| Naoko Takeuchi Personal Data Birth date: March 15, 1967 Blood type: A grew up in Yamanashi prefecture. Information In 1986, while she was attending Kyoritsu Yakka (pharmacy) University, she made her debut as manga-ka (comic artist) with "Love Call" which received "Nakayoshi New manga-ka award." It was published in "Nakayoshi Deluxe" September 1986 issue. After graduation, she took a job as pharmacist at Keio Hospital. She is a licensed pharmacist. She says she still loved drawing manga but since she worked hard to earn her degree, she wanted to try that, too. Although she was working full time, her editor (Not Mr. OsaBU back then. It was somebody else.) continued to encourage Naoko-sensei to draw manga. On July 18, 1991, "Code Name wa Sailor V" was published in "RunRun," Summer issue. The success of "Code Name wa Sailor V" lead "Sailor Moon" to get started as serial in "Nakayoshi." "Bishoujo senshi Sailor Moon" started as manga serial in the Feb. 1992 issue. TV serial started on March 7, 1992. Her stress relief secret is to... drive her Ferrari or Porsche real fast all the way to oceanside to see the night view from Rainbow Bridge in Tokyo/Chiba Bay Area. She loves night view of big cities. Her mother's name is Ikuko, father's name is Kenji, and her younger brother's name is Shingo. I guess she used her family's names for the show. She is not married yet but would like to (someday soon). She has her ideas of a perfect husband just like we all do. "Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon" received Kodansha manga award. In the planning stage for this new Sailor manga serial, her editor, Mr. OsaBU (called "Osappi" in English in Mixxzine) suggested Naoko-sensei about creating Sailor suited soldier as new character. Then, she got the idea from "Go-ranger" (Power Ranger) to make 5 sailor soldiers as a team. Sailor Moon's story was staged in space because Naoko-sensei was a big fan of "Uchuu Senkan Yamato." Sailor Moon had a blessed start. Kodansha and Toei took a strategy called "Media Mix" which not only publishes manga but also takes it to TV at the same time. Naoko-sensei originally prepared story only for one season to go with the TV series (nobody thought it was going to be such a BIG hit), therefore, she repeatedly struggled to come up with new story for each season. TV episodes caught up with manga in the end of the first season. That's why "Makaiju-hen" (Doomtree series) was added to TV's R season. So, there's no Ann or Alan in manga! Remember!!! She told Mr. OsaBU "I wanna quit!" at numerous times. She says "It was incredibly dreamy 5 years. Even though I struggled at times, I was having fun, joy, and happiness of my life." She really appreciates all the support received from fans and people who helped her during the five years. She says "the last phrase on manga is dedicated to all the fans, all my staff, and myself." Mamoru says this phrase to Sailor Moon/Usagi in his mind. "Eien ni ichiban utsukushiku kagayaku hoshi dayo." (You are the star that shines most beautifully forever.) A message from Naoko-sensei to fans in all over the world Naoko-sensei wrote a message for fans all over the world in "Genga-shuu Vol. 5." I think a lot of fans in the US also own this book. But did you all know that there is a message for us in the end? It's written in Japanese. The following is an excerpt/summary of what she says in that message. (She said she read fan letter from Jakarta and another one from Reunion Island after completing the drawing of the cover of this book.) There are people who support Sailor Moon manga or anime in places where I don't even know! This is exciting! Everytime I read fan letters from somewhere far away, it brings tears in my eyes. Tears of joy. It warms up my heart and makes me say "I'm going to live my life fully from tomorrow." I was able to discover this kind of joy by drawing Sailor Moon. First, "Sailor Moon" was a little personal world made up and existed only in my mind. But now with many people's work, it's spread all over the world. Seeing many people from all over the world writing to me and saying "I love Sailor Moon," I know that it happened for real. I won't say "I can't believe it" anymore. I used to think people in other countries have different languages, lifestyle, race, and therefore, it is difficult to understand each other. But now I know everybody is the same human being. With everybody's power, everybody can share the same feeling. I have many dreams. One of them is to look at the earth from space. But now, I can think the same thing that an astronaut would think by looking at the earth from space even when I am sitting down facing my desk or laying in my bed. There's only one earth. I am very very happy that I can feel this joy. I am so glad that I drew Sailor Moon. Thank you so much everybody. I dedicate this book to all the Sailor Moon fans all over the world with love. Wishing everybody happiness..... Naoko Takeuchi 5/23/1997 The complete list (almost) of Naoko-sensei's work Tankou bon (Mixxzine calls it Pocket manga) They were first published in monthly Nakayoshi, RunRun, Nakayoshi Deluxe, or Amie, and later compiled in individual books by title (except for "Prism Time."). The Cherry Project Vol. 1-3 Chocolate Christmas Maria Miss Rain Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon, Vol.1-18 Code Name wa Sailor V, Vol.1-3 Prism Time Vo.1: compilation of short manga. contains the following: gradation 1, Tamaki peppermint gradation 2, Saura sunset gradation 3, Mizuki moonglow Gomen ne Wednesday Prism Time Vol.2: compilation of short manga. contains the following: Rain Kiss Yume miru Rainy Button Secret na kata omoi Love Call Yume ja nai no ne (Naoko-sensei wrote this when she was 18 years old!) Newest manga PQ Angels (a serial which followed Sailor Moon in "Nakayoshi." Not available in Tankou bon yet.) Illustration Mermaid Panic (novel written by Marie Koizumi) Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Genga-Shuu, Vol.1-5 Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Genga-Shuu, Infinity (Doujinshi. Not available at regular bookstores. Sorry!) Sakushi/Lyrics for Sailor Moon TV series (Some of the songs were used in TV and some of them were recorded only for CD sales) Sailor Star Song (Op. theme, Stars) Tuxedo Mirage (End.theme, Super) Princess Moon (End. theme, 1st season) Rashiku ikimasho (End. theme, SuperS) Ai kotoba wa moon prism power make up (Usagi/Moon) Hottoke nai yo (Ami&Rei/ Mercury& Mars) Tuxedo Night Luna Maboroshi no Ginzuishou - Silver Crystal I am Sailor Moon (Usagi/Moon) Route Venus (Minako/Venus) Sailor Team no Theme Sailor Moon Christmas (5 scouts) Golden Queen Galaxia (Galaxia) Nagare Boshi e (Three Lights) Todokanu omoi - my friend's love (Three Lights) Ginga ichi Mibun Chigai na kata omoi (Seiya/Fighter) Chikara o awasete (Taiki/Maker) Mayonaka Hitori (Yaten/Healer) Initial U (Haruka/Uranus) Senshi no omoi (Michiru/Neptune) Honoo no sogeki sha (Flame Sniper) (Rei/Mars) Ashita mo mata Jitensha (Ami/Mercury) We believe you (Makoto/Jupiter) Ai no megami no How to Love (Minako/Venus) Ai o shinji te ru (Usagi/Moon) She also wrote poems for Pluto, Saturn, Chibi Moon and recorded by original voice actresses. Her most favorite song among the ones she wrote is "Route Venus." She was experiencing a heartbreak when she wrote it, just like the song. Naoko-sensei loves Junko Yagami's (singer and song writer) songs and used to listen to them all the time in her adolescent days. She says she was influenced by Yagami in her song writing. Sources: 1. Interview published in "SAY" Feb. 1997 issue 2. "Animage" Feb. 1997 issue. 3. "Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon" (tankou bon) Vol. 18 4. "Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon" Memorial Song Box (CDs) 5. "Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon" Genga-shuu Vol.5 All the above came directly from the SOS Campain and I take no credit for it. |