Last update:
22-Sep'04

Other pages of
interest about
Tsuki no Shippo:
-- Margaret Magazine
official page
(in Japanese).

Tsuki no Shippo is UEDA Rinko's current ongoing manga. It started it's publication in #17 of 2002 of the shoujo manga magazine Margaret by Shueisha.

This is a spin-off of UEDA's previous work, Tsuki no Toiki, Natsu no Yume, featuring handsome Hattori Hanzou and set in feudal Japan, one of this author's specialities.
In this case, we follow the adventures of one young, vibrant, and overly energetic girl called Usagi as she attempts to finish her first ever real job... to bear Lord Hanzou's child! (^^;;; )(Never mind he is not exactly interested in participating in this... er... "job"! ^o^)

Please, use the following menu or the one at the left to access the different sections in this page ^^
All comments and suggestions are welcome ^^ (And please, don't use anything from these pages without my permission :)

NEWS: Tsuki no Shippo 5th tankoubon went on sale on June 25th!

• Story Introducion (below)
• (22/Sep) Manga synopsis
• (22/Sep) Image Gallery
• Historical Facts
• (13/Jul) ISBN info. (below)
• Where to Buy

STORY INTRODUCTION:

Usagi is a happy 15 year old girl, who, in her grandfather's opinion, is more than ready to come back to earth and get a real "job." Therefore, he has arranged for her to become Hattori Hanzou's bride and child bearer. Although Usagi is not excited at the prospect, she soon changes her mind after taking a good look at how handsome he is. The only problem being... he doesn't want a wife or children at all! Of course Usagi is much more resourceful than she looks, and attempts to become a good ninja so she can measure up to his tastes. Unfortunately she is really no good at it, her real talent and genius being her skills with medicines and sickness healing. For all her childish aspects and her happy-go-lucky attitude, Usagi really does want to learn how to improve her medicine-making, but is that compatible with her utter inability to become a ninja (or a normal housewife, for that matter)? Hanzou soon starts to see that Usagi is not as dumb and silly as she appears, but his idea of the perfect woman still seems to be Princess Sara, the epitome of feminity and ninjitsu, the perfect warrior woman. To his mortification, however, he keeps being involved in Usagi's luck with creating messes and problems everywhere she goes. Will Hanzou's concern for Usagi's well being turn into love? Will Usagi change Hanzou's views about her? And will Usagi manage to lose her growing tummy, a result from eating all the food she can lay her hands on? (^^) UEDA Rinko is at her best when doing historical plots, and this is no exception. A comedy set in the late years of the XVI century Japan, involving real history, fictional characters, moments of drama and much, much needed fun. Because the strongest person is not always the one with the muscles! ^o^

ISBN Information:

These numbers come in handy when ordering the collected volumes or tankoubon from your local Japanese bookstore or through the internet :)

Vol.1: 4-08-847611-5 (390yen w/o tax) [03.2003] [cover]
Vol.2: 4-08-847647-6 (390yen w/o tax) [07.2003] [cover]
Vol.3: 4-08-847683-2 (390yen w/o tax) [11.2003] [cover]
Vol.4: 4-08-847723-5 (390yen w/o tax) [03.2004] [cover]
Vol.5: 4-08-847752-9 (390yen w/o tax) [06.2004] [cover]
(still ongoing)

All images © Ueda Rinko, Shueisha (except backgrounds).