Fushigi Yuugi

STORY: Part 1

Miaka is a junior high school student worried about getting into her chosen high school.  She becomes pulled into "The Book of the Four Gods of Heaven and Earth" which is suppose to grant the wishes of anyone who reads it to the end.  She finds herself in the Kingdom of Konan where she is welcomed as a "miko" who will summon back the divine beast Suzaku that can grant three wishes.  She ends up going in search of Suzaku's seven Star Warriors. Her best friend Yui enters the world of the book to help Miaka but ends up as miko in the enemy kingdom Kuto.  Miaka wants to return to her own world with Yui and to stay united with Tamahome, one of the Star Warriors who has become her lover.  The course of action and her contact with many people turns Miaka from a young girl intent only on passing her entrance exams into a grown woman. Her gift for love saves not only the world of the Four Kings but her own world as well.
 

STORY: part 2

Major Characters

YUKI MIAKA 
In part one, she's a third year junior high school student worrying about her entrance exams into high school.  In part two, a high school student.  Heroine of the story, she begins as a child who buries herself (literally) in the world of books to get away from the reality of her exams but her experiences gradually turn her into a woman.  Basically a cheerful energetic innocent who loves to eat but can't cook to save her life.

HONGO YUI
Is Miaka's friend from kindergarten on, intelligent and pretty, who acts as Miaka's "big sister."  When Miaka becomes miko (priestess) of Suzaku, Yui becomes miko to his rival Seiryuu the Blue Dragon.  She does this in the mistaken belief that Miaka has abandoned her and their friendship to go with Tamahome.  In the end she resolves her jealousy and brings about the denouncement.

HOTOHORI
Emperor of Konan.  Made emperor as a child by his ambitious mother, has striven to act as a good ruler since her death.  Has waited for the love of his heart, Suzaku's miko, to return to his country.  Gentle and calm beyond his years, he makes his courtiers proud of him--but is a little self centered and inclined to attract men--worry worry....

TASUKI
Running from his overwhelming mother and sisters he became a mountain bandit, leader of a group of brigands.  Known for his dialect speech and natural fighting ability, is the one who stirs up the seven stars.  Warm hearted, cries easily,  straightforward as a child--an innocent character.

TAMAHOME/SUNKUNAMI TAKA
Oldest of the five children, he looked after his brothers and sisters from the age of 12 after their mother's death.  A kind, older brother but a bit obsessed with money, the result of having a poor background.  An upright character, master of all martial arts.  This and his love for Miaka makes him the strongest of Suzaku's Star Warriors.  As a favor from Suzaku, he is reborn into our world in part 2 so he can continue to be with Miaka.

NURIKO
Had a beloved younger sister who looked just like him.  After losing her to a tragic accident, he decided to take on her personality so she could live on.  Dressed as a woman.  "My body is male but my heart is a woman's," he declares and goes after the Emperor Hotohori. 
While protecting Miaka, his male nature reasserts itself and he becomes drawn to her,  Nonetheless he never confess his love but continues to watch over her relationship with Tamahome.  His heart may be a man's and heart's like a woman's, but his true feelings...? Beautiful, proud of his supernatural abilities and definitely gorgeous.

CHICHIRI
Advisor to the star warriors.  A stoic type who considers himself responsible for the death of his best friend in the accident which also scarred his left eye.  This friend reappears in part two.  Usually smiling and calm, in times of danger he uses the many skills given to him by Taiitsukun, Lord of the world of the Four Kings, to save his friends and himself.  Oldest of the Seven Stars and the one who can most be depended on.

MITSUKAKE
The Chinese character on the palm of his hand can heal wounds and illness.  Looks after the strong headed Miaka, Tamahome and Tasuki.  Quiet and calm, he acts like a father but in fact is two years younger than Chichiri.  Loves animals--carries a cat in his breast pocket.  A little too honest maybe.

CHIRIKO
Youngest of the Seven Stars.  A genius who passed the Imperial examination brilliantly at age 13.  But when the character "strong" on the top of his foot disappears, he turns into an absent-minded cry baby.  Without the character he gets complexes about his character and keeps trying to become stronger.

NAKAGO
General of Kuto, leader of Seiryu's Seven Stars. 
As a child he was discriminated against because of his foreign blood, and the sufferings of the past have made him cruel and remorseless in the present. 

AMIBOSHI and SUBOSHI
Twins.  The older hates to fight, the younger had this thing for
his brother.  Many feel these two cute guys would make a better
singing duo than part of Seiryu's Seven Stars. 

YUKI KEISUKE
Miaka's brother, studied Chinese philosophy in university. Investigates the book of Four Gods to help his sister who has become caught inside it.

KAJIWARA TETSUYA
Keisuke's best friend, helps in his research.  Later becomes Yui's boyfriend.

TAIITSUKUN
Lord of the World of The Book of the Four Gods.  Gives aid to Miaka and her friends in their struggle to save the world.

NYAN-NYAN
Taiitsukun's assistant, a healer.  In Part 2 works with the Seven Stars to bring down Tenko.
 

TENKO
An evil being long ago imprisoned in an ancient tomb by the Four Gods Seiryu, Suzaku, Genba and Byakko.  Also called the Demon God.  Born in ancient Japan, he was a prince who got control of The Book of the Four Gods and was seized with the desire to become a god himself.  He chose the demon path, became insane and was punished by the gods, his very memory being erased from history.  He became a revengeful ghost whose spirit moved into The Book of the Four Gods, from which he now threatens the human race.

YOZUI
One of the Four Kings of Chisatsu.  Because of his witch ancestry, can stop people from moving and turn them into automatons.  Tenko placed him inside the stone he stole from Taka and Suzaku's Seven Stars so that now he possesses Tamahome's memories and become Tamahome himself.

SHIGYOREN 
A new comer to Miaka's class in high school.  In fact is Tenko's agent, one of the Four Kings of Chisatsu.  A shapeshifter, once a human being who was punished for the crime of incest with his sister by being turned into a demon.  He dreams of the day he can defeat Suzaku's Seven Stars and become human again.  He can manipulate people by the power of his eyes.

KAMISHIRO MIRU
A mysterious beauty who joins the circle of Miaka's brother's friends.  In reality she is Shigyoren's older sister who became a demon because of her incestuous love for him.  In order to wreak revenge on the ones who harmed her beloved brother she implants a "yoma" (spirit) into Taka's body and tried to make him follow her will.

HIKO
One of the Four Kings of Chisatsu who serves Tenko. Through Tenko's power has become a demon god with control of drought and rain.  Long ago he was Chichiri's best friend but they had fallen out over another friend, a young girl.  During a great flood that happened at that time, Hiko was drowned.  Chichiri attempted to save him but let go of his hand when a tree branch carried in the rushing water struck his eye.  Because of the grudge Hiko bore towards Chichiri, he fell onto the demon path.

Miscellaneous Notes:
This Fushigi Yuugi report was translated from September 1996 edition of PUFF magazine.  The article was written for fans who have a passing acquaintance with the anime/manga series so many parts and characters were passed over and with minimum spoilers.  This series completed its run with volume 18 late last year.