Kyoto Arc Reviews

[Nayrael]

Now that the Kyoto arc has ended, what are your opinions on it?

My own opinions:

Bad Sides

Matoi - if this was some other manga, I think a Matoi-like technique might be kinda cool. But here... it feels kinda out of place... and unnecessary.
I don't think I ever heard of anything like it being used in Japanese folklore (as always, if there is some interesting info, please post it here and/or in Reference tread) so it doesn't really fit in, especially since the author could have come up with some other Nura-style techniques for Rikuo or make other youkai characters getting power ups that fit their characters. Actually, I think I would prefer it if other characters got stronger as it would allow us to see some more teamwork again. The final battle of Kyoto arc was worse then Final Battle of Shikoku arc in that aspect. This way, other youkai look weak, especially since Rikuo seems to use their techniques better then them (like proven by his Matoi with Kurotabou). The fact that he seems able to use it with any of his clode friends without some bad after effect for him doesn't help either.
True, multiple methods give some more tactical aspect to this, but in general, I think I could live without Matoi

Bishie Seimei - while I wasn't really surprised to see that resurrected Seimei is a bishie as I somehow expected it, I still thought it was annoying (no Koshi_Inaba, the fact that only the hair is different doesn't make him feel anything less as a bishie). Bishie villains with that attitude are getting too common and aren't really interesting villains to begin with.
The fact that Seimei in the past looked great doesn't help either. He looked Gar, he didn't look like a great villain from first look (seeing that he was a manipulator that was a good thing IMO) but when he would make an evil face, he would look vicious and great.
Well, thats my opinion at least

RikuoxKurotabou vs Kidoumaru - probably the worst fight in manga. The power of those techniques is something I would expect from BLEACH, not NnM. the fact that the fight wasn't that exciting and made the arc drag doesn't help at all


Not Sure How I feel

The Kitsune/Sister/Yamabuki incident - Kitsune's host looking like Rikuo's possible sister was kinda weird, but at the same time felt kinda interesting as well as like a good (tough maybe risky) strategic move: you get to keep a popular character and add some interesting story to it. Her SUDDENLY ending up being Rihan's former wife instead felt... well, sudden and while ended up being a very nice story, it still feels like the author changed his mind in last second because there would have been to many inconsistencies. True, it was possibly planned from beginning, but it still feels weird. We will see in future how this will affect the story

Sanmoto Gorouzaemon's role - "What is Sanmoto's planning?" was a question I asked myself through most of the arc and as the climax of the arc was getting nearer, I was at the same time afraid that me getting too intrigued here coudl backfire and at the same time hoping to see something good from Hiroshi-sensei.
Now that the arc has ended I ask myself... "What is Sanmoto's planning?". True, we found out quite a bit about him, but we still don't know anything. Why did he brainwash Kyoto youkai? What exactly happened to him? Are he and Seimei allies or does he serve Seimei? In the end, we still don't know anything... and my hopes for him are still high as I think he has potential to be a better villain then Seimei if done right


Good Sides

Story quality - NnM had a good story before, but the Kyoto arc made it truly great IMO. The histories of Nura Clan, Keikain Clan and the Kyoto Clan and their relationships was interesting, character backgrounds were short but sweet, Yamabuki's story was one of best romance (romance in shounen standards) in Shounens and the whole Kyoto story was quite good. I truly hope the future arcs retain this quality

Keikain Clan - while I think they could have been handled better, overall I liked Keikain's here. They were interesting in both designs and techniques. True, they felt like a fodder for Kyoto youkai, but I think it could have been worse. Hopefully, they will be part of the story again

9-tails Kitsune Kuzunoha - as far as villains go, 9-tails Kitsune Kuzunoha is one of my favorite villains: she is evil, vicious, has a great design and is kickass. The fact that her character was not ruined (by making her too arrogant or careless) in order for the main character to beat her helps as well. Seriously, I couldn't find anything bed about her and every her appearance made me pleased ^_^

RikuoxTsurara Ship Tease - being a supporter of this pairing, I naturally liked all the tease... tough true, it was this arc that actually made me support the pairing as I think it now fits better then RikuoxKana and RikuoxYura (tough I think RikuoxYura pairing has a lot of potential as well... RikuoxKana pairing tough doesn't seem as fitting as it once did).
However, Tsurara as a character could use some development. I dare say, I'll kill a kitten if I have to go through another "This girl is useless" drama (we had it during Gyuuki arc, Shikoku arc and now here... stop with it already X( ).

Keikain Yura - while the arc didn't use her to the fullest potential (I would have liked it if she played a gretaer role during the final battle), her character was developed well enough to make her one of my favorite characters. Hopefully she will continue to get worked on

Tsuchigumo - for once in my life I get to see a giant shown as dangerous who is... well dangerous. Usually, when someone huge as him appears in stories, you get someone whos size is actually his greatest weakness. Not here tough: Tsuchugumo is strong, but he is also fast and perceptive. His size is only a bonus to him, not a disadvantage.
He is also badass

Still quite loyal to the Folklore - IMO, the greatest charm of this manga is in its loyalty towards the folklore. So it never stopping to be loyal towards it is a big plus for me. Hell, I like how the author seems to have used all meaning of word Yamabuki for that one character and how one word (Impatience) had such a great meaning, without over-dramatizing it or trying to force you to see its importance.
No matter how the story goes on later, as long as this element remains, I'll love this manga

[dct21]

I liked the Matoi Technique, the way it was explained i was hoping he would be able use more people at once.

[Sama_al_Azraq]

My opinion for Kyoto arc

- Story
I don't know if Shiibashi already thought of the story from the start or just making it along the way. But if he did think about it from early stage of the story, I think it will be better to have foreshadowing or something so there won't be any inconsistency. Yamabuki Otome story by itself is good, but the chapters before it about Kitsune's host identity make it confusing. Maybe it was meant to be misdirection but somehow it looks like Shiibashi changed what he originally wanted to write and didn't end up smoothly.
Also the seals is not used properly for the story development. The last seals got no part in the story and destroyed just like that by passing-by Rikuo... When the Kyoto youkai higher ups were separated into different directions, I was hoping more introduction for the other characters in their battle at the seals but only Kubinashi, Kejourou, Aotabou, Ibarakidouji and Shoukera (a 1-hit dead that is) have a battle that explains more of them, while the others have nothing.
The good part is the way Shiibashi mix folklore into the story. Like Ibarakidouji and Shutendoji story, connecting Aotabou to Shoumenkongou (Shoumenkongou is to whom people prayed at to asking protection from Shoukera) and Kuzunoha and Seimei.
- Battle
When the miwaza concept introduced I had high hopes for it because of the stronger the leader's fear, the stronger the hyakkiyakou will become. And I thought Day Rikuo will be able to participate in the fight too. But the one who got focus is Rikuo only, while the others just standing there. At least Shiibashi should draw it like Shikoku arc where the other characters have their fight.
For the matoi itself, I actually like the idea, because with it even weak youkai like Zen can also participate in the battle. And the variations of matoi is interesting. But if it means robbing the other character's chance to shine, I don't know.
There are also people teleporting in the middle of battle, damage taken that look fatal turn out not very deadly among others.
1 thing I still can't understand is in Kidoumaru fight, 2 of his henchmen also transform into oni, but in the next chapter they just gone and never appear again, why???
- Character
In the first part of this arc, after seeing Yura and Tsurara doing a combination attack, I was expecting more of that, also more interaction between both of them. Also 2 yuki-onna in the manga, but nothing said at all about it.
Shouei, Shouei, Shouei. After stopping takarabune in the river, he kept himself as background character only...
And the onmyouji. When Ryuuji and Mamiru first appeared, the onmyouji looks strong. But in the end, other onmyouji are fodders and not really participate in the story. Even Yura who supposed to have the spotlight the most didn't beat a single strong named youkai (She's only being angry at Satori and Onihitokuchi battle, but the one who killed them was Rikuo).
Seimei is the most dissapointing for me. The changing of appearance and personality makes him inferior compared to his Heian self (at least for me).
Also Kitsune and Seimei fanservice(?) is a minus for me. Exhibionist is not a charm in my eye. I just wanna say to both of them, "Have a shame, will you? Put a clothes on already!"

[Galactic Tomahawk]

I liked it up until the end, from about Kidoumaru's fight onward it felt like Shiibashi just had no clue how to actually wrap up the arc.

Tsuchigumo was easily my favorite part, pretty much everything about him was amazing and he got one of the best fights in the series.

And I actually really liked Matoi, it's a creative power-up with a lot of potential for variety and I thought it fit really well thematically.