Content Warning: the next article incorporates statements a few attainable suicide.
The mangaka Hinako Ashihara, the pen identify for Ritsuko Matsumoto, was discovered lifeless on Monday in a suspected suicide. They have been reported lacking on Sunday, and their physique was present in Tochigi prefecture the subsequent day. The artist lately turned 50.
Ashihara was one of the extra profitable shōjo and josei mangaka of her technology. Her manga was revealed internationally and was tailored for tv. Her profession started in 1994 with the quick story “That Sweet Organ Song” within the anthology Bessatsu Shōjo Comic. She was an everyday contributor to that journal, a house to artists corresponding to Moto Haigo (The Poe Clan), Akimi Yoshida (Banana Fish), and Miki Aihara (Hot Gimmick), with quick tales and longer collection all through her profession.
North American audiences are in all probability most accustomed to her collection Sand Chronicles, revealed by Viz (presently accessible on the Viz app), and Forbidden Dance, which Tokyopop revealed in 2003-2004. Viz additionally revealed a group quick tales SOS, which included her debut, in 2003. She gained the distinguished Shogakukan Manga Award for Shōjo twice in her profession; the primary time for Sand Chronicles and the second time with Piece: Kanojo no Kioku. Her most up-to-date manga was Sexy Tanaka-san, a romantic comedy centered round stomach dancing.
Both Piece: Kanojo no Kioku and Sexy Tanaka-san have been tailored for tv. The latter was the topic of some controversy final week when Hinako Ashihara herself shared particulars of the manufacturing on her weblog. Ashihara agreed to an adaptation on the circumstances the collection be devoted to the manga they usually use an ending for the collection she offered them (the collection was nonetheless going on the time of manufacturing). According to her, the scripts simplified the plots and diluted characters. She repeatedly requested for revisions to guard what made the characters and the story so distinctive. Her frustrations with adaptation grew to the purpose that she ended up writing the ultimate two episodes herself. While she expressed her frustrations with the manufacturing on her weblog, she did thank the solid and manufacturing employees for his or her work.
Though her work is perhaps underneath acknowledged within the English talking world, Ashihara nonetheless cultivated a loyal following at dwelling and overseas. Her collection have been full of characters with wealthy inside lives and people lives drove the tales she instructed. The girls in her tales have been complicated people who by no means fell into cliches. They all the time struggled with messy feelings and self esteem.
As an artist, Ashihara made her comics look easy. Those messy feelings that she was so fond of in her characters? She may expertly convey these in her artwork by way of mastery of physique language and facial expressions. She all the time experimented along with her web page compositions in order that they added to the feelings expressed in conversations between characters. Her linework favored a much less is extra strategy. She may do extra with few strains and huge white areas on a web page than some artists do with piles of particulars.
The loss of Hinako Ashihara is one which will likely be keenly felt not simply by household however the numerous followers of her work all over the world. She was artist devoted to her craft. She additionally fought for the integrity of her work in different mediums. What is now her remaining work, Sexy Tanaka-San, stays unfinished on the time of her loss of life.
If you or anybody you realize is suicidal or has suicidal ideas, please attain out to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline by calling 988 within the US. The Crisis Text Line, a texting service for emotional disaster help, may be reached by texting HELLO to 741741. It is free, accessible 24/7, and confidential. A listing of worldwide assets may be discovered right here.
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