Aki Irie

Aki Irie is a Japanese manga artist, best known for her work Ran and [the Gray World]. She was born in Marugame, Kagawa.

Career

Before starting her career as a mangaka, Irie studied Chinese literature in university.
Irie made a few doujinshis before her 2004 debut with Albertina published in the magazine, Comic Beam. In 2006, she began her first serialized manga in the same magazine, Gunjou Gakusha. The series was a compilation of short stories centering on the colour blue, and resulted in four published volumes which also included her first work, Albertina.
In 2008, Irie's first long-running manga Ran and the Gray World was serialized in the magazine Fellows!. In 2013, Fellows! magazine was rebranded and named Harta. In 2016, her second long-running series Go with the Clouds, North by Northwest began serialization in Harta. Go with the Clouds, North by Northwest moved serialization to Blue Knight following its establishment in April 2021.

Works

Gunjou Gakusha – serialized in Comic Beam, 4 volumes published by EnterbrianKodama no Tani Ôritsu Daigaku Sôrangeki – serialized in Comic Beam, published as a one-shot by EnterbrainRan and the Gray World – serialized in Fellows! followed by Harta since 2013, 7 volumes published by Enterbrain followed by KadokawaGo with the Clouds, North by Northwest – previously serialized in Harta '', now serialized in Blue Knight. Volumes published by KadokawaTabi '' – one-shot collection

Awards

In 2011, Ran and the Gray World was selected as a recommended work by the jury committee in the manga division of the 15th Japan Media Arts Festival. In 2019, Irie's work Go with the Clouds, North by Northwest was nominated for the Manga Taisho award.