 

Now I'm sure everyone who reads this book are naturally big Genrou fans (of course I am too!) but what other characters do you like?

I'll be happy to hear what characters' unknown stories you want to read about. By the way, I secretly love the Seiryuu Seishi "Tomo". Does that make me strange? (But Tomo is a character loved by Watase-sensei herself.)
 
 

Until next time, I'll look forward to the day I can meet everyone in the stories of the other characters.

I'm extremely thankful to Watase-sensei and my editor O-sama.
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
<In Kansai-ben > And to all the readers "I really love ya!"

Well then, g'bye g'bye g'bye.

Everyone!! You've been kept waiting... At last a "Fushigi Yuugi" novel has come out!!

This time it's Tasuki's story... Actually I thought up the story a year ago but didn't have the time to write any of it... Frankly speaking, I was thinking "I wonder if this is natural extinction?"

However, I got a helping hand!! Nishizaki-sensei, who did the "Shishunki Miman Okotowari" novels, wrote it!! How lucky!!... And so it ended without having to call it quits. (Thank you Nishizaki-sensei.)

Tasuki is No. 1 (?) in popularity, especially with married women... so he's the top batter for the novel version.

About Hakurou who I wanted to appear in it!! In the manga he had an appearance from the grave (laugh) but yes, he's probably the ideal man for Tasuki to revere his entire life. (Laugh)

Well, I handed the character descriptions over to Nishizaki-sensei but, I'm so glad that she wrote him completely, no, even better than I imaged him. (The same with the other characters but)
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
I image he must have a low voice and is cool, but a Kansai accent?!!

I tried to draw him as a handsome man that enchants even normal Kouji but, how is he? (Those around me tell me he's cool but...)

And I also like one more main character, Reirei.

It's cute how lively she was and how she courageously loved Genrou, and her death was sad. (You were the one who made it that way.)

When I created the character design I suddenly wondered if Tasuki saw a bit of Reirei in Miaka. Like that bun hairdo. (Laugh). Then I remembered Chiriko's death. Perhaps he'll always have her somewhere in his heart. If Reirei had lived, wouldn't she look a lot like her? (Tasuki fans, is that bad?)

But, you understand why Tasuki returned to the mountain in the end (Vol.18), right? It was because of his promise to Hakurou and Reirei.

But talk about good, the blockheadedness in the dialog had me laughing over and over. The recurring Yoshimoto gags! (How much do non-Kansai people recognize, I wonder?) And that incantation! (Laugh) Though it was serious, why Sally-chan!?... Ah, but Kouji must not have heard that the "ma" was missing. And the way it flows into the manga... But of course that blockheadedness of  Tasuki's is ignorance. By the way, his clothes are a foreign (Persian or Central Asian) design.

But actually, even though I only made a rough outline of the story, I was surprised she wrote all the details! Like having him meet Tamahome! (Neither of them saw each other but) (Laugh)
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
Oh yeah, I may have overlooked some things in the Kansai dialect checking. (Laugh)

Though "Fushigi Yuugi" finished being serialized long ago, its been wandering alone here and there. (An internet broadcast and featured in an American anime magazine) ...My feelings are a bit mixed but. Actually, I can't draw the characters if I don't look back at them carefully, I forget little details. Even for these illustrations, though I'd go back to the time of the manga I'd think "I should do it in my current style after all."

About continuing the manga, I don't have it in me to draw it. (I'm sorry)... It's the kind of work that I want to carefully put in a strong box already. ...And yet I'm saying "It would be interesting if this story were made into a manga!!" but (it won't it won't) ...H--m I may want to draw... a Byakko and Genbu one though. (Laugh).

But, a new "Fushigi Yuugi" has been born like this!! Gaiden 1 as well as the next one...!?

Anyway, it's a special "FY world" that I want to be loved forever. Ah, recommend it to your friends too. (Laugh) Well then, Nishizaki-sensei, until our next appointment!! See ya later. 
 
 

Hakurou

Long hair down version

(Arrow): It had a string attached around this time

(Tasuki): The leader is cool---
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
That he doesn't have a single scar on his face is proof of his strength. There weren't any signs of women around though he'd probably be popular with them.