Familiar with this drawing style? Or does this cover look familiar? Well of course, this is the cover art of Appare Jipangu!  drawn by the marvelous Watase Yuu! 

For years, I have been a supporter and a fan of Watase's work ever since I had the chance to watch Fushigi Yuugi: Mysterious Play when I was still a kid. Her art style, story plot and character designs brought me into a world that an otaku would consider a haven of their fandom! What are the other works done by this talented mangaka? Let me give you a few titles!
Before I begin introducing the many works of this mangaka, let's start off by getting to know her first. Who is Watase Yuu? 



Watase Yuu is a female Japanese shōjo manga artist. She received the Shogakukan Manga Award for shōjo for Ceres, Celestial Legend in 1997. Since writing her debut short story "Pajama de Ojama" ("An Intrusion in Pajamas"), Watase has created more than 80 compiled volumes of short stories and continuing series. Because of her frequent use of beautiful male characters in her works, she is widely regarded in circles as a bishōnen manga artist. In October 2008, Watase began her first shōnen serialization, Arata: The Legend in Weekly Shōnen Sunday.

Basic Facts about Watase-sama:

Age: 42 years old (turning 43 this 2013)
Birth Place: Osaka, Japan
Nationality: Japanese
Birthday: March 5,1970
Genres of Manga: Fantasy and Comedy
Subjects: Shojo and Bishonen Manga



Now that you have some basic information about this magnificent mangaka, let's now discuss her amazing creations!



The Masterpieces of
Watase Yuu 



Ayashi No Ceres
1996-2000


Does this title ring a bell? I'm definitely sure it does!
Ayashi No Ceres has been one of the most popular mangas ever published by Watase Yuu, because of its success it later on received an anime adaptation in year 2000. 

Manga Genre: Adventure, Psychological, Historical, Fantasy,  Romance, Tragedy,

Manga Summary: Ayashi No Ceres is based on a real folk legend in Japan. Aya and Aki Mikage are twins who are very close. On the day of their 16th birthday, Aya discovers that she is actually the reincarnation of a Celestial being known as "Ceres". Ceres is a beautiful but vengeful heavenly maiden that has a vendetta against the Mikage family. In the past, it was a man named Mikage that stole her her heavenly hagoromo (robe) and "imprisoned" her on earth. However, she fell in love with him and bore his children. As fate would have it, Aki is the reincarnation of the man who stole Ceres's heavenly robe. This leads to a convulated tale of revenge and violence.

 Ayashi no Ceres has been one of the early animes I've seen on television, and for the most part I loved every episode of it! This manga was inspired from the Japanese folklore about a beautiful deity whose robe was hidden by her husband, making her unable to go back to heaven.  

Fushigi Yuugi: The Mysterious Play
1992-1996


Alright, it's impossible that you haven't seen or read this series. But if you haven't, I highly recommend you do! Fushigi Yuugi was the first manga done by Watase Yuu that was adapted into an anime. With its popularity to its audience, the anime was aired on April 1995. Unlike Ayashi No Ceres, the anime adaptation didn't stop with its 52 episodes; it further expanded to the 3 OVAs containing sequels from the original story. Fushigi Yuugi has been one of the most well-known and most famous manga done by Watase Yuu. 

Manga Genre: Fantasy, Historical, Adventure, Romance, Comedy, Drama

Manga Summary: Middle-school student Miaka Yūki feels a lot of pressure to pass the entrance exam for the competitive Jonan Academy. Her friends do not believe she will get in, but she is determined to because her best friend, Yui Hongo, has applied for the same school and she wants them both to go to the school together. While at the library one day, Miaka and Yui encounter a strange book known as The Universe of the Four Gods. As a result of reading this book, they are then transported into the novel's universe. However, Yui is transported back to the real world almost immediately. Inside the novel Miaka discovers that she is the Priestess of Suzaku and destined to gather the seven Celestial Warriors of the god Suzaku in order to summon Suzaku and obtain three wishes. She falls in love with the Celestial Warrior Tamahome, who eventually reciprocates and Miaka's desire to use a wish to enter the high school of her choice begins to shift towards finding a way to be with Tamahome. Yui, who is also drawn into the book when she was trying to help Miaka to come back to the real world, becomes the Priestess of Seiryuu, working against Miaka out of jealousy over Tamahome and revenge for the humiliation and pain she had suffered when she first came to the book world.


Honestly speaking this manga/anime is the number one that tops my favorites. The story line done by Watase and how she designed her characters are definitely what made this series one of her best creations! Apparently the fandom doesn't stop there, with 3 OVAs, Watase further on released a prequel to the series, entitled: Fushigi Yuugi "Genbu Kaiden" wherein she reveals the story of the Genbu No Miko (Priestess of Genbu). 

*Note: Two Genbu warriors were revealed in both the anime and manga. Namely Tomite and Hikitsu, when Miaka was looking for the holy relic used by Takiko when she looked for her seven celestial warriors. They were both seen as spirits, who guarded Takiko's necklace even after they died 100 years ago. 

This is another series by Watase wherein she uses the setting of ancient China and its traditions, namely using the four gods of the four directions and the timeline she has set the Universe of The Four Gods to be. 



Fushigi Yuugi: Genbu Kaiden
2003-Present

This manga honestly deserves an anime adaptation. Genbu Kaiden is the prequel of Watase's series "Fushigi Yuugi" where the manga centers around the story of the Priestess of Genbu and sets in a story line 100 years before Miaka became the Priestess of Suzaku. The initial release of this prequel was on October 2003. 



Manga Genre: Historical, Drama, Romance, Adventure

Manga Summary: It's 1923 in Japan, a seventeen year-old girl named Takiko Okuda is living with her sick mother after recently moving to a small village. Her father, which rarely comes home, visits one day, much to Takiko's surprise. He was recently working on something called "The Universe of the Four gods" and even after returning home, is completely obsessed with the book. Her mother soon passes away and Takiko becomes angry at her father for ignoring and giving them almost no attention. These feelings, paired with her feelings of loneliness and uselessness at being rejected both in love and by her father, leads her to tear the book apart. However, it instead whisks her away to the country of Hokkan where all of her adventures and risks begin



I can't begin to tell you on how impatient I am to read the new chapters of this manga. Honestly, I LOVE THIS PREQUEL. It definitely shows a whole different point of view compared to Fushigi Yuugi! And as an added bonus, Takiko (Priestess of Genbu) isn't the usual damsel distress, she can fight and has great skill when using her naginata (a spear-like weapon). Unlike in Fushigi Yuugi, Genu Kaiden gives you a peek of how life was like during their period in Japan and gives you some insight about Japanese events. 



Alice 19th
2001-2003

This was the first magical-girl manga I've read that was done by Watase Yuu. I was a bit hesitant to read this at first since it was magical-girl, but then again it was done by Watase so I decided to give it a chance. Alice 19th is a manga that has not received an anime adaptation, unlike the previous works done Watase, Alice 19th has a more Western feel unlike the usual Chinese/Japanese culture Watase usually uses. 

Manga Genre: Magical-Girl, Romance, Adventure, Shojo 

Manga Summary: The story follows Alice Seno, a fifteen-year-old girl forever in the shadow of her older sister Mayura, who achieves in everything she undertakes. At her school Alice becomes known as "Mayura's little sister". Older girls, judging Alice too meek to retaliate, torment her relentlessly. Alice harbors a deep affection for Kyô Wakamiya, a handsome upperclassman and a member – with Mayura – of the school archery team. On the way to school one day, Alice rescues a white rabbit from the road despite the danger to herself, but she is rescued by Kyô and receives from the rabbit a bracelet with a single red stone. The rabbit she saves, however, is no ordinary rabbit. The rabbit reveals her true form to Alice and introduces herself as Nyozeka. Alice is told that she is destined to become a Lotis Master. The Lotis Masters use the power of words and communication to enter the Inner Heart of others. It is a powerful ability to be used carefully as Alice soon finds out.

Using the power of the Lotis Words, which reveal themselves to be in the form of runes, Alice accidentally makes her older sister disappear during a dispute over Kyô, whom Mayura had begun dating. Alice then must use the Lotis Words to try to bring her sister back from the dark. She is joined by Kyô who proves to have the Lotis powers as well, and by Frey, another Lotis master who has trained with the masters and arrives with the intention to marry Alice. Unfortunately, Mayura has been taken by the power of the Maram Words, the dark reflection of the Lotus Words. Their only hope lies in Alice and Kyô becoming the legendary Neo-Masters to discover the lost word binding both Maram and Lotis.


Zettai Kareshi: Absolute Boyfriend
2003-2005

Ever wished you had your ideal boyfriend? Well heck, every gal wanted a piece of Night in this masterpiece of Watase Yuu. Zettai Kareshi, also known as Absolute Boyfriend,  is one of the usual shojo romance mangas you see. But this is Watase Yuu we're talking about, that's why there's always twist and Absolute Boyfriend isn't your usual sappy romance manga. But honestly, besides Ayashi No Ceres, THIS MADE ME CRY BUCKETS. This is the only manga made by Watase Yuu that was adapted into a live action series.  

Manga Genre: Romantic Comedy, Ecchi, Sci-Fi, Tragedy, Drama

Manga Summary: Riiko Izawa has never had a boyfriend and she has been rejected by every boy she has ever had a crush on. When she returns a lost cell phone to an oddly dressed salesman, she mentions wanting a boyfriend. To thank her, he directs her to his company's website, Kronos Heaven. When she visits the site, Riiko finds it's a site to create your perfect lover. Thinking it's a game, she customizes and accidentally orders one. The next day, her new lover arrives. Following the instruction manual, she kisses him to wake him up and configures him to be in love with only her. She names him "Night." Three days later, she is shocked to learn that she only had him for a free trial for 72 hours. The salesman, Gaku Namikiri, tells her that she must now pay 100,000,000 yen for Night, however, they will waive the fee if she helps them to collect data about how women think and feel to help perfect future models.

Alright, I'll resist the urge to bring out spoilers, but this manga is a MUST-READ. I wasn't satisfied with the live action done for this manga, I'd honestly prefer an anime adaptation instead if you'd ask me. The love story in this manga is definitely not your ordinary love story, but it's a love story that can make your heart flutter and make you cry a river. 

Sakura Gari
2007-2010

You know what else Watase awesome? She makes YAOI manga. (mwahahaha) This is probably one of the yaoi mangas that has a tragic ending, as expected from Watase Yuu, she never fails to make her works worthwhile. Plus, her art style doesn't help with the "resisting the urge to nosebleed at the seme and uke." 


Manga Genre: Historical, Mystery, Psychological, Tragedy, Yaoi


Manga Summary: Sakura Gari is gorgeous Taishou Era romantic story, ten years in the making. It centers around the 17 year old Tagami Masataka as he is aiming to find his place in life. While attempting to start prep school as a rounin he encounters Saiki Souma, the son of a distinguished noble of the Saiki Koushyaku family and becomes part of the Saiki household.

When I got to read this manga, THIS WAS SUPER MIND-BLOWING. I reallllyyyy want to fangirl about a few scenarios, but I might end up spoiling you guys... so I'm asking you all to READ THIS MANGA. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST.  I really wish this was turned into an anime, or even just a live action! I mean, this story has one heck of a story line and if you all love mangas that make you teary-eyed and makes you cry a truck load of tears, then this one of the mangas for you! 



And alas my dear readers, this is where I end my entry about the masterpieces done by my favorite mangaka, Watase Yuu. I really hope all of you will consider reading the mangas I've listed here (even at least 2 of them!) I take appreciation to this mangaka and I'm pretty sure she deserves yours too. I can assure you one thing when you're reading/watching a Watase Yuu creation, she can bring you to places and to perspectives you didn't know you could go into. 


•Sources: Wikipedia
•Photos: Zerochan



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