Why Ai Yazawa is one of the most famous female manga authors?
If you know works like Nana, Paradise Kiss, Gokinjo Monogatari, and Tenshi Nanka Ja Nai, maybe you already know who is Ai Yazawa, a manga author and artist who debuted for the first time at Ribbon Magazine, where she published most of her series, with the only exception of Paradise Kiss (Zipper Magazine), and Nana (Cookie Magazine).
Ano Natsu was the first work with Ai Yazawa debuted in Ribbon’s special spring issue in 1985, being her previous works mostly one-shots or one-volume creations, except for Ballad Made Soba Ni Itte, and Marine Blue no Kaze ni Dakarete. But, her first story, published in a volume format in 1986, was 15-Nenme, and soon in 1987, Love Letter, was published, where she details their long-distance relationship with Yari. Followed by Kaze ni Narel and Escape in 1988.
The next Ballad Made Soba Ni Itte went on for two volumes in 1989, only to be topped by Marine Blue no Kaze ni Dakarete, a year later with four volumes.
Her successful career started with Tenshi Nanka Ja Nai, which shows the story of Hajiri Academy Student Council, mainly focused on Midori Saejima, with eight volumes, the manga in 1994, while the OVA adaption was released.
Ai Yazawa’s stories stand out for their convoluted plots, unexpected turns, and the harshness of the situations their characters go through, reaching social criticism on several occasions. Far from the typical stories of love (Shoujo) and friendship, she gets to delve into the most toxic feelings and behaviors of her characters, showing the deepest traumas, resentments, insecurities, egoism, emotional attachments, self-improvement, and hard work to get what the characters want.
Frequently, the main plot of her works usually revolves around the sacrifices and efforts of the protagonists to achieve their personal goals. From a high-school student who discovers her passion for fashion in the most unexpected way, to the efforts of a fashion designer who struggles to make her brand an icon of reference in the fashion industry, passing through the dream of a singer to succeed in the world of music with her punk band.
A conglomeration of raw feelings and realities that leave no one indifferent, showing a face of the reality that few people know, on many occasions with a clear message: many times, we see successful and happy people, but we are unaware of the difficulties of their lives, traveled to reach their goals, as well as the depth of their feelings.
Definitely, Ai Yazawa’s works address both, the surface and non-surface aspects of the characters, along with the situations they go through as the plot unfolds. Each one has its own story, its own heaven, and hell, and far from fleeing, they decide to live with them, face them in one way or another, and move forward, even if it’s hard… even if it’s difficult.
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