about yu watase
Born March 5 in Osaka, Watase-sensei's first manga was published in 1988. It was called "Pajama de Ojama" ("An Intrusion in Pajamas") and was published in Shojo Comic when Watase-sensei was only 18-years-old. Since then, she's written more than 50 compiled volumes of short stories and ongoing series. She first took America's breath away in the late 90's when the anime of her masterpiece "Fushigi Yuugi" was released by Pioneer Entertainment. Besides "Fushigi Yuugi," her newer fantasy hit "Ayashi no Ceres" was also released in the United States early in the new millenium as "Ceres; Celestial Legend." Now in 2004, amongst Ceres and Fushigi Yuugi, she has two more manga making it big in U.S.; "Imadoki!" and "Alice 19th." In Japan, she still actively writes shoujo manga to this day.
Natsumi-chan's Opinion on Miss Yu Watase: She is my goddess. Since I was ten-years-old and first watching Fushigi Yuugi, I've thought she was absolutely amazing. I think she's one of the most influential female manga-ka of our time, personally. She's my idol and a total inspiration to me. I love her all of her work that I've read thus far and I can't wait to read whatever more she has to come.
Note: The second picture is a self-portrait drawn by Watase-sensei.

Fushigi Yuugi
Ayashi no Ceres
Imadoki!
Alice 19th