Genjū no Seiza

Infobox animanga/Header
name = Genju no Seiza


caption = Cover of the First Volume
ja_name = 幻獣の星座
ja_name_trans = Constellation of the Imaginary Beast
genre = Supernatural, comedy, fantasyInfobox animanga/Manga
title =
author = Matsuri Akino
publisher = flagicon|Japan Akita Shoten
publisher_other = flagicon|United States Tokyopop
demographic = Shōnen
magazine =
first = 2000
last =
volumes = 14

nihongo|"Genjuu no Seiza"|幻獣の星座|lit. "Constellation of the Imaginary Beast" is a Japanese supernatural manga created by Matsuri Akino. The series is focused on Kamishina Fuuto, a teenager who has spiritual senses, and his struggle to maintain a normal life while being a reincarnation of the High Priest of Dhalashar.

The manga is published by Akita Shoten in 14 graphic novels. It is licensed and distributed in the United States by Tokyopop.

Plot

In a distant country of Dhalashar, they have found their leader of fifteen years of age. He is the 42nd High Priest of Dhalashar, and is supposed to be a reincarnation of the first spiritual leader. But he isn't. The high priest is actually an impostor appointed by the Chinese government and the snake god Nāga so the Chinese can claim the scared country. The real ruler is in Japan.

Kamishina Fuuto is a normal teenager who recently transferred schools. He can sense people's auras and hence sees the personality of the students . He realizes after meeting his new class that there is something wrong and during break asks to be excused. While lying on the lawn a large bird tries to approach him. Fuuto, who has a fear of birds due to a recurring nightmare where he is killed by a flock of crows, panics and is rescued by another student named Kazuki Sato.

Fuuto befriends Sato and after school they go visit what appears to be a castle on a nearby hill. While approaching the building they hear singing, and with their curiosity piqued they spy on the occupants of the castle: a beautiful young girl named Mayu and an older man named Professor Ichijo. After listening to the song, Fuuto starts to cry as he somehow knows the song, even though it is in a foreign language and he has never heard it before. Ichijo soon notices them and he asks them to come tomorrow, by the gate this time.

The next day at school, Fuuto approaches Sato and sees he has been badly injured. The class bullies Fuuto noticed earlier call to Sato and he runs to them. Fuuto is confronted by a group of girls who tell Fuuto not to hang around Sato. Disturbed, Fuuto goes to the rooftop and is confronted by the bird again, where it transforms into a half-man half-bird hybrid named Garuda. He claims that Fuuto is the true heir to the throne of Dhalashar. Fuuto yells and draws two girls to his aid and asks them to help him to get rid of the "weirdo" but they say that there is only a bird, whereupon Fuuto realizes that only he can see Garuda in his true form, which Garuda claims is further proof that he is the reincarnated high priest. Garuda then asks Fuuto to command him and Fuuto commands him to go away, which he does.

The next day when Fuuto arrives to school, he sees police cars. He asks some classmates what they're doing there, and he finds out that Sato committed suicide. Upset because he knew that Sato was a scapegoat for the bullies' crimes, Fuuto tells Garuda to prove himself and punish those who bullied Sato. Garuda does, and a flock of crows come and attack the students, bullies, parents and teachers. Finally, Garuda sends his crows to Sato's body, but Fuuto protects it, saying that he also sinned because he left when Sato needed him the most. Seeing Fuuto's regret, Garuda rewinds time and restores life, but tells Fuuto he cannot do the same for Sato as his soul has already gone to the Wheel of Transmigration.

Throughout the story, though Fuuto refuses to take on his role as the Holy King, he learns almost the same lessons as the King should have. In his experiences with more Guardian Beasts and the Supernatural world, he grows to learn of mortality, and the roads people make for themselves and others.

Characters

Main characters

;Fuuto Kamishina:Son of a world famous photographer living in Japan, Fuuto grew up loving his single mother and resenting his father for leaving the family. Aside from his mother, he also has a grandmother from his father's side who is leader of a Yakuza clan, which often leads to amusing but advantageous events for him. A boy with strange powers which only increases in time, he is revealed to be the heir to the throne of Dhalashar, a title and role he refuses to take. It is implied that he was killed by a flock of crows in last life, supposedly thanks to Garuda, whom he died hating.

;Mayu:A young girl confined to a wheelchair and living in a castle with Prof Ichigo, she often appears to be either emotionless or angry. However, she does smile every now and again to get what she wants from other people. Mayu is able to see the guardian beasts and other spirits for who they are, sometimes she is the only one to sense something wrong. Her mind is often described as "a blank", and one time Fuuto sees her connected to several machines during a 'minor sickness'. Her voice has the uncanny power to stop Fuuto from using his power to destroy his surroundings whenever he is angry, and often she is the one who calls him back from whatever time or dimension he has been transported to.

;Garuda:The first guardian beast who discovers Fuuto's heritage. To those without special powers he appears to be a large bird, but a select few sees him as a man with a bird's head and wings. He constantly frets and worrys over Fuuto's well being, and a running gag in the manga is his pacing and other characters' remarks that Fuuto hates him because of his overprotectiveness. Sohki has once remarked that his greatest rival is Naga, and it was because of this rivalry that the last Holy King died.

;Hanuman:The first assassin sent by Naga to kill the "Impostor King", Hanuman appears to be a small monkey with a childish air. Upon seeing Fuuto's healing abilities and genuine care for life, he hesitates, until a fight prompted by Genro occurs. After swearing loyalty to Fuuto, his role takes up most of the childish humor of the story. He appears to adore Sohki, much to Genro's chagrin.

;Genro:A general wolf god who gets irritated whenever someone calls him a dog, Genro was sent by Naga to check on Hanuman's progress and to slay the Impostor King should the monkey fail. After witnessing Fuuto's abilities, he swears loyalty to him. Always looking for a good fight, he often calls Fuuto weak, though he would gladly risk his life for Fuuto's safety. As a swordsman his greatest rival is Ohko. Unlike Hanuman, Genro is extremely cautious around Sohki and often freaks when the latter gets too close to him.

Dhalashar's people

;Naga:The Snake god who appointed the current king to the throne, he is described to be the rival of Garuda. As of current times, Naga is probably second in political power after the Holy King, as he often dispatches the assassins sent to kill Fuuto. He is suspicious of Sohki's motives, despite Sohki's claims that he wasn't like Naga and never plots anything. Naga knows his position allows him strong influence on Atisha, and thus feels threatened when Atisha expresses a free wish to go to Japan.

;Atisha:The current king of Dhalashar, he is often seen meditating in a locked, dark room. Fuuto's age, but almost his complete opposite in personality as he is humble and quiet. Naga is possibly the only one he talks to, as all the other servants remain in humble silence. He once spoke with Fuuto and accidentally switched bodies, but does not appear to be truly aware of Fuuto's identity. Rather, he chooses instead to go to Japan so that he can meet him again.

;Sohki:The Kirin, who is supposedly the only beast not under the command or control of the Holy King and his subjects. He is blind and deaf, but can read thoughts. Sohki often teases and mocks anyone he meets, but when serious he is said to be able to easily destroy Japan. Though he is the only one who can tell which King is the rightful one, he refuses to do so as he claims that it was merely another fight between Garuda and Naga.

;Lamia:"A snake beast under Naga, in ancient Greece and the orient, she was feared as a succubus, and is very clever and tenacious." Lamia was the first female assassin sent by Naga to slay the impostor king. When she realizes Fuuto could resist her power, she begins to question who the true heir is. Lamia is the one who first tries to seek Sohki so that the true king may be revealed, when he does not answer her she returns back to Dhalashar. Later when Atisha stars in a Japanese spirit show, she appears as his interpreter.

;Yamantaka:Third assassin sent by Naga after Genro and Hanuman were 'brainwashed by the false king', he is a minotaur who confronts Fuuto when the boy is on a school field trip without his guardians. When Shakyamuni's disciples interfere and Yamantaka accidentally damages one of them, an angry Fuuto teleports him several miles away. After that, he begins to question the king Naga has appointed. Unlike Lamia, he is unwilling to seek Sohki out, and instead returns to Dhalashar where he makes a brief appearance at Naga's side going over international invitations from other countries.

;Ohko:This tiger assassin broke into Ichijo's home to kill Fuuto only to realize that the Imposter King, along with Seishun and all his guardians, had been transported back in time. Sohki convinces him not to kill on sight, as Ohko has a rivalry with Genro that will never be settled if he obeyed Naga's orders. Later when Ohko loses his temper again, Sohki gives him a drink that knocks him out cold, much to Ichijo's disbelief. Militant like Genro, Ohko is extremely loyal to Atisha, but with Garuda's pressuring he decides to watch Fuuto for a while. Later when Naga and Atisha are in Japan, Genro concludes that Naga must have believed Ohko to have betrayed him and joined Fuuto.

Humans

;Kimihiko Ichigo:The guardian of Mayu, this 32 year old man is a graduate of Meio Academy and a multi-field scholar from an ancient Kyoto family. He's very interested in the supernatural, even though he has no sixth sense himself. For a world renowned individual, he's actually quite easy going. He has no fashion sense, tends to collect the strangest things, and designed his home in a European Castle style that tend to give the mistaken impression of a love hotel. He has connections to various government and TV agencies, which has proven to be important to the storyline.

;Tserin:Fuuto's mother, originally from a nomadic tribe in Tibet. When she met photographer Kento Kamishina, she married him and followed him to Japan. Though kind and gentle, she is in a constant state of anxiety both due to Fuuto's strange powers and the fear of being discovered by Kento's mother, whom she mistakenly thought would try to deport her.

;Kento Kamishina:Fuuto's father, a world famous photographer, and currently missing. He disliked his family business and at 18 left so that he could pursue his hobby of taking photos. A constant traveller, he met Tserin while travelling in Tibet, and eventually married her. Kento is best remembered for his words about the awe of the universe when one is alone looking at the skies. Fuuto met him when he was experimenting with spiritual form, and found that his father has amnesia.

;Takako Kamishina :Kento's mother, Fuuto's grandmother, and the godmother of a Yakuza family. She is a dignified and may appear to be a fierce figure, but her love for Kento and Fuuto is true. After clearing a misunderstanding with Tserin, she asks for them to move in with her. Despite Tserin's refusal, the family now gets along well. Though she describes her clan as conservative and unaggressive, she is more then willing to mobilize them for Fuuto. Her name still commands respect, as Fuuto finds out when other Yakuza won't touch him due to his lineage of 'Kamishina the Third'.

;Seishun Abeno:A friend of Fuuto's and descendant of Abe no Seimei, he is heir of the divinatory family in Kyoto. He has an inferiority complex due to his lack of occult power and decided to study astronomy at a Tokyo university. He may appear to be a fragile and rich boy, but is extremely intelligent and can easily adjust to new situations, as proven whenever he is dragged into one of Fuuto's adventures. His family is distinctly related to Ichigo's.

;Abe no Kagari:Granddaughter of Abe no Seimei who looks exactly like Mayu, but is stubborn and full of curiosity. Further unlike Mayu is her highly emotional state and the fact that she can't keep her feelings from showing. Kagari was first seen with Watanabe no Tsuna when Fuuto and Seishun touched the old Samurai sword Higekiri. Initially mistaking them as demons, then getting annoyed when she learns that Seishun may be an illegitimate brother, she eventually grows fond of them. She appears to be on good terms with Sakata no Kintoki.

Other Characters, in order of appearance

Yuuya: A little boy whom Fuuto meets at their apartment building. He was an abused child, and when Fuuto tried to heal him, he saw him being abused due to his powers. He takes Yuuya home with him and leaves him in his mother's care while he went to confront his Yuuya's mother. He found out that she was abused too as a child and Garuda told him that it was because of transmigration. Fuuto uses his powers to heal the mother, and she goes to get Yuuya showing her concern now that she was healed. When she and Yuuya were walking home, they are hit by a moving vehicle and Yuuya dies. Fuuto gets upset because Garuda told him that Yuuya's fate couldn't be changed. Fuuto thinks that everything he did was pointless, but Garuda said that the two would be much closer in their next lives because of him.

Souici: An old friend of Fuuto's, after Fuuto disappeared Souici has stayed locked up in his room for five years. His mother contacted Fuuto for help, and after a near-death experience Fuuto succeeds. This arc is also the first time Fuuto saw the palace of Dhalashar.

Ayana Katsuragi: A female student who seemed strangely forward with Fuuto about her interest, she managed to convince him to leave his guardians and never see Mayu again. After nearly killing him, Mayu reveals her identity and misguided intentions.

Aruma: The twelve year old first princess of 5th century BC Persia, Fuuto met her during his first time-travelling adventure. His appearance triggered her wedding, and Fuuto did not realize until too late that the wedding was a sacrifice.

Kushinada: During a school play, Fuuto has another time adventure where Kushinada is meant to be the next sacrifice for a serpent god. Fuuto is mistaken as a champion sent to save the people, and along with Kushinada he goes to confront the creature, where the terrible truth is revealed.

Tsukasa Kugahara: One of Fuuto's classmates, he is a soft-spoken boy whose family own a hospital clinic. He himself is smart student and often treats abused animals. Fuuto however proves he has a darker side.

Eriko Kawai: A girl in Fuuto's class whose family fell into debt after her father disappeared on them shortly after losing his job. Fuuto relates to her because both their fathers are missing. He helps her family recover by asking his Yakuza grandmother for help and then convincing Eriko's father not to commit suicide.

Watanabe no Tsuna: Fuuto and Seishun travelled to his time when they touched his sword Higekiri. Tsuna is famous in legend as someone who cut off the arm of a demoness named Ibaraki, but was later deceived to return it after Ibaraki took the form of his nanny requesting to see the arm. In order to amend his wrongs he follows the samurai troop under Minamoto no Yorimitsu into Mount Ooe.

Kidoumaru: A famous thief known to work at the Rashomon Gate, he witnessed Fuuto's healing ability and kidnaps him in the attempt to save his dying brother Kotetsu. Kidoumaru steals only from the very rich to feed parentless children, as his boss Kioumaru of Mount Ooe has done. Later he himself is kidnapped and beaten by Minamoto no Yorimitsu in Yorimitsu's attempt to gain information about Kioumaru, whom Yorimitsu claims is the real demon.

Naomi Aoyama: Class president in Fuuto's class, despite her constant smiles Fuuto senses no happiness from her; like Mayu she is empty. They ended up volunteering in a Senior Home, and when Fuuto hears the last wish of an old lady named Fumi, he switches the spirits of Naomi and Aoyama. In the body of a dying woman, Naomi nearly dies and in doing so finally finds herself. After fulfilling Fumi's last wish, Fuuto returns just in time to switch back the spirits, ensuring Fumi's peaceful death and helping Naomi become her own person.

Guest appearances

The Guardians here are creatures of mixed mythological legends. Garuda is a large mythical bird or bird-like creature that appears in both Hindu and Buddhist mythology, and here he can be seen in his half-human half-bird form. Hanuman is one of the most important personalities in the Indian epic, the Ramayana—here he is drawn as a child-like monkey (Japanese Son Goku). The Kirin made an appearance here and is known as 'Souki-sama', he is play like, mischievous and likes to verbally battle with the other guardians. He is the guest of Count D in his Petshop in Shinjuku, Tokyo.

For full details of the Guardians' representative legend, view the links provided.