Nana

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NANA is definitely one of the best mangas that I've ever read. There's something about it that makes it very different from other ones, so I personally think it's a must-read. Anyways, my review may contain some spoilers, but I'll try my best not to reveal too much.

Story- 10
The first thing that comes to mind when I think of NANA is how incredibly realistic it is compared to many other mangas. It starts out very normal like any other shoujo/josei manga; introducing the two main characters who both happen to have the name Nana. It pretty much follows the life of these two girls as ... they meet on a train to Tokyo, and then later decide to share an apartment. It may sound a bit dull and boring, but the story always draws you in and makes you wonder what would happen next. Personally what I think is best about the story is the realistic aspect of it, since I've always loved serious and realistic mangas/animes. After reading so many silly mangas with unrealistic story plots, I found it very refreshing to read something completely different. In fact, it's so realistic to the point that I find myself wishing that it wouldn't be so realistic, since NANA definitely isn't your happily ever after story.

Art- 7
Well, I hate to say this but the art of NANA isn't the best. It's not that the mangaka is a bad artist or anything, but the style of NANA just doesn't appeal to me very much. I also don't really like how some of the backgrounds seem as if they are a completely different style of art. Sometimes it looks as if the characters are standing in front of some wallpaper rather than in the actual place so that kinda bothers me. On the other hand, I love how much detail the mangaka puts in the characters and their clothes.

Character- 10
I'm not giving this section a 10 because I think all the characters are perfect and love them all to death, but rather because there is at least one thing I don't like about almost all the characters. That may sound weird, but the reason why I like it is because of how realistic it makes them and how it makes you able to relate to them very easily. I can easily imagine all the characters being real people, and almost all of them are very well developed. Another thing I like about the manga NANA is how the mangaka isn't afraid to put in traits like selfishness and possessiveness and have the characters realize those traits in themselves. I don't think I've ever read another manga that had that, so I was pretty impressed when I first read those parts.

Enjoyment- 9
I really don't have much to say here...all I have to say is that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.

Overall- 9
Okay, I'll just be repeating myself here if I say how much I enjoyed it, so I'll just add a few things here that I didn't put up here. So another thing I like about NANA is how it makes you think a bit about life in general. The things that the characters say sometimes made me realize some stuff, and now because of NANA I think I can understand people a bit better. :3

Recommendation-
I recommend this manga to people who like realistic plots that have a bit of humor in it. But if you're someone that likes fairy tail plots, happily ever afters, perfect princes/princesses, or couples that have no problems then this definitely isn't the manga for you. And it's also for an older audience so please don't read it if you're really young. o3o

The longer we live, the more weight we carry in our hearts.

A sentence that truly summarizes and embodies the manga of Nana. The tale follows the lives of two very different girls who share the same name of Nana, and not much else. After a fateful meeting on a train bound to Tokyo, they manage to become friends and their lives weave closely together from that moment forwards. Written most nostalgically by one of the Nana’s from sometime years in the future, the story is a remembrance of the friendship between two girls and all the people who surrounded them who all rushed into life ... with the vigor, innocence and optimism of youth; and returned so tragic, weary and worn by circumstance and choice.

While wrongly categorized as a Shoujo series, Nana is very much a Josei in its explicit content, realistic storytelling, and maturity, so it is far better to be read by an audience who can handle such things.

★ Story (9) – Like longing letters written to the past, Nana unfolds in remembrance and nostalgia from the point of view of one of the Nana’s many years into the future. A simple meeting between two girls of the same age and bearing the same name quickly evolves into a tangled web of many lives with romance and betrayal; long distance relationships and unhealthy romances; cheating scandals and underage prostitutes; unplanned pregnancies and family secrets; obsession and desire; sex and rock n’ roll…All of which is set against the backdrop of a very modern, very fashionable, very young Tokyo where debauchery and youth go hand in hand reigning supreme, and friendship deeper than anything remains the unbreakable link between people lost in the modern world, and in themselves.

Punctuated with ambience throughout, this series is littered with an aching yearning for the past, and a wish to relive life and avoid all the mistakes that brought the story to a vague, but seemingly unhappy future.

★ Art (9) - The artwork of Nana is incredibly distinctive, stylish and highly unique and in so is an absolutely acquired taste. Very artsy and drawn in high style, the characters of Nana are all skin and bones (almost disgustingly so) and always sporting the very latest in fashion. The photographic backgrounds add a touch of realism to the artwork, and yet another sense of style to this very stylish series. Everything is drawn painstakingly well, and in detail from strands of hair to eyelashes. While the style will not be liked by everyone, the art still remains a high scorer for the unique style and the high and consistent quality.

★ Character (10) – This is a series where I really dislike the majority of the cast. So why did I rank the characters so highly? Simple – they are so realistic. Every single character is a three dimensional person unto themselves, with very distinctive personalities and traits unique to them. Not one character can be boxed and labeled as a cliché or a stereotype and indeed, their characterizations are deconstructed time and time again in the course of the story. No matter what choices the character makes or does not make they are given insight and depth throughout. Complex and layered, these characters function and fumble along like real people, constantly shedding and growing new sides to them while remaining themselves in their entirety. While the characters are rather difficult to like on the whole, it is very easy to come to terms with them, and to reach out and understand them on a different level.

They are difficult and contradictory; prickly and sweet; unlikable and loveable – they are completely and utterly human, and in this humanness they are defined.

★ Enjoyment (9) – This is a series for people who want to read about the joy and pain of youth; of the good choices and terrible mistakes which haunt lives years afterward. This is a slice of life story of the most realistic and raw degree with all the twists and turns of life, and the bumps and bruises of stumbling through them.

★ Overall (9) – This beautiful, mature Josei series is a real page turner, and highly recommended for those mature enough to handle it.

This is a series that shows how even the most simple and mundane of choices in our day to day lives can have an effect on those same lives, and can spiral into something much larger in time. It shows us how youth can be the most precious key given in life, with the most painful doors and secrets to unlock.

It shows how life gives us such fond, wonderful memories – but also chokes and tears us apart with those same remembrances. And it shows how friendship is the most wonderful gift to have, and how it is also the heaviest burden to carry.

How very true it is then: that the longer we live, the more weight we carry in our hearts.

Hey Nana...

NANA is a great romantic/dramatic manga. NANA also have some funny moments. The manga is about two girls with the same name, Nana, and they meet by fate and eventually become best friends. Even though they are best friends, their life take a twist and they are separated by fame, husband, boyfriend, and work. This manga shows the world of the entertainment industry and it focus it on bands and music and a bit of adult movie but that its later on the manga.
NANA starts out as people trying to pursue their dreams. What's more important for an singer/band/model: Follow their dreams or their loved ... one?
The decision is very hard on the characters; and each character walks a different path. Its about friends and love being separated by their choices.

The character in this manga is awesome. Everyone with a different style and background. Everyone with problems with love, passion, work and romance. And because its about the intertainment industry, it has a little bit about everything. I dont want to write it out because I think I will ruin/spoil the manga.

Oh yeah, I think this was my first shoujo a friend of my recommended it to me and I loved it. Somehow I skipped the first volume and started reading the second volume and I still got the story =P.
I really love this manga and the way it starts every chapter, with words like, "Do you remember Nana, the day . . . if it was not because you stayed by my side . . ."
I really recommend this manga.

Overall I think NANA’s main selling point is “realism” and that it’s a pretty realistic look at the Japanese music industry, though dramatized, of course. The characters feel like real people and the relationships, which are really an extension of the characters, almost never go in foreseeable directions. Some intriguing backstory has come to light and I\'m in suspense on several fronts -- I really want to know whether things will turn out okay for these characters.

But at the end of the day, I think Ai Yazawa\'s Paradise Kiss is better, because it is tighter. Nana is full of drama and ... suspense and heartbreak and really messed up characters, but it tends to drag, especially in the later volumes.

This is one of the most beautiful mangas that I have ever read. Just the storyline amused me a lot.

At first, I saw the anime until episode 47 and then I continued with the manga. The anime is loyal to the manga; there are rarely any differences at all.

All of the characters of the manga are really when done; they all have rally profound characteristics and they continue throughout the story.

Something that I found annoying was how in the manga of the pages it was all so crumpled up, there were so many texts in one page it was difficult to concentrate.

It is ... a sad story, with themes on drugs, sex among others. However, I really think that it teaches people about life and how you should really enjoy it.

It’s a great story of friendship, love and dreams
I think that everyone that can deal about strong things should read it

I remember. God, do I remember: Not knowing what the hell you’re doing. Being lost in the emotions, the dreams, the coldly shattered preconceptions. Uncovering connection and a sort of camaraderie in the unlikeliest, even loneliest of places. Being struck by this one person; magnetic, bold, talented; more broken than you could know. Creating your own dumb fun. Drowning in stupid, lustful, beautiful love and risking everything for your dream.

Laughing, drinking, being without a care with the coolest people you’re sure you’ll ever meet. Enraptured by freedom, expression, possibility. Licking your wounds when you fall, and picking yourself back up because you know no ... one else will, nor should they. Seizing the goddamn day.

I remember my twenties. God, do I. Ai Yazawa’s sprawling, gritty shojo manga, Nana, grew with me, really. With the series on indefinite hiatus, I’m tempted to say a part of me is… frozen. We may never learn the characters’ fates, the resolution of this saga of young adult trials and dreams.

But that’s life, man. You don’t get all the answers, you don’t get to know how everyone turned out.

Still, I like to think Nana O. is okay. Girl’s got grit. If I can figure out my shit—and I believe I am—maybe she can too, with a little help from her friends. And maybe with a little dash of dreams.

Nana is a manga which has a premise which doesn’t appeal to me in the slightest, but I chose to read it because it’s praised extremely highly. As it turns out, the reason for this praise is that it’s one of the most all-round transcendently brilliantly created manga out there. I wish something with an insane premise was written this well, but more than that I wish this manga was actually finished. It must be some curse on me that all of my favourite stories seem to be doomed to eternal incompletion via hiatus, and Nana is another of its kind; it’s author, Ai Yazawa, ... got ill with some undisclosed illness way back when, and hence this masterpiece remains unfinished to this day (though she claims she may continue it at some point it wouldn’t be wise to stake your hopes on it). The fact that an incomplete work such as this gets the acclaim it does speaks more of its quality than I ever could, but I adore this manga so I’m more than happy to rise to the task

Most will tell you the story is the best quality of this manga, and I’m somewhat inclined to agree, but there’s so much more to it than that statement would imply. What makes it so incredible is that it’s meticulously and intrinsically sewn together by all of its aspects; the characters, the symbolism and theming, and the art. The way its characters are written is through a method I like to call “Hunter x Hunter cast”, wherein every character is a foil for one another and you can’t go 2 panels without noticing a parallel between this dynamic or the other. It knits the cast together through the controlled use of themes and motifs, and strengthens said themes tenfold every time it does it. This isn’t the end of the connective flow either; it does that great thing where it interweaves conversations and monologues with completely separate scenes, both as they’re occurring and as we transition to the next, and it gives the whole thing such a beautiful flow.

Dramaturgically, I must say, it threw me for a loop. For the first few volumes it plays a slow buildup and introductory tone and pace, before kicking quickly into high gear and dropping the reader into the deep end with some of the best handled drama I’ve seen in a while. Now this plays out intensely and masterfully, but where you might expect the ‘arc’ to end it hits a mildly conclusive wrap up before flowing straight on into the next section of the story. The tension never relieves, it just ebbs and flows carefully yet unpredictably, and that threw me off at first, but it becomes clear quite quickly that this method perfectly encapsulates the ‘real life’ type of story flow it’s trying to accomplish. Rather than having a collection of synchronised arcs collected together that open and close simultaneously, there’ll be varied lengths of arcs for any character or group of characters, and they’ll weave about one another; rising and falling at different times, never a point where everyone’s at a plateau. It works beautifully, and makes it feel like you’re truly living the life of these characters.

The comedy is an interesting topic because I can definitely see someone finding it obtrusive, finding it to take away the sense of drama and break immersion, but oddly enough I feel it not only meshes well with the work as a whole but somehow enhances the realistic tone. Humans aren’t good with tension, and in real life we don’t all seriously brood about with each other like in a BBC drama, even when going through serious situations. Not only is the banter funny, but it’s always in character, and characters who might in other series’ be reserved purely for dramatic moments get an impressive dose of humanisation through the comedy.

The themes of Nana are thoroughly intertwined with one another, and make for one of the strongest cores of any story I’ve read. The concept of determinism not being dictated by a merciless fate but in fact by our own uncontrollable desires and urges from past and present is thoroughly explored; including the idea that said desires are borne of past lapses in nurture, of traumas or neglect or anything from our past that left us dissatisfied then or dissatisfied now, and that such dysfunctional catalysts are born again by the ‘fate’ controlled by our uncontrollable egos. It also explores the nuance of responsibility and self-care; the struggle to find a balance between keeping yourself in check so as to keep yourself safe and keeping yourself happy. More than anything, Nana is a story about trying to learn how to care for yourself through caring for others, and so there’s constantly a mess of projection and self-deceptive conflict ever present, as the characters try to navigate their complex interpersonal relationships in order to find some semblance of satisfaction in their lives.

The art is stunning and beautiful throughout. The style is a simple fine-lined one, with big eyes and skinny bodies, but normal enough proportions for them not to feel like cartoons. The use of black and white is extraordinary, always perfectly evokes the emotions of scenes, or the thoughts and feelings of characters which just don’t come across otherwise. It employs a vast bank of symbolism making it rich for analysis, but it’s never mandatory to stop and analyse; Nana exists on the surface level as well as many layers below.

The dialogue is excellent, realistic when it must be, comedic as it will, and constantly evocative of subtle parts of the characters’ psyche, be that the one who’s talking or someone else through clever paralleling. Some may consider the manga to be too dialogue heavy by preference, but it never feels arduous to read while still having enough density and depth to prove engaging. Both protagonists take turns monologising, and these soliloquy’s contain some of the most beautiful and poetic quotes I’ve heard in manga. Out of context some of them sound quite cheesy, but they always work brilliantly in context and more often than not have double or more meanings, as they overlap with seemingly unrelated scenes.

The only reason I can think of to not recommend this manga is its incompletion, however there’s so much utterly excellent fiction here that I think it would be a crime not to check it out. Besides, Volume 21 is actually a good conclusion (relative to not actually being the end), though there are a few extra chapters afterwards of the next part of the conflict

In conclusion; Nana is a masterpiece and you should read it NOW

I am fairly new to shoujo Mangas, but I think that Nana is one of the best ones ever. It’s just that kind of manga that keeps you on your toes, trying to guess what’s next (even though you will be shocked at how different what Ai Yazawa comes up with is from what you expected).
Nana is about how life is extremely unpredictable; two girls with the same name “Nana” meet on a train to Tokyo. The girls are totally different but meet again in an apartment that they end up renting together, so they become roommates and friends. Then the Mangaka takes us on ... the journey that the girls take (one wants to become a famous singer, and the other wants to find love) and how the choices they make will affect their lives, friendship, and relationships to others later on, sort of like the Chaos Theory.

The Character development (throughout the chapters available) is exceptional. Trying to change and grow, trying to forget the past, making the same mistakes…etc. I just think that the characters in Nana are awesome and so realistic.

Nana made me laugh, cry, think, drop my jaw. If you read Nana, you will find themes like: friendship, love, life, Dreams, celebrities world, drama, realism and many more. I just wish that Ai Yazawa could get better and finish it, it kinda pisses me off that I can’t finish reading it!!!

I recommend it to all because I am sure you will find something that will appeal to you :)

Much more than a manga, a lesson in life!

Nana, Nana, Nana how to describe in a few paragraphs all my feelings on this manga which, I think, will remain my favorite all kinds included.

Shōjo or Josei?
Many define Nana as a shōjo however I would say that Nana is a josei because a shōjo is intended for a rather young female public whereas a josei is intended for a more mature female public. I started reading Nana at the age of 18 and have been reading it regularly ever since (currently over 80 times). 80 times would you tell me? Yes I did and yet each ... time my analysis changes slightly. I think we need to step back in order to appreciate all the subtleties of the characters. You can ask 10 different people what they think of this or that character, they will all answer something different.

Shattered stereotypes
Despite a world out of the ordinary for most of us: fame, music, rock, punk, Ai Yazawa has brilliantly managed to show all the human complexity. All the clichés and stereotypes with which we constantly live, especially in France, are shaken.
Some topics covered:
- love in all its forms
- love between two people: can one love several people at once?
- adultery
- friendship
- family
- dream VS reality
- sacrifice
- glory
- hope
- forgiveness

Imperfect characters
Ai Yazawa shows us all the facets of men, all their fragilities.
If Nana Osaki with her punk look seemed to be strong, imperturbable, independent, she shows as the story progresses her weaknesses, her doubts, her doubts that she has trouble managing due to her past.
On the other hand Nana Komatsu seems unstable, fragile or even superficial. However, as the manga progresses, she becomes the rock, the person on whom one rests.

Nana is a surprising manga because the characters themselves are constantly evolving. We are used to putting each human being in boxes: he is kind, he is beautiful, he is strong, he is intelligent, he is... However Nana proves to us that human beings evolve, learn or not from their mistakes, continually seek to be happy, to make others happy.

Is Nana depressing?
Nana like her characters cannot be placed in a category. The story is sad but only if we see it from a certain perspective because it is also very funny. To be honest it was one of the mangas that made me laugh the most, we recognize Ai Yazawa's humour.

A story that holds us in suspense
The manga is currently on break since 2009 and has a total of 84 chapters or 22 volumes. 84 chapters rich in emotions and twists. We quickly learn that the story is told by Nana Komatsu thanks to flash-backs. An unexpected event shakes the lives of the characters and it will be necessary to wait for volume 20 to understand what happened. Meanwhile the manga keeps us in suspense, the characters are continually confronted with their desires and their uncertainties.

This manga is above all human, it makes us think about our dreams, our behaviour. He invites us to ask ourselves what we would have done in this or that situation. We can call it the magic of Ai Yazawa, the magic of Nana.

I think NANA is one of the best manga's around right now. You know how the characters feel and it's not predictable at all. It doesn't take a long time before you know the characters and know how they are. Nana is a manga with a lot of drama, laughter and romance and it has a mysterious side. Overall this is my favorite manga and I think Ai Yazawa did a great job on this one.

*Review contains spoilers*

Story 9/10
Nana is definitely unlike most shoujos out there, it has a very unique and appealing story. The story is very well executed, one event leading to another without overlapping or feeling like a device used only to create an specific situation. Transitions between arcs are very smooth and manage to keep you interested. But what I really liked the most about this manga is how realistically life events are portrayed, making characters and their emotions very believable and relatable. I was moved to tears by people's reactions to Ren's death and also very moved by the opening/closing statements in many chapters.
The ... are 2 things preventing me from giving a 10 to this section. The first one is that the manga was never finished, thus we don't know the real ending of the story. Some might argue that it doesn't really matter because even though the last chapter leaves things hanging, you already know what the future holds for the characters. Yet, I feel there was still more being build up to happen (such as Slutty Nana meeting with Nana Darks, Slutty Nana FINALLY making up her mind between Nobu and Takumi, among other things). The second one is that some relationships seem to just be stuck in the same loop, never moving forward or being completely finished (for ex: Nana Darks and Ren kept finding dumb reasons for quarreling and being apart rather than together, Slutty Nana seemed unable to move past Nobu but determined to remain by Takumi's side knowing she wasn't completely happy with him or happy just at moments, Nobu remained stuck on Slutty Nana, Reira remained stuck on Takumi, Shin going back and forth on his feelings for Reira...). I understand being confused, but people do need to move on. The only person I felt progressed was Yasu, letting Nana Darks go and giving himself a chance with Miu (so happy for him!!!).
I want to point out that Nana is definitely one of those literary works that you would recommend people to read the original source (manga) before seeing anything else (anime/life actions). This is not to say the anime is bad, on the contrary, it was a very faithful adaptation. However, the manga shows conversations and character's thoughts more in depth, allowing you to actually understand characters more while reading the manga than what you do while watching the anime (that happened to me with Slutty Nana, which I almost hated in the anime but came to understand and tolerate better in the manga).

Art 8/10
Art was good, not the best I have seen, but good enough. In no way do I think that art affected the manga.

Characters 10/10
I have to give this section a 10 because characters were so well developed, so many layers to their personalities were shown, that I can't bring myself to completely hate or dislike the characters I felt were the worst (*cough, cough,Takumi, cough, cough Slutty Nana*). I also must say that characters do remain true to themselves throughout the whole manga, as much as we might hate what they do or don't do.

With Takumi, there were times when I thought "maybe he is not so bad", specially because he was the only one who accepted Slutty Nana as she was and supported her (with the pregnancy) when she needed it the most. I almost settled at having a love/hate relationship with him. However, although it could be argued that at least he was sincere and straightforward and an objective person, HOW THE HELL can you tell your partner "I cheat on you but you are the one I truly love"?! what the hell?! that is not love at all!! I kept wishing he would make himself a better person, not only for Slutty Nana, but also for himself and his family (and honestly, at least he accepted that he had neglected Slutty Nana so much that he wasn't surprised she didn't want to move to London with him), but that change didn't happen. He did step up at times when he was needed, but other than that, he was very abusive and negligent towards Nana and their daughter. Slutty Nana...I must say I was able to empathise with her at times and managed to not dislike her, but I found very annoying her being so indecisive between Takumi and Nobu, and making the conscious choice of staying with a man she knew was unfaithful and didn't make her happy. I almost respected her when she considered moving out of her house with Takumi, but she endep up stalling all the time! I do think Slutty Nana represents a lot of people, or at least most people at different stages and phases in life, but I would have liked to see her actually grow up and stand up for herself, on her own, for which she had many opportunities to do.

I really felt sorry for Nana Darks, as life just kept making it difficult for her, depriving her of love and affection from those she cherished the most. She fought so hard for what she wanted, but life just kept bringing her down. I would have absolutely loved for Nana Darks to have a proper ending. Not a happy ending, because it seems the author would not allow that for Nana, but at least something going right for her! I also felt very sorry for Shin and was really glad he found a group of people that cared for him (specially Slutty Nana). Ren...obviously has issues, but I honestly felt they were not that delved into

Enjoyment 9/10
Although I enjoyed Nana pretty much I do feel disappointed that it was never finished. The last chapter leaves a cliffhanger between Nobu and Slutty Nana, even though you know that they don't end up together because in the future she is still married to Takumi. So, unless the author planned to continue the story, it makes you feel like a waste of time creating such cliffhanger if it's not going to be followed up in the future. And also...why did Nana Darks leave?? (she was doing better after a while following Ren's death) when did she go? why did people think she was dead at first? did Reira continue with PTSD? so many things left unanswered!

Overall 9/10
It's a manga worth reading, but the fact it was never concluded does rest points to the manga in general.

I'm not just giving this story good ratings just because. I'm giving it great ratings because it's a wonderful story and it's so real, it touches the heart. The characters are beautiful and each thought out on their own and their troubles, which makes the story great. What I find great about the story is the friendship that was formed between Nana and Hachi within six months and how it impacts them from then on. I think the friendship of the two main characters is the best part about this manga.

The story picks up in an interesting light, which drew me in (I won't spoil ... anyone) and the meeting between the two Nana's is so casual, but they instantly form a friendship of sorts. Throughout the series, the story bounces back and forth between the two main characters, as well supporting characters. Basically everyone gets their own screen time, which is wonderful. Everyone is connected in some way, which also helps the story.

I hope it updates again one day. ; v;

Tag column is not enough to contain my feelings and I have to let it out somewhere so here goes:

Nana is not a piece of work filled with sunshine and rainbows. If you're having a bad day, reading this will likely make it worse so stay away from it until you feel strong enough to face reality (what's worse is that the story isn't even over...).

It's that type of work that hits without you realizing, seeps over your whole body and leaves lingering, aching impact. Just like reality. And just like reality, you might feel angry, frustrated and want to yell at some of the ... characters at first, but in the end it gets so tiring you just stop struggling and resign to whatever it brings you. In that sense, it's a really great portrayal of reality. Objectively, it's a great piece of work. But subjectively, it's such a tiring and depressing piece of work to read. I watched most of the characters stumble down a pithole and felt so helpless that of course, I would not be able to scream at them that they are making the wrong decisions. But that's life. We are all bystanders to other people living their lives, and most of us, make mistakes again and again, even knowingly. That's just how life is. Few of us experience the glamour in this story but it's the raw emotions that we all share with each and every one of the characters. The writing is quite stunning really. Stunning enough to make it feel so much like reality that I'm not sure if I like it. Because it hits way too close to home.

I won't lie, the Love Polygon tag on MAL was so deterring - I've learned not to trust MAL tags but still - I wasn't sure if I wanted to get into this but it's really not as simple or as clear cut as a love polygon, as ironic as that sounds. Every character is so heartbreakingly human and it's perfectly captured in the story how selfish, demanding, suffocating humans can be. But we are also capable of bringing so much warmth, love and comfort to each other. All of the characters have such conflicting natures and it makes them all the more endearing that way, and I really appreciate how much fine writing skill was put into this.

Art is fine, I think Kagen no Tsuki was the peak for Yazawa Ai's art but I've always enjoyed how she draws her characters.

Overall, it's objectively great so I'm rating it an 8.5 but not quite sure how to rate this subjectively and I don't think I will want to reread this again unless I'm in a great mood and having great, amazing, nothing-but-happiness days in my life because I do not enjoy emotional torture.

But is it good, is it worth a read, does it live up to the hype? The answer is yes. And I don't regret reading it while it's still on hiatus.

Warning: NANA has been on hiatus since 2009. Although faithful fans continue to hope for the end of this series, there's no real indication that our dreams will become realized.

However, even with such an unnerving warning, I still strongly recommend this manga to anyone who enjoys a multilayered story with human characters and beautiful art.

There was news last year that Ai Yazawa was going to return from her leave to continue the series, or at least, she had the intentions/desires to. So, I decided to reread the entire manga series from Volume 1 all over again. Even though I'm frustrated that there still remains ... any signs of a new chapter, I couldn't help but fall in love all over again.

The art is incredible. Every character is beautiful and their clothing and accessories an aesthetic bonus. Attention to detail... Tribute to Vivienne Westwood... There were so many artistically appealing qualities to NANA that I can't put all of the praise to words. Looks alone, I'm pretty sure I swooned for everyone.

The story is the most intricate that I've encountered in manga (or anime). As in life, there are many gray areas and many layers and perspectives to every situation. Because Ai Yazawa has crafted such a multifaceted plot, it's hard to speculate the ending. Although many fans have produced interesting and plausible theories to fill in the plot (and time) gaps, who knows what the Queen (that is Ai Yazawa) has in store for us. She's just THAT good.

Naturally, the characters have to be outstanding in order for the story to be. And they are. It's hard to hate anyone because they are so human (and with humanity, comes human error and flaws). I think I fell in love with every single one of the characters. Each one has their own story that is unique and gives readers a better understanding of how their faults came to be. However, that's not to say that some of them won't do things to completely upset you. I'm sure everyone who reads this series ends up liking some characters more than others. Regardless of your own story, I'm pretty confident that you'll find relatable aspects among the cast of NANA. Personally, I was a lot younger when I first read NANA and now rereading it almost a decade later, I found myself empathizing more, having gone through similar experiences in my young adulthood. Thus, I do truly agree that this is best categorized under josei. Even though younger female readers would enjoy this series, I think the enjoyment and appreciation is different (and deeper) for a more mature audience.

Finally, I couldn't give this manga a solid 10 because in spite of how amazing it is, it's still unfinished. Not that I think Ai Yazawa could really botch NANA at this point, no matter how she decides (if ever) to conclude the story, but to be fair, enjoyment and story wise, it's not really ideal to have an open ending with so many questions left unanswered.

Last Warning: This manga pulls hard at heartstrings. Don't read if you can't handle drama, angst and heartache.

many people refuse to read or watch nana because of the so to be "sad ending" or that its too long, or even because of the unique art style. it really bothers me since reading/watching nana made me learn and experience so much. this was so worth it. i love rereading chapters to this day. the art made me get into drawing clothing more. the characters problems are so real i relate to them and i bet you can too.
so what if there's gloomy moments in the story? that's not a proper excuse to not read it. the story is realistic and relatable, thats ... why theres sad moments. everyone goes through rough times. NANA has plenty of funny bright moments in there. you also get to see new characters.
there's nothing i dislike about the manga. though, i do wish miss ai yazawa could finish the real ending. but seriously you should read the manga. i'm tired of people asking google to find out what happens instead of reading the manga. reading nana is for hot ppl. therefore you should take the big step and read it. this is in my top 3 and top 1. so many interesting things happen. see for yourself.

Like Tatami Galaxy, NANA was a manga about characters of a very different age range compared to me. Despite the fact that there were many events throughout the manga that I couldn’t totally understand or relate to, I was still riveted by the beautifully crafted coming of age story of Nana Osaki and Nana Komatsu. What I loved most about this coming of age was that it focused not only on the two main characters’ individual growth as people, but also their inevitable impact on each other as they struggled to find meaning and order in their lives. In reference to my review of A ... Silent Voice, I thought that NANA did a much better job portraying the importance of interpersonal relationships realistically. I know through first-hand experience that people are not separate islands - as I reached out to Charles Wallace and opened my heart, so did he to me and I think the emotional weight of that vulnerability in relationships is dramatized so perfectly in NANA.
Nana Komatsu’s character was one that stood out to me the most - despite how old she was, she and I shared so much in common - emotional, loving, maybe a little ignorant. She’s a plain country girl living in the city, where she befriends the members of a famous rock band, which as weird as it might sound, reminded me of how I first felt when meeting Calvin. I found myself reading NANA through Nana Komatsu’s eyes, and the fact that she could form close friendships and find love, even if she was just a normal girl among celebrities, was very inspiring to me.
Overall, I think NANA was the manga I learned the most from. I was able to essentially peek into a semi-adult’s life, because of how detailed and realistic the manga was, and watch how two characters wrestled with their past trauma and their place in society. From NANA, I’ve learned that being an adult comes with its fair share of challenges, but in the end, by reaching out and forming lasting relationships with those around you, life is ultimately worth living.

I fell in love with NANA the second I looked at the cover of the first volume. It is so beautiful and atmospheric, just like the opening phrase Hachi says each episode. There are little parts of the story that I will always carry with me, like a new found affinity for things like strawberry printed glass cups, woodworking, and bathtubs. In my opinion, NANA is a very good thing to remember, and at times angering to watch. I say watch in a manga review because I haven't been able to read past a certain point in the manga (my library doesn't hold the series ... to where it stopped), but I have seen most of the anime so I am using that to go off of. I really love NANA. It has probably my favorite atmosphere to any piece I've read. However, I found the characters to be a bit frustrating at times. Hachi would make such god-awful decisions that would turn me off of the story. To be honest, I am a person who would love a Nana x Nana endgame where they end up together and support each other and are a cute couple who don't constantly back stab each other, but I highly doubt that sort of conclusion would have been possible. All and all, NANA is a piece I highly recommend. It will make you feel some type of way when you look back on it, and it is just such an iconic must-read for shojo fans.

I've read and watched NaNa several times since its release way back when and that's a testimony to why I am reviewing even almost 10 years after the tragic hiatus.

The story is unlike any other you will find in shoujo/josei manga. Sure, there are some of the usual tropes but they are told with such sensibility that you will look past those and enjoy every single part of it.

I personally adore the art. Being someone who has followed Ai Yazawa's work over time, NaNa is at the height of her talents. It is however an acquired taste, I admit, but those single shot panels of ... eyes, where so much emotion is conveyed, I just haven't been moved that way with many other manga.

Her art just has style and a fashion sense that's usually lacking in many other manga.
Just think about it; in how many manga do you see a character's outfit change every single day? Any real person would change clothing throughout the days, which is what also adds to the realism here.

The characters are all, in some way likeable as well as not. All of them, bar none, have flaws. There is no perfect hero that lacks depth and no character is simply a plot-device only there to teach the hero a lesson.
Some characters even the most despicable are full-fledged human beings and you are led to understand the meanings behind their actions through skilfully crafted backstories and character development arcs.

I can only give it an overall of 9 because the story is incomplete. It is a masterpiece and should definitely be read, but beware of the heart-ache and tragedy that not only will come from the plot but due to the story being cut off right at a crucial moment, you will be left quite frustrated.

I hope one day Yazawa sensei will be able to complete her work. NaNa is a cult classic that cannot be missed out on, simply put.

Nana introduces us a multifaceted cast of heterogeneous characters that immediately mesmerize the reader thanks to their painfully realistic psychological depth as they struggle with beautifully described emotional conflicts that develop with a progression that feels natural and believable, and because of that all the more dramatic. At times, these characters and struggles are introduced to us with excessive haste without a proper gradual introduction, which is the only real shortcoming of this manga, but the way in which they are depicted is always with an honest tenderness that binds the whole experience together, in this masterfully crafted mosaic of people and their shared sorrows. ... It is a poignant story told with a great passion for melodrama yet without ever escalating into corny soapiness for the sake of being sentimental, instead always a ruthless gentleness that equally depicts both the comforting warmth and the freezing pain of falling for someone with your whole being and accepting both as truths of life. Nana is an excellent analysis of love and its wonderful, tragic consequences on our lives.

10/10

One of, if not, the most beautiful fictional experiences I've had in my life. Do yourself a favor and read it.

I think the most unique trait in Nana is that every character you are introduced to feels completely real, it is like the story was based on real life events, and when I mean this I'm trying to say that very rarely you will get taken off the story because something either wouldn't happen in real life, or just feels forced into it. That is one of my biggest issues with manga that tries to adapt the real world into it, but that doesn't ... happen here.

One thing though, The author hasn't come back yet, so the story is not finished, if you have a problem with unfinished storylines, I should say don't get into it, but this manga is so damn good that I will say take the shot and read it anyway, you won't regret it.

The last Volume is one of my favorite things ever.

Read Nana.