Naoki Urasawa - Works

Works

Beta!!

Urasawa made his professional debut in 1983 with Beta!!, a gag one-shot.

Yawara!

Urasawa's first official work and real breakthrough; published from 1986 to 1993 (serialized in Big Comic Spirits, 1987–93), this manga has 29 volumes in total. This judo romance comedy is about a female judo champion who wants to have fun just like other girls, but her strict grandfather wants her to win in tournaments. Yawara! won the 35th Shogakukan Manga Award for general manga in 1990.

Pineapple Army

Published by Shogakukan from 1986 to 1988, this is a side-work produced alongside Yawara!. Pineapple Army is composed of 10 volumes in total. The story was written by Kazuya Kudou and the artwork is Urasawa's. The plot is about an ex-military man who trains others to defend themselves on the condition that he never gets involved... but eventually he always does.

Dancing Policeman

Published by Shogakukan in 1987. This manga is only one volume.

Master Keaton

Just after Pineapple Army, and while writing Yawara!, Urasawa began one of his most famous works, Master Keaton. Master Keaton was published from 1988 to 1994 (serialized in Big Comic Original, 1988–94), and consists of 18 volumes in total. Hokusei Katsushika worked with Urasawa on it. The story revolves around a boy born to an English woman of noble birth and a Japanese zoologist. After his parents' divorce at the age of 5, Keaton moves to England with his mother. As an adult, he studies archeology at Oxford University, where he meets his future wife with whom he has a daughter. However, they too divorce after five years. Meanwhile, Keaton works as an operative/detective for Lloyd's of London where he is known for his abilities he acquired as a master sergeant in the SAS, as a veteran of the Falklands War, and the Iranian Embassy siege. These experiences help him carry out his dangerous work as an insurance investigator. Although he works at Lloyds, his dream is to excavate an ancient civilization in a Danube basin.

NASA

A short story collection published in one volume by Shogakukan in 1988. A fantasy about a middle-aged office worker who trains every day in order to become Japan's first astronaut. This work also includes earlier short stories.

Happy!

Just after Yawara!, Urasawa began writing Happy!, which began in 1993 and ended in 1999. Happy! consists of 23 volumes in total. The copy from the back of the first tankōbon reads: "Miyuki Umino was a senior in high-school. Although Miyuki, her two younger brothers and her younger sister were poor, they were happy living together. But, one day all of a sudden her older brother's debt of 250 million yen fell upon them. To pay back the debt Miyuki quit school. What was the incredible choice she took to do this?".

Monster

In 1994, after finishing Master Keaton, Urasawa began writing what would become another one of his most famous works, Monster. He wrote Monster alongside Happy!, with Monster ending in 2001. It consists of 18 volumes in total and was serialized in Big Comic (1995–2001). The series was licensed in English by Viz Media. The final volume was released in December 2008. Monster won the Shogakukan Manga Award for general manga in 2001. The story revolves around Kenzo Tenma, a Japanese surgeon living in Germany whose life enters in turmoil after getting himself involved with Johan Liebert, one of his former patients who is revealed to be a dangerous psychopath.

Jigoro!

A short story collection published in one volume by Shogakukan in 1994. It features four stories about Jigorou, Yawara's grandfather (from Yawara!) during his younger years. It also includes a samurai and a baseball story not related to Yawara!.

20th Century Boys

In 1999, after finishing Happy!, Urasawa began 20th Century Boys, which would become another one of his most popular works. He wrote 20th Century Boys alongside Monster, until the later ended within two years. The series spans 22 volumes, with the concluding chapters released under the title 21st Century Boys. It was licensed in English by Viz, however, at Urasawa's request, its release was rescheduled until after Monster finished its English serialization due to the change in his art style over time. Publication in the US began in February 2009. 20th Century Boys won Kodansha Manga Award for general manga in 2001, an Excellence Prize at the 2002 Japan Media Arts Festival, and the Shogakukan Manga Award for general manga in 2003.

Pluto

Beginning in late 2003, Pluto is a more realistic retelling of Osamu Tezuka's Mighty Atom, better known as Astro Boy. Pluto received an Excellence Prize at the 2005 Japan Media Arts Festival and the 2005 Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize Grand Prize. The series ended in early 2009, at 8 volumes. "Pluto" was also licensed by Viz for an English language release from 2009 to 2010.

Billy Bat

A thriller manga started in October 2008 that follows Japanese-American comic book artist Kevin Yamagata as he draws the popular detective series "Billy Bat". When he learns he may have unconsciously copied the character from an image he saw while serving in occupied Japan, he returns to Japan to get permission to use Billy Bat from its original creator. Upon arriving there, however, he becomes embroiled in a web of murder, cover-ups, and prophecy that all leads back to Billy Bat.

Mangari Michi

A gag manga featuring the two manga artists that appeared in 20th Century Boys. Started in July 2009.

Master Keaton Remaster

Started in March 2012, with the story written by Takashi Nagasaki, it is a sequel to Master Keaton. It is set 20 years after the original series ended.