A Witch´s Life in Mongol （Tenmaku no Jādūgaru） (2022-) Tomato Soup, Author
◆Overview
This is a Japanese manga series authored by Tomato Soup. As of June 2025, five volumes have been published in book form. The series is currently ongoing on a web manga platform, 『天幕のジャードゥーガル』トマトスープ | Souffle（スーフル） accessible without registration or procedures.
The heroine is a slave girl from the scholarly city of Tūs in 13th-century Persia. She later takes the name Fāṭima and becomes a real historical figure who, as a close aide to the Empress in the Mongol Empire's harem, plays (or schemes?) a central role in court politics. She is known in historical records as Fāṭima Khātūn.
The story begins in the city of Tūs, in eastern Iran during the 13th century. There, a young slave girl named Sitara is purchased by a family of scholars. Although resistant at first, the young Sitara is gradually taught by her new masters that “knowledge” can be a weapon for survival. Over the course of eight years, she learns the classical sciences of medieval Persia—a hybrid of ancient Greek, Persian, and Indian traditions during the Islamic Golden Age (8th to 13th century)—as a house slave, much like a “novice at the temple gate.” Alongside her recitation of the Qur’an, she is introduced to Euclid’s Elements, Ptolemaic astronomy, Avicenna’s Canon of Medicine, and more.
Then, the Mongol imperial army invades. Sitara, now a science-loving “rikejo” (science-oriented girl), is captured as a war slave and taken across the globe to the Mongolian steppe. There, she is plunged into a harsh and extraordinary current of fate.
◆Impression
Although the story is not yet complete—and seems unlikely to conclude soon—it already stands out as one of the most remarkable historical manga works of the 2020s. It is a masterpiece that successfully brings the academic trend of 21st-century global history to life in the form of engaging entertainment. With a publication pace of one volume per year, the wait is agonizing for readers, but considering the intricate storytelling based on historical research, it is perhaps unavoidable. The series is available in both digital and print formats; I have read the print edition.
For insights into the mystery of the title Jādūgar, please refer to 天幕のジャードゥーガル - Wikipedia.
◆Author’s Notes for Each Volume
Each volume’s jacket flap features a brief message from the author, Tomato Soup. Here is a selection of those comments:
天幕のジャードゥーガル 1
Thank you for picking up A Witch’s Life in Mongol.In the Mongol Empire, women often held a relatively higher social status than in many other regions of the same era, and a number of them left their names and deeds behind in the annals of history.
Fāṭima is one such figure.
Through her life, this work seeks to portray the Mongol Empire as seen from the perspective of its women.
I’ll do my best to keep you engaged until the very end.
天幕のジャードゥーガル 2
Thank you for all the responses to Volume 1.
Thanks to your support, I’ve been able to bring to life a story I’ve carried with me for many years.
In Volume 2, more characters appear, and the plot begins to follow historical developments more closely.
I hope you’ll take notice of the small, personal moments that unfold within the vast sweep of history.
天幕のジャードゥーガル 3
It’s fascinating to check historical events while looking at a map.
Nowadays, we have software that lets us view terrain in 3D, making it easier to imagine how human activity was influenced by geography and the natural environment.
That said… mountains and rivers actually shift far more often than I thought! I only learned that recently—and was quite surprised.
I drew Volume 3 with a map always close at hand.
I hope you enjoy it!
天幕のジャードゥーガル 4
Mongolian names tend to vary greatly depending on the source.
Lately, there's a trend toward using spellings that are closer to the original pronunciations.
For example, while “Ogedei” or “Ügedei” is more accurate, I chose “Ogatai” for this manga because it’s shorter and easier to read. Still, I admit “Ogatai” might be a bit old-fashioned.
An older interpretation claims that his name means “wise one,” but the theory that it means “rising” seems to have stronger support.
天幕のジャードゥーガル 5
This work is being adapted into an anime.
The studio handling the animation is Science SARU, which has produced many of my favorite anime titles.
To think that my manga will be joining their lineup—it feels like a dream.
A historical anime created by one of my favorite studios—what could be better?
Please look forward to A Witch´s Life in Mongol with sound, color, and motion!
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