Hideo Azuma

Japanese manga artist (1950–2019)

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Hideo Azuma

吾妻 ひでお

Born|

吾妻 日出夫 (Azuma Hideo)

(1950-02-06)6 February 1950

Urahoro, Hokkaidō, Japan

Died| 13 October 2019(2019-10-13) (aged 69)

Tokyo, Japan

Nationality| Japanese
Occupation| Manga artist
Years active| 1969–2019
Works| Nanako SOS
Little Pollon
Movement| Lolicon
Awards| see below

Hideo Azuma (吾妻 ひでお, Azuma Hideo, February 6, 1950 – October 13, 2019) was a Japanese manga artist. Azuma made his professional debut in 1969 in the Akita Shoten manga magazine Manga Ō. He was most well known for his science fiction lolicon-themed works appearing in magazines such as Weekly Shōnen Champion, as well as children's comedy series such as Nanako SOS and Little Pollon (which both became anime television series in the early 1980s). He has been called the "father of lolicon".[1]

In 2005 he published an autobiographical manga titled Disappearance Diary that has won several awards including the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize. His name is also sometimes romanized Hideo Aduma.

## Career[edit]

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### Early years[edit]

While attending Hokkaidō Urahoro High School, Azuma participated in the Hokkaidō branch office of COM, along with other artists such as Monkey Punch and Fumiko Okada. In 1968, after graduating from high school, he moved to Tokyo and found employment with Toppan Printing. He left this job after three months to work as an assistant to manga artist Rentarō Itai, where he did uncredited work for Weekly Shōnen Sunday on series such as Mini Mini Manga.

Azuma made his professional debut in 1969 in Manga Ō with his work Ringside Crazy. The following year he quit working as an assistant and doing his own work. He gradually expanded his work to include both shōjo and seinen manga. His first works tended to be light gag manga, though he began to include science fiction elements influenced by his being a fan of the New Hollywood movement in American film. It was during this period that he experimented a lot with one panel manga (as opposed to four panel).

Beginning in 1972, Azuma began rising in popularity due to the off-color humor in his Weekly Shōnen Champion series Futari to 5-nin. He also married his assistant the same year, with whom he had a daughter in 1980 and a son in 1983. His wife was credited as "Assistant A" in his works, and his daughter and son were respectively credited as "Assistant B" and "Assistant C".

### Boom period[edit]

Azuma began serializing in 1975 his story Yakekuso Tenshi in the semimonthly manga magazine Play Comic. He also began publishing science fiction themed works in many different niche magazines such as Kisō Tengai and Peke. Azuma, together with Jun Ishikawa, is considered part of the manga creators in the 1970s. Due to works such as science fiction novel parody Fujōri Nikki, published in Bessatsu Kisō Tengai in 1978, Azuma began to gain a large following among science fiction fans. Fujōri Nikki was awarded the 1979 Seiun Award for Best Comic of the Year. In 1979, Azuma was a major contributor to the first issue of the dōjinshi series Cybele [ja], which is credited with launching the lolicon genre.[2][3]

From there, he began publishing in magazines such as Shōjo Alice, becoming a fixture in the pornographic lolicon manga business and becoming very involved in otaku culture.

### Downfall and late career[edit]

In the late 1980s and into the 1990s, due to stress from his hectic and demanding schedule during 20 years (to that point) as a manga artist, Azuma began drinking heavily, disappeared twice for several months to over a year, attempted suicide at least once, and was finally forcibly committed to an alcohol rehabilitation program.[1][4][5]

In 2005, he published a manga journal of this experience titled Disappearance Diary. The manga won several awards, including the prestigious Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize, and it was translated into English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Russian and Polish.

Azuma died in hospital on October 13, 2019 due to esophageal cancer at the age of 69.[6]

## Works[edit]

### Manga[edit]

* Futari to 5-nin (1974–1976, 12 volumes, Shōnen Champion Comics, Akita Shoten)
* Shikkomōrō Hakase (1976, 1 volume, Sun Comics, Asahi Sonorama)
* Oshaberi Love (1976–1977, 2 volumes, Princess Comics, Akita Shoten)
* Olympus no Pollon (1977, 2 volumes, Princess Comics, Akita Shoten)
* anime adaptation Ochamegami Monogatari Koro Koro Pollon in 1982-1983
* manga reprinted in 2005-2007 by Hayakawa Shoten
* Eight Beat (1977, 2 volumes, Sun Comics, Asahi Sonorama)
* Kimagure Gokū (1977, 2 volumes, Sun Comics, Asahi Sonorama)
* Midare Moko (1977, 1 volume, Power Comics, Futabasha)
* Chibi Mama-chan (1977–1978, 2 volumes, Shōnen Champion Comics, Akita Shoten)
* Chokkin (1977–1978, 4 volumes, Shōnen Champion Comics, Akita Shoten)
* Yakekuso Tenshi (1977–1980, 5 volumes, Akita Manga Bunko, Akita Shoten)
* Nemuta-kun (1978, 2 volumes, KC Comics, Kodansha)
* Sexy Ai (1978, 1 volume, Sun Comics, Asahi Sonorama)
* Fujōri Nikki (1979, Kisō Tengai Comics, Kisō Tengai)
* Kyūketsuki-chan (1979, Kisō Tengai Comics, Kisō Tengai)
* Parallel Kyōshitsu (1979, Kisō Tengai Comics, Kisō Tengaisha)
* Animal Company (1980, My Comics, Tokyo Sanseisha)
* Azuma Hideo Sakuhinshū 1: Methyl Metaphysic (1980, Kisō Tengai Comics, Kisō Tengai)
* Azuma Hideo Sakuhinshū 2: Gansaku Hideo Hakkenden (1980, Akita Shoten)
* Azuma Hideo Sakuhinshū 3: Kakutō Family (1980, Kisō Tengai Comics, Kisō Tengai)
* Azuma Hideo Sakuhinshū 4: The Iroppuru (1980, Kisō Tengai Comics, Kisō Tengai)
* Mimi (1980, Sun Comics, Asahi Sonorama)
* Ningen Shikkaku (1980, My Comics, Tokyo Sanseisha)
* Tobe Tobe Donkey (1980, Princess Comics, Akita Shoten)
* Yadorigi-kun (1980, Shōnen Champion Comics, Akita Shoten)
* Brat Bunny (1980–1982, 2 volumes, Animage Comics, Tokuma Shoten)
* Hizashi (1981, hardcover, Kisō Tengaisha)
* Mahō Tsukai Chappy (1981, Animage Comics, Tokuma Shoten) - manga adaptation of the 1972 magical girl anime series by Toei Animation; not an original Azuma character
* Mia-chan Kannō Shashinshū (1981, Jihi Shuppan)
* Paper Night (1981, Shōnen Shōjo SF Manga Kyōsaku Daizenshū Zōkangō, Tokyo Sanseisha)
* Suki! Suki!! Majo Sensei (1981, Animage Comics, Tokuma Shoten)
* Yōsei no Mori (1981, Torauma Shobō)
* Scrap Gakuen (1981–1983, 3 volumes, Akita Shoten Manga Bunko, Akita Shoten)
* Butsu Butsu Bōkenki (1982, My Comics, Tokyo Sanseisha)
* Chocolate Derringer (1982, Play Comic Series, Akita Shoten)
* Hyper Doll (1982, Play Comic Series, Akita Shoten)
* Jinginaki Kuroi Taiyō Lolicon-hen (Lolicon Daizenshū) (1982-05-31, Gun'yūsha Shuppan)
* published in Minity-Yamū (1984-12-30, Play Comic Series, Akita Shoten)
* Magical Land no Ōjo-tachi (1982, Sanrio)
* Umi kara Kita Kikai (1982, Kisō Tengaisha)
* Yakekuso Mokushiroku (1982, Sun Comics, Asahi Sonorama)
* Mia-chan Love World (1983, Best Hit Series, Akita Shoten)
* Ochamegami Monogatari: Koro Koro Pollon (1983, anime version, 100-ten Land Comics, Futabasha)
* Nanako SOS (1983–1986, 5 volumes, Just Comic Zōkan, Kobunsha)
* anime adaptation in 1983, also known as Nana Supergirl (Italy), Supernana (France)
* Majunia Eve (1984, Play Comic Series, Akita Shoten)
* Hideo Collection 1: Hideo Dōwashū (1984, Action Comics, Futabasha)
* Hideo Collection 2: Jūgatsu no Sora (1984, Action Comics, Futabasha)
* Minity-Yamū (1984, Play Comic Series, Akita Shoten)
* Hideo Collection 3: Sumire Kōnen (1985, Action Comics, Futabasha)
* Hideo Collection 4: Tenkai no Utage (1985, Action Comics, Futabasha)
* Hideo Collection 5: Daibōkenko (1985, Action Comics, Futabasha)
* Hideo Collection 6: Taiyō wa Mata Noboru (1985, Action Comics, Futabasha)
* Hideo Collection 7: Tokimeki Alice (1985, Action Comics, Futabasha)
* Hideo Land 1: Amazing Marie (1985, Play Comic Series, Akita Shoten)
* Maku no Machi Death Match!! (1985, ISBN 4-592-13065-0, Jets Comics, Hakusensha)
* Pulp-chan no Daibōken (1985, Pulp Comics, Pulp)
* Oh! Azuma (1995, ISBN 4-8211-9440-6, Bunka Comics, Bunkasha)
* Ginga Hōrō (1995–1997, 2 volumes, Mag Comics, Magazine House)
* Azumania vol.1-3 (1996, Hayakawa Shoten)
* Crush Okusan (1998–2002, 2 volumes, Bunkasha Comics, Bunkasha)
* Azuma Hideo no Fujiyūjō (1999, Mandarake)
* Futsukayoi Dandy (1999, ISBN 4-8387-1138-7, Mag Comics, Magazine House)
* Alien Eri (2000, ISBN 4-8211-9819-3, Bunkasha Comics, Bunkasha)
* Sanchoku Azuma Magazine 1 (2001-current, Jihi Shuppan)
* Disappearance Diary (Shissō Nikki) (2005, East Press, ISBN 4-87257-533-4)
* Nanako SOS (2005, Hayakawa Shoten, reprint)
* Benriya Mimi-chan (2006, Bunkasha, ISBN 4-8211-8351-X)
* Tokimeki Alice Teihon (2006, Chikuma Shuppansha, ISBN 4-8050-0455-X)
* Utsu Utsu Gideo Nikki (2006, Kadokawa Shoten, ISBN 4-04-853977-9)
* Yoru no Tobari no Naka de Azuma Hideo Sakuhinjō (2006, Chikuma Shuppansha, ISBN 4-8050-0456-8)
* Neo Azumania vol.1-3 (2006–2007, Hayakawa Shoten)
* Tōbō Nikki (an interview-style autobiography) (2007, Nihon Bungeisha, ISBN 4-537-25465-3)
* The Ward of Alcoholics (Shissō Nikki 2) (2013, East Press, ISBN 978-4-78-161072-6)

### Books[edit]

* Nanako My Love: Azuma Hideo Illust Book (1983, Just Comic Zōkan, Kobunsha)
* Yo no Sakana: Ohta Comics Geijutsu Manga Sōsho (1992, ISBN 4-87233-074-9, Ohta Books)

## Awards[edit]

* 1979: Seiun Award for Fujōri Nikki
* 2005: Grand Prize, Manga Division, 9th Japan Media Arts Awards for Shissō Nikki[7]
* 2006: Grand Prize, Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize for Shissō Nikki[8]
* 2008: Selection, Angoulême International Comics Festival for Shissō Nikki[9]

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b Brienza, Casey (2008-06-06). "Review: Disappearance Diary". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2008-11-22.
2. ^ Galbraith, Patrick W. (2019). "Seeking an Alternative: "Male" Shōjo Fans since the 1970s". In Berndt, Jaqueline; Nagaike, Kazumi; Ōgi, Fusami (eds.). Shōjo across media : exploring "girl" practices in contemporary Japan. Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-3-030-01485-8. OCLC 1088436403.
3. ^ Galbraith, Patrick W. (2011). "Lolicon: The Reality of 'Virtual Child Pornography' in Japan". Image & Narrative. 12 (1).
4. ^ Sizemore, Ed (2008-09-03). "Disappearance Diary". Comics Worth Reading. Archived from the original on 2008-10-14. Retrieved 2008-11-22.
5. ^ McElhatton, Greg (2008-10-27). "Disappearance Diary". Read About Comics. Retrieved 2008-11-22.
6. ^ "Prolific Manga Creator Hideo Azuma Passes Away at 69". Anime News Network. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
7. ^ "9th Japanese Media Arts Festival Winners". Anime News Network. 2005-12-22. Retrieved 2008-11-22.
8. ^ "Tezuka Cultural Award Winners". Anime News Network. 2006-05-11. Retrieved 2008-11-22.
9. ^ "OFFICIAL SELECTION 2008". Angoulême International Comics Festival. Archived from the original on 2008-11-20. Retrieved 2008-11-22.

## External links[edit]

* (in Japanese) Azuma Hideo Official Homepage

* v
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Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize

Grand Prize|

| 1990s|

* Fujiko Fujio for Doraemon (1997)
* Jiro Taniguchi and Natsuo Sekikawa for the trilogy Bocchan No Jidai (1998)
* Naoki Urasawa for Monster (1999)

|

2000s|

* Daijiro Morohoshi for Saiyū Yōenden (2000)
* Reiko Okano and Baku Yumemakura for Onmyōji (2001)
* Takehiko Inoue for Vagabond (2002)
* Fumiko Takano for The Yellow Book: A Friend Named Jacques Thibault (2003)
* Kyoko Okazaki for Helter Skelter (2004)
* Naoki Urasawa for Pluto (2005)
* Hideo Azuma for Disappearance Diary (2006)
* Ryoko Yamagishi for Terpsichora (2007)
* Masayuki Ishikawa for Moyashimon (2008)
* Fumi Yoshinaga for Ōoku: The Inner Chambers and Yoshihiro Tatsumi for A Drifting Life (2009)

2010s|

* Yoshihiro Yamada for Hyouge Mono (2010)
* Motoka Murakami for Jin and Issei Eifuku and Taiyō Matsumoto for Takemitsuzamurai (2011)
* Hitoshi Iwaaki for Historie (2012)
* Yasuhisa Hara for Kingdom (2013)
* Chica Umino for March Comes in like a Lion (2014)
* Yoiko Hoshi for Aisawa Riku (2015)
* Kei Ichinoseki for Hanagami Sharaku and Kiyohiko Azuma for Yotsuba&! (2016)
* Fusako Kuramochi for Hana ni Somu (2017)
* Satoru Noda for Golden Kamuy (2018)
* Shinobu Arima for Jitterbug The Forties (2019)

2020s|

* Kan Takahama for Nyx no Lantern (2020)
* Kazumi Yamashita for Land (2021)
* Uoto for Orb: On the Movements of the Earth (2022)
* Kiwa Irie for Yuria-sensei no Akai Ito (2023)

Special
Award|

| 1990s|

* Toshio Naiki (1997)
* Shotaro Ishinomori (1998)
* Fusanosuke Natsume (1999)

|

2000s|

* Frederik L. Schodt (2000)
* Akira Maruyuma (2001)
* Shigeru Mizuki (2003)
* Tarō Minamoto (2004)
* Kawasaki City Museum (2005)
* Kousei Ono (2006)
* International Institute for Children's Literature, Osaka Prefecture (2008)

2010s|

* Yoshihiro Yonezawa (2010)
* Weekly Shōnen Jump (2012)
* Fujiko Fujio (A) (2014)
* Chikako Mitsuhashi for Chiisana Koi no Monogatari (2015)
* Kyoto International Manga Museum (2016)
* Osamu Akimoto for Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo (2017)
* Tetsuya Chiba for Ashita no Joe (2018)
* Takao Saito for Golgo 13 (2019)

2020s|

* Machiko Hasegawa for Sazae-san (2020)
* Koyoharu Gotouge for Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (2021)
* Kazuo Umezu for Zoku Shingo: Chiisana Robot Shingo Bijutsukan (2023)

Award for
Excellence|

* Moto Hagio for A Cruel God Reigns (1997)
* Yūji Aoki for Naniwa Kin'yūdō (1998)
* Akira Sasō for Shindō (1999)
* Minetarō Mochizuki for Dragon Head (2000)
* Kotobuki Shiriagari for Yajikita in Deep (2001)
* Kentaro Miura for Berserk (2002)

Creative
Award|

* Yumi Hotta and Takeshi Obata for Hikaru no Go (2003)
* Takashi Morimoto for Naniwadora ihon (2004)
* Fumiyo Kōno for Town of Evening Calm, Country of Cherry Blossoms (2005)
* Asa Higuchi for Big Windup! (2006)
* Nobuhisa Nozoe, Kazuhisa Iwata and Kyojin Ōnishi for Shinsei Kigeki (2007)
* Toranosuke Shimada for Träumerei (2008)

New Artist
Prize|

* Suehiro Maruo for The Strange Tale of Panorama Island (2009)
* Haruko Ichikawa for Mushi to Uta (2010)
* Hiromu Arakawa for Fullmetal Alchemist (2011)
* Yu Itō for Shut Hell (2012)
* Miki Yamamoto for Sunny Sunny Ann! (2013)
* Machiko Kyō for Mitsuami no Kamisama (2014)
* Yoshitoki Ōima for A Silent Voice (2015)
* Yuki Andō for Machida-kun no Sekai (2016)
* Haruko Kumota for Descending Stories: Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju (2017)
* Paru Itagaki for Beastars (2018)
* Sansuke Yamada for Areyo Hoshikuzu (2019)
* Rettō Tajima for Mizu wa Umi ni Mukatte Nagareru (2020)
* Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe for Frieren (2021)
* Natsuko Taniguchi for Kyōshitsu no Katasumi de Seishun wa Hajimaru and Konya Sukiyaki da yo (2022)
* Ganpu for Danchōtei Nichijō (2023)

Short Story
Award|

* Hisaichi Ishii for Gendai Shisō no Sōnanshātachi (2003)
* Risu Akizuki for OL Shinkaron (2004)
* Rieko Saibara for Jōkyō Monogatari and Mainichi Kaasan (2005)
* Risa Itō for One Woman, Two Cats, Hey Pitan!, Onna no Mado (2006)
* Hiromi Morishita for Ōsaka Hamlet (2007)
* Yumiko Ōshima for Cher Gou-Gou...mon petit chat, mon petit ami (2008)
* Hikaru Nakamura for Saint Young Men (2009)
* Mari Yamazaki for Thermae Romae (2010)
* Keisuke Yamashina for C-kyū Salaryman Kōza, Papa wa Nanda ka Wakaranai (2011)
* Roswell Hosoki for Sake no Hosomichi (2012)
* Yoshiie Gōda for Love of Machine (2013)
* Yuki Shikawa for Onnoji (2014)
* Sensha Yoshida (2015)
* Tatsuya Nakazaki for Jimihen (2016)
* Kahoru Fukaya for Yomawari Neko (2017)
* Taro Yabe for Oya-san to Boku (2018)
* Ken Koyama for Little Miss P (2019)
* Yama Wayama for Captivated, by You (2020)
* Hiroko Nobara for Kieta Mama Tomo and Tsuma wa Kuchi o Kiite Kuremasen (2021)
* Izumi Okaya for Ii Toshi o and Hakumokuren wa Kirei ni Chiranai (2022)
* Ebine Yamaji for Onna no Ko ga Iru Basho wa (2023)

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