Yumiko Igarashi Information

Manga Artist
Asahikawa, Japan

Biography:
Born in August 1950 in Hokkaidô, Yumiko IGARASHI started her career in 1968 when she was still a high school student. She published her first story in a special issue of Ribon, the famous Shueisha monthly Manga magazine for young girls.

Right after this youth work, she gets hired by Kôdansha to draw in Nakayoshi, the girl magazine of the group. She draws the character of Candy for the first time in this magazine, in 1975, with a script by Kyoko MIZUKI. Success is immediate and huge.

Generations of girls recognize themselves in Candy, bravely fighting her destiny as a young orphan searching for her prince. Candy dolls sold 2 million copies every year, a record in Japan at the time. She won the first Kôdansha Manga prize, created for the occasion in 1977.

Other Kawaii successes followed, such as Mayme Angel and Georgie, but also in other genres, from history Manga to comedies, mysteries and works for adult women, still unknown in the West.

In 2013, Yumiko IGARASHI will celebrate the 45th anniversary of her debut. With her many cats, her mischievous parrot and exotic fish, she took her pencils again and is working on a new history Manga whose heroine will have thousands of stars in her large pale eyes. To be followed...