New Historical Mystery Manga from Red River Creator Chie Shinohara Coming Soon
Chie Shinohara returns to the historical genre after many years. The master mangaka, who created one of the most memorable works in shojo history with Red River (Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori), is set to meet readers on September 24 with her new series Itsukinomiya Genshitan. The new series will tell a historical mystery story centered on a princess living at Ise Shrine during Japan's Asuka period.
The new manga will begin serialization in Shogakukan's monthly josei/shojo magazine Monthly Flowers. According to the magazine's official announcement, Itsukinomiya Genshitan is described as a "historical mystery," and at the heart of the story is the sacred princess Saio (Itsuki no Miya), who serves at Ise Jingu. The Asuka period (592-710) is known as a highly turbulent era in Japan, when Buddhism spread, the imperial system took shape, and female emperors reigned. Shinohara is expected to weave this period together with court intrigues and mystical events.
This new project is a major event for Shinohara's fans. The artist reached the peak of her career with Red River, which ran from 1995 to 2002 and spanned 28 volumes. The series, which tells the story of Yuuri, a modern girl who time-travels to the Hittite Empire, won the Shogakukan Manga Award in 2001 and sold over 16 million copies, becoming one of the best-selling shojo manga of all time. Shinohara later earned acclaim with other historical and romantic works such as Mizu ni Sumu Hana and Yume no Shizuku, Kin no Torikago. Known especially for her detailed historical research, elegant artwork, and strong female characters, she is one of the first names that come to mind when it comes to historical fiction.
The announcement of Itsukinomiya Genshitan is also an exciting development for the historical mystery genre, which has been on the rise in recent years. The Saio system of Ise Shrine holds a very special place in Japanese history; unmarried imperial princesses had to live in purity for years, away from the capital, to serve the goddess Amaterasu on behalf of the emperor. This isolated and sacred life provides a perfect backdrop for intrigue and supernatural mysteries. How Shinohara will handle this mystical atmosphere is already a topic of curiosity. The first chapter of the series will hit shelves on September 24, and initial promotional images are expected to be shared in the coming weeks.
