Ai Yazawa
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese
manga author
. Her pen name
comes from Japanese singer Eikichi Yazawa
, of whom she is a fan.
publishing life in 1985. She studied in a fashion school but later dropped out. Throughout her 15 years of publishing, she wrote over 10 series in Ribon
. While most of her manga continues to be published in Japan by Shueisha
, publishers of Ribon and Cookie (in which Nana
is serialized), series like Paradise Kiss
now appear in other magazines such as Zipper, published by Shodensha
.
In June, 2009, it was revealed that Yazawa had contracted a sudden illness, and had to be sent to hospital for treatment, putting Nana on hiatus. She returned from the hospital in April, 2010, although has yet to reveal when or if she will be continuing the Nana manga serialization.
(I'm Not an Angel), Gokinjo Monogatari (Neighborhood Story), Paradise Kiss
, and Nana
. All five volumes of Paradise Kiss
have been released in English by Tokyopop
. Nana
was formerly running in Shojo Beat
and is now being released by Viz Media
, bi-monthly. In Japan it continues to run in Cookie and is currently up to 84 chapters, plus three side story chapters about different characters' early lives. In 2003, she was awarded the Shogakukan Manga Award
for Nana. Nana was made into an anime (produced by Madhouse Studios) and a successful movie
with a sequel in Japan.
Yazawa's works are most popular among people who love fashion. The storylines generally are centered on young women and their relationships, something with which her young fanbase identifies. The characters are always very stylish, and she is known especially for her hip sense of fashion
. Yazawa herself attended a fashion school after high school but did not complete her studies there. Another key point is her strikingly unique, often rebellious characters, who tend to be juxtaposed against the more traditional ones.
She has also published three artbooks.
.
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
manga author
Mangaka
is the Japanese word for a comic artist or cartoonist. Outside of Japan, manga usually refers to a Japanese comic book and mangaka refers to the author of the manga, who is usually Japanese...
. Her pen name
Pen name
A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...
comes from Japanese singer Eikichi Yazawa
Eikichi Yazawa
is an influential Japanese singer-songwriter, and important figure in Japanese popular music.Yoko Yazawa of The Generous is his daughter.-Biography:...
, of whom she is a fan.
Biography
Yazawa started her mangaManga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
publishing life in 1985. She studied in a fashion school but later dropped out. Throughout her 15 years of publishing, she wrote over 10 series in Ribon
Ribon
is a monthly Japanese shōjo manga magazine published by Shueisha. First issued in August 1955, its rivals are Nakayoshi and Ciao. Its target audience is young girls roughly 9–13 years old. In 2009, the magazine's circulation was 274,167, down from the previous year's circulation numbers of 330,000...
. While most of her manga continues to be published in Japan by Shueisha
Shueisha
is a major publisher in Japan. The company was founded in 1925 as the entertainment-related publishing division of Japanese publisher Shogakukan. The following year, Shueisha became a separate, independent company. Magazines published by Shueisha include Weekly Shōnen Jump, Weekly Young Jump,...
, publishers of Ribon and Cookie (in which Nana
Nana (manga)
is a Japanese shōjo manga series written and illustrated by Ai Yazawa, serialized in Cookie published by Shueisha. The manga derives its title from the name of the two main characters, both of whom are called Nana. Nana Komatsu is a small town girl who goes to Tokyo to follow her boyfriend and...
is serialized), series like Paradise Kiss
Paradise Kiss
, abbreviated to "ParaKiss", is a manga series written and illustrated by Ai Yazawa. It appeared as a serial in the Japanese manga magazine Zipper. Shodensha collected the chapters into five volumes...
now appear in other magazines such as Zipper, published by Shodensha
Shodensha
is a Japanese publisher of mostly non-fiction magazines and books, though it has recently begun publishing light novels and manga, including magazines which contain both...
.
In June, 2009, it was revealed that Yazawa had contracted a sudden illness, and had to be sent to hospital for treatment, putting Nana on hiatus. She returned from the hospital in April, 2010, although has yet to reveal when or if she will be continuing the Nana manga serialization.
Works
Yazawa's most famous manga include Tenshi Nanka Ja NaiTenshi Nanka Ja Nai
is a shōjo and romance manga created by Ai Yazawa. It was serialized in Ribon and later in eight volumes of graphic novels. This series should not be confused with another similarly titled manga, Tenshi Ja Nai.An OVA adaptation was released in 1994....
(I'm Not an Angel), Gokinjo Monogatari (Neighborhood Story), Paradise Kiss
Paradise Kiss
, abbreviated to "ParaKiss", is a manga series written and illustrated by Ai Yazawa. It appeared as a serial in the Japanese manga magazine Zipper. Shodensha collected the chapters into five volumes...
, and Nana
Nana (manga)
is a Japanese shōjo manga series written and illustrated by Ai Yazawa, serialized in Cookie published by Shueisha. The manga derives its title from the name of the two main characters, both of whom are called Nana. Nana Komatsu is a small town girl who goes to Tokyo to follow her boyfriend and...
. All five volumes of Paradise Kiss
Paradise Kiss
, abbreviated to "ParaKiss", is a manga series written and illustrated by Ai Yazawa. It appeared as a serial in the Japanese manga magazine Zipper. Shodensha collected the chapters into five volumes...
have been released in English by Tokyopop
Tokyopop
Tokyopop, styled TOKYOPOP, and formerly known as Mixx, is a distributor, licensor, and publisher of anime, manga, manhwa, and Western manga-style works. The existing German publishing division produces German translations of licensed Japanese properties and original English-language manga, as well...
. Nana
Nana (manga)
is a Japanese shōjo manga series written and illustrated by Ai Yazawa, serialized in Cookie published by Shueisha. The manga derives its title from the name of the two main characters, both of whom are called Nana. Nana Komatsu is a small town girl who goes to Tokyo to follow her boyfriend and...
was formerly running in Shojo Beat
Shojo Beat
Shojo Beat is a shōjo manga magazine formerly published in North America by Viz Media. Released in June 2005 as a sister magazine to Shonen Jump, it featured serialized chapters from six manga series, as well as articles on Japanese culture, manga, anime, fashion and beauty...
and is now being released by Viz Media
VIZ Media
VIZ Media, LLC, headquartered in San Francisco, is an anime, manga, and Japanese entertainment company. It was founded in 1986 as VIZ LLC. In 2005, VIZ LLC and ShoPro Entertainment merged to form the current VIZ Media LLC, which is jointly owned by Japanese publishers Shogakukan and Shueisha, and...
, bi-monthly. In Japan it continues to run in Cookie and is currently up to 84 chapters, plus three side story chapters about different characters' early lives. In 2003, she was awarded the Shogakukan Manga Award
Shogakukan Manga Award
The is one of Japan's major manga awards, sponsored by Shogakukan Publishing. It has been awarded annually for serialized manga since 1955 and features candidates from a number of publishers.The current award categories are:...
for Nana. Nana was made into an anime (produced by Madhouse Studios) and a successful movie
Nana (2005 film)
Nana is a 2005 Japanese film adaption of the manga by Ai Yazawa, directed by Kentarō Ōtani. The film was released on September 3, 2005. It stars Mika Nakashima as the punk star Nana Osaki, and Aoi Miyazaki as Hachi ....
with a sequel in Japan.
Yazawa's works are most popular among people who love fashion. The storylines generally are centered on young women and their relationships, something with which her young fanbase identifies. The characters are always very stylish, and she is known especially for her hip sense of fashion
Fashion
Fashion, a general term for a currently popular style or practice, especially in clothing, foot wear, or accessories. Fashion references to anything that is the current trend in look and dress up of a person...
. Yazawa herself attended a fashion school after high school but did not complete her studies there. Another key point is her strikingly unique, often rebellious characters, who tend to be juxtaposed against the more traditional ones.
She has also published three artbooks.
Personal life
Yazawa is a fan of Rumi Shishido and routinely promotes her works; in one of the volumes of Gokinjo Monogatari, she promoted Shishido's first indies album, Set Me Free, and likewise designed the cover for her third indies album, Rumi Roll, which was promoted in volume 9 of NANANana (manga)
is a Japanese shōjo manga series written and illustrated by Ai Yazawa, serialized in Cookie published by Shueisha. The manga derives its title from the name of the two main characters, both of whom are called Nana. Nana Komatsu is a small town girl who goes to Tokyo to follow her boyfriend and...
.
Works (in chronological order)
- 15-nenme (1986)
- Love Letter (1987)
- Kaze ni Nare! (1988)
- Escape (1988)
- Ballad Made Soba ni Ite (1989, 2 volumes)
- Marine Blue no Kaze ni Dakarete (1990–1991, 4 volumes)
- Usubeni no Arashi (1992)
- Tenshi Nanka Ja NaiTenshi Nanka Ja Naiis a shōjo and romance manga created by Ai Yazawa. It was serialized in Ribon and later in eight volumes of graphic novels. This series should not be confused with another similarly titled manga, Tenshi Ja Nai.An OVA adaptation was released in 1994....
(1992–1995, 8 volumes) - Gokinjo Monogatari (1995–1998, 7 volumes)
- Kagen no TsukiKagen no Tsukiis a three-volume shōjo manga series by Ai Yazawa. It was first published in Ribon, a manga magazine primarily read by teenaged girls.In 2004 it was adapted into a live-action movie...
(1998–1999, 3 volumes) - Paradise KissParadise Kiss, abbreviated to "ParaKiss", is a manga series written and illustrated by Ai Yazawa. It appeared as a serial in the Japanese manga magazine Zipper. Shodensha collected the chapters into five volumes...
(2000–2004, 5 volumes, published by Shodensha) - NanaNana (manga)is a Japanese shōjo manga series written and illustrated by Ai Yazawa, serialized in Cookie published by Shueisha. The manga derives its title from the name of the two main characters, both of whom are called Nana. Nana Komatsu is a small town girl who goes to Tokyo to follow her boyfriend and...
(2000–hiatus, 21 volumes so far)
External links
- Profile at The Ultimate Manga Guide