Manga Review: Kaze no Hana Volume One

[Jason]

Title: Kaze no Hana
Volume: One
Mangaka: Ushio Mizta & Akiyoshi Ohta
Originally Serialized In: (Media Works)
Genre: Action
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Teen (13+)
Price: $11.99/US

Kaze no Hana is a mysterious manga and not always intentionally. Occasionally the storyline gets a little murky, but only in certain spots, so not enough to ruin the enjoyment of it. The central character is Momoka Futami, a sixteen-year-old girl, orphaned four years before. Part of the mystery comes in as a result of this because the accident has left Momoka with a deep amnesia that has erased her past. Finally, a helping hand comes from the Mitsurugi family, who are wealthy and powerful relatives of Momoka’s, and they take her in.

On the train to her new home, Momoka’s the type who has to talk to her seat-neighbour, an attractive young man named Shouta Ichijou, who turns up the music and ignores her. Unfortunately, this irritating first meeting is worse than Momoka knows because her fate is bound to Shouta’s. They are members of the eight families entrusted to care for, and use, the spiritual swords given to them by a legendary dragon. Momoka finds this out quickly when she and Shouta are kidnapped and left to face a demon. This is where the depths of her amnesia come to light.

More troubles lie ahead for Momoka at the family meeting, where she is unable to draw her family sword, Suzukaze, casting doubts on her. She finds herself roommates with the moody Shouta in Mitsurugi City. As if life in a new town and going to a new school, aren’t traumatic enough, Momoka wants to remember her past, something her family won’t help her with. However, the key to her using her sword and being a warrior may depend on that. Worse, the city and the Dragon People are responsible for keeping a corrupt god sealed away and that seal is breaking.

The bad guys naturally put their toe into the water and this is where things get murky, intentionally so. There are several of them and who they all are, and what they want, is unclear with one exception: the Vatican has decided these Dragon People are vicious and evil and need to go.

The characters are intriguing and interesting to read about. Momoka does bother me slightly since she spends most of her time needing to be rescued, and does little to help herself, but I’m willing to forgive that. After all, the girl has no clue what’s going on and it certainly sounds like half the point of this story is to watch her grow into her destiny, or at least I hope so.

The art is very nice, in spite of an obsession with giving all the young men sideburns. Yen Press continues its tradition of leaving the sound effects, rather than translating them phonetically, than giving the English-version, which does tend to clutter up the page on occasion. There are a few nice extras: a character sketch of both Momoka and Shouta, a glossary to help you orient yourself in a terminology-thick book, and then a good amount of translator notes.

The Machiavellian plotting of this hooked me and I’d love to see more.

Reviewer: D.M. Evans
Proofer: Eduardo Menendez
Editor: Lissa Pattillo