Exploring Ai Yazawa’s World: Fashion, Music, and Manga Masterpieces
From fashion-school dreams to global manga fandom
Ai Yazawa began her career in the mid-1980s with short manga stories in magazines such as Ribon. (Academia Lab) She studied fashion (though she left before finishing) and her interest in style, design and pop culture deeply influenced her art. (womenincomics.fandom.com) Over time she became one of the defining voices of shōjo and josei manga — known for strong female characters, emotional stories, and a fashion-forward aesthetic.
I love the raw emotion Ai Yazawa brings to her characters. Her protagonists are imperfect, complex, and deeply human — navigating the chaos of youth in a way that makes you truly connect with them and grow alongside their journey.
Major Works & Their English Availability
Here are some of her key series and how their English-language publication has progressed:
Paradise Kiss
Serialized 1999-2003; and English publication began 2002. The story of a high school girl who leaves her parent’s high academic expectations to become a model. A coming of age story about finding your passion in the most unexpected places and pursuing your dream.
NANA
Serialized 2000-2010. Her best-known title about two girls named Nana. Both moved to Tokyo, one pursuing her singing dream while the other is finding where she fits. Filled with fashion, punk, friendships and relationships. Check out my blog post about Nana for more details here.
Gokinjo Monogatari (Neighborhood Story)
Original Japanese publication from 1995-1998. Recently released in English in 2023! This release was an exciting one! Especially if you were long time fans of Paradise Kiss because there are characters that connect. The story is about a girl whose pursuing her fashion career while juggling a childhood friendship that might be more than just friendship. It is an absolute sweet story and the birth of Happy Berry brand.
Last Quarter
A less-known work published in 1998-99. Recently republished in English for the first time in 2024. The story line is a bit darker mixed with supernatural so it is a bit different! But, you can definitely sense Ai Yazawa’s signature style and story telling. It did not disappoint.
I’m No Angel (Tenshi Nanka Ja Nai)
One of her earlier works from 1992-95. I am very excited for the upcoming English release announced by Viz Media that will be coming 2026! Stay tuned for a review when it arrives in US stores!
Why This Matters Now
For longtime fans: The availability of these titles in new editions are exciting to collect! And finally get to enjoy her more obscure works in English.
For new fans: If you’ve only discovered Yazawa via NANA or fashion-manga hype, you now have more entry-points into her earlier or less-familiar work.
For the manga industry: It shows a recognition that works with niche appeal (fashion-centric, emotionally intense) can sustain renewed interest and demand. There is absolutely no other mangaka like Ai Yazawa.
Culturally: Yazawa’s focus on fashion, identity, relationships and youth resonates across eras. “The recent Y2K/fashion revival means her work feels timely again.” UNIQLO has released collaboration t-shirt designs with Ai Yazawa!
What to Look For & What’s Coming
Announcement watch:
Fans are already looking forward to the official English release of I’m No Angel.
In recent interview released in August 2025 - Ai Yazawa has confirmed Nana is at its final arc and intends to complete it ensuring her fans can see how the story ends. (My heart throbs and is alive again <3)
Support the creator: Buying official editions matters — it signals to publishers that demand is strong and encourages more licensing.
Happy Berry
Happy Berry is a fictional fashion brand created by Mikako in Ai Yazawa’s Neighborhood Stories — and it makes a fabulous comeback as a well-known label in Paradise Kiss. The brand’s aesthetic is a perfect blend of cute and punk, capturing Ai Yazawa’s deep love and understanding of fashion. Honestly, if Ai Yazawa ever brought Happy Berry to life, I’d want every single piece!
Final Thoughts
Ai Yazawa’s influence goes beyond “just another manga”. Her blend of emotion + style + cultural commentary places her work in a space that speaks to youth, fashion, music, identity and more. With her catalogue becoming increasingly accessible in English, it’s an exciting moment to either start (or restart) exploring her work.
Whether you dive into NANA’s world of punk rock + friendship, wander through the fashion school of Gokinjo, or discover a hidden gem like Last Quarter, there’s something in her oeuvre for every reader. And with more translations coming, the journey is far from over.
