Fushigi  Yuugi - The Mysterious Play

One of my favorite anime of all time.  Some of the terminology I use here won't be seen in the episodes I show you, as they're the official US-release versions.  I was spoon-fed 4th generation fansubs, and fansubs tend to incorporate more Japanese terms than licensed stuff.  FY has some pretty funny jokes ... but they're not all that funny when translated directly into English.  I'll explain 'em as they come up, although I must admit that Pioneer (the company that released FY here) did a decent job of getting the point across to viewers that aren't familiar with Japanese.  

"Mysterious Play" is the best way to translate the title, but it can have several meanings.  The word "fushigi" can mean "mystery", "strange", or "mystical". The word "yuugi" can mean "play" (as in a drama or stage performance), "play" (as in the verb), "game", and sometimes "gamble".  The kanji characters used to write "yuugi" in the title are the same ones Yugi uses in his written Japanese name.  

FY is a Giant Kanji Headache for me. ^^;  The majority of the characters have written names that draw on both Chinese and Japanese pronunciations, and almost all of the main characters' names aren't pronounced the way they're "supposed" to be.  It's the actual meaning of the kanji used to write them that's important, not their pronunciation.  In Japanese you can get away with that sort of thing.  Including "furigana" over a kanji character tells you how the writer wants it to be pronounced.  It's sort of like writing the word "fish" and having it pronounced "trout" by simply writing "trout" in tiny letters over "fish".  I'm getting a headache trying to explain it, I can only imagine what you're going through trying to understand it. ^^;

Now for some actual storyline and character stuff.  

One day after school, Miaka Yuki and her best friend Yui Hongo go to the library to return a book. A seemingly normal thing to do, right?  Miaka isn't really one for books and libraries, so she wanders off to get some juice from a vending machine.  As she plunks her coins into the slot, a beautiful red bird appears ...

(Note: While it's tempting to call Suzaku a phoenix, it's actually a peacock.)

It flies off, but leaves a sparkly red trail ... as if it wants Miaka to follow.  Miaka is the curious sort, so she chases after the weird bird.  It leads her to a room that's closed to the public, but Miaka ignores the signs and goes in anyway.  Her friend, Yui, catches up with her, and laughs when Miaka tells her about the bird.  Just as they're getting ready to leave, a book falls from a shelf and catches their attention.  Yui takes a look at it and determines that it's written in ancient Chinese. On the first page, however, is a picture of the bird that Miaka saw before.

Yui begins to read the book, entitled "Shi Shin Ten Shou" (Literally: "Four Gods' Sky and Earth"): The Universe of the Four Gods.  Yui is able to decipher the ancient Chinese, as she's studied her kanji for the upcoming high school entrance exams.  As she finishes the first paragraph ... she and Miaka are surrounded by a blinding red light.  When their vision clears, they find themselves in a vast field, looking much like China 2000 years in the past...

Miaka and Yui are approached by men who identify themselves as slave traders who intend to make them their new "products".  When it seems like they have no way out, a handsome young man with a glowing kanji character on his forehead appears and beats the living hell out those nasty slave traders.  He asks for money for his good deed, and then departs in disgust when he discovers the girls don't have any.  Miaka digs up a few dollars and chases after him.  Yui is about to follow when she's overtaken by the red light again and transported back to the library.  The Universe of the Four Gods is laying open on the floor, a picture resembling the man that saved her and Miaka on one of the exposed pages.

Meanwhile, Miaka is seemingly trapped in the world of the book.  She's concerned when she can't find Yui anywhere, and she figures that the young man who saved them might've taken her with him.  She eventually finds him (he asks her to call him Tamahome), but alas ... Yui is nowhere to be found.

Things start to happen all around her, and she finds herself in the middle of a great big mess.  Apparently, there's a prophecy in the kingdom she's in that a young girl from a foreign land will appear and save the country from certain doom.  She is said to have mysterious powers, aligned with the patron deity of the land: Suzaku.  She is called Suzaku no Miko (Priestess of Suzaku), and she will be able to summon the power of the great god.  Everyone seems to think that Miaka is Suzaku no Miko but ... Miaka doesn't really think so. ^^;  She quickly figures out that she has no chance of returning to her world  OR finding Yui without the god's help, so she agrees to assume the role of Suzaku no Miko.  In order for her to receive the power of the god, she must gather Suzaku's seven "Seishi" (Celestial Warriors) first.  The Seishi are easily identified, as a kanji character appears somewhere on their bodies.  She has no trouble finding the first two, Tamahome is obviously one of them and the other is the one who proclaimed her to be Suzaku no Miko.  

This is where it gets complicated (as if it isn't already).  I'll spare you the details (for now XD) and introduce you to our major players.

Miaka Yuki - Our cheerful ("genki"), bubble-brained heroine.  Even though she's a little naive and doesn't always think before she acts, she has a heart of gold.  Many people write her off as just a stupid airheaded Mary Sue, but Miaka has a lot of depth.  She's not as stupid as she seems!  People have compared me to Miaka, and I consider it a compliment. ^^;  If anything, she's fiercely loyal and very devoted to her friends.  

Tamahome - The first in a long line of Bishounen. :)  Tamahome is a man driven by his intense desire to make as much money as humanly possible.  Even though he seems like a greedy git, he's got a good reason for being a money-whore.  His specialty is martial arts.  If you need someone to kick some serious ass, Tamahome is your man.  His voice actor, Hikaru Midorikawa, inspired me to attribute him to Cronos because of this role.

Hotohori - My friends and I nicknamed him "Hawt-ohori" for obvious reasons.  He's pretty and he knows it. The other characters label him a masochist, and they're right.  When you have lines like "I'm so beautiful that I even scare myself ...", you're begging for it.  Hotohori is a master swordsman and extremely intelligent.  Even though he's so good looking and friendly, he's a very lonely man.  Why? Well, you'll have to wait and see.

Nuriko - Well, a pretty girl gives a nice balance in the middle of all these hot guys. ^^;  Nuriko is seemingly cruel, and is more than a bit of a bitch, but she has her reasons.  She fancies Hotohori, and has been trying to win his affection for quite some time.  Unfortunately for Nuriko, Hotohori hasn't noticed her at all.  Nuriko has been blessed with the power of super strength, but you wouldn't know it by looking at her.  She's one of my favorites.

Chichiri - If you look above the kanji next to the #11, that's what furigana looks like.  If you read his name based on the kanji, it'd be pronounced "Iyado".  Chichiri is the HOTTEST GUY IN THE SERIES.  I know you're going "WTF Ginga, you're crazy!" ... but, you'll see the light. ;) You didn't believe me about Auron at first, did you? XD  Chichiri is a monk by trade, but is quite accomplished in the field of magic.  His most endearing trait is ending every sentence in the phrase "no da".  EVERY sentence.  He even attaches a "no da" to the end of a "Shh!".  He's also known to go chibi at any given moment (see below).

Tasuki - He's rough. He's tough.  He's got an iron fan that shoots fire at his command.  What else could you want? :D He's got fangs, which is also hot.  Tasuki hates girls, and we're never given an explanation why in the course of the series. Years after FY ended, the creator wrote novels about the characters' childhoods. It is revealed that he was teased and tortured at the hands of his five older sisters. To be fair to his sisters, Tasuki kinda makes himself an easy target. ^^;

Mitsukake - I'm not sure why, but he reminds me of Tristan for some reason.  Maybe it's the chiseled face and the gentle eyes?  Mitsukake loves all creatures great and small but isn't all that fond of people. Odd, since he studied medicine for years in order to become a doctor.  He's quiet, shy, kind, and in desperate need of a big hug.  Mitsukake can cure all kinds of illnesses with his knowledge (and even his sheer will).  There is a great sadness within him which almost makes me want to cry. ;_;

Chiriko - A darling young boy who can play magical music with his flute.  He soothes the souls of his friends with his beautiful melodies, shining with innocence and purity.  He is the last member to join the group, saving them from certain death.  Even though he's friendly, Chiriko is stand-offish and wrapped in mystery.  He doesn't give any details about his past, where he came from, or how he lived.  

Yui Hongo - Miaka's best friend and the narrator to Miaka's trials within the book.  Yui is concerned for Miaka, and wants nothing more than to bring her home.  While Yui reads the book, strange things happen to her.  It seems like everything that happens to Suzaku no Miko in the book happens to her too!  The magical power of the book has another effect on Yui, drawing her in to deep trouble from which there is no escape.

The Bishi Fest doesn't end here. ^^;  There are at least ... holy crap ... EIGHT more that I can think of off the top of my head, but this page is too long as it is. ^^;