Prince Genji falls in love with his stepmother, and so begins a forbidden love that will make him suffer his whole life. Genji’s love story involves him falling for many women and begins with his love for Princess Fujitsubo—his father’s wife, and his stepmother. And Genji will cross that line which he should never cross. (Source: Kodansha USA)

A re-telling of the “Tale of Genji” in manga-form. The “Tale of Genji” is a story from a long novel written by novelist Murasaki Shikibu. It was written about 1000 years ago, during the Heian era. It details the showy life and romantic exploits of Genji no Kimi (Lord Genji), otherwise known as “Hikaru Genji (The Shining Prince)” for his peerless beauty and features the life and culture of the Heian Imperial Court. By describing human life with its heart-rendering moments and the difficult times of separation and sadness, this piece of literature has come to be known to embody the concept of “the pathos of things” (mono no aware). Known as the world’s earliest romance novel, it has been translated into many languages all over the world.

Hikaru Genji (literally "Shining One of the Minamoto Clan" ) is the illegitimate son of Emperor Kiritsubo of Japan, and considered too handsome for his own good. After Genji's mother dies, his father reluctantly removes him from the line of succession and demotes him to commoner status. Genji takes up a job as an imperial officer, and the story follows his sexual, personal, and political exploits through the lens of Heian aristocratic society.

The work recounts the life of a son of a Japanese emperor, known to readers as Hikaru Genji, or "Shining Genji". Neither appellation is his actual name: Genji (源氏, Genji) is simply another way to read the Chinese characters for the real-life Minamoto clan (源の氏, Minamoto-no-Uji), to which Genji was made to belong. For political reasons, Genji is relegated to commoner status (by being given the surname Minamoto) and begins a career as an imperial officer. The tale concentrates on Genji's romantic life and describes the customs of the aristocratic society of the time. Much is made of Genji's good looks. His most important personality trait is the loyalty he shows to all the women in his life, as he never abandons any of his wives. When he finally becomes the most powerful man in the capital, he moves into a palace and provides for each of them. (The Tale of Genji (源氏物語, Genji Monogatari) is a classic work of Japanese literature attributed to the Japanese noblewoman Murasaki Shikibu in the early eleventh century, around the peak of the Heian Period. It is sometimes called the world's first novel, the first modern novel, or the first novel to still be considered a classic. The issue remains debated among readers.) (Source: Wikipedia)

In 1989 Genji Monogatari received the 34th Shogakukan Manga Award for general manga. Note: Cover image is from 1997 edition.

From [Aerandria Scans](https://www.mangaupdates.com/groups.html?id=1242): Kiritsubo and the Emperor, who loved each other deeply, despite their social status. Hikaru Genji, who loved his step-mother, Fujitsubo, even though he knew that it was a forbidden love, a love that was not allowed. High Dame Aoi, who fell in love for the first time after a political marriage. Miyasudokoro, who loved Genji until she became a wraith. That "Tale of Genji" has now been turned into a manga! It's very erotic, but also very sad...! A love story about the distant past.

This anthology collects manga adaptations of classic literature by shoujo manga artists. 1. Moto Hagio x Hans Christian Andersen: **"Shiroi Tori ni Natta Shoujo"** (白い鳥になった少女) 2. Ryouko Yamagishi x Brothers Grimm: **"Cendrillon"** (サンドリヨン) 3. Miyako Maki x Murasaki Shikibu: **"Hana Kagerou (Genji Monogatari)"** (花陽炎 （源氏物語）) 4. Suzue Miuchi x Higuchi Ichiyou: **"Takekurabe (excerpt from Glass no Kamen)** (「たけくらべ」『ガラスの仮面』作中劇より) 5. Yasuko Sakata x Charles Perrault: **"Ohi to Nemurihime"** (お妃と眠り姫) 6. Kyoko Fumizuki x Louis Hémon: **"Shiroki Mori no Chi ni"** (白き森の地に) 7. Hideko Mizuno x Grimm: **"Rapunzel, Rapunzel"** (ラプンツェル・ラプンツェル) 8. Shio Satou x Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont: **"Bijo to Yajuu"** (美女と野獣)