Ai Yazawa | |
---|---|
Native name | 矢沢 あい |
Born | Ai Yazawa March 7, 1967 Amagasaki, Hyōgo, Japan |
Occupation | Manga artist |
Education | Osaka Mode Gakuen |
Years active | 1985–2010 |
Notable works | Tenshi Nanka ja Nai, Neighborhood Story, Paradise Kiss, Nana |
Ai Yazawa (矢沢 あい, Yazawa Ai, was born on March 7, 1967) is a Japanese manga artist. Yazawa's most famous manga include Tenshi Nanka ja Nai, Neighborhood Story, Paradise Kiss, and especially Nana,[1] the latter being one of the best-selling manga series.
Career
[edit]While most of Yazawa's manga is published in Japan by Shueisha, publishers of Ribon and Cookie (Nana was serialized in the latter), series like Paradise Kiss have appeared in non-Shueisha magazines such as Zipper, published by Shodensha.[2]
She also voiced an animated rendition of herself that made a cameo appearance in the final episode of the Neighborhood Story anime. All five volumes of Paradise Kiss were released in English by Vertical, Inc. Nana ran in now-defunct American manga magazine Shojo Beat. In 2003, Yazawa was awarded the Shogakukan Manga Award for Nana.[3] Nana was made into an anime (produced by Madhouse) and a successful movie with a sequel in Japan.
In June 2009, it was revealed that Yazawa had contracted a sudden illness, and had to be sent to the hospital for treatment, putting Nana on hiatus.[4] She returned from the hospital in April 2010, although it has yet to be revealed when or if she will be continuing Nana.[5]
Yazawa has worked on a variety of small illustrative projects since putting Nana on hold. She provided artwork for singer JUJU's single Iiwake in 2017 and a celebratory illustration for Space Channel 5 VR in 2020, drew a mini-manga featuring characters from her series Tenshi Nanka Ja Nai and Neighborhood Story in 2016, contributed new images to the 2015 Nana calendar, and published a new "Junko's Room" chapter, her first new manga in over three years, in 2013.[6]
Style
[edit]Yazawa's storylines are generally centered on young women and their relationships. 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 often rebellious characters, who tend to be juxtaposed against the more traditional ones.[7]
She been compared to fellow manga artist Taku Tsumugi for her play with depth and layering.[8]
Works
[edit]- Ano Natsu (1985)
- 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 Nai (1992–1995) – 8 volumes
- Neighborhood Story (1995–1998) – 7 volumes
- Last Quarter (1998–1999) – 3 volumes
- Paradise Kiss (1999–2004) – 5 volumes published by Shodensha
- Nana (2000–2009) – 21 volumes (hiatus)
Character design:
- Princess Ai (2004–2005) – 3 volumes
References
[edit]- ^ Rosenbaum, Roman, ed. (2012). Manga and the Representation of Japanese History. Taylor & Francis. p. 111. doi:10.4324/9780203097816. ISBN 9780203097816.
- ^ "祥伝社の出版物". shodensha.co.jp. Archived from the original on January 1, 2011. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
- ^ 小学館漫画賞: 歴代受賞者 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved August 19, 2007.
- ^ "Nana's Ai Yazawa Puts Manga on Hold Due to Illness". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 29, 2021. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
- ^ "Nana Manga Creator Ai Yazawa Returns from Hospital". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
- ^ Loveridge, Lynzee (October 2, 2018). "NANA's Ai Yazawa Draws Historical Men's Fashion for New Book". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
- ^ McNeill, David (September 3, 2005). "Cartoon friends strike a blow for Japanese women". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved September 3, 2005.
- ^ Wheeler Macwilliams, Mark, ed. (2008). Japanese Visual Culture. Explorations in the World of Manga and Anime. Armonk, N.Y.: M.E. Sharpe. p. 146. ISBN 978-0-7656-2235-8. OCLC 503447257. Archived from the original on February 8, 2024. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
External links
[edit]- Ai Yazawa at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- Ai Yazawa at IMDb
- Profile Archived October 9, 2010, at the Wayback Machine at The Ultimate Manga Guide