Ai Yazawa, the author of Nana & Paradisse Kiss.

You already know who Ai Yazawa is if you know works like Nana, Paradise Kiss, Gokinjo Monogatari, and Tenshi Nanka Ja Nai. Ai Yazawa is a manga author and a Japanese artist who debuted for the first time at Ribbon Magazine, publishing most of her works, with the only exception of Paradise Kiss (Zipper Magazine), and Nana (Cookie Magazine).

Ai Yazawa debuted for the first time in Ribbon’s special spring issue in 1985 with Ano Natsu first, 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, 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, to only be topped by Marine Blue no Kaze ni Dakarete, a year later with four volumes. Nevertheless, her successful career started with Tenshi Nanka Ja Nai, which shows the story of the Hajiri Academy Student Council, mainly focused on Midori Saejima, with eight volumes in 1994, while the OVA adaption was released.

Ai Yazawa’s stories stand out for their convoluted plots, unexpected turns, and the difficult 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.

Frequently, the main plot of her works 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, to a fashion designer who struggles to build her fashion brand, fighting to turn her creations into a reference in the fashion industry; passing through the dream of a singer to succeed in the music world with her punk band.

A conglomeration of raw feelings and realities that leave no one indifferent, leaving a clear message: many times, we see successful and happy people (the surface), but what we don't see are all the difficulties they have gone through to achieve their goals, overcoming all the challenges that life puts in their path. 

In the end, Ai Yazawa’s works address a more mature set of feelings. As one of the great references within the Josei genre, her plots, characters, and settings cover a more mature stage than those that could be found in any Shoujo, reflecting feelings and experiences that seek to show the reader or viewer a reality without any type of makeup or sweetening.