Hi Izuru Tokoro no Tenshi

• Ja Kanji — 日出処の天子 • Genre — Supernatural, Historical

• Type — manga • Author — Ryoko Yamagishi • Publisher — Hakusensha • Magazine — LaLa • First — 1980 • Last — 1984 • Volumes — 11 'Emperor of the Land of the Rising Sun' is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Ryoko Yamagishi. It tells a fictionalised account of Prince Shōtoku, a political figure of sixth-century Japan who spread Buddhism, and his unrequited love for Soga no Emishi, which is very unlike the traditionally known stories of these people. It was serialized in Hakusensha's LaLa from 1980 to 1984. The individual chapters were published in eleven tankōbon under the Hana to Yume Comics imprint, which were released between 1981 and 1984. Hi Izuru Tokoro no Tenshi received the 1983 Kodansha Manga Award for the shōjo category. There is no consensus on English translation of the title. Critics use such various translations as The Emperor of the Land of Sunrise, The Celestial Prince of the Rising Sun, and Heaven's Son in the Land of the Rising Sun.

In 1979, Yamagishi read a book recommended by her friend Masako Yashiro. The book was Takeshi Umehara's Kakusareta Jūjika (1973), which argued that Hōryū-ji was a magical device to confine Prince Shōtoku's vengeful spirit. Later Yamagishi recalled that, before reading the book, she had been interested in the mass suicide of Prince Shōtoku's children in 643 at Hōryū-ji. Inspired by the book, Yamagishi conceived the original plot of Hi Izuru Tokoro no Tenshi and made a proposal of its serialization to the editor of LaLa. The main sources for her plot were Shōtoku Taishi Denryaku (biography of Prince Shōtoku) and its popularized version of picture scroll, Shōtoku Taishi Eden, works dating back to the Heian period.

One spring day, 14-year-old Soga no Emishi accidentally encounters a beautiful young girl. She is, however, actually 10-year-old Prince Umayado (later Prince Shōtoku), known for his extraordinary talent. Emishi serves Umayado with respect, but gradually becomes aware of Umayado's loneliness. Umayado is suffering from the fact that his mother does not love him, because she senses his psychic powers with fear. Although Emishi also frequently experiences supernatural events that Umayado causes, he never holds any hate or fear. Through such experiences, Umayado finds himself needing Emishi to activate his powers, while Emishi is unaware of that. Umayado's feelings turn to love for Emishi. Emishi also finds himself attracted to Umayado, but he soon meets and falls in love with a shrine maiden, Futsuhime. Umayado is plagued by jealousy and plots to kill his rival. Emishi finally understands the plot and realizes what Umayado truly desires. After a long and dramatic dialogue with Umayado, Emishi chooses his love for Futsuhime. While separating from Emishi and being left alone, Umayado seizes political power as the regent of Emperor Suiko. The story ends with Umayado preparing for sending envoys to Sui China. He reads aloud a phrase from his draft of the letter to the emperor of Sui from the "emperor of the land of the rising sun".

Hakusensha released the manga's eleven tankōbon between 1981 and 1984. The manga was re-released into eight tankōbon, which were released between March and October 1986 by Kadokawa Shoten. The manga was re-released into seven bunkobon, all released on March 17, 1984, by Hakusensha, carrying a sequel story Umayako no Himemiko in volume 7. From 2011 to 2012, Media Factory published seven tankōbon titled the "perfect version", featuring reproduction of color manuscripts, cover illustrations, preview cuts from when LaLa carried the original series, as well as Umayako no Himemiko included in the last volume. Kadokawa released the ebook series in 2021 based on the "perfect version" by Media Factory.