Why did you make a fansite for Noriko Ogiwara’s books?
It’s a simple matter of my being one of the few who can, and the only one who will. I think of it as a mission. :]
Are you Japanese/Do you know Japanese?
No, and no.
Do you know Noriko Ogiwara?
I wish. :]
Then how do you know all this stuff about the books?
Google is an amazing, amazing search engine.
Is this website legal?
Haha…it more or less is now. Viz Media, LLC (who currently hold the rights to the Magatama trilogy) discovered THE COLOR OF THE SKY (old version of this website) before they decided to reprint Dragon Sword and Wind Child. Although I still keep (incomplete) archives of the ’93 English translation online, I no longer provide it on this website, unlike our previous version—HIDDEN DRAGON—in days of yore…*coughunauthorizedreproductioncough*
When’s the rest of the series coming out in English?
Hakuchou Iden is scheduled for an English release under the title Mirror Sword and Shadow Prince in May 2011. As for the fate of Usubeni Tennyo, that is up to Viz. As publishers, they will choose to print the rest of the trilogy only if the books seem to be doing well in the English-reading market. You can help by purchasing the books, recommending it to your friends and your local library, writing to Viz, and of course by spreading the word about (linking to) this site.
I have Magatama trilogy-related stuff! Can we put it on this website?
I’d love to see it! Please feel free to contact me.
Can I use stuff from this website?
3 simple rules:
1) No hot-linking images/files
2) Always provide credit and citation
3) Not required, but it helps me keep things organized if you let me know after you use something. :]
What are future plans for this website?
I plan to keep it up forever, of course! As for content, I’m considering expanding to cover more of Ogiwara-sensei’s works (as was my original plan when I created HIDDEN DRAGON years ago). Especially once we’ve achieved a truly comprehensive database on all 3 volumes of the Magatama trilogy, expect to see new material on Fuujin Hisho.
I have a question about the books/the author/this website/etc.
If it’s not answered on this site (have you used the ‘Search’ option?), just ask away in the comment box below (or on a relevant page) and I will try my best to get back to you with the answer.
I live in Japan right now and am studying Japanese. If I decide to take on the project of buying and translating book 2 (Not promising that it will be entirely correct as my Japanese is only of an intermediate level) and posting it on the internet, then is it illegal? I would think it wouldn’t be, since they haven’t written an English version; it doesn’t exist. If it did exist I would have bought it the second it appeared on Amazon…
Right now, it’s legal as Viz hasn’t officially “licensed” the second book. It will be like manga scanlations by fans – in essence, no one holds the rights to the English text, and the scanlators are providing the service for free. So you are correct in your assumption. Your idea sounds fantastic, Kim. If you have time, definitely look into it.[crossed-out content irrelevant as of August 26, 2010]PS. Your comment ended up in my spam queue; luckily I spotted it and saved it! :] Now that I have your email, we’ll keep in contact. Talk to you later!
Kim, the English version of book 2 is scheduled to come out next year in May.
And here is the Amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/Mirror-Sword-Shadow-Prince-Novel/dp/1421537257