40 Fun Facts About Fushigi Yugi

Suzaku, the god Miaka Yuki serves as priestess in Fushigi Yugi, is which of China's Four Symbols?

The Vermilion Bird stands for fire, summer and the south in Chinese tradition. It is described as a red bird perpetually covered in flames.

Which Suzaku warrior in Fushigi Yugi is the young emperor of Konan, known for his beauty and narcissism?

Hotohori puts his subjects' well-being ahead of his own needs as ruler. A sheltered upbringing leaves him with a limited understanding of the world.

Which whip-wielding warrior leads the Seiryu Celestial Warriors as the main antagonist of Fushigi Yugi?

Nakago is as charismatic as he is merciless, discarding followers once they stop being useful to him. His powers outclass those of every other warrior on either side.

Which actor, famous as the English voice of Solid Snake, voiced Tamahome in the Fushigi Yugi TV dub?

David Hayter voiced the hero in the TV series and early OVAs before another actor took the part for the final OVA. He also wrote the 2000 superhero film X-Men.

Miaka Yuki, the cheerful heroine of Fushigi Yugi, is described as having which primary weakness?

Gluttony is Miaka's one big flaw; otherwise the 15-year-old is outgoing, generous and courageous. She also loves anime and imitates several characters along the way.

Which manga artist, later known for Arata: The Legend, wrote and illustrated Fushigi Yugi?

Yuu Watase debuted in 1989 at the age of 18 and has since published more than 50 volumes of manga.

Before joining Miaka Yuki's quest in Fushigi Yugi, the Suzaku warrior Tasuki belonged to what on Mount Reikaku?

A gang of bandits on Mount Reikaku counted Tasuki as the heir to its leader. Extremely quick and agile, he loves joking around with his fellow warriors.

In Fushigi Yugi, what relation to Miaka is Keisuke Yuki, the college student who keeps reading the book?

Her older brother Keisuke refuses to believe in the book until he sees Miaka sucked into it. He then reads on so that the story can continue.

Fushigi Yugi was released on DVD in North America under which expanded English subtitle?

The Mysterious Play is the subtitle Geneon, then called Pioneer, added for its DVD and VHS release. The Japanese title literally means Mysterious Game.

Which Suzaku warrior in Fushigi Yugi first appears in disguise as a member of the emperor's harem?

Nuriko, whose true name is Ryuuen Chou, is prone to jealousy yet level-headed and compassionate. He shows the most concern for Miaka's romance.

In Fushigi Yugi, Tamahome is reborn in the real world as which young man, later Miaka's husband?

Taka Sukunami is the same age Tamahome was inside the book, and his family runs a farm in the countryside. In the final OVA the couple have a child, Hikari.

Which shades-wearing student, close to Keisuke Yuki, ends Fushigi Yugi in a relationship with Yui Hongo?

Tetsuya Kajiwara falls in love with Yui while reading about her in the book. He also takes over the reading whenever Miaka is in danger, to spare Keisuke.

Chichiri, the oldest and wisest of the Suzaku warriors in Fushigi Yugi, lives as what?

A wandering monk with a Zen master's detachment, Chichiri can switch from super-deformed silliness to grim seriousness in a moment.

Which spiritual ruler of Mount Taikyoku in Fushigi Yugi took the warrior Chichiri as a student?

Taiitsukun goes by the Chinese name Tai Yi-Jun in the English manga. The series' author asked the publisher to keep the Chinese names of such characters.

Mitsukake, a serious Suzaku warrior in Fushigi Yugi, has which power that drains his own life force?

Healing is Mitsukake's celestial gift, while in a fight the soft-spoken warrior has nothing but his own physical strength to rely on.

Soi, a Seiryu warrior in Fushigi Yugi rescued as a child by the leader she follows, controls which force?

Lightning and electromagnetic fields are Soi's weapons. She usually appears as a formidable armored fighter who speaks like a man, hiding a kind heart.

Which Seiryu warrior in Fushigi Yugi, the elder twin of Suboshi, works as a spy and plays the flute?

Amiboshi channels his chi through the instrument to control the will of others. He holds it to the left when using his powers and to the right when simply playing.

Ashitare, a Seiryu warrior in Fushigi Yugi who was once a circus side-show, is what kind of creature?

A werewolf from the land of Hokkan, Ashitare is hardened, angry and full of hatred for humans. His brute strength makes him seemingly unstoppable.

In Fushigi Yugi, how can the Seiryu warrior Suboshi and his twin secretly communicate with one another?

Writing on their bodies passes messages between the twins. Suboshi also fights with the Ryuseisui, a double-meteor bell he steers by will alone.

Miaka Yuki first agrees to become the Priestess of Suzaku in Fushigi Yugi so that she can wish for what?

Joining her friend's high school is all Miaka wants at first, because she and Yui are so close. Yui instead becomes her rival as the priestess of another god.

Which naginata-wielding schoolgirl is the heroine of the Fushigi Yugi prequel Genbu Kaiden?

Takiko Okuda, the Priestess of Genbu, is the daughter of the scholar who translated the book into Japanese. Strong-willed as she is, she doubts her own abilities.

Fushigi Yugi's Priestess of Byakko first enters the book as a child during which real disaster?

The Great Kanto earthquake of 1923 kills her parents, and her dying father sends the eight-year-old into the book to keep her safe.

Which final Fushigi Yugi OVA follows a schoolgirl who finds the book in a park trash bin?

Eikoden runs for four episodes and adapts the only two tie-in novels set after the manga's ending. Its sixteen-year-old heroine must face the unhappiness in her own life.

Fushigi Yugi was first serialized in which semimonthly Shogakukan manga magazine for girls?

Shojo Comic, renamed Sho-Comi in 2007, has been published by Shogakukan since 1968. The series ran there from late 1991 to May 1996.

Which company, also behind Naruto and Bleach, animated the 52-episode Fushigi Yugi series?

Studio Pierrot was founded in 1979 by former Tatsunoko and Mushi Production animators. Its Fushigi Yugi aired weekly on TV Tokyo from April 1995 to March 1996.

Which publisher of the English Fushigi Yugi manga also ran the series in its magazine Animerica Extra?

Viz Media stopped publishing the series after eight volumes, then revived it in 2003 and released the last of its eighteen volumes in April 2006.

The author of Fushigi Yugi won the 43rd Shogakukan Manga Award for which later series?

Ceres, Celestial Legend took the award's girls' category in 1998. Its tale of a schoolgirl who is a heavenly maiden reborn ran for 14 volumes.

Tamahome and the other warriors of Fushigi Yugi's four gods are named after ancient Chinese what?

Constellations of the old Chinese sky give the warriors their names, in Japanese readings. That sky has 28 lunar mansions, seven for each of its four guardian beasts.

Tamahome, the first warrior Miaka meets in Fushigi Yugi, bears the character for what on his forehead?

Ogre is the mark's meaning, and Tamahome was bullied over it as a child. A veteran warrior who recognised the symbol trained him to protect his future priestess.

Tasuki of Fushigi Yugi attacks with flames from which weapon, called the Tessen?

An iron fan that can spew fire, the Tessen travels in a golden holster slung across Tasuki's body.

Chichiri, a Suzaku warrior in Fushigi Yugi, hides a scarred left eye behind what?

A smiling mask makes Chichiri look approachable and hides his trauma. On the rare occasions he takes it off, his carefree manner turns earnest and stern.

Which lecherous Byakko warrior in Fushigi Yugi trained Tamahome and regards him as a son?

Tokaki fights with teleportation, a knowledge of pressure points and even his earrings. For all his roving eye, he loves his wife dearly.

Subaru, who tends the weary Suzaku warriors in Fushigi Yugi, casts spells that manipulate what?

Time bends to Subaru's spells: at 107, she can briefly turn herself and her husband back into their younger selves for a fight.

Tatara, the warrior in Fushigi Yugi who stays on at the Temple of Byakko for decades, can control what?

Plants of every form obey Tatara. The Byakko priestess loved him, and he remained at the temple after she left the book's world.

Tomite, a bounty hunter and archer among the Genbu warriors of Fushigi Yugi, can create and control what?

Ice is Tomite's element, and pairing it with his archery lets him shoot arrows of ice.

Uruki, a Genbu warrior and crown prince of Hokkan in Fushigi Yugi, must do what to use his wind power?

Uruki has to turn into a woman before he can command the wind, which he uses above all for teleportation. In combat he wields a bladed discus.

Hikitsu, a cold and withdrawn Genbu warrior in Fushigi Yugi, shapes water into the form of which animals?

Snakes of water are Hikitsu's weapon. He also has an eye power he cannot control, which forces anyone who looks at it to relive their worst memories.

Miboshi, the childlike Seiryu warrior of Fushigi Yugi, summons monsters with which sutra-inscribed object?

A prayer wheel of Tibetan design is Miboshi's tool for sorcery. Though he looks like a young boy, he has lived far longer than his fellow warriors and can possess other people.

Which voice actress, also Chibiusa in Sailor Moon, played Miaka Yuki in the Japanese Fushigi Yugi anime?

Kae Araki landed her first leading role in television animation as Miaka. She had earlier filled in as Usagi for seven Sailor Moon episodes.

Which Japanese voice actor, also Heero Yuy in Gundam Wing, voiced Tamahome in the Fushigi Yugi anime?

Hikaru Midorikawa counts Tamahome among his best-known parts, alongside Kaede Rukawa in Slam Dunk and Zelgadis in Slayers.