Fushigi Yuugi (translated as "The Mysterious Play", "Curious Play", etc.) could be at first glance another one of the "romantic comedy" anime genre, in the spirit of such titles as Ranma 1/2, Tenchi Muyo, and others. This is true in part - both comedy and romance comprise this amazing series first released in manga (Japanese comic) format by Yu Watase in 1992. However, Fushigi Yuugi is primarily of the "shoujo", or young Japanese girl, genre. Targeted at its namesake, shoujo manga and anime tends to focus on issues of romance, friendship, and teamwork, with a little bit of drama thrown in. Even though the "shoujo" genre is targeted at young girls, however, Fushigi Yuugi's popularity, especially on an international level, has been such that it has attracted fans of all ages and of both genders. The adventures and growth of Miaka Yuki (pictured at left) have enchanted and endeared many people to Watase's work.

Miaka Yuki, the main character, is an aspiring high school student who wants to get into the high school of her choice along with her best friend, Yui Hongo. However, she's a bit clumsy, has a tendancy not to study very hard, and is easily distracted (especially by food, which she wolfs down whenever she has the chance). Miaka, therefore, definitely does not start out as the most far-sighted person in the world, and her behavior suggests that. By the end of the story, though, Miaka has grown and changed so much, aware not only of her priorities in life, but also of the value of life itself, as well of her friends and companionship. It is Miaka's character development, as well as the development of those who she affects, that is one of the biggest draws of the series.

The one event that changes Miaka's life forever is her magical journey into the world of a book called "The Universe of the Four Gods". One day, as Yui drags her off to the library in order to return a book, Miaka catches something out of the corner of her eye as she drools over the vending machines - the sight of a beautiful bird with bright red feathers. Following it to the restricted area of the Library, both Miaka and Yui look in vain for the bird - but instead find an open book (The Universe of the Four Gods) emitting a soft red glow. As the two begin to read the pages, they are both enveloped in a bright red light! When they awaken, Miaka and Yui find themselves in the ancient Chinese world they had just been reading about, and are almost kidnapped by bandits. However, they are saved just in the nick of time by a handsome young martial artist named Tamahome, who then demands payment for his services. When he doesn't get it, he leaves the two stranded in the middle of nowhere. To make matters worse, Yui is then somehow pulled back into the real world, and has no choice but to continue reading about poor Miaka, who is now left all by herself in the strange world of the book.

However, Miaka finds soon enough that she has companions in this new world, as she takes on the position of "Suzaku no Miko" (Priestess of Suzaku) in order to get home. Suzaku, god of the southren land of Konan where Miaka ends up, is said to grant any three wishes to the priestess who summons him. In order to do that, however, Miaka must first gather together the "Suzaku Seven" - the embodiment of the legendary celestial constellations that make up Suzaku in the night sky, of which Tamahome is but one. In her journeys to accomplish this, Miaka finds romance, pain, happiness, despair, and most of all, the reality of life, as she finds that the obstacles that oppose her goal may come from the most unexpected of places.

Fushigi Yuugi's appeal lies in not only the development of the main story, which is filled with poignant and memorable moments in and of itself, but also of all of its characters. I've outlined the basics of how Miaka, the main character, changes, but the other characters, both good and evil, are also developed in such a way as to give them depth and scope, and to better emphasize the main action which centers partly on Tamahome and Miaka and their progression of their romance. This and many things are what make the series popular among anime fans.