| This spotlight is reserved purely for notable 'select' manga authors/artists (or other certain staff) whose work while notable for the shoujo industry are for some reason not as highlighted or appreciated either in some countries or overall, anywhere outside Japan. Note this will not be monthly but be an additional surprise/unexpected spotlight feature that will be considered from time to time. Spoiler buttons in here are actual spoilers unless noted next to the button. August 2024  Name: Masako Watanabe Industry Role : Manga Author and Artist 1952 - Present (Thats over 60 years!) Born: May 16th 1929 Recognition: Won the 16th Shogakukan Manga Award in 1972, Japan Cartoonist Award in 2002, the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award and the 4th Class, Order of the Rising Sun in 2006. (The first female manga artist to win this!) Accomplishments/Impacts to Shoujo Manga Industry: She was among one of the first mangakas to use primarily 'pastel' colors for shoujo while the norm at the time was using mainly solid primary colors. She is considered one of the 'pioneers' to shoujo, especially horror. Fun Facts: She started out only as a children's book illustrator to help support her husband through university, and got inspired to become a manga artists after becoming a fan to legendary Astro Boy creator's Tezuka's work. She is now the director of the Japan Cartoon Association. Highlight from Shoujo Wonderland Club: Masako Watanabe is being selected as the club's 1st Industry Artist Spotlight new feature...as of August 2024. Other then Hana to Yume's anniversary, Miss Masako Watanabe happens to be a great example for being one of the main reasons that drove this type of club spotlight to be created due to her big impact she made to shoujo manga. The veteran has been creating shoujo since the 70s in shoujo manga's early days, and hasn't retired. After over 68 years she still just released a new josei manga just this very year titled Himegoto- Secret Her work has been mostly in Margaret magazines, but she has done some work for Hana to Yume and other magazines as well. Sadly just like the top opening header of this Spotlight thread states.........Masako Watanabe is largely unknown outside of Japan, and nearly of her work is either untranslated or not even listed in myanimelist's database (she has created over 100 titles) even when her artwork has been featured in galleries in places like New York, Ohio and California (unlike other forgotten vintage shoujo manga) Hence in the spirit of shoujo and to further embrace the Hana to Yume anniversary that occurred this summer.....her accomplishments and some titles are being spotlighted. She created/pioneered many early shoujo horror stories, but she also did joseis and other sweet shoujo romantic tales. Below are just some that caught this admin's attention         Unfortunately as stated previously above....nearly all of her work isn't translated in English which has got to be a huge disservice to such a talented veteran in the biz. These 2 titles below are indeed in English to my knowledge (there may be more that I'm simply unaware of)  Saint Rosalind and she even did a manga for Heidi Rosalind became known for receiving a new *bonus* chapter around 2010; nearly 40 years since it's original manga series ended in the 70s's  ありがとうございます 様、さまThank Hana to Yume's 50 anniversary 2024 and club member ooReiko for the inspiration Not a spoiler, just a previous comment by user nobozu about Usami Maki which will be considered at a later date. |
RICEA42991Aug 20, 6:12 AM
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Not a spoiler, but comment about Maki which will be considered again at a later date |
RICEA42991Aug 14, 6:06 AM
Not a spoiler, but comment about Maki which will be considered again at a later date |
RICEA42991Aug 14, 6:07 AM
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| other thing i was impressed with Watanabes series was that she always was drawing a new series since I think she posted atleast 1 series in every year for almost 60 years, until the 2010s decade and I think she was already was over 80 at that time but like you said she still contnued with her newest series recently. |
| @ooReiko @RICEA42991 what should I read of her's first? |
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Reply to nightjasmine
| @nightjasmine I think the series from her who have the most popularity are Saint Rosalind snd Glass no Shiro |
Reply to ooReiko
@nightjasmine
I think the series from her who have the most popularity are Saint Rosalind snd Glass no Shiro
I think the series from her who have the most popularity are Saint Rosalind snd Glass no Shiro
| @ooReiko thank you♡ |
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