Yuu Watase Explained

Name Nonen:	渡瀬 悠宇
Nonus:	ja
Birth Date:	5 March 1970
Birth Place:	Kishiwada, Osaka, Japan
Nationality:	Japanese
Area:	Manga artist
Awards:	43rd Shogakukan Manga Award, Japanese: shōjo category
Manga Artist:	yes

is a Japanese manga artist. She debuted in 1989 at the age of 18 with the short story "Pajama de Ojama" (Japanese: パジャマでおじゃま, "An Intrusion in Pajamas") and has since published more than 50 volumes of one-shots and long-running manga series.^[1] One of her most popular titles is Fushigi Yûgi.^[2] In 1998, Watase won the 43rd Shogakukan Manga Award in the Japanese: shōjo|nocat=y (girls') category for Ceres, Celestial Legend.^[3] In 2008, she began her first Japanese: shōnen|nocat=y (boys') serialization, .^[4]

In 2019, Watase came out as X-gender, a Japanese non-binary gender identity.^{[5] [6] [7]} Following the announcement, an editor for Viz Media's Shojo Beat imprint clarified that Watase's pronouns in English are still "she" and "her".^[8]

Early career and methods

Watase developed an interest in drawing manga at a young age. However, Watase did not receive any formal training until after high school when she went to a private art school. There she was taught how to draw manga, but because her first short story, "Pajama de Ojama", had already debuted, Watase quit in the middle of it.

Watase prefers to work with more traditional methods, because she believes the traditional methods have more feelings. Despite finding new media jarring, Watase has expressed a desire to work with new media as well. While Watase mostly works with colored inks and markers, she has used digital programs such as Photoshop to enhance traditional work.

Issues in career

In a 2014 blog post, Watase detailed some of the issues that she faced as a manga artist. A former editor for continuously asked Watase to redraw scenes that he did not like or understand. Watase was doing redraws all day and pulling late nights just to meet the next morning's deadlines. Because of the constant cycle, Watase began to lose interest in working on the manga for the fans or even the story. She was simply working to try and get it approved for the weekly publication.^[9]

Works

Watase Yuu Flower Comics

• Fushigi Yûgi – 18 vols.
• – 12 vols.
• Fushigi Yûgi: Byakko Ibun – (oneshot)
• – ongoing, first vol. released in April 2018. On hiatus from May 2018 (officially August 2018) – May 2024, resuming May 28th on a monthly schedule.
• Shishunki Miman Okotowari – 3 vols.
• Zoku Shishunki Miman Okotowari – 3 vols.
• Shishunki Miman Okotowari Kanketsu Hen – 1 vol.
• Epotoransu! Mai – 2 vols.
• Ceres, Celestial Legend (Ayashi no Ceres) – 14 vols.
• Appare Jipangu! – 3 vols.
• Imadoki! – 5 vols.
• Alice 19th – 7 vols.
• Absolute Boyfriend (Zettai Kareshi) – 6 vols.
• Sakura-Gari – 3 vols.

Shōnen Sunday Comics

• (Arata Kangatari) – 24 vols.

Watase Yuu Masterpiece Collection

1. Gomen Asobase!
2. Magical
3. Otenami Haiken!
4. Suna no Tiara
5. Mint de Kiss Me

YuuTopia Collection

1. Oishii Study
2. Musubiya Nanako

Yuu Watase Best Selection

• Sunde ni Touch

1. Sunde ni TOUCH
2. COUPLE
3. Hatsuki Triangle
4. Houkago Gensou
5. 700 Nichi no Blue

• Perfect Lovers

1. PERFECT LOVERS
2. Otome no Jijyou
3. Genseika
4. Mint de Kiss Me
5. Pajama de Ojama
6. Pajama de Meiro (Labyrinth)

Watase Yuu Flower Comics Deluxe, Kanzenban, Shogakukan Bunko

Bunkoban

• Fushigi Yūgi Bunko – 10 vols.
• Ayashi no Ceres (Ceres, Celestial Legend) Bunko – 7 vols.
• Alice 19th Bunko – 4 vols.
• Zettai Kareshi Bunko – 3 vols.
• Imadoki! Bunko – 3 vols.
• Shishunki Miman Okotowari Bunko – 3 vols.

Kanzenban

• Fushigi Yūgi Kanzenban – 9 vols.

Flower Comics Deluxe

1. Shishunki Miman Okotowari
2. Shishunki Miman Okotowari/Zoku Shishunki Miman Okotowari
3. Zoku Shishunki Miman Okotowari
4. Pajama de Ojama
5. Mint de Kiss Me
6. Epotoransu! Mai

Artbooks

• Watase Yuu Illustration Collection Fushigi Yūgi
• Watase Yuu Illustration Collection – Part 2 Fushigi Yūgi Animation World
• "Ayashi no Ceres" Illustration Collection Tsumugi Uta ~Amatsu Sora Naru Hito o Kofutote~
• Yuu Watase Post Card Book I
• Yuu Watase Post Card Book II

Novels

• Shishunki Miman Okotowari – 4 vols.
• Fushigi Yūgi – 18 vols.
• Ayashi no Ceres – 6 vols.
• Fushigi Yūgi: Genbu Kaiden – 1 vol.
• Absolute Boyfriend – 6 vols.
• Masei Kishin Den (Illustration)
• Yada ze! (Illustration)
• Piratica (Illustration)

External links

• • • • Q&A at Anime Expo 2000 (defunct; link via the Wayback Machine)
• Interview with Shonen Sunday (defunct; link via the Wayback Machine)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Creator Info: Yuu Watase . . January 18, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110927153833/http://www.shojobeat.com/manga/ab/bio.php . September 27, 2011 . dead.
2. Duffield . Patricia . Feature: Watase's Works . . . 4 . 6 . May 2001 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070515203908/http://www.mindspring.com/~theduffields/resume/articles/features/watase.htm . May 15, 2007 . dead.
3. Web site: ja:小学館漫画賞：歴代受賞者 . https://www.shogakukan.co.jp/mangasho/kako/ . . January 18, 2021 . ja.
4. Web site: Mateo . Alex . Yuu Watase Plans Arata: The Legend Manga's Remaining Plot . . January 18, 2021 . December 2, 2020.
5. 1130461270358908928 . wataseyuu_ . May 20, 2019 . January 18, 2021 . ja . ja:ブログでもここでも呟いたけど、再度。 漫画にも影響してると思うから。 私はXジェンダーと医師に診断されてて、中身は、男にも女にも寄れるし男でも女でもない。 見た目はちゃんと(20代後半から社会に合わせて)どうせやるならやるでメイクもオシャレもする、それだけ。 女性の身体は否定しないが→ . I've mumbled about it on my blog and here, but again. Because I think it affects the manga. I've been diagnosed as X-gender by my doctor, and inside, I can be either male or female, neither male nor female. I look fine (I've been socially conscious since my late 20s), I do my makeup and dress up any way I can, that's all. I don't deny the female body, but... →.
6. Web site: Liu . Michelle . Best LGBTQ+ Characters of 2019 . . January 18, 2021 . January 1, 2020 . The same year [2019], Fushigi Yugi creator Yuu Watase came out as X-gender ....
7. Web site: Adler . Liz . Fushigi Yuugi: 10 Things That Didn't Age Well . . January 18, 2021 . February 26, 2020 . Mangaka Yuu Watase came out as X-gender in 2019 ....
8. Web site: 'I heard that Yuu Watase came out as X-Gender?' . . January 18, 2021 . October 4, 2019 . I checked before our announcement. Watase's preferred pronouns are she/her..
9. Web site: Mangaka Yuu Watase Blogs About Editorial Harassment. Dong. Bamboo. Anime News Network. 2017-03-28. 2014-01-29. en.