Section 3 Waki Yamato’s World
Theme 1: A Rising Star of Mainstream Shojo Manga
Waki Yamato debuted in 1966 at the age of eighteen and quickly came to prominence as a rising star in the world of shojo manga. In 1968, she began her first serialized work, The Merry Twins, in Weekly Shōjo Friend (KODANSHA), and since then has achieved remarkable success, running multiple serials and more than ten short works in parallel.
By the early 1970s, the breadth of her expression was already striking. In Mon Chéri CoCo (1971), set in Paris — the City of Flowers — she shows the heroine Coco Charmant blossom into a fashion designer, balancing gorgeous costume design that keenly captures the fashion of the time with the realism of a professional workplace story. And in Love Pack, she makes an audacious, early-career adaptation of The Tale of Genji, reconstructing it as a light romantic comedy. Yamato embodied the mainstream of shojo manga, even as she effortlessly reinvented it time and again.
Mon Chéri CoCo
KODANSHA, Weekly Shōjo Friend, April 20 1971, No. 17 - December 7 1971, No. 50
This dramatic story follows Coco Charmant, a fashionloving girl with a keen sense of style, as she grows into a powerful, world-renowned designer, starting with the Paris fashion scene. It gained popularity for its glamorous art style — which vividly captured the cutting edge of fashion at the time of its serialization — as well as its enchanting romance and dream-filled plot, and was adapted into a TV anime series in 1972.
Love Pack
KODANSHA, Weekly Shōjo Friend, April 24 1973, No. 17 - December 4 1973, No. 49
Na no Kimi is a cheerful young girl who thinks continually of the young lord she promised to marry in a field of canola flowers (nanohana) when she was a child. One day, at the age of seventeen, she catches the eye of Hikaru Genji, a notorious ladies’ man in the capital, and ends up living in Kyoto as his “personal attendant.” Amidst all this, she encounters Kaze, an elusive, Robin Hood-like thief who is shaking up the city… Drawn six years before Dreams at Dawn, this is a romantic Heian-period comedy also inspired by The Tale of Genji.
A Winter’s Festival Day
KODANSHA, Weekly Shōjo Friend, February 5 1975, No. 3
After losing both her parents, Suzuna goes to live with the Shinjo family. She spends her days happily, forming close bonds with Minoru, the son of the family head, and Shingo, the grandson of the family’s butler. Before long, Suzuna begins to develop feelings for Shingo, but he is suddenly taken away by his mother. Time passes, and just as talk of an engagement between Minoru and Suzuna begins to surface, Shingo suddenly reappears... A love story about three people who grew up together.
Theme 2: Toward an Era Where Women Shine
Haikara-san: Here Comes Miss Modern (1975–77), recognized as Waki Yamato’s masterpiece, is a dramatic romantic comedy set against the backdrop of Taisho-era romanticism, depicting how the lively and spirited protagonist, Benio Hanamura, carves out her destiny according to her own will. Melodramatic elements — such as her fateful meeting with Second Lieutenant Ijūin and their dramatic missed connections — are a major part of its appeal. However, the reason this work continues to captivate so many readers lies, above all, in its bright, powerful depiction of the theme of women’s independence. Benio’s determination to live true to herself even within the constraints of her time leaves a vivid impression on readers.
This work, Yokohama Story (1981–83), and N.Y. Komachi (1985–88) are together known as the author’s Meiji-Taisho Trilogy. The images of women who lived with strength through eras of transition, as depicted by Yamato, serve as an anthem of encouragement for those of us living in the present day.
Haikara-san: Here Comes Miss Modern
KODANSHA, Weekly Shōjo Friend, April 5 1975, No. 7 - April 5 1977, No. 7
Benio Hanamura is a spirited, tomboyish student. Although she initially resists their parents’ choice of fiancé — Second Lieutenant Shinobu Ijūin — she gradually finds herself drawn to him... Set against the backdrop of the tumultuous Taisho era, this eventful romantic comedy depicts a protagonist who gives her all to both love and her career, living her life with resilience. A masterpiece that balances the portrait of an independent woman — a recurring theme in Yamato’s work — with humor.
Yokohama Story
KODANSHA, Weekly Shōjo Friend, January 30 1981, No. 3 - November 20 1983, No. 23
Orphaned at the age of eleven, Uno is taken in by Kanouya, a trading house in Yokohama, where she meets the family’s daughter Mariko, who is the same age. The tomboyish Mariko and the simple Uno form a bond that transcends social class, and they also become close friends with their next-door neighbor Shintaro. Eventually, Shintaro leaves to study medicine overseas, and Mariko’s family faces a crisis that threatens its very survival. Set against the backdrop of the Meiji era, this story depicts the love and growth of its young characters as they set out on their respective paths.
N.Y. Komachi
KODANSHA, Weekly Shōjo Friend, August 5 1985, No. 16 - August 20 198, No. 17
Set in Tokyo immediately after the Meiji Restoration, Shino was raised like a boy as the heir to a sundries wholesaler. However, when her younger brother is born, she is suddenly forced back into the role of “woman” and loses her sense of purpose. Around this time, she meets Irving, an American who has come to Japan as a foreign expert hired by the Meiji government, and sets off with him for a new life in New York. An adventure romance comedy about a “komachi musume” (a beautiful, spirited young woman) as she charges headlong into love and work during an era of historical transformation.
Theme 3: Waki Yamato’s Western Romances
Although Yamato is often associated with works based on Japanese history, she also created aesthetically refined, lyrical works set in Europe and America, particularly during the 1970s.
KILLA (1977–78) is a picaresque romance beginning in the glamorous world of London theater, featuring the ruthlessly cold, beautiful young man Killa Queen. His charm and cruelty cause those around him to fall one after another into ruin. California Lullaby (1977), set in America, follows a nightclub singer named Valerie who aspires to Broadway, and explores the themes of romance and ambition, as well as the familial bonds that can be forged through music. Both works portray the light and dark sides of a glamorous world through Yamato’s signature exotic flair.
Sleep on the Kremlin Hill
KODANSHA, Bessatsu Shōjo Friend, April and May 1972
As a child, Lena was taken in by a couple in a rural village, where she grew up to be a lively young girl. One day in the forest, she meets a man dressed all in black named Andrew. He tells her she is actually a princess born to the emperor and his mistress. "If you come with me, I’ll take you to see the emperor," he promises. Though hesitant, Lena ventures into Russian high society, but Andrew has his own agenda… A serious story set in Imperial Russia.
The Rose Viscount
KODANSHA, Monthly mimi, April and November 1976; May and December 1977
Fede, a noble’s daughter who fled her hometown due to certain circumstances, is led by a twist of fate to meet Viscount Gideon, a man of angelic beauty. He lives alongside an elderly servant, as if in hiding, in a mansion overgrown with climbing roses. Fede gradually grows closer to the man, and yet… This is a series of linked short works of aestheticism and fantasy, centered on Gideon, an enigmatic and gender-transcending young man.
The Dream of the Mimosa Pudica
KODANSHA, Bessatsu Shōjo Friend, September 1976
The story takes place in Summerfield, a countryside town surrounded by greenery. When Emma hears that her contrarian cousin, Maia — who constantly teases her — will be spending the summer at their house, her heart sinks… Later, just as Emma’s frustration is mounting, she witnesses Maia kissing Cecil, the childhood friend she has feelings for—!?
The Castle of Lions
KODANSHA, Bessatsu Shōjo Friend, November 1976
When Lee returns to her hometown after spending time away to convalesce, she finds that Jet — her fiancé and the student council president — has enacted numerous rules, causing friction among the students. Confused by the change in Jet, Lee begins to grow closer to Samuel, who is said to be Jet’s right-hand man, but…
KILLA
KODANSHA, Weekly Shōjo Friend, August 5 1977, No. 15 - November 5 1978, No. 21
Killa Queen is a beautiful young actor who has risen to stardom in the London theater world after landing the lead role in a major film production of Richard III. Behind his success, however, lies a raw ambition that means he will stop at nothing — not even using others as stepping stones or resorting to dirty tricks — to reach his goals. This picaresque but serious story depicts a world swirling with all the bitterness, love, and hatred of humanity.
California Lullaby
KODANSHA, Bessatsu Shōjo Friend, December 1977 - February 1978
Valerie, a San Francisco nightclub singer chasing her dreams of performing on Broadway, is approached one evening by Jean, a young man from a prestigious family of pianists, and falls in love with him. The two defied the opposition of those around them and got married. They were blessed with a lovely daughter and were on the verge of landing a chance on Broadway—but then... This drama captures the glamorous lights — and shadows — of show business, along with the bonds of family.
Isolde of the Shadows
KODANSHA, Bessatsu Shōjo Friend, October - December 1982
Set in post-Civil War America with emancipation underway, this story is a rare foray into the suspense-horror genre for Yamato. Seventeen-yearold Saskia is welcomed as the heiress to her mother’s family, the de Villegor household. There, she begins living with Louis, the husband of the house’s former mistress, Isolde. However, her arrival triggers the appearance of the ghost of Isolde, who died exactly seventeen years ago...
Theme 4: School-based Youth Stories
Many people associate shojo manga with school stories, so it is unsurprising that school settings play a crucial role in this genre. Yamato, too, has developed a wide variety of stories that make use of this setting.
These include the slapstick comedy Aramis ’78 (1978–84), known for its outlandish setups and light comic pacing; Playball: the 2600th year of the Imperial Reign (1979–80), a youth ensemble drama set against the backdrop of prewar baseball history; Ai-iro Shinwa (1980), which depicts young people dedicated to filmmaking; Those with Wings (1980), set at a music college; and The Bodhi Tree (1984–85), which follows a woman’s path toward becoming a doctor. Despite sharing the same school setting, the content of these works is remarkably varied and wide-ranging. Yamato is a master at transforming familiar, everyday spaces into creative fields.
Aramis ’78
KODANSHA, Bessatsu Shōjo Friend, July 1978 - August 1984 (series)
A school romance comedy following the chaotic relationship that develops between Kyoko Tani, a rookie teacher who wears punk fashion to her first day on the job so her students don’t take her lightly, and Ryunosuke Watatsumi — known as “Aramis” — whose trademark mustache hardly befits a high school student. This work is full of parodic references to anime and pop songs that were popular at the time.
Playball: the 2600th year of the Imperial Reign
KODANSHA, Weekly Shōjo Friend, January 20 1979, No. 2 - March 20 1980, No. 6
Set in 1939 (Showa 14) in the old Aoba Domain, where people still lead an anachronistic lifestyle reminiscent of the Edo period, this comedy follows Takechiyo Aoba, a young man who unexpectedly inherits the household of the domain’s former feudal lord. Determined to clear the name of his much-mocked alma mater, the Aoba Academy, Takechiyo sets his sights on the Koshien baseball tournament.
Those with Wings
KODANSHA, Weekly Shōjo Friend, May 20 1980, No. 10 - June 20 1980, No. 12
This lyrical romance depicts a deep love story that begins with the meeting of two people: Kairi Fukami, a music student who, despite his natural talent, is gradually losing his passion for music, and Ruka Miyamura, who continues to cherish the memory of her late lover Shion. It also serves as a sequel, following the later life of the protagonist of Ruka, All Alone, which was serialized in Weekly Shōjo Friend in 1974.
Ai-iro Shinwa
KODANSHA, Weekly Shōjo Friend, October 20, No. 20 – December 5, No. 23, 1980
Keiko is a serious and down-to-earth honor student whose boyfriend is the upstanding student council president. Her classmate Kosuke, on the other hand, is passionate about filmmaking. This story depicts the decade-long romance between them, beginning in 1970 when they first meet in high school. Though drawn to each other during their school days, their feelings never quite align, and they drift apart after graduating. Keiko, rather than settling for a secure married life, later takes a job at a publishing company and reunites with Kosuke, now an up-and-coming film director…
Fusuma-Land 4.5
KODANSHA, Weekly Shōjo Friend, January 20 1984, No. 3 - April 5 1984, No. 8
Kachiko is an extremely straitlaced student attending the boarding school Sakura-no-Sono High. One night, in her old, Japanese-style dormitory room, she stumbles through a sliding paper door (fusuma) and finds herself lost in an alternate world called “Fusuma Land.” She travels back and forth between reality and this other world, adventuring there in the guise of a beautiful stranger — until its cheerful, quirky residents start to spill over into the real world…!? An especially madcap fantasy comedy, even for Yamato.
The Bodhi Tree
KODANSHA, Weekly Shōjo Friend, June 20 1984, No. 13 - June 20 1985, No. 13
Asami, who has been admitted to medical school, receives support from a philanthropist known only as “Daddy Long-Legs,” on the condition that she follow in her late father’s footsteps and become a doctor. The story offers a refreshing portrayal of her and her peers’ struggles, and delicately traces her inner conflicts as she deals with tensions surrounding her mission to become a doctor, her reverence for life, and the competing emotions of romantic love, friendship, and admiration. Set under the watchful presence of a bodhi tree, this coming-of-age story poignantly explores hidden emotions and the pain of growing up.
My Sudden Prince Charming
KODANSHA, Shōjo Friend, May 5 1990, No. 10 - July 20 1990, No. 15
Yuri, a high school student who has lost her parents, spends her busy days juggling school with part-time modeling gigs. One day, she encounters a mysterious man carrying the passport of her missing older brother. The man, who goes by Nadin, turns out to be a prince from Arslan, a legendary country her brother had been searching for. This romantic comedy chronicles Yuri’s romance with the eccentric prince, who on a whim has run away from his homeland just to see the world.
Theme 5: A Challenge to Classical Japanese Literature
As the 1980s approached, Yamato embarked on the ambitious project of fully adapting the Heian-period classic The Tale of Genji into manga. Dreams at Dawn (1979–93) is a courtly romance following the Shining Prince (Hikaru Genji), who, burdened by the loss of his mother in childhood, forms relationships with many women, experiencing glory and decline. Though the original work is over a thousand years old, the realism with which Yamato portrays its characters’ feelings transforms it into a sweeping love story that present-day readers find compelling and relatable.
Its appeal extends beyond the adaptation of the story itself. Alongside meticulous historical research into the Shinden-zukuri architecture and court costumes, the work achieves highly sophisticated visual expressions unique to manga. These include spatial staging using blinds and curtains, emotional depiction through the linework in hair, and the effective use of solid black to heighten tension. Rather than simply making classical literature easier to read, this work was an attempt to recreate it through a new visual language.
Dreams at Dawn
KODANSHA, mimi, December 1979 - July 25, No. 14, 1986
KODANSHA, mimi Excellent, No.1, 1986 - No. 27, 1993
Taking its title from a verse of the “Iroha Song,” believed to have been composed during the Heian period, this is a manga adaptation of one of Japan’s best-known stories and its old and longest narrative work, Murasaki Shikibu’s The Tale of Genji. It tells a mature love story that Yamato, after producing numerous romance works in the 1970s, finally felt ready to tackle. With meticulous background illustrations based on precise historical research, she completed the entire Genji series, including the final “Uji Jūjō” chapters. It continues to be read in high schools and other educational settings as a “reference book” for the study of classical literature.
Theme 6: Domestic Comedy?!
Entering the 1990s, Yamato began to draw on her experiences of childbirth and child-rearing, and her fictional world took on a new dimension.
High Heel Cop (1989–97) is a suspense comedy that blends humor and action, following an unconventional female detective who solves cases while searching for her ideal man, a perfect “5E” type. The Samurai Who Faces West (1997–2001) depicts with warmth the modest daily life of a young married couple in Edo. And in the series Babysitter Gin! (1997–2007), the title character, a man who identifies as a professional nanny, helps various families sort out their problems. Throughout the series, Yamato explores questions of education and family in a humorous way.
What these works have in common is an attitude that, while confronting the realities surrounding family and child-rearing head-on, they all approach them with a lighthearted spirit. The humorous depictions of everyday life also anticipated the changing times and new visions of family.
High Heel COP
Serialized in mimi, mimi Carnival and Kiss.
KODANSHA, mimi, March 10 1989, No. 5 - May 1993 / new series: KODANSHA, mimi, February 1995 - KODANSHA, Kiss, September 10 1995, No.10
A detective comedy presented in self-contained episodes that follow the adventures of “super lady” Ichiko Meguri, an assistant inspector in Safety Division II of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. She’s on the hunt for a exceptional “5E” man — someone rated “E” in looks, personality, taste, manners, and intelligence — but finding a man who meets those standards proves difficult, and some of her prospects even turn out to be cunning criminals… Featuring a host of eccentric characters that include her nephew Yuta, a whiz at housework, this work’s charm lies in its pop sensibility and lighthearted storytelling.
Babysitter Gin!
KODANSHA, Kiss, December 25 1997, No. 17 - January 25 2007, No. 2
A childcare comedy in which Gin Shimoochiai, a male professional babysitter dressed like Mary Poppins, comes to the rescue of parents struggling with child-rearing. The series has gained popularity as a source of comfort to exhausted first-time mothers, and it delivers a sharp critique of the gender and generation gaps. It was adapted into a live-action drama series in 2019.
The Samurai Who Faces West
KODANSHA, BE LOVE, April 15 1997, No. 8 - April 15 2001, No. 8
A heartwarming historical family comedy centered on Yukie, a young wife born in Boshu (modern-day Chiba Prefecture) who marries the low-ranking samurai Hanshiro Nakamura and gives birth to a son. After Hanshiro succeeds his uncle as a Kachigumi officer (a samurai foot soldier), the family begins living in a residential compound in Edo, but they are soon overwhelmed by their unfamiliar new life. Yukie struggles to adjust with the help of those around her, including Obana, the squad leader.
Theme 7: Women Who Lived Through History
Yamato has often portrayed real women who lived through historical moments. Her attention has focused on figures who, despite the constraints of their times, sought to forge their own destinies on their own terms.
Lady Mitsuko (1975–76) depicts the dramatic life of Mitsuko Aoyama, who chose the path of international marriage. The work is notable in part for having been published in parallel with Haikara-san: Here Comes Miss Modern. Furthermore, To the Ends of the Earth and Sky (1978–79) portrays the life of Princess Nukata, a renowned poet, against the backdrop of the political upheaval known as the Jinshin War. The Daughter of Ishtar: The Tale of Otsu (2009–17) is a full-length historical work that meticulously traces the life of Otsu Ono, a talented woman and cultural figure active from the Azuchi-Momoyama period into the early Edo period. Throughout her career, Yamato has consistently portrayed women whose lives continue to resonate across the ages.
To the Ends of the Earth and Sky
KODANSHA, Monthly mimi, December 1978 - February 1979
Despite receiving a marriage proposal from Prince Ōama, Princess Nukata has her sights set on the path of a shrine maiden. Following the Taika Reform, however, she finds herself pursued by yet another man — Ōama’s older brother, Prince Naka no Ōe. Torn between the two heroes, she composes waka poems that reflect her innermost feelings. Centered on the figure of Princess Nukata, this is a love story set in the turbulent Asuka period, and depicts people grappling with love and destiny at a time of ceaseless conflict in Japanese history.
Lady Mitsuko
KODANSHA, Bessatsu Shōjo Friend, December 1975 - February 1976
Born to a Tokyo antique dealer in 1874 (Meiji 7), Mitsuko Aoyama falls in love with Count Coudenhove, an aristocrat visiting Japan as an acting ambassador for the Austro-Hungarian Empire, while nursing him back to health. They marry despite fierce opposition from those around them. Upon moving to Europe, she faces prejudice and hardships while raising seven children. This biographical manga, filled with exotic charm, tells the story of Lady Mitsuko, who lived with dignity despite being at the mercy of history and fate.
Daughter of Ishtar: The Tale of Otsu
KODANSHA, BE LOVE, September 15 2009, No. 18 - November 15 2017, No. 22
During the warring Sengoku period, Otsu is born with a mystical power to see people’s destinies, and displays exceptional talent for poetry, calligraphy, and the arts in general. Her sharp sensibilities earn her the recognition and patronage of three great warlords: Nobunaga Oda, Hideyoshi Toyotomi, and Ieyasu Tokugawa. This historical epic offers a refreshing portrayal of the life of Otsu Ono — an enigmatic, real-life figure — as an independent woman who overcomes challenges through her own ingenuity.
Theme 8: A Fantastical World Seen Through Illustration
In the 1970s, Yamato produced numerous illustrations for magazine covers, frontispieces, and pinups. This section focuses primarily on works featured in The art collection Crystal Fantasia: Selected Works by Yamato Waki (KODANSHA, Friend DELUXE), published in 1981.
From works inspired by foreign myths and legends to those depicting the inhabitants of fantastical worlds, these illustrations present a worldview different from that of her manga. The many illustrations, created through delicate coloring and vibrant compositions, convey Yamato’s rich imagination, aesthetic sensibility, and longing for romance.
