Her Majesty's Dog
Encyclopedia
is a manga
series by Mick Takeuchi
. Published by Akita Shoten
, the first volume was released in Japan in October 2001 and spanned 11 tankōbon
volumes before its conclusion in May 2006. It was initially released quarterly, and was a part-time project for Takeuchi, but as the series grew in popularity, it moved to a monthly schedule. It is currently her longest running series, and her most popular.
The series was licensed in 2005 for an English language release by Go! Comi
, as one of their first four manga releases. As of February, 2009, all 11 volumes have been released.
. Together they work to help both the living and the dead deal with various troubles, while also adjusting to high school society. Amane must deal with jealousy from classmates, who don't understand why the handsome Hyoue is so devoted to her, as well as with her own family attempting to force her to come home. The family even attempts to break her bond with Hyoue. Meanwhile, Hyoue devotes himself to his master, while struggling to hide the forbidden feelings he has for her.
- Amane's "koma-oni" or demon guardian, he is considered one of the most powerful of his kind on the island. After the death of his former master, Hyoue (in his natural state as a fiery lion/dog) ran wild, unwilling to be controlled by another for over 100 years. It wasn't until he saw the crying young Amane that he became "domesticated" once again. Known as a glutton and a bit of a pervert, he taught Amane to feed him through the lips - thus the kissing as seen by their classmates all the time. In his human form, he is known to be extremely handsome with a punk edge to him. Brash and a bit simple, he totally loyal to Amane, as he has developed feelings of love for her. Knowing that this is unacceptable, he often tries to hide his feelings from the unsuspecting Amane - although everyone else can tell.
- Amane's first friend. Takako is one of Amane's classmate who deals with the guilt of a former classmate's suicide due to bullying. Feeling like she should have tried harder to be a friend to the outcast, she created an evil spirit of guilt that nearly killed her. Amane and Hyoue sense the evil spirit, saving Takako from its clutches, and winning a new, devoted friend. Happy to have a second chance to befriend another outcast, Takako (nicknamed Ateko) often journeys with Amane and Hyoue on their adventures, even going to their home island to make sure her friends are okay. She often sticks her nose in places where they don't belong, but always at the sake of making sure everyone is okay. Since she is a normal teenage, she oftentimes doesn't understand the issues with Amane and her family or why Amane and Hyoue cannot be together. The modern day voice of reason, she speaks up when she feels things have gotten off track.
- An egotistical actor and another classmate of Ateko, Amane, and Hyoue, he is the king of lying. When Amane's desire to help him leads to her powers and Hyoue's identity being exposed, he uses this to make Amane a slave of sorts. Deep down, though, he is searching for redemption himself, as it is all an act. He becomes friends with the trio, against the wishes of Hyoue. Seen as a rival for Amane's affection, he does what Hyoue cannot - confess that he loves her. A very straightforward, if not always truthful, friend, he's popularity and stardom are often used to distract crowds so that Amane and Hyoue can investigate and defeat evil spirits. Oftentimes, he can come up with ingenuous plans himself. A good judge of character, he sees what some of the others don't when it comes to relationships and tangled threads...
- Amane's cousin and Classical Japanese teacher at her school. He's a master strategist, as well as swordsman and Manatsukai. Serious and totally business-minded, he is quite overprotective of Amane while balancing her wishes and the wishes of the family's council of elders. Part of his overbearing directly clashes with Hyoue who hates his meddling and constant referrals to Hyoue being nothing more than a "guard dog" or "mutt" that should know his place. Hayato knows how to push all off Hyoue's buttons and regards Hyoue as too familiar with his master. He is willing to be Amane's fiance, as he wants to be able to protect her from the family, believing that once she is in her position as leader, he will be able to dissolve the council and keep them from hurting her.
- Amane's uncle. He manages an international information company. Seemingly he takes rules lightly, but in reality he's been manipulating estranged members of the Kamori family.
Zakuro - Hyoue's old partner, and the strongest koma-oni. He looks just like a girl and is often mistaken for one. He deserted the Kamori family.
Tsubute - The koma-oni employed by Hayato. She is a shawdow bird and in her human form, she appears as a young girl. She is always confrontational with Hyoue over anything.
Gion - The koma-oni employed by Toui. Her specialty is intelligence and spying not combat.
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...
series by Mick Takeuchi
Mick Takeuchi
Mick Takeuchi is a Japanese manga artist, best known for her eleven-volume series Her Majesty's Dog , which has been translated into English by Go! Comi as they were very popular in Japan. All eleven volumes of Her Majesty's Dog have now been published in English, as well as Bound Beauty and A...
. Published by Akita Shoten
Akita Shoten
is a Japanese publishing company established on August 10, 1948 in Chiyoda, Tokyo. Its main editorial target has always been teenagers , and it currently publishes mostly manga...
, the first volume was released in Japan in October 2001 and spanned 11 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...
volumes before its conclusion in May 2006. It was initially released quarterly, and was a part-time project for Takeuchi, but as the series grew in popularity, it moved to a monthly schedule. It is currently her longest running series, and her most popular.
The series was licensed in 2005 for an English language release by Go! Comi
Go! Comi
Go! Comi was an imprint of the American manga publishing company, Go! Media Entertainment, LLC. They published such series as After School Nightmare, Cantarella, Her Majesty's Dog, Tenshi Ja Nai!! and Crossroad...
, as one of their first four manga releases. As of February, 2009, all 11 volumes have been released.
Plot
Amane Kamori lives in a rural village, isolated from modern society. She is a powerful medium, able to control living creatures and things through the use of its real name. Her main companion is Hyoue, her guardian demon dog, who she powers up through kissing. Forbidden from revealing her identity, she and Hyoue are allowed to move to TokyoTokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. Together they work to help both the living and the dead deal with various troubles, while also adjusting to high school society. Amane must deal with jealousy from classmates, who don't understand why the handsome Hyoue is so devoted to her, as well as with her own family attempting to force her to come home. The family even attempts to break her bond with Hyoue. Meanwhile, Hyoue devotes himself to his master, while struggling to hide the forbidden feelings he has for her.
Characters
- a teenage girl who is known to be a bit bubble-headed due to her sheltered life. Orphaned after the death of her father and mother, she met Hyoue during the demon hunt, lost and crying. He could be considered her best friend, as he is loyal (like a dog) and her constant companion. She lives with her uncle in Tokyo who looks just like her deceased father and was banned from the island before her birth. Aside from her uncle, she also receives help from her cousin, Hayato Hiraka, who is later revealed to be her fiance (family arranged marriage). As the only child from the head of the family and a powerful "Manatsukai," she must return to the village and become its leader. Due to her family duties and the overbearing council of elders that tell her what she must do, she is known for hiding her true feelings, oftentimes trying to be what everyone wants her to be and putting others before herself. The only time she is noted for speaking up for herself was when she asked for permission to leave the island and move to Tokyo for school. Very optimistic, she attracts people to her once they get past her lack of social graces.- Amane's "koma-oni" or demon guardian, he is considered one of the most powerful of his kind on the island. After the death of his former master, Hyoue (in his natural state as a fiery lion/dog) ran wild, unwilling to be controlled by another for over 100 years. It wasn't until he saw the crying young Amane that he became "domesticated" once again. Known as a glutton and a bit of a pervert, he taught Amane to feed him through the lips - thus the kissing as seen by their classmates all the time. In his human form, he is known to be extremely handsome with a punk edge to him. Brash and a bit simple, he totally loyal to Amane, as he has developed feelings of love for her. Knowing that this is unacceptable, he often tries to hide his feelings from the unsuspecting Amane - although everyone else can tell.
- Amane's first friend. Takako is one of Amane's classmate who deals with the guilt of a former classmate's suicide due to bullying. Feeling like she should have tried harder to be a friend to the outcast, she created an evil spirit of guilt that nearly killed her. Amane and Hyoue sense the evil spirit, saving Takako from its clutches, and winning a new, devoted friend. Happy to have a second chance to befriend another outcast, Takako (nicknamed Ateko) often journeys with Amane and Hyoue on their adventures, even going to their home island to make sure her friends are okay. She often sticks her nose in places where they don't belong, but always at the sake of making sure everyone is okay. Since she is a normal teenage, she oftentimes doesn't understand the issues with Amane and her family or why Amane and Hyoue cannot be together. The modern day voice of reason, she speaks up when she feels things have gotten off track.
- An egotistical actor and another classmate of Ateko, Amane, and Hyoue, he is the king of lying. When Amane's desire to help him leads to her powers and Hyoue's identity being exposed, he uses this to make Amane a slave of sorts. Deep down, though, he is searching for redemption himself, as it is all an act. He becomes friends with the trio, against the wishes of Hyoue. Seen as a rival for Amane's affection, he does what Hyoue cannot - confess that he loves her. A very straightforward, if not always truthful, friend, he's popularity and stardom are often used to distract crowds so that Amane and Hyoue can investigate and defeat evil spirits. Oftentimes, he can come up with ingenuous plans himself. A good judge of character, he sees what some of the others don't when it comes to relationships and tangled threads...
- Amane's cousin and Classical Japanese teacher at her school. He's a master strategist, as well as swordsman and Manatsukai. Serious and totally business-minded, he is quite overprotective of Amane while balancing her wishes and the wishes of the family's council of elders. Part of his overbearing directly clashes with Hyoue who hates his meddling and constant referrals to Hyoue being nothing more than a "guard dog" or "mutt" that should know his place. Hayato knows how to push all off Hyoue's buttons and regards Hyoue as too familiar with his master. He is willing to be Amane's fiance, as he wants to be able to protect her from the family, believing that once she is in her position as leader, he will be able to dissolve the council and keep them from hurting her.
- Amane's uncle. He manages an international information company. Seemingly he takes rules lightly, but in reality he's been manipulating estranged members of the Kamori family.
Zakuro - Hyoue's old partner, and the strongest koma-oni. He looks just like a girl and is often mistaken for one. He deserted the Kamori family.
Tsubute - The koma-oni employed by Hayato. She is a shawdow bird and in her human form, she appears as a young girl. She is always confrontational with Hyoue over anything.
Gion - The koma-oni employed by Toui. Her specialty is intelligence and spying not combat.