The Tale of Genji, by Yoshitaka Amano

[jinian]

The Tale of Genji
Yoshitaka Amano
Text by Anri Itou and Junichi Imura
Additional English translation by Rachel Nacht
ISBN-10: 1-59582-063-9
ISBN-13: 978-1-59582-063-1
DH Press (Dark Horse)
$24.95
Hardcover, 80 pages

This is a book of Genji fan art by a major graphic artist. Amano has been the character designer for the Final Fantasy franchise forever, and his collaboration with Neil Gaiman on Sandman: The Dream Hunters is excellent, though less widely known in comics fandom than it should be. Much of his other work is represented at Amano's World. (This userpic is the queen of cups from the Amano tarot deck.)

There are around 20 double-page spreads of single paintings, one centerfold (Genji gets laid, lady unidentified), and single-page paintings on the rest of the pages. The focus is definitely on the art, but the book also acts as a quick guide to who all of these ladies are -- each gets a painting and a sidebar summary of her story and relationship to Genji. No other male gets one, though, and the ladies' names are transliterated rather than translated, so the utility is limited.

Is the art worth buying the book for? For Amano fans, absolutely. For Genji fans, see what you think:

Comments

[kate_nepveu]

I was just giving the Safflower Lady a skeleton wiki page, so I have to ask: does Amano paint her and her dreadful nose?

[jinian.livejournal.com]

Yes! Her nose has a downward-pointing tip and is sharper than most. He doesn't seem to have been able to bring himself to color the tip red, though.

[kate_nepveu]

I'm torn between being glad on her behalf and regretting the chance to gawk!