Kyōko Ariyoshi (有吉 京子, Ariyoshi Kyōko, born September 14, 1950) is a Japanese shōjo manga artist.[1] She is well known for her works of ballet manga stories.

Kyōko Ariyoshi
有吉 京子
Born有吉 京子
(1950-09-14) September 14, 1950 (age 74)
Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan
NationalityJapan
Area(s)Manga artist
Notable works
Swan

Ariyoshi's representative work is Swan (21 volumes, Part 1, 1977–1980, and Part 2, 1980–1981), which depicted the heroine Masumi's growing up to the world-famous ballerina and got the great hit, won the high reputation among readers.[1][2] Ariyoshi's other representative works are Swan -The Prayer of Swan- (1982–1983) and Applause[3] which also depicted growing up of the young ballerinas with talent and potential.

Life and works

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Ariyoshi was born in Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture.[1][4] She started contributions of her stories to commercial manga magazine and received letter of encouragement from editor of magazine.[5] After graduation of high school, she went to Tokyo when she was 19.[3][6] Next year, she made debut with her work Kitty and a Girl (Koneko to Shōjo) in Weekly Margaret in 1971.[3][7]

In 1976, she started the story Swan in the weekly Margaret, 1976, 47th issue. magazine. The story completed after five years.[8]

Selected manga works

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Title Year Volume and Label Refs[9]
Swan 1976–81 Serialized in Margaret magazine
Shueisha (21 volumes)
Apurōzu - kassai (アプローズ喝采, Applause - Kassai) 1997–99 Akita Comics Elegance (6 volumes)
Nijinsukī gūwa (ニジンスキー寓話, Nijinsky Fable) 1987–90 Serialized in Bouquet
Bouquet Comics (5 volumes)
Swan Act II 2006–09 (4 volumes)
Seishun kikku ofu! (青春キック・オフ!, Youth Kick Off) 1977–78 (3 volumes)
Hakuchō no inori (白鳥の祈り, Swan of Prayer) 1983 Margaret comics (3 volumes)
Kaedama wa okotowari! (かえ玉はおことわり!チャーリーの冒険の巻) 1976 Margaret Comics (2 volumes)
Sensē ni keirei! (センセーに敬礼!, Salute to the Sensei) 1973 Margaret Comics (2 volumes)
Kyūseishu nyūmon (救世主入門, Messiah Introduction) 1994 Princess Comics (2 volumes)
Kaze no yume, Hana no yume (風の夢花の夢, Dream of wind, Dream of flower) 1986 Margaret Comics (2 volumes)
Ijippari dai sakusen! ! (意地っぱり大作戦!!, Obstinate Operation !!) 1975 Margaret Comics (1 volume)
Tobe! Pegasasu (飛べ!ペガサス, Fly! Pegasus) 1976 Margaret Rainbow Comics (1 volume)
Reira kara no tegami (麗羅からの手紙, Letter from Reira) 1983 Margaret Comics (1 volume)
Shiroi mori no kettō (白い森の決闘, Duel in the White forest) 1977 Margaret Rainbow Comics (1 volume)
Bejitaburu sarada (べじたぶる・サラダ, Vegetable Salad) 1984 Margaret Comics (1 volume)
Vu~aruna korekushon (ヴァルナ・コレクション, Varna Collection) 1985 Margaret Comics (1 volume)
Nani kusottensai! (なにクソッ天才!, What Damn, Genius!) 1972 Margaret Comics (1 volume)
Mō semara-naide! (もうセマらないで!, Do not close anymore!) 1974 Margaret Comics (1 volume)
Kaedama wa okotowari! (かえ玉はおことわり!) 2004 Futaba Paperback (1 volume)
Apurōzu dai 2-bu kassai (アプローズ 第2部喝采, Applause Part 2: Kassai) 1986 (1 volume)
Burūju apurōzu (ブルージュアプローズ, Bruges Applause) 1992 Princess Comics (1 volume)
Yume messēji (夢・メッセージ, Dream and Messages) 1988 Margaret Comics (1 volume)
Ariyoshi kyōko jisen-shū (有吉京子自選集, Kyoko Ariyoshi Author's Edition) 1996 KC Deluxe (5 volumes)

Artbook

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  • Ballet Dancer (バレエ・ダンサー), Shinsho-kan January, 1986
  • Ariyoshi Kyoko Gashū SWAN (有吉京子画集 SWAN), Heibonsha Co.Ltd. July, 2023

Reception

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Ariyoshi's manga work "Swan" was highly evaluated. It is considered the monument of ballet manga. Total sales of this series is over 20 millions copies.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Nichigai Associates Editorial Department (1997), p. 25
  2. ^ Gravett, Paul (2004). Manga: Sixty Years of Japanese Comics. Laurence King Publishing. p. 93. ISBN 978-1-85669-391-2. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  3. ^ a b c "Kyoko Ariyoshi". Mangapedia (in Japanese). Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Weekly Bunshun ed. (2022), p. 130
  5. ^ Weekly Bunshun ed. (2022), p. 134
  6. ^ Weekly Bunshun ed. (2022), pp. 135-136
  7. ^ Weekly Bunshun ed. (2022), p. 138
  8. ^ Weekly Bunshun ed. (2022), pp. 138-139
  9. ^ 著者:有吉京子 [Kyoko Ariyoshi]. Media Arts Database (in Japanese). Japan: Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved January 1, 2016.

Bibliography

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  • Nichigai Associates Editorial Department (April 21, 1997), Dictionary of Manga and Anime artists. Nichigai Associates Co., Ltd. ISBN 4-8169-1423-4
  • Weekly Bunshun ed. (February 20, 2022) Career Book of House of Manga Artists, Bungei Shunju, ISBN 4166613529
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