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Ai Yazawa

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Ai Yazawa
Native name
矢沢 あい
Born (1967-03-07) March 7, 1967 (age 57)
Amagasaki, Hyōgo, Japan
OccupationManga artist
EducationOsaka Mode Gakuen
Years active1985–2010
Notable worksTenshi Nanka ja Nai, Neighborhood Story, Paradise Kiss, Nana

Ai Yazawa (矢沢 あい, Yazawa Ai, born March 7, 1967) is a Japanese manga artist and illustrator. Yazawa debuted as a manga artist with her short story Ano Natsu (1985). She gained mainstream popularity in the 1990s and 2000s with her series Tenshi Nanka ja Nai (1992), Neighborhood Story (1995), Paradise Kiss (1999), and Nana (2000),[1] the latter being one of the best-selling manga series.

Career

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In 1985, Yazawa debuted as a manga artist at the age of 17 with the short story Ano Natsu.[2]

She also voiced an animated rendition of herself that made a cameo appearance in the final episode of the Neighborhood Story anime. In 2003, Yazawa was awarded the Shogakukan Manga Award for Nana.[3]

In June 2009, Yazawa became hospitalized after contracting an illness, putting Nana on indefinite hiatus.[4] She returned from the hospital in April 2010.[5] In 2022, Yazawa stated she was still recovering from her illness and expressed interest in continuing Nana in the future.[2]

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 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]

On January 31, 2024, Yazawa illustrated a promotional visual as part of a collaboration with fashion brand Lulu Felice, who created wedding dresses based on Nana and Neighborhood Story.[7]

Personal life

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Yazawa attended and dropped out of Osaka Mode Gakuen [ja].[8]

Yazawa became hospitalized in June 2009 for an unspecified illness, which caused her to put Nana on hiatus.[9] She was discharged in April 2010 and has not continued to work on any manga series since.[10]

Artistry and themes

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Yazawa's work has been highlighted for its focus on Japanese alternative fashion; from 1998 to 1999, fashion magazine Kera [ja] ran features on Mikako Komatsu, the main character of Neighborhood Story, and produced sewing patterns based on Happy Berry, a fictional fashion brand by the character.[11] In addition, Yazawa prominently features Vivienne Westwood in Nana, and some clothing featured in the show are based on clothing from her own personal collection.[12] In 2024, through a survey of 100 people by TV Maga (a web magazine operated by TV Log [ja]), Nana was voted no. 1 for most fashionable manga, along with Yazawa's other works Paradise Kiss and Neighborhood Story following at no. 2.[13]

Another key point is her often rebellious characters, who tend to be juxtaposed against the more traditional ones.[14]

She been compared to fellow manga artist Taku Tsumugi for her play with depth and layering.[15]

Works

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  • 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:

References

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  1. ^ Rosenbaum, Roman, ed. (2012). Manga and the Representation of Japanese History. Taylor & Francis. p. 111. doi:10.4324/9780203097816. ISBN 9780203097816.
  2. ^ a b "『NANA』休載から13年…漫画家・矢沢あいを取材 「また作品を描いていけたら」 "現在の体調"も明かす" [13 years since Nana went on hiatus... manga artist Ai Yazawa reportedly states, "I'll draw it again if I'm able to", gives clarity on her "current condition"]. Nippon Television (in Japanese). July 21, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ "Nana Manga Creator Ai Yazawa Returns from Hospital". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "矢沢あい『NANA』『ご近所物語』ウェディングドレス、ナナの赤いドレスや"ハッピーベリー"モチーフ" [Wedding dresses based on Ai Yazawa's Nana and Neighborhood Story, Nana's red dress and "Happy Berry" motifs]. Fashion Press (in Japanese). January 31, 2024. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
  8. ^ 漫画家人名事典 [Dictionary of Manga Artists] (in Japanese). Japan: Nichigai Associates [ja]. February 1, 2003. p. 233. ISBN 9784816917608.
  9. ^ Loo, Egan (June 26, 2009). "Nana's Ai Yazawa Puts Manga on Hold Due to Illness". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 29, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2010.
  10. ^ Loo, Egan (May 30, 2010). "Nana Manga Creator Ai Yazawa Returns from Hospital". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2010.
  11. ^ "矢沢あい「NANA」三原ミツカズ「ハッピー・ファミリー」特集" [Special feature on Nana by Ai Yazawa and Happy Family by Mitsukazu Mihara]. Kera Maniax [ja]. Vol. 1. Japan: Index Corporation. October 9, 2003. p. 22-23. ISBN 9784860480936.
  12. ^ "矢沢あいの私物　ヴィヴィアンウエストウッド" [Ai Yazawa's Personal Collection: Vivienne Westwood]. Kera Maniax [ja]. Vol. 1. Japan: Index Corporation. October 9, 2003. p. 36-37. ISBN 9784860480936.
  13. ^ "センスがいいおしゃれな漫画ランキングTOP10！1位は服装が独特的なあの作品、矢沢あい先生の作品が強い". Nijimen (in Japanese). May 10, 2024. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ 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.
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