Yukiko Kai


Yukiko Kai was a Japanese shōjo manga artist. Her real name was Kimiko Kaihatsu. She is considered a member of the Post Year 24 Group. Although she died young, her works are still analyzed. Manga artist Akiko Hatsu is her younger sister.

Biography

Born in Kanazawa, Ishikawa prefecture, Kai graduated from a high school and entered a company where she worked for one year. She joined the manga coterie magazine Ravuri which her friend Yasuko Sakata operated when she was in high school. In 1973, she went to Tokyo and became a manga assistant of Moto Hagio, and lived in Hagio's house. She also worked as an assistant of Keiko Takemiya.
Kai debuted in the Spring issue of Bessatsu Viva Princess in Akita Shoten for her work Anasutashia no Sutekina Otonari . She published the stories of the "Shiki series" and the "Anastasia series" in the magazine Gekkan Princess and Bonita.
In 1979, when Moto Hagio, Aiko Itō, Yukiko Kai, Akiko Jō and Shio Satō visited the Europe, they participated in the 37th Worldcon, Seacon '79 at Brighton, United Kingdom.
After published Ryokuin Kōro in the Summer issue of Bessatsu Viva Princess in 1980, Kai spent time under medical treatment at a hospital in Kanazawa city. She died on 12 December 1980 of stomach cancer at a hospital in Kanazawa.
The story which was contributed to the collaboration manga Kyōdai Jingi is her last work.

Style of works

Kai read Japanese fantastic novels and works such as those by Tatsuhiko Shibusawa, Hideo Nakai and Kunio Tsukamoto etc. She was largely affected by these fantastic works. Kai wrote various genres of manga stories. But she loved Fantasy and Science fiction. Many of her works are classified in these genres.

Works

Princess comics

There are nine books of Yukiko Kai published in Princess comics by Akita Shoten.
Title Title TitleReleaseISBNrefRemark
FeneraフェネラFenera1977-1130
Anastasia and NeighborsアナスタシアとおとなりAnasutashia to Otonari1979-0310
Seasons Records四季つづりShiki Tsuduri1979-0805
Raising Dream Lily夢ゆり育てYumeyuri Sodate1980-0710
Visionary Flower Love幻の花恋Maboroshi no Hanakoi1981-0515
The Day Karuki Comesカルキのくる日Karuki no Kuru Hi1981-0905
Dance Please, Death god踊って死神さんOdotte Shinigami-san1981-0920
Lament in the Wind風に哭くKaze ni Naku1981-1205
Magnolia Excerpts白木蓮抄Magnolia Shō1981-1205

Akita bunko

There are six bunkobon books of Yukiko Kai published by Akita Shoten. In this bunkobon version, even if the title of book is same as that of Princess comics version, the stories contained are different.
Title Title TitleReleaseISBNrefRemark
Magnolia Excerpts白木蓮抄Magnolia Shō1999-0610
Seasons Records四季つづりShiki Tsuduri1999-1010
FeneraフェネラFenera1999-1210
The Day Karuki Comesカルキのくる日Karuki no Kuru Hi2000-0210
Raising Dream Lily夢ゆり育てYumeyuri Sodate2000-0610
Anastasia and NeighborsアナスタシアとおとなりAnasutashia to Otonari2000-0810

Others

Title Title SeriesPublisherFormReleaseISBNrefRemark
Flower Evening Twilight花宵闇Papermoon sōshoShinshokanB51982-0515
Letter of Chrysanthemum菊花の便りShinchō comicShinchoshaA51992-1215
Brotherhood Duties兄弟仁義Papermoon comicsShinshokan-1981-Collaboration