is a

Japanese Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...

manga author. While most of Yazawa's manga is published in Japan by

Shueisha (lit. "Gathering of Intellect Publishing Co., Ltd.") is a Japanese company headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. The company was established in 1925 as the entertainment-related publishing division of Japanese publisher Shogakukan. The foll ...

, publishers of '' Ribon'' and '' Cookie'' (''

Nana Nana, Nanna, Na Na or NANA may refer to: People and fictional characters * Nana (given name), including a list of people and characters with the given name * Nana (surname), including a list of people and characters with the surname * Nana ( ...

'' was serialized in the latter), series like ''

Paradise Kiss ''Paradise Kiss'', also abbreviated to ''ParaKiss'', is a josei manga series written and illustrated by Ai Yazawa. It appeared as a serial in the Japanese fashion magazine ''Zipper''. Shodensha collected the chapters into five volumes. Th ...

'' have appeared in non-Shueisha magazines such as ''Zipper'', published by

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. Shodensha publishes magazines such as '' Feel Young'' (a josei all-manga m ...

Career

Yazawa's most famous manga include ''

Tenshi Nanka Ja Nai is a ''shōjo'' manga series written and illustrated by Ai Yazawa. It was serialized in ''Ribon'' and later in eight volumes of graphic novels. An OVA adaptation was produced by Shueisha and Group TAC and directed by Hiroko Tokita, with T ...

'', '' Neighborhood Story'', ''

'', and ''

''. 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 ''

'' were released in English by Vertical, Inc. ''

'' ran in now-defunct American manga magazine ''

Shojo Beat ''Shojo Beat'' is a manga magazine formerly published in North America by Viz Media. Launched in June 2005 as a sister magazine for '' Shonen Jump'', it featured serialized chapters from six manga series, as well as articles on Japanese cult ...

''. In 2003, Yazawa was awarded the

Shogakukan Manga Award The is one of Japan's major manga awards, and is sponsored by Shogakukan Publishing. It has been awarded annually for serialized manga and features candidates from a number of publishers. It is the oldest manga award in Japan, being given since ...

for ''Nana''. ''Nana'' was made into an anime (produced by Madhouse) and a successful

movie A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...

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. She returned from the hospital in April 2010, although it has yet to be revealed when or if she will be continuing ''Nana''. 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. 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 Fashion is a form of self-expression and autonomy at a particular period and place and in a specific context, of clothing, footwear, lifestyle, accessories, makeup, hairstyle, and body posture. The term implies a look defined by the fashion i ...

. 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.

Works

* ''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) * ''

'' (1992–1995) – 8 volumes * '' Neighborhood Story'' (1995–1998) – 7 volumes * ''

Kagen no Tsuki is a Japanese three-volume ''shōjo'' manga series by Ai Yazawa. It was first published in '' Ribon'', a manga magazine primarily read by teenage girls. In 2004 it was adapted into a live-action movie. The film was released in the United S ...

'' (1998–1999) – 3 volumes * ''

'' (2000–2004) – 5 volumes published by Shodensha * ''

'' (2000–2009) – 21 volumes (hiatus) * ''

Princess Ai ''Princess Ai'' (, ja, プリンセス·アイ物語, Purinsesu Ai Monogatari; lit. ''The Story of Princess Ai'') is a manga series created and co-written by American musician and singer Courtney Love and Stuart Levy, with illustration by Ai ...

'' (2004–2005) – 3 volumes

References

External links

* *
Profile
at The Ultimate Manga Guide {{DEFAULTSORT:Yazawa, Ai 1967 births Female comics writers Japanese female comics artists People from Amagasaki Living people Women manga artists Manga artists from Hyōgo Prefecture 20th-century Japanese writers 20th-century Japanese women writers 21st-century Japanese writers 21st-century Japanese women writers