Yukiko Kai (花郁 悠紀子, Kai Yukiko, 21 September 1954 - 12 December 1980) [1][2][3] was a Japanese shōjo manga artist. Her real name was Kimiko Kaihatsu (開発 公子, Kaihatsu Kimiko).[2][3] She is considered a member of the Post Year 24 Group. Although she died young, her works are still analyzed.[4] Manga artist Akiko Hatsu is her younger sister.[2][3][5]

Yukiko Kai
花郁 悠紀子
Born
Kimiko Kaihatsu (開発 公子)

( 1954 -09-21)21 September 1954
Died12 December 1980(1980-12-12) (aged 26)
Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan
NationalityJapanese
Known forManga

Biography

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Born in Kanazawa, Ishikawa prefecture,[2] Kai graduated from a high school and entered a company where she worked for one year. She joined the manga coterie magazine Ravuri which her friend Yasuko Sakata operated when she was in high school. In 1973, she went to Tokyo and became a manga assistant of Moto Hagio,[1][2] and lived in Hagio's house. She also worked as an assistant of Keiko Takemiya.[2][6]


Kai debuted in the Spring issue of Bessatsu Viva Princess (the first issue of this magazine) in Akita Shoten for her work Anasutashia no Sutekina Otonari (Nice Next-door Neighbor of Anastasia).[1][2][6] She published the stories of the "Shiki series" (Seasons series) and the "Anastasia series" in the magazine Gekkan Princess and Bonita.[7]

In 1979, when Moto Hagio, Aiko Itō, Yukiko Kai, Akiko Jō[8] and Shio Satō visited the Europe, they participated in the 37th Worldcon, Seacon '79 at Brighton, United Kingdom.[9][10][11]

After published Ryokuin Kōro in the Summer issue of Bessatsu Viva Princess in 1980, Kai spent time under medical treatment at a hospital in Kanazawa city. She died on 12 December 1980 of stomach cancer[1] at a hospital in Kanazawa.

The story which was contributed to the collaboration manga Kyōdai Jingi is her last work.[12]

Style of works

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Kai read Japanese fantastic novels and works such as those by Tatsuhiko Shibusawa, Hideo Nakai (JA) and Kunio Tsukamoto (JA) etc.[13] She was largely affected by these fantastic works. Kai wrote various genres of manga stories. But she loved Fantasy and Science fiction. Many of her works are classified in these genres.[1]

Works

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Princess comics

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There are nine books of Yukiko Kai published in Princess comics by Akita Shoten.

Title (English) Title (Japanese) Title Release ISBN ref [14] Remark
Fenera フェネラ Fenera 1977-1130 ISBN 4-253-07091-4 ref
Anastasia and Neighbors アナスタシアとおとなり Anasutashia to Otonari 1979-0310 ISBN 4-253-07138-4 ref
Seasons Records 四季つづり Shiki Tsuduri 1979-0805 ISBN 4-253-07143-0 ref
Raising Dream Lily 夢ゆり育て Yumeyuri Sodate 1980-0710 ISBN 4-253-07171-6 ref
Visionary Flower Love 幻の花恋 Maboroshi no Hanakoi 1981-0515 ISBN 4-253-07177-5 ref
The Day Karuki Comes カルキのくる日 Karuki no Kuru Hi 1981-0905 ISBN 4-253-07191-0 ref
Dance Please, Death god 踊って死神さん Odotte Shinigami-san 1981-0920 ISBN 4-253-07190-2 ref
Lament in the Wind 風に哭く Kaze ni Naku 1981-1205 ISBN 4-253-07193-7 ref
Magnolia Excerpts 白木蓮抄 Magnolia Shō 1981-1205 ISBN 4-253-07194-5 ref

Akita bunko

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There are six bunkobon books of Yukiko Kai published by Akita Shoten. In this bunkobon version, even if the title of book is same as that of Princess comics version, the stories contained are different.

Title (English) Title (Japanese) Title Release ISBN ref [14] Remark
Magnolia Excerpts 白木蓮抄 Magnolia Shō 1999-0610 ISBN 4-253-17467-1 ref
Seasons Records 四季つづり Shiki Tsuduri 1999-1010 ISBN 4-253-17471-X ref
Fenera フェネラ Fenera 1999-1210 ISBN 4-253-17473-6 ref
The Day Karuki Comes カルキのくる日 Karuki no Kuru Hi 2000-0210 ISBN 4-253-17481-7 ref
Raising Dream Lily 夢ゆり育て Yumeyuri Sodate 2000-0610 ISBN 4-253-17562-7 ref
Anastasia and Neighbors アナスタシアとおとなり Anasutashia to Otonari 2000-0810 ISBN 4-253-17564-3 ref

Others

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Title (English) Title (Japanese) Series Publisher Form Release ISBN ref[14] Remark
Flower Evening Twilight 花宵闇 [15] Papermoon sōsho Shinshokan B5 1982-0515 ISBN 4-40-301021-0 ref
Letter of Chrysanthemum 菊花の便り [16] Shinchō comic Shinchosha A5 1992-1215 ISBN 4-10-603033-0 ref (Alice book)
Brotherhood Duties 兄弟仁義 [17][18] Papermoon comics Shinshokan - 1981 - ref Collaboration

See also

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  • Moto Hagio - Kai was her assistant. Kai was influenced by Hagio's works.
  • Yasuko Sakata - Kai's friend since high school.
  • Akiko Hatsu - The younger sister of Kai. Hatsu was at one point Kai's assistant. Closely following Kai's death, Akiko Hatsu made her debut as a manga artist. The pseudonyms "Yukiko Kai" and "Akiko Hatsu" come from their real surname (Kaihatsu).

Notes and references

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  1. ^ a b c d e Masao Azuma & Ran Ishidō (2009), p.825 (in Japanese)
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Nichigai Associates Editorial Department (1997), p.96 {{in lang|ja]]
  3. ^ a b c "Hana ni Nemure". Alisato-web (in Japanese). Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  4. ^ Akita Shoten published the 6 volume bunkobon series that contains almost all of her published works 20 years after her death in 1999–2000. This is exceptional.
  5. ^ Thorn, Matt. Interview to Moto Hagio (archive.com), Note 34. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  6. ^ a b "Kai Yukiko". mangapedia (in Japanese). Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  7. ^ Office J.B ed. (2014), p.85. This book introduces her work Fenera and other works such as Kaze ni Naku etc. The book says re-evaluation of this young died artist is required.
  8. ^ Manager of Moto Hagio, (城章子).
  9. ^ "Cakes essay". Nozomi Ōmori blog (in Japanese). Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  10. ^ They are all members of the Ōizumi Saloon.
  11. ^ "Hana ni Nemure (info)". Alisato-web (in Japanese). Retrieved October 14, 2019., Related info.
  12. ^ "Rappori" (in Chinese). Retrieved October 14, 2019. Coterie magazine Rappori published by Akiko Hatsu. (for reference).
  13. ^ "Kai Yukiko and Nō". Kanazawa diary (in Japanese). Retrieved October 14, 2019. "Kai Yukiko and Nō - Dialogue between Kai and Masao Azuma" (personal blog)
  14. ^ a b c References: Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  15. ^ Hana Yoiyami
  16. ^ Kikuka no Tayori
  17. ^ Kyōdai Jingi
  18. ^ Collaboration work: Rappori Ninkyōban edited by Akiko Hatsu

References

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  • Masao Azuma & Ran Ishidō (2009) Dictionary of Japanese Fantasy Writers, Kokusho Kankokai, ISBN 978-4-336-05142-4 p. 825
  • Nichigai Associates Editorial Department (April 21, 1997), Dictionary of Manga and Anime artists. Nichigai Associates Co., Ltd. ISBN 4-8169-1423-4
  • Office J.B ed. (July 23, 2014) The most favorites! Volume of Shojo manga 70s (Futaba-sha Super-mook). Futaba-sha ISBN 978-4-575-45460-4
  • "Kai Yukiko". mangapedia (in Japanese). Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  • "Hana ni Nemure". Alisato-web (in Japanese). Retrieved October 14, 2019.
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