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maiji · 1 year

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[image set: 1) Digital watercolour-style illustration of three characters standing next to each other. Left to right: smiling woman with hair cropped to slightly longer than shoulder length holding flowers and a Buddha statue in one hand; a handsome monk with a frazzled expression; a sparkling round-faced Heian nobleman wearing the tall tate-eboshi and fanning himself. 2) Lineart of the same illustration. 3) Details of the three characters' facial expressions]

Byakken, Princess Nubatama, and Prince Momiji from ぬばたまは往生しない Nubatama wa Oujou Shinai (Nubatama Will Not Pass Away) by Kuze Banko!

I've had this on my list for a while, got around to reading it on the weekend and oh my goodness I am in love! It’s super fun and packed with stuff that is all up my alley. And these three are a huge part of the entertainment. The dynamic that they have as they go about solving mysteries and rendering assistance to people in their slice-of-Heian-era-lives, all while turning Heian tale tropes on their head, makes me chortle with glee.

More gushing below the cut~

Princess Nubatama (Nubatama-hime) is a noblewoman with the incredibly long luxurious black hair that marks a true Heian era beauty - and an equally long line of suitors. But she’s been possessed by a mononoke! and the famed rising star monk Byakken has been called upon to drive the demon out with his prayers.

-Or not. For we quickly learn that Nubatama isn’t possessed at all. Instead, she turns out to be an extremely bright, sharp and headstrong young woman who wants to see the world! She requests Byakken cut her hair and make her a nun to free her from the constraints of material society. It's a super shocking demand, and Byakken refuses. So she dramatically cuts her own hair, forcing her way into his life… and also into the lives of others!

Nubatama is a delightful female lead in a Heian setting. Her cheerful attitude, sly practicality, and straightforward compassion make her a fantastic character. Her relationship with Byakken is really charming and a joy to follow. I love their wonderful growing mutual support, not to mention her ability to put him in an apoplectic fit even when he agrees with her.

To absolutely no one’s surprise, I’m a huge fan of Byakken. Dubbed the incarnation of the Bodhisattva of Wisdom (Manjusri/Monju Bosatsu), he has many actual fans (as in, within the actual story itself) who fawn over him and want to listen to him chant sutras and exorcise demons all day long. The reality? He’d much rather hermit up in the mountains and study than interact with people. No such luck for he’s stuck in the great capital Heian-kyo dealing with terrifying screaming children on a regular basis (it’s the de facto exorcism technique of the day) and being egged on by his superiors to help fundraise for repairs to a five story pagoda/stupa (not for the first time, apparently, since it burned down twice??), while also basically being Everybody’s Mom and keeping people out of trouble. The contrast between his adoring fanbase’s perception of his handsome face and serene, enlightened manner and his actual frazzled private thoughts amuses me so much. He really makes me think of my favourite Tale of Genji character, Kaoru, if Kaoru actually managed to achieve his goal of becoming a monk. (They even have similar backstories! Or at least what’s been revealed thus far… hmmmmmm….)

And then we have the dashing, sparkling, best-dressed Prince Momiji (Momiji no Miya), Nubatama’s (former) betrothed whom I am fully convinced is the Hikaru Genji of this universe. He certainly seems to keep himself busy with lovers everywhere. Equipped with his tate-eboshi and elegant fan, he keeps randomly popping up in his oxcart to help Nubatama and Byakken out with the shenanigans they run into. As with the legendary Genji, the intentions behind Prince Momiji’s supportive actions may be less than honourable, which leads to many hilarious interactions such as a fight between him and Byakken that Nubatama breaks up. I think his design is amazing, he totally made me think of an exaggerated manga version of one of those classic Genjimonogatari artworks from the Tosa school of painting the moment I saw him!

Nubatama wa Oujou Shinai is only available in Japanese at this time. You can find it on various Japanese ebook sites - I read it on Renta!

https://renta.papy.co.jp/renta/sc/frm/item/275790/ - volume 1

https://renta.papy.co.jp/renta/sc/frm/item/216412/ - the separate issues including two chapters/stories past vol 1 I haven’t read yet

I really hope this is picked up for English distribution someday, though I appreciate the setting might be considered a little… niche?? My Japanese is very far from fluent so I'm sure I’ve missed quite a few details. But I'm grateful that I can discover it and read it digitally in this day and age!

#digital art #fanart #nubatama wa oujou shinai #manga #heian era #slice of life #art by maiji/mary huang #byakken #nubatama hime #momiji no miya #kuze banko

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offbeat-manga-ships · 3 years

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PALACE MEIDI (パレス・メイヂ)

Palace Meiji / Kuze Banko

Complete, with 28 chapters / 7 vols

F/M; Historical, Romance, Shoujo + age gap, ag: ym x of, younger m, older f, dom f, sub m, masc f, taller f x shorter m, tf x sm reversed by ending

SUMMARY: In an alternate-universe Meiji era Japan, Misono Kimiyori, a fourteen-year-old boy from an impoverished noble family, begins to work in the Palace to alleviate his family’s debts. There, he encounters the Girl Emperor, Akiko. This meeting is the start of an interesting new relationship

MAL SCORE: 7.56

PERSONAL SCORE: 9/10

#oms listing #mypost #palace meidi #kuze banko #l: palace meidi #l: f x m #l: age gap #l: ag: ym x of #l: younger m #l: older f #l: masc f #l: dom f #l: sub m #l: taller f x shorter m #l: tf x sm reversed by ending #personal score: 9

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apeot · 7 years

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Palace Meidi by Kuze Banko

#Kuze Banko #Palace Meidi #shoujo manga #manga caps

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darklightsworld · 7 years

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Spoilers for the last chapter of Palace Meidi! We have a time skip for the last chapter. The prince is 16 years old already, and is preparing for a half-a-year trip around the world to build a good relationship with other countries. We meet Ritsu first, she has a child on her back, but she’s still doing her job at the newspaper. Unfortunately we don’t see who the father is (maybe the poor assistant?). The people of the prince are a bit stressed over packing, and we get to know Misono went to the palace for the farewell ceremony, as he will accompany the prince on the trip. We skip to Miya, he thinks he should be the one accompanying the prince, but then the English widow reminds him he no longer has his status, because he married her :D Miya doesn’t regret anything of course, and they look like a happy couple ^^ To be honest, despite the big time skip the characters don’t really look any older, aside from the dog, Ron, and of course the prince himself. He’s meeting his birth mother in the palace, as she was against the long trip. Touguu was actually happy about it, because it made him feel like he has a mother, too. Also due to a remake by his mother Touguu knows about the relationship between his sister and Misono for the first time - he hasn’t noticed till then ^^;;;;;; And we finally meet Akiko and Misono. They stand on the hill and look at the city, which has been completely rebuilt after the earthquake. They talk about Touguu and the trip, and Akiko says, even is she might not have this opportunity herself, she wanted his brother to have a taste of freedom abroad, because after he’s the emperor he won’t be able to leave anymore. Misono replies, that his accompanying the prince is also for the purpose of exploring the situation for the future, and he’s still willing to follow Akiko anywhere. They chat about all kinds of things, also about how Misono is still pestered by the newspaper editor to write his memoir. He will not, of course, although Akiko kind of wants to read it. Akiko wanted to give him a farewell gift too, and although Misono doesn’t want anything first, but when they say their good-byes at the cedar door, he changes his mind, and they hug in the no-man’s land (the straight laced Misono entered behind the door!). Akiko later receives a letter from his brother, but it turns out there is another one from Misono inside - the prince persuaded him to write. First Misono has no idea what to write, but then remembers Akiko’s wish to read his memoir. The letter starts with the same line as Misono’s narration in the very first chapter. The end.

It was very nice, and I’m satisfied with the ending, I guess. Actually I would have wanted to see Akiko and Misono traveling after she resigned, but okay, they will make do somehow anyway. I really liked how Misono’s past tense narration turned out to be letters written to Akiko ^^ My only complaint is that the extra booklet that came with the magazine wasn’t there with the magazine in our library :/ I wonder why... I wanted to see the extra manga there, but I won’t get this magazine, as there’s not even Kyuuketsuki or Madam Petit this time *sigh* All in all it was an enjoyable series, totally recommended :)

#palace meidi #kuze banko #dansou reijin #shoujo manga #manga

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deadscanlations · 4 years

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Comitia 30th Chronicles Volume 1 - Various

Collection of oneshots. 628 pages.

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第1集作家ラインナップ…内藤泰弘、小田扉、太田モアレ、磯谷友紀、水木由真、いるも晴章、武内崇、Matsuzaki、双見酔、あらゐけいいち、おがきちか、おーみや、山名沢湖、BELNE、白井弓子、TAGRO、器械、大庭賢哉、水谷フーカ、kashmir、もみじ真魚、位置原光Z、九井諒子、南研一、みなもと太郎、武富健治、久世番子、芳崎せいむ、HERO。

Comitia Chronicles 001 - Yasuhiro Nightow Comitia Chronicles 002 - Tobira Oda Comitia Chronicles 003 - Moare Ohta Comitia Chronicles 004 - Yuki Isoya Comitia Chronicles 005 - Yuma Mizuki Comitia Chronicles 006 - Haruaki Irumo Comitia Chronicles 007 - Takashi Takeuchi Comitia Chronicles 008 - Banko Kuze Comitia Chronicles 009 - Sui Hutami Comitia Chronicles 010 - Keiichi Arawi Comitia Chronicles 011 - Chika Ogaki Comitia Chronicles 012 - Seimu Yoshizaki Comitia Chronicles 013 - Sawako Yamana Comitia Chronicles 014 - Belne Comitia Chronicles 015 - Yumiko Shirai Comitia Chronicles 016 - Tagro Comitia Chronicles 017 - Kikai Comitia Chronicles 018 - Kenya Oba Comitia Chronicles 019 - .Fuka Mizutani Comitia Chronicles 020 - HERO Comitia Chronicles 021 - Mao Momiji Comitia Chronicles 022 - Hikariz Ichihara Comitia Chronicles 023 - Kenji Taketomi Comitia Chronicles 024 - Tarou Minamoto

#コミティア30thクロニクル #manga #oneshot #Comitia

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sakary-chan · 3 years

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ljaesch · 6 years

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Hana Yume Ai Web Magazine Details Its Lineup

This year’s 19th issue of Hakusensha’s Hana to Yume magazine has announced that the first issue of Hakusensha’s new online shōjo magazine Hana Yume Ai will launch via digital book stores on October 20, 2018. The magazine also announced details on its lineup.

The first issue will feature new series by Meca Tanaka, Nanpei Yamada, Shigeru Takao, and Banko Kuze.

In addition, the first issue will…

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#Hana Yume Ai #manga

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kiyoshiryuta · 6 years

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La revista shojo Bessatsu Hana to Yume detalla qué pasará con los mangas que serializaba http://bit.ly/2KZ4liR

#Manga #Noticias #Banko Kuze #bessatsu hana to yume #Boku wa Chikyuu to Utau

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maiji · 11 months

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[image set: 1) Digital ink brush-and-watercolour-style illustration of the Buddhist monk Byakken from Nubatama wa Oujou Shinai in ceremonial robes. His lifted head, hooded eyes and slightly open-mouthed expression give the impression that he is in the midst of giving a talk. 2) Same illustration, but with only the lineart. 3) Byakken with a variety of facial expressions, looking serene, shocked, stressed out, annoyed, etc.]

説経の講師は顔よき。講師の顔をつとまもらへたるこそ、その説くことの尊さも覚ゆれ。 - Sei Shonagon, 枕草子 (Makura no Soushi / The Pillow Book)

“A priest who gives a sermon should be handsome. After all, you're most aware of the profundity of his teaching if you're gazing at his face as he speaks.” [translation by Meredith McKinney (2006)]

"A preacher ought to be good-looking. For, if we are properly to understand his worthy sentiments, we must keep our eyes on him while he speaks [...]” [translation by Ivan Morris (1967)]

More commentary below the cut!

I chuckled at this quote from The Pillow Book (and the entire story built around it) in Nubatama wa Oujou Shinai. (If you’re unfamiliar with The Pillow Book, it very much is like reading the blog of a thoughtful, witty court lady from the Heian era! Sei Shonagon can be quite tongue-in-cheek, even sarcastic, and in a lot of ways it’s amazing to see how little humanity has changed over a thousand years.) I also thoroughly enjoyed drawing Byakken-sama in ceremonial robes!

On the topic of faces, one of the many reasons I love Byakken is because of his extremely relatable facial expressions. Kuze Banko gives him a lot of these perfectly serene expressions, but also has no problems pulling him in extremely over the top directions too - usually from shock or stress, he seems to get into those kinds of situations very easily lol. I feel his emotions one hundred and ten percent! Because of the well-done range and writing, it really gives you the impression that even his serene expressions have something more behind them (like exasperation, resignation…).

For example, the (very minor early story spoilers!) context for “That was a BIG FAT LIE” (smiling outside, dying inside) is that Nubatama happily tells all the sobbing wailing people in her household that she decided to become a nun because she was so profoundly moved by Byakken-sama’s preaching and decided to leave the material world behind. Which as we know is a complete fabrication especially since Byakken spent most of his time with her arguing with her about why she shouldn’t become a nun. But everyone who hears the story is like hmm yeah!! That makes total sense!!!! And thus The Amazing Tale of How Princess Nubatama Was Inspired To Become A Nun gets around. The panel that cuts to Byakken standing in front of a bunch of people talking about this, with his beatific Mona Lisa smile that somehow manages to be really flat at the same time, captioned with a giant USO (“lie”) kanji, is pitch-perfect. The entire setup and background gives him this impression of “Ah, yes… that familiar feeling… of THE DESIRE TO COMMIT MURDER”. Every time I look at it, I laugh.

It was a good challenge attempting all the different faces while still trying maintain a sense of consistency about the character, especially thinking about how I would render him differently relative to all the other Buddhist monk characters I also draw. I tried to manage that through his eyes - his very expressive eyebrows, heavy lids, and the little lashes at the corners of his eyes and his lower lids, and some of the dips/head shape near his temples. It’s also interesting to click between the colour and the ink/line-only versions and see how the effect of an image can change subtly, yet noticeably once you bring in shading and colour.

#digital art #fanart #nubatama wa oujou shinai #the pillow book #sei shonagon #byakken #art by maiji/mary huang #heian #kuze banko

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apeot · 7 years

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