Editing Ai Yazawa (section)

==Career==

===1985&ndash;1991: Debut and early works===
With the help of an editor, Yazawa debuted as a manga artist on her 10th submission to ''Ribon'' in 1985 with the short story ''Ano Natsu''.<ref name="yomiuri 2022-08-05 3"/><ref name="ntv 2022-07-21">{{cite news | url=https://news.ntv.co.jp/category/culture/0dded26f9d614e27bf7b53283b6507ff |script-title=ja:『NANA』休載から13年…漫画家・矢沢あいを取材 「また作品を描いていけたら」 “現在の体調”も明かす | trans-title=13 years since ''Nana'' went on hiatus... manga artist Ai Yazawa reportedly states, "I'll draw it again if I'm able to", gives clarity on her "current condition" | language=ja | work=[[Nippon Television]] | date=2022-07-21 | accessdate=2024-11-30}}</ref>

===1991&ndash;2009: Mainstream breakthrough===

From 1991 to 1995, Yazawa published ''[[Tenshi Nanka Ja Nai]]'' in ''Ribon'', which became her breakthrough series.<ref name="diabo 2002"/> Following ''Tenshi Nanka Ja Nai'', Yazawa went onto publish ''[[Neighborhood Story]]''.<ref name="diabo 2002"/> After the end of ''Neighborhood Story'', Yazawa created ''[[Last Quarter]]''.<ref name="diabo 2002"/>

Yazawa was later requested to draw two short stories to accompany the launch of ''[[Cookie (Japanese magazine)|Cookie]]''.<ref name="yomiuri 2022-08-04">{{cite news|first=Yayoi|last=Kawayuka|script-title=ja:「登場人物のことは全員大好き」――『天使なんかじゃない』『NANA』作者・矢沢あいさんインタビュー（中編）|trans-title="I love all the characters": interview with Ai Yazawa, the creator of ''Tenshi Nanka Janai'' and ''Nana'' (second part)|url=https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/culture/subcul/20220731-OYT8T50084/|work=[[Yomiuri Shimbun]]|date=2022-08-04|accessdate=2024-11-30}}</ref> This led to the creation of ''[[Nana (manga)|Nana]]'', as she decided to make the two stories related to each other so that they would be easier to read if they were later picked up for serialization.<ref name="yomiuri 2022-08-04"/> In 2003, Yazawa was awarded the [[Shogakukan Manga Award]] for ''Nana''.<ref name="ShogakukanAward">{{cite web|url=http://comics.shogakukan.co.jp/mangasho/rist.html |script-title=ja:小学館漫画賞: 歴代受賞者 |publisher=Shogakukan |language=ja |access-date=August 19, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929094941/http://comics.shogakukan.co.jp/mangasho/rist.html |archive-date=September 29, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}</ref> Yazawa illustrated the cover of [[Rumi Shishido]]'s 2003 album ''Rumi Roll'', who she had been friends with since Shishido was cast as Mikako in the anime adaptation of ''Neighborhood Story''.<ref>{{cite web | first=Rumi | last=Shishido | authorlink=Rumi Shishido | url=https://ameblo.jp/sundaliru/entry-12768473035.html |script-title=ja:近況、生誕にむけて。 | trans-title=Recent developments up until my birthday. | language=ja | via=[[Ameba (website)|Ameba Blogs]] | date=2022-10-08 | accessdate=2024-11-30}}</ref>

In June 2009, Yazawa became hospitalized after contracting an illness, putting ''Nana'' on indefinite hiatus.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-06-26/nana-ai-yazawa-puts-manga-on-hold-due-to-illness|title=Nana's Ai Yazawa Puts Manga on Hold Due to Illness|work=Anime News Network|access-date=March 4, 2015|archive-date=January 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129125624/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-06-26/nana-ai-yazawa-puts-manga-on-hold-due-to-illness|url-status=live}}</ref> She returned from the hospital in April 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-04-25/nana-manga-creator-ai-yazawa-returns-from-hospital|title=Nana Manga Creator Ai Yazawa Returns from Hospital|work=Anime News Network|access-date=March 12, 2015|archive-date=January 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128001758/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-04-25/nana-manga-creator-ai-yazawa-returns-from-hospital|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2022, Yazawa stated she was still recovering from her illness and expressed interest in continuing ''Nana'' in the future.<ref name="ntv 2022-07-21"/>

===2009&ndash;present: ''Nana'' hiatus and illustration work===

Yazawa has focused on illustration work since putting ''Nana'' on hold.<ref name="ntv 2022-07-21"/> She provided artwork for singer [[Juju (singer)|Juju]]'s single "Iiwake" in 2017 and a celebratory illustration for ''[[Space Channel 5 VR: Kinda Funky News Flash]]'' in 2020, drew a mini-manga featuring characters from ''Tenshi Nanka ja Nai'' and ''Neighborhood Story'' in 2016, contributed new images to the 2015 ''Nana'' calendar, and published a new "Junko's Room" chapter,<ref name="natalie 2013-01-16">{{cite web | url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/83798 |script-title=ja:矢沢あいが久々のマンガ執筆、「淳子の部屋」2ページ描く |trans-title=Ai Yazawa pens manga for the first time in a while, draws 2 pages of ''Junko's Room'' | language=ja | work=[[Natalie (website)|Natalie]] | date=2013-01-26 | accessdate=2025-02-02}}</ref> her first new manga in over three years, in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2018-10-02/nana-ai-yazawa-draws-historical-men-fashion-for-new-book/.137604|title=NANA's Ai Yazawa Draws Historical Men's Fashion for New Book|last=Loveridge|first=Lynzee|date=October 2, 2018|website=Anime News Network|access-date=February 8, 2020|archive-date=October 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028083624/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2018-10-02/nana-ai-yazawa-draws-historical-men-fashion-for-new-book/.137604|url-status=live}}</ref>

From July 20, 2022, to August 8, 2022, Yazawa held an art exhibit titled "All Time Best", featuring original manga manuscripts and illustrations for ''Tenshi Nanka Ja Nai'' and her other series.<ref name="ntv 2022-07-21"/>

On January 31, 2024, Yazawa illustrated a promotional visual as part of a collaboration with fashion brand Lulu Felice, who created wedding dresses based on ''Nana'' and ''Neighborhood Story''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.fashion-press.net/news/114572 |script-title=ja:矢沢あい『NANA』『ご近所物語』ウェディングドレス、ナナの赤いドレスや“ハッピーベリー”モチーフ| trans-title=Wedding dresses based on Ai Yazawa's ''Nana'' and ''Neighborhood Story'', Nana's red dress and "Happy Berry" motifs | language=ja | work=Fashion Press | date=2024-01-31 | accessdate=2024-11-30}}</ref>