Daisuke Igarashi
Encyclopedia
is a critically acclaimed manga
artist born in Saitama
(2 April 1969), Japan. He began his professional career in 1993. Igarashi is known among manga fans for his bold, detailed art style and innovative storytelling. While his works are often described as fantastical, they can hardly be categorized as traditional fantasy stories; instead, Igarashi draws inspiration from folklore and nature combined with surrealism and spiritual themes to create a style that has earned comparisons to the films of Hayao Miyazaki
(Igarashi himself stated in an interview that Miyazaki's film My Neighbor Totoro
was a key influence on his decision to become a manga artist).
While he is not a major commercial force in Japan, Igarashi is well respected in critical circles. His manga Witches received an Excellence Prize at the 2004 Japan Media Arts Festival
. Another one of his works, Little Forest, was nominated for the Osamu Tezuka Culture Award
in 2005. While he has been known for his short stories in the past, he is currently working on a longer story titled Children of the Sea
, which is being serialized in the progressive manga anthology Ikki
. His manga Saru has been nominated for the 4th Manga Taishō
.
Manga
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...
artist born in Saitama
Saitama Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Saitama.This prefecture is part of the Greater Tokyo Area, and most of Saitama's cities can be described as suburbs of Tokyo, to which a large amount of residents commute each day.- History...
(2 April 1969), Japan. He began his professional career in 1993. Igarashi is known among manga fans for his bold, detailed art style and innovative storytelling. While his works are often described as fantastical, they can hardly be categorized as traditional fantasy stories; instead, Igarashi draws inspiration from folklore and nature combined with surrealism and spiritual themes to create a style that has earned comparisons to the films of Hayao Miyazaki
Hayao Miyazaki
is a Japanese manga artist and prominent film director and animator of many popular anime feature films. Through a career that has spanned nearly fifty years, Miyazaki has attained international acclaim as a maker of animated feature films and, along with Isao Takahata, co-founded Studio Ghibli,...
(Igarashi himself stated in an interview that Miyazaki's film My Neighbor Totoro
My Neighbor Totoro
, is a 1988 Japanese animated fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki and produced by Studio Ghibli. The film follows the two young daughters of a professor and their interactions with friendly wood spirits in postwar rural Japan...
was a key influence on his decision to become a manga artist).
While he is not a major commercial force in Japan, Igarashi is well respected in critical circles. His manga Witches received an Excellence Prize at the 2004 Japan Media Arts Festival
Japan Media Arts Festival
The Japan Media Arts Festival is an annual festival held by Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs since 1997. The festival for a nominal year was usually held during February or March next year, rather than at the end of the nominal year. For instance, the 2010 Japan Media Arts Festival, where...
. Another one of his works, Little Forest, was nominated for the Osamu Tezuka Culture Award
Osamu Tezuka Culture Award
Named after Osamu Tezuka, the is a yearly comic book prize awarded to manga artists or their works that follow the Osamu Tezuka manga approach founded and sponsored by Asahi Shimbun...
in 2005. While he has been known for his short stories in the past, he is currently working on a longer story titled Children of the Sea
Children of the Sea (manga)
is an ongoing Japanese seinen adventure manga series written and illustrated by Daisuke Igarashi, and serialized in Shogakukan's monthly seinen manga magazine Ikki. Shogakukan has released four tankōbon volumes so far, between July 30, 2007 and August 4, 2009...
, which is being serialized in the progressive manga anthology Ikki
Ikki (magazine)
is a monthly seinen manga magazine published by Shogakukan. It tends to specialize in underground or alternative manga, but has had its share of major hits as well. Notably, both Bokurano and Ride Back have received anime adaptations....
. His manga Saru has been nominated for the 4th Manga Taishō
Manga Taishō
The is an annual Japanese manga award.-First iteration:In the inaugural edition of the award in 2008, twelve manga were nominated and the winner was Gaku, by Shinichi Ishizuka.*Winner: Gaku, by Shinichi Ishizuka*Nominees:...
.
Works
- Sora Tobi Tamashii
- Hanashipanashi
- Little Forest
- Witches
- Children of the SeaChildren of the Sea (manga)is an ongoing Japanese seinen adventure manga series written and illustrated by Daisuke Igarashi, and serialized in Shogakukan's monthly seinen manga magazine Ikki. Shogakukan has released four tankōbon volumes so far, between July 30, 2007 and August 4, 2009...
- The Adventures of Kabocha
- Saru