.:Naoko Takeuchi:.
(the creator of Sailor Moon)
Birth date: March 15, 1967
Blood type: A
Location: Grew up in Yamanashi pre
In 1986, while she was attending Kyoritsu Yakka (pharmacy) University, she made her debut as manga-ka (comic artist) with "Love Call" which received "Nakayoshi New manga-ka award." It was published in "Nakayoshi Deluxe" September 1986 issue.fecture.
After graduation, she took a job as pharmacist at Keio Hospital. She is a licensed pharmacist. She says she still loved drawing manga but since she worked hard to earn her degree, she wanted to try that, too.
Although she was working full time, her editor (Not Mr. Osabu back then. It was somebody else.) continued to encourage Naoko-sensei to draw manga.
On July 18, 1991, "Code Name was Sailor V" was published in "Run Run," Summer issue. The success of "Code Name was Sailor V" lead "Sailor Moon" to get started as serial in "Nakayoshi."
"Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon" started as manga serial in the Feb. 1992 issue.
TV serial started on March 7, 1992. And then you know from then, right?
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The Making of Sailor Moon
"Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon" received Kodansha manga award.
In the planning stage for this new Sailor manga serial, her editor, Mr. OsaBU (called "Osappi" in English in Mixxzine) suggested to Naoko-sensei about creating sailor suited soldier as a new character. Then, she got the idea from "Go-ranger" (Power Ranger) to make 5 sailor soldiers as a team. Sailor Moon's story was staged in space because Naoko-sensei was a big fan of "Uchuu Senkan Yamato."
Sailor Moon had a blessed start. Kodansha and Toei took a strategy called "Media Mix" which not only publishes manga but also takes it to TV at the same time.
Naoko-sensei originally prepared a story only for one season to go with the TV series (nobody thought it was going to be such a BIG hit), therefore, she repeatedly struggled to come up with new story for each season.
TV episodes caught up with manga in the end of the first season. That's why "Makaiju-hen" (Doomtree series) was added to TV's R season. So, there's no Ann or Alan in manga.
She told Mr. OsaBU "I wanna quit!" at numerous times. She says "It was incredibly dreamy 5 years. Even though I struggled at times, I was having fun, joy, and happiness of my life."
She really appreciates all the support received from fans and people who helped her during the five years. She says "the last phrase on manga is dedicated to all the fans, all my staff, and myself."
Mamoru says this phrase to Sailor Moon/Usagi in his mind:
"Eien ni ichiban utsukushiku kagayaku hoshi dayo." (You are the star that shines most beautifully forever.)
Special thanks to Moon Light Princess Sailor Moon for the information.
::Return to Tokyo::
