The Fushigi Yuuki Lesson

I'm a self professed anime geek as a child. The pre-dead dad days of 13 when Astro's AXN was showing this really promising anime called Fushigi Yuuki, or the English name The Mysterious Play. I couldn't stop watching despite having Dad yelling at me or I refuse to budge from completing the last minute homework. Good thing I was in afternoon school too, becasue they always have repeats in the morning when my whole family was watching Hong Kong series every 8pm when the episodes of Fushigi Yuuki premieres.

It's a story about these two schoolgirls, Miaka and Yui who are the best of friends, stumbled across this legendary book (sorry if I don't know the name, memory's fuzzy. It's been 9 years). And unknowingly got stuck in Ancient Fictional LAnd (I'd say China. But that's just me) and struggles to get back to their own world. They discovered in horror that they were both female maidens that could call upon supreme beings that protect the very land of two separate tribes:- Suzaku and Seiryuu.

I don't want to dwell too much into the story because it was long. I only finished watching it after my father passed away. Yeah, it was that long lol. But that anime taught me a few things about human relationships and strangely, sexuality.

For one, the schoolgirls are both targets of lecherous inside the book world because as maidens of the supreme being, they are virgins, therefore making their powers pure (sensing the irony?). The trouble is that Miaka is err......highly aroused by falling in love with one of her warriors Tamahome. She tries offering to him plenty, and I really mean PLENTY of times. What with the accidental boob showing (always to the warrior, not to the audience, don't worry), the seductions, the long extensive makeout sessions, you'd think it's not content that should be watched by a 13 year-old. But I did, stood there, sincerely hoping some much needed "action" to be taken by the guy since the girl OFFERED herself so many freaking times, and the warrior never took it. That's such a man.

But it does not stop other guys who tries to take that away though. So it's an adventure itself: Protecting virginity from others while controlling one's self desire. Because the moment you enter the canal, you deplete her pure powers. (I'm trying not to make it a pun. Honest).

Another revolves around two people actually: Hotohori and Nuriko. Hotohori, despite being the king of the land of Suzaku, is a narcissist. He loves his image a lot, and often profess to be the land's most beautiful man. Nuriko is a man who cross dresses as a woman since young in memory of his dead sister. Poor Miaka had to dip in the pool with Nuriko because she did NOT realised she was a HE. And Nuriko is in love with Hotohori, and also in a friendly rivalry with Miaka because she/he kissed Tamahome. Hilarity ensues of course.

One thing is that I realised they are very comfortable at portraying different sexual personalities. It was certainly a mind blowing experience for me. But I'm impressed at how open Miaka is to sexually express herself to that one guy. She loves him, so she wants to have sex with him. Or maybe because she might leave the book world soon, but that was one striking example I admire about her. It did challenge my thinking later about viewing a female's virginity later on. Some judgmental people may just call her a slut for being so openly expressive about her love for someone, but it left a deep imprint in my head on how I see a guy the next time I fell in love with someone.

And it's with this anime I start to know about the different sexual personalities, like a man who freely falls for another man, a man who's not shy to fall in love with his looks. It's astounding, mind blowing, and at the same time, it was because of this kickstart I was comfortable by the time I actually see guys like them, if I ever see any.

Maybe some of you may say it was rather inappropriate that I was exposed to such lessons at a young age. But when then, will we learn to see the exploration of other sexualities and perhaps doubt ourselves to learn acceptance over such personalities? I've seen a few sexualities in friends, and sometimes I do wonder if I like both sides. But I definitely learnt that a girl should not shy away from expressing how much she loves someone, as do it will be her choice if she wants to give away her virginity and not for others to judge.

Sadly, I'm not without any barriers. Not going to elaborate here ;). I'm just good, open-minded enough.

That's the end of my Fushigi Yuuki lesson. Ciao.

Some maybe a little judgmental over how I receive my lessons, whether it's through storybooks, television or movies, when in the past people always say "oh you must read a book to receive knowledge". Well, I'm not the past, I'm the present, and yes, I do get my lessons from watching anime and Youtube, or reading a blog post online. It's just the way I take things nowadays, not just books. Thank you. Ciao