Karakuri Circus
Encyclopedia
is a manga
by Kazuhiro Fujita
, also the manga artist of Ushio and Tora
. The manga was published in the Weekly Shōnen Sunday
magazine (1997 No.32–2006 No.26). The manga is currently available as individually compiled and bound tankōbon
.
Although this story is vastly different from Kazuhiro Fujita
’s previous title, Ushio and Tora
, but many themes inherits from his previous work. Themes such as a boy with sense of justice willing to go against great odds to save others, a man chose to become a demon to fight great evil, and as well as a tiger puppet featured in volume 24.
The most recognizable similarity between the two titles is the curse brought by the ultimate weapon against the evil. The wielder of the Spear of the Beast inherits not only a great power, but also the creator’s hatred and killing intend. Drinker of the water of Life obtain eternal life but also the hatred toward auto-mannequins. This leads to the cursing the user of both items to spend the rest of their life to carry on original creator’s unfinished works.
into one story filled with mystery and action.
The story starts when Masaru's father dies and leaves 18 billion yen
of inheritance solely to him. His siblings (all from different mothers) and his uncle set out to either kill or abduct Masaru to make all the money their own. By coincidence, Narumi ends up rescuing Masaru with the help from Shirogane.
As each episode progresses, a 200 year old tragedy is uncovered and the mystery of the origin of the Shirogane, Automatons
, and the Zonapha syndrome unfolds.
Each of the main characters are tied in reincarnation cycle that is the result of the tragedy of 200 years ago. After the third volume of manga, the story splits into two separate but related arcs.
Narumi Kato joins the other Shirogane to battle against Automatons (auto-mannequins) to cure the world of Zonapha syndrome. Meanwhile, Eleanor and Masaru Saigao join the circus and attempt to live a normal life but their fate are still heavily linked to their pre-determined destiny.
The events triggered by either Narumi Kato or Eleanor side of the story were mentioned on each other's story, sometimes directly effect one another. After a while, during the climax of the story, the two paths came to a cross. Every member of the Shirogane group and Karakuri Circus has to save the world from Z.O.N.A.P.H.A syndrome and its utter destruction. More importantly, bring the 200 years cycle of tragedy and hatred to an end.
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
by Kazuhiro Fujita
Kazuhiro Fujita
' is a Japanese manga artist. He graduated from Nihon University. He made his professional manga debut in Shōnen Sunday in 1989. He is most famous for the manga Ushio and Tora, for which he won Shogakukan Manga Award for shōnen in 1992 and the Seiun Award in 1997, and the long-running Karakuri...
, also the manga artist of Ushio and Tora
Ushio and Tora
is a yōkai manga by Kazuhiro Fujita. It received the Shogakukan Manga Award for shōnen in 1992. It was adapted into three OVA series: one with six episodes released from September 11, 1992 to February 1, 1993; one with four episodes released from June 11, 1993 to August 1, 1993; and one single...
. The manga was published in the Weekly Shōnen Sunday
Shonen Sunday
, first published on March 17, 1959, is a weekly shōnen manga magazine published in Japan by Shogakukan. Contrary to its title, Weekly Shōnen Sunday issues are released on Wednesdays.- History :...
magazine (1997 No.32–2006 No.26). The manga is currently available as individually compiled and bound tankōbon
Tankobon
, with a literal meaning close to "independently appearing book", is the Japanese term for a book that is complete in itself and is not part of a series , though the manga industry uses it for volumes which may be in a series...
.
Although this story is vastly different from Kazuhiro Fujita
Kazuhiro Fujita
' is a Japanese manga artist. He graduated from Nihon University. He made his professional manga debut in Shōnen Sunday in 1989. He is most famous for the manga Ushio and Tora, for which he won Shogakukan Manga Award for shōnen in 1992 and the Seiun Award in 1997, and the long-running Karakuri...
’s previous title, Ushio and Tora
Ushio and Tora
is a yōkai manga by Kazuhiro Fujita. It received the Shogakukan Manga Award for shōnen in 1992. It was adapted into three OVA series: one with six episodes released from September 11, 1992 to February 1, 1993; one with four episodes released from June 11, 1993 to August 1, 1993; and one single...
, but many themes inherits from his previous work. Themes such as a boy with sense of justice willing to go against great odds to save others, a man chose to become a demon to fight great evil, and as well as a tiger puppet featured in volume 24.
The most recognizable similarity between the two titles is the curse brought by the ultimate weapon against the evil. The wielder of the Spear of the Beast inherits not only a great power, but also the creator’s hatred and killing intend. Drinker of the water of Life obtain eternal life but also the hatred toward auto-mannequins. This leads to the cursing the user of both items to spend the rest of their life to carry on original creator’s unfinished works.
Plot synopsis
The story centers around three main characters, Masaru Saiga (才賀 勝), Narumi Kato (加藤 鳴海), and and combines the settings of a circus, alchemy, and karakuriKarakuri
' are mechanized puppets or automata from Japan from the 17th century to 19th century. The word karakuri means "mechanisms" or "trick". In Japanese ningyō is written as two separate characters, meaning person and shape. It may be translated as puppet, but also by doll or effigy. The dolls' gestures...
into one story filled with mystery and action.
The story starts when Masaru's father dies and leaves 18 billion yen
Japanese yen
The is the official currency of Japan. It is the third most traded currency in the foreign exchange market after the United States dollar and the euro. It is also widely used as a reserve currency after the U.S. dollar, the euro and the pound sterling...
of inheritance solely to him. His siblings (all from different mothers) and his uncle set out to either kill or abduct Masaru to make all the money their own. By coincidence, Narumi ends up rescuing Masaru with the help from Shirogane.
As each episode progresses, a 200 year old tragedy is uncovered and the mystery of the origin of the Shirogane, Automatons
Automatons
Automatons is a 2006 black-and-white horror film about a war against robots. The movie was made under the working title Death to the Automatons. Christine Spencer, Angus Scrimm, and Brenda Cooney star. John Levene, Don Wood and Executive Producer Larry Fessenden have supporting roles...
, and the Zonapha syndrome unfolds.
Each of the main characters are tied in reincarnation cycle that is the result of the tragedy of 200 years ago. After the third volume of manga, the story splits into two separate but related arcs.
Narumi Kato joins the other Shirogane to battle against Automatons (auto-mannequins) to cure the world of Zonapha syndrome. Meanwhile, Eleanor and Masaru Saigao join the circus and attempt to live a normal life but their fate are still heavily linked to their pre-determined destiny.
The events triggered by either Narumi Kato or Eleanor side of the story were mentioned on each other's story, sometimes directly effect one another. After a while, during the climax of the story, the two paths came to a cross. Every member of the Shirogane group and Karakuri Circus has to save the world from Z.O.N.A.P.H.A syndrome and its utter destruction. More importantly, bring the 200 years cycle of tragedy and hatred to an end.