Silver Diamond (manga)

Infobox animanga/Header
name = Silver Diamond


caption =
ja_name =
ja_name_trans =
genre = Adventure, Fantasy, Shōnen-ai, SupernaturalInfobox animanga/Manga
title =
author = Shiho Sugiura
publisher = flagicon|Japan Tosuisha
demographic =
magazine = Ichiraci
first = 2003
last = ongoing
volumes = 12 (ongoing)

"Silver Diamond" is a Japanese manga created by Shiho Sugiura currently published in the monthly magazine "Ichiraci". It has been released in English by TokyoPop.

Overview

Rakan returns home from school one day to find a man lying unconscious in his garden, carrying a gun made of wood. The man (Chigusa) awakens, and attempts to kill Rakan, thinking him to be someone known as the "Prince". From this first encounter, more people come through the portal between the Real World and the Alternate World (called Amato Empire) for various reasons.

Meanings

A Sanome or "sand sprout" is someone who has the ability to grow plants by simply touching the seeds or the plant itself. Their presence alone cause the plants' growth to increase, but when they touch any plant, their growth increases dramatically and comically. An acolyte for all plants. Supposedly only virgin women of the Shigeka family can bear Sanome girls. Sanome women can only bear Sanome boys.

An Ayame is a being who has the power to destroys plants and turn soil into sand by taking the nutrients of the world around them. Usually seen as lizard type of creature arising from the sand.

A Number Child is a child that has a number in their name, indicating that their family has deemed them useless. The alternate world's legal system of abandoning a child, whether because of the family's inability to feed them, or because the child carries an imperfection or is a liability.

Amato Empire is the alternate world's equivalent to the country of Japan. The name means 'The Kingdom of Heaven'. Japan's name means 'The Land of the Rising Sun'.

Characters

; Rakan Sawa: Age: 17: AKA: The Sanome Prince, The Prince's Little Brother, Your Highness, Sawa-kun (ordinary people in the real world): A kind-hearted high school boy with a garden that looks like a jungle, and when the flowers bloom a little too much, he gives them to his classmates and teachers for free. He lives by himself, and supports himself using his inheritance from his late adoptive grandfather. He previously lived with his mother and grandfather, who have both passed away. He is fond of normal household chores (cooking, cleaning, etc.) He has the power of the Sanome to grow plants and he looks like the prince of the alternate world. A bishounen in the his world and the other world. Naive and trusts people easily.; Chigusa Senroh: Age: 25~30: AKA: Pervert, Monster: Man of the alternate world with an immortal body. He suffers from amnesia, only remembering his name, his world, and his goal to wipe out all the Ayame. He needs the power of the Sanome for his battle. He attaches himself to Rakan when he learns that he is a Sanome, vowing to protect him at all costs. He often displays his liking for Rakan by hugging him or picking him up, causing him to be labeled a pervert.; Narushige Shigeka: Age: 21: AKA: Ill Omen: The only man of the Shigeka family, which holds a tradition of bearing only women that can bring forth a Sanome. As a result, he is considered an ill-omen. He has a snake, Koh, who can talk and turn into a sword.; Tohji Tohno: Age: 19: AKA: Worthless, Number Child: Was given a number in his name because he was born blind, and thus "useless". The Prince healed his eyes, and sent him to the real world to kill Rakan and co. This was simply an excuse to dispose of him.; The Prince: Age: 17: AKA: Ayame Prince: The most powerful man in the alternate world. Can tell the future, and find resources (water and plants). He is an Ayame, although his subjects do not know this. ; Kinrei Kingen: Age: 24: AKA: Pervert, Servant: The only one close to the prince. He is the only one who can hear the Prince's voice (the Prince communicates by speaking directly into someone's mind). As such, he is immediately assigned as the Prince's personal helper and assistant. When the Prince has something to say, Kinrei speaks for him.

Official Websites

* [http://www.tosuisha.co.jp/ Tosuisha Publishing]
* [http://www.tokyopop.com/shop/2494/SilverDiamond/1.html/ TokyoPop]

Fansites

* [http://community.livejournal.com/shiho_s_diamond/ Sugiura Shiho's SILVER DIAMOND community]
* [http://www.popheart.org/flowergun Silver Diamond fanlisting]
* [http://alexiel0927.livejournal.com SILVER DIAMOND's NOTE]