Ai Yazawa: A Tribute To All The 20 Somethings
“I always thought life was about standing your ground, no matter how strong the current was. But going with the flow isn’t so bad after all. As long as it takes you forward.”
Many say that Ai Yazawa's work is beautifully written and interpreted. Her work encapsulates a narrative, aesthetic, and story theme that caters to a young female audience, categorizing it under the Shojo genre.
By bringing realistic perspectives of love and capturing the struggles of the younger generation through her art, the work is unique and one-of-a-kind.
Her Most Notable Works
Yazawa’s first known manga was Neighbourhood Stories, which tells the story of a young girl who wanted to start her own fashion brand called “Happy Berry.” Neighbourhood Story put Yazawa on the map.
Paradise Kiss, the sequel to Neighbourhood Story, follows a straight-A student who meets a group of delinquent fashion design students and falls into the world of fashion. Her life course is forever altered. The manga focuses on the world of style, creativity, and different sacrifices made to achieve your dreams.
Her most famous work, Nana, follows two girls with the same name living in Tokyo. The story is aimed at an adult-oriented realism where even the best relationships can fade, despite best intentions and love. “At the time of writing, Ai Yazawa’s Nana ranks the third best-selling Shojo magna ever with about 43 million copies,” according to Chris Cimi from Otaquest. Due to Yazawa’s health, Nana was put off and still remains on hiatus.
Romance and fashion are key parts of Yazawa’s work and are what sets her apart. Despite the hiatus, Yazawa’s work continues to impact and guide the young generations.
Yazawa’s Influence on Young Women
In an interview with The Independent, Yazawa explains the reason why she writes. She writes stories like Nana, Paradise Kiss, and Neighborhood Story to help women make it through their difficult twenties. Life’s most defining moments happen in your twenties. “Realizing that you are not alone with your pain and self-doubt can be a source of comfort,” said Ai Yawaza. Her stories and art provide comfort for young women whose lives may hit them with unexpected turns.
Yazawa brings realistic perspectives of love and growing up in her work. She has tapped into the changing roles of women in their twenties. Many women are being swayed away from traditional roles and working longer, pushing marriage back, and having kids later. Topics like feminism, friendships, and social realism are all worth mentioning in her work.
A Love Letter To Fashion & Vivienne Westwood
From a young age, Yazawa’s interest in fashion was undeniable. She enrolled as a fashion design student at a university but soon dropped out to move to Tokyo and pursue her career in writing. Although her halt on fashion, it is evident it plays a big role in her work. Yazawa’s work is unique in the way she infuses her art with fashion.
In Neighbourhood Story, she uses Lolita, Punk, and Retro-futurism to dress her characters. Her sketches feature tall and slender characters with body proportions similar to fashion models. Some character silhouettes wear fitted clothes and others opt for a baggier look. The spinoff, Paradise Kiss, contains the same fashion styles seen in Neighborhood Story but does not introduce new styles like sophisticated Western fashion.
With Nana being her most popular work, it contains many popular references to people and pieces during the 2000s. Vivienne Westwood is one of Yazawa’s inspirations for Nana. The Punk vs. Lolita fashion is evident in Nana. Some of Westwood’s work is featured in Nana including the iconic Orb Earring, Orb Necklace, and Armor Ring. Along with these features, are the Red Label Heart Jacket and the iconic Rocking Horse shoes.
There have been many speculations as to when Ai Yazawa will resume writing. Due to her health issues, it remains unclear. “As each of her titles has expressed, following one’s dreams may not be the recipe for happiness, but it is the pursuit of these goals that can supersede the impermanence of any emotion,” said Smanatah Low from Tokyo Weekender.
Yazawa’s work is in the hands of her devoted readers to learn and carry her work on. What work of Ai Yazawa is your favorite? Leave a comment below!