"This story is about three cute sisters. No. Two cute sisters and a younger brother. Anyway, it is the story of the fight of the siblings who protect dreams."

With this somewhat strange opening sentence begins the latest manga from Kakinouchi Narumi. Kakinouchi is known amongst her fans for her shoujo forays into the horror genre, most notably with the series VAMPIRE PRINCESS MIYU and VAMPIRE PRINCESS YUI. This latest entry from Kakinouchi is a one-shot containing three stories, "Utahime Fight!" (Singing Princess Fight!"), "Keep Trust," and "Snow Sugar".
The first thing one notices about one of Kakinouchi's works is her inimitable style. The way she utilizes white space and wispy lines to create her scenes adds an ethereal quality to her work, which of course assists in creating the atmosphere of horror and mystery in which most of her stories take place. And, truth be told, there are supernatural elements in all three of these stories, but instead of being the primary focus of the story, the supernatural provides a backdrop upon which the main story unfolds.
The main plot of "Utahime Fight!" is simple: Matsuru, Majika, and Matora (the brother), are lonely for their mother. She is a famous opera singer and is away touring. They plan for her return and her upcoming birthday. One day, while waiting for Majika to come home from school, the girls' new kimonos arrive. Matsuru convinces Matora to try one on, and while he is hesitantly modeling it, Majika comes home. They decide to give a formal recital, in kimono, for their mother at her birthday celebration. (This is where the "Singing Princess" title comes from).
However, during the course of their planning and going to school, they find a sealed shrine in the woods. While trying to determine what it is, they release an evil entity. It possesses one of their classmates and they realize that they are the only ones who can defeat this evil spirit.
"Snow Sugar" is my favorite story, however. On a cold snowy night, a high school student meets a girl who claims to live in the very gothic-looking castle in the distance. She says that she is a witch and that she will be going to his school. Of course, he does not believe her. The next day, she shows up in his class and introduces herself as Wada Ukyou. What unfolds is a quiet tale of love, surrounded by a backdrop of magic.
The art is first-rate Kakinouchi, and the art is what many people read her manga for. Although some of the characters seem to look a little too much like Miyu and Yui, these similarities are only passing. The writing is quiet and reserved. These are self-contained stories that do not possess the epic drama and sweeping emotions of, for example, the SHIN KYUUKETSUKI MIYU (NEW VAMPIRE PRINCESS MIYU) series. Instead, these are quiet stories about the lives and loves of young people whose lives are touched by some form of supernatural phenomenon.
Those who enjoy Kakinouchi's other works, shoujo manga in general, or quiet stories that unfold gracefully and flow softly will find this volume an entertaining read. Those who prefer more action-oriented titles may find this slow and unengaging.

UTAHIME FIGHT! Copyright © 1996 Kakinouchi Narumi / Kodansha KCDX 719 ¥680