Tenken Explained

Ja Kanji:天顕祭
Ja Romaji:Tenkensai
Type:manga
Author:Yumiko Shirai
Publisher:Sanctuary Publishing
Published:July 30, 2008
Volumes:1

is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Yumiko Shirai. It was originally written in 1997 and later sold at various conventions and by mail order. In 2008, Sanctuary Publishing sold the manga as a volume.

The series has received a positive response from critics and won the Encouragement Prize at the Japan Media Arts Festival in the manga division in 2007.

Plot

The plot is based on the mythological dragon Yamata no Orochi.[1]

Publication

Yumiko Shirai first wrote the manga in 1997. Upon submitting it to a manga publisher, they told Shirai to change her art style. Shirai refused and instead sold it as (self-published manga) at conventions such as COMITIA and by mail order.[2] [3] [4] Sanctuary Publishing published the manga in a volume, which was released on July 30, 2008. It included an obi with comments by Nahoko Uehashi, whom Shirai had previously worked with.[3]

In September 2010, One Peace Books announced that they licensed the manga for English publication.[5] The released the print volume on September 15, 2010.[6] Digital manga service Azuki added the manga to their catalog in August 2023.[7]

Reception

John Oppliger of AnimeNation praised the characters and story, particularly the use of Japanese mythology and folklore in the latter. Oppliger felt the artwork was a mix of the artsyles of Goseki Kojima's Lone Wolf and Cub and Hiroaki Samura's Blade of the Immortal.[8] Chris Zimmerman of Comic Book Bin felt the story was unique from other manga despite its hero's journey theme. Zimmerman also liked the artwork, which he described as detailed and expressive.[9] Scott Green of Ain't It Cool News praised the artwork and story, describing the manga as more clearly Japanese than most other manga.[10]

At the 2007 Japan Media Arts Festival, it won the Encouragement Prize in the manga division.[11] It was the first Japanese: doujinshi to win the award.[3]

In January 2009, Sanctuary Publishing reported the volume had sold 66,000 copies.[12]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ja:天顕祭. https://kotobank.jp/word/%E5%A4%A9%E9%A1%95%E7%A5%AD-723462. Kotobank. November 16, 2023. ja.
  2. Web site: ja:天顕祭. http://plaza.bunka.go.jp/festival/2007/manga/000840/. Japan Media Arts Festival. November 16, 2023. ja. https://web.archive.org/web/20080110122041/http://plaza.bunka.go.jp/festival/2007/manga/000840/. January 10, 2008. dead.
  3. Web site: ja:天顕祭:同人マンガが異例のメディア芸術祭受賞 書籍化され、30日から発売. http://mainichi.jp/enta/mantan/news/20080726mog00m200037000c.html. Mainichi Shimbun. Watanabe. Kei. July 26, 2008. November 16, 2023. ja. https://web.archive.org/web/20080902175743/http://mainichi.jp/enta/mantan/news/20080726mog00m200037000c.html. September 2, 2008. dead.
  4. Web site: ja:メディア芸術祭奨励賞受賞同人誌 「天顕祭」が商業出版へ. https://s.animeanime.jp/article/2008/07/10/3379.html. Anime! Anime!. July 10, 2008. November 16, 2023. ja.
  5. Web site: One Peace Books Licenses Award-Winning Manga Tenken. Anime News Network. Manry. Gia. September 14, 2010. November 16, 2023.
  6. Web site: North American Anime, Manga Releases, September 12-18. Anime News Network. Manry. Gia. September 14, 2010. November 16, 2023.
  7. Web site: Azuki Adds 10 Manga Series, 13 1-Shot Titles from Media Do, MediBang!, One Peace Books This Month. Anime News Network. Cayanan. Joanna. August 10, 2023. November 16, 2023.
  8. Web site: A Ten for Tenken. AnimeNation. Oppliger. John. September 13, 2010. November 16, 2023.
  9. Web site: Tenken. Comic Book Bin. Zimmerman. Chris. October 6, 2010. November 16, 2023.
  10. Web site: AICN Anime - Ninja-ing into November. Ain't It Cool News. Green. Scott. November 12, 2010. November 16, 2022.
  11. Web site: Coo, Gurren-Lagann, 'Kafka' Win Media Arts Awards. Anime News Network. Loo. Egan. December 4, 2007. November 16, 2023.
  12. Web site: ja:「天顕祭」またまた重版. http://sanctuarybooks.jp/press/index.php?e=181. Sanctuary Publishing. January 29, 2009. November 16, 2023. ja. https://web.archive.org/web/20090220101429/http://sanctuarybooks.jp/press/index.php?e=181. February 20, 2009. dead.