There inevitably comes a point in time when people begin to think about retiring. Whether it’s due to health, age, or other issues, many will retire eventually. However, skillfully dodging these retirement roadblocks is the world’s oldest living manga creator, Masako Watanabe, who debuted her newest work, Himegoto, earlier this April.
Masako is currently 91 years old. With decades of work under her belt as a professional illustrator, she became a manga creator beginning with the story Suama-chan in 1952, after being inspired by the works of Osamu Tezuka. She currently has a bibliography spanning hundreds of titles. She specializes in shojo and josen titles and has received numerous accolades over the years, from the 16th Shogakukan Manga Award to being the first female manga creator to receive Japan’s Order of the Rising Sun decoration in 2006. She is also currently the director of the Japan Cartoonists Association.
As for her manga career, she explains:
“Looking back, it was years with mountains and valleys, but I never thought drawing manga was difficult. How strange,” Watanabe said. “Is it selfish of me? There are still plenty of stories in my sketchbooks that I want to draw. There is no greater enjoyment than creating your work. I have a lifetime of happiness being involved and living with manga. To God, to Buddha, and to all of my fans who blessed me with this life, I am truly grateful.”
Her newest title, Himegoto, is available to read on manga publisher Shueisha’s app Manga Mee. It follows the story of a married woman named Miya, whose life changes after she falls ill after reuniting with her old junior high classmate, Itoko. Watanabe also expressed that her assistants were the reason Himegoto was able to be published without issue.
Congratulations to Masako Watanabe for her newest work, and letting all of us know how integral the help of others can truly be when it comes to success.
Source: Anime News Network
