Mangaka Highlight: Io Sakisaka

Io Sakisaka:

 Queen of Shoujo Romance Manga

by S. Sawyer

“A world, in which the person you like likes you back...a world which glitters and sparkles this much, really exists.” 
― Io Sakisaka, Strobe Edge, Vol. 10

If you haven't become acquainted with this shoujo mangaka and/or her work yet, then my question to you is:

With stunning artwork, lovable characters and beautiful storylines, Io Sakisaka's manga never disappoints. Born in Tokyo, Japan, on June 8th, 1975, this mangaka has created many well-known works, such as Ao Haru Ride and Strobe Edge.

Some of her manga have been made into anime series and others into live action movies. Their simplistic storylines and familiar themes are able to shine through no matter the form her storytelling is shaped into. The stories she weaves quite often take readers through one of the most turbulent periods of one's life, adolescence, paired with another drama-filled element of life: love. 

(Ren and Ninako from Strobe Edge)

Ms. Sakisaka's stories would not be so well-liked if her characters weren't so lovable. She crafts adorably imperfect heroines with equally imperfect heroes. The reader is prompted to feel sympathetic to the characters' plights because they are extremely easy to relate to. Though some decisions her characters may make might be frustrating, you still want to root for them in the end. One thing I appreciate about her characters is that they are well-developed, and one can see how they and their relationships with each other evolve in a masterful portrayal of the turbulence of youth.

(Rio and Yuna from Omoi, Omoware, Furi, Furare - Still ongoing)

Ms. Sakisaka weaves her magic in all of .her works. I have never regretted selecting one of her manga to read, and probably never will. I, for one, cannot wait to see what she produces next!

Fun fact: She also designed the characters for the animated film, Hal (2013).

Life Lessons in Anime

Life Lessons in Anime

by Ridge Thomas

For quite some time among the general public anime has been thought of as something childish. Cartoons that one should grow out of as they can provide us with nothing substantial. However anime has not only maintained a large audience but has also slowly grown over the years to the point that anime movies have received theatrical releases in western markets. 

Much of this continued admiration for anime in western markets is that for many anime has thought them strong life lessons. Going from childhood to adulthood many anime fans can name characters or series that have been an influential part of their life. One such example being the hit anime series Naruto. The titular character of Naruto, Naruto Uzumaki is an orphan who is despised by his village’s adults and made fun of by the kids. He is in every way an outcast.

However despite this treatment he perseveres through it all in order to become hokage(Village leader). Both Naruto’s character and story are quite relatable to many of us growing up. Many who feel isolated because of who they are see characters like Naruto fighting against the odds to find his place in the world and feel inspired to do the same. 

Of course Naruto isn’t the only anime giving life lessons as many shounen anime such as DragonBall, Fairy Tail, Bleach and One Piece teach us to strive for our dreams and to value the people who care about us.

The series I named are ones most anime fans have grown up with and have become a gateway to more series, many of which give even deeper and meaningful messages. For those of us who are now adults these stories continue to provide thoughtful commentary on people and the world. And it’s just that kind of mature content many of us crave.


For example the recent anime movie A Silent Voice features a story about a young deaf girl who is constantly harassed by her classmates especially the lead main character Shoya. The story takes a turn as Shoya’s classmates turn on him in order to save themselves from punishment. What proceeds next is Shoya has now become the target of bullying for years. This leads to him suffering depression and becoming distant from those around him until he makes the decision to make amends for his wrong doing. A Silent Voice not only teaches the lesson of having empathy but also features many more mature themes such as suicide, the pain of loss, redemption, loneliness and perhaps its most important theme, communication. The lesson this movie gives in this writer’s opinion is about learning to listen to the voice of others. To try and understand one another rather than lashing out because someone is different. 

Of course these are only a few examples as there is a wide range of anime out there that exist not only to entertain but to also challenge us to think and learn. Even harsh lessons like learning to accept death and that life can at times deal us a cruel hand. Anime gives us life lessons by giving us relatable characters that face odds both large and small and learn to either overcome them or live with them. Characters that we aspire to be like and stories that commentate on real world problems. And because of how strongly these stories leave its mark on viewers they in term continue to watch and share with friends and other fans creating communities that will continue on.