YuYuKo will EaT YoU

^No it’s not a picture of Fujoh Kirie, but this is her chapter; you can’t start a Kara no Kyoukai anything and not have a picture of Ryougi Shiki.

First of all I’ve updated the Black Lotus post to include romaji, which comes in handy for EastNewSound as they like to play with the difference between lyrics sung and those written on paper. I’ve started reading Bakemonogatari and with a perhaps too hopeful strategy I should be able to finish a full chapter every 1-2 weeks, while still reading Kara no Kyoukai. My second contact has received “Gungnir” so I should receive it in two weeks – I can’t wait to read and translate it. If I’m not too busy I’ll share; I also should put up a few more EastNewSound translations from Lucent Wish and Lyrical Crimson.

I was already thinking about writing a proper review for Kara no Kyoukai (not just a jotted down film v. text comparison), and around the same time I heard the Ranobe Cafe was looking for light novel reviewers – so I figured I’d make a submission – this is it.

If only I could stop time~ I’d translate all these wonderful novels and give them to the English speaking world~

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Title: 空の境界 (Kara no Kyoukai): the Garden of sinners
Chapter: 1／俯瞰風景(Fukan Fuukei) Fujoh Kirie | Thanatos.
…(俯瞰風景=Overlooking View/Commanding View; also translated as “A View from Above”)
Author: Nasu Kinoko (TYPE-MOON)
Illustrator: Takeuchi Takashi (TYPE-MOON)
Licensed by??: Del Rey Manga/Faust Editing Group

I first encountered Kara no Kyoukai in Faust 1 (as “The Garden of Sinners: A View from Above”), translated by Paul Johnson, with a note: “The first chapter of The Garden of Sinners is presented here. The novel will be published in the United States, in its entirety in two volumes by Del Rey Manga, beginning in 2009.” Unfortunately that’s the last you’ll hear of it. I wanted more so after a little research I found the books and ordered the newest editions. (The new covers caught my eye). At this point I’ve read the original Japanese text, the only official English translation, and seen the film as well.

First of all, the format: Kara no Kyoukai (meaning Empty Boundary) is made up of seven chapters (excluding a sort of omake chapter published separately), each with their own basic plot and focal character, with an interlinking underlying plot (not unlike other series such as Bakemonogatari). The chapters themselves aren’t in chronological order and you must piece together hints until the arc reaches whatever time period. It’s a good format.

Kara no Kyoukai starts off with Fukan Fuukei, or Overlooking View. Fukan Fuukei itself without much of a warning switches narrators and its own chronological order around easily, but this is one of its charms. Narration, unreliable narration is key to the text. In fact, one of the main narrators, Kokutou, is oblivious throughout the entirety of the incident. Vagueness permeates the story – how are these characters connected, really who – who are they? Unlike the dazzling film would lead you to believe, most of the chapter is about suicide jumpers, falling and flying, and the psychological effects of an environmentally dissociative situation. The magic, that is. It’s a writing style that may take getting used to, but in the end it is absolutely superb.

Now because I don’t believe a review should leave the reader in the dark, I offer an overview. This chapter introduces three of the main characters: Ryougi Shiki, a young woman newly out of a two year coma, eternally dressed in traditional Japanese clothing with the exception of a bright red leather jumper; Kokutou Mikiya, the normal protagonist, relative to the others a bit dull witted, but lucky in a way and kind – who the reader connects with; and finally Aozaki Touko, the mage and puppeteer who runs “Garan no Dou”, employer of Kokutou who sometimes chooses to meddle indirectly in “incidents” that occur. Then there is Fujou Kirie who seems to be the link between a number of suicides, all jumpers. A link that spreads all the way to Kokutou.

All in all, what I like most about Fukan Fuukei is how it is written and the imagery tied in with it all. The “magic”, is in a way casually explained or glossed over that you accept it as fact, without really understanding it, just like Kokutou. If you’ve only watched the film, which takes a much more direct approach to the story (as a visual medium it sort of lends itself to that), I highly recommend the text. I think it has a much more interesting approach. Though I love the writing style, it’s easy to understand how someone could be put off by it. Though as it’s one of the shorter chapters, and that by itself it reads well enough as a short story, I recommend you give it a try. If you like it, there’s more to come. Though you might despair over the lack of more official translations, Baka-Tsuki has up to halfway through chapter 5 of 7 translated (it’s stalled there). Further than that, if you’re up to reading it in Japanese or pestering Del Rey to hurry up, join me in both motions. Other than that there are also the films, a flurry of beautiful animation by ufotable and beautiful music by Kalafina.