Yuhki Kamatani: Difference between revisions

'''Yuhki Kamatani''' (鎌谷 悠希, ''Kamatani Yūki'') is a Japanese manga artist and illustrator, best known for their series ''Nabari no Ou'' (隠の王, ''Nabari no Ō'', lit. ''Ruler of Nabari''), published by Square Enix.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/4757515626|script-title=ja:リベラメンテ―鎌谷悠希短編集|publisher=Amazon.com|language=Japanese|accessdate=July 2, 2009}}</ref>

In a 2018 interview, Kamatani described the pain they faced in their teenage years due to their own [[identity]] struggles.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/jp/ryoyamaguchi/shimanami-manga|script-title=ja:「お前、ホモなの？」疑われた高校生、失った居場所。描いた漫画家の過去とは|last=Yamaguchi|first=Ryo|date=9 February 2018|work=BuzzFeed News|accessdate=May 1, 2018|language=Japanese}}</ref> These experiences are somewhat reflected in Kamatani's ''Shimanami Tasogare,'' which according to Rachel Matt Thorn marks "probably the first time that I can think of where an actual trans person is talking about [trans experiences] or portraying [them]" outside of the essay manga format.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kaiser|first=Vrai|title=Chatty AF 21: Wandering Son Retrospective|work=Anime Feminist (podcast)|publisher=Anime Feminist|date=September 3, 2017|at=1:03:45|url=https://www.animefeminist.com/podcast-chatty-af-21-wandering-son-retrospective/|accessdate=May 2, 2018}}</ref>

Kamatani's manga frequently features characters in transitional life stages and issues regarding identity and marginalization.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.animefeminist.com/creator-spotlight-art-as-discovery-art-as-hope-yuhki-kamatani-x-gender-and-asexual-mangaka/|title=[Creator Spotlight] Art as Discovery, Art as Hope: Yuhki Kamatani, x-gender and asexual mangaka|website=Anime Feminist|accessdate=June 29, 2018}}</ref> They cite Moto Hagio as a major inspiration; like Hagio, their manga often explores gender and visual metaphor.<ref name=":2" />

Kamatani's debut work, ''Nabari no Ou'', was a "modern ninja manga"<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-07-08/nabari-no-ou-manga-to-end-in-14th-volume-in-japan|title=Nabari no Ou Manga to End in 14th Volume in Japan|last=Loo|first=Egan|date=July 8, 2010|website=Anime News Network|access-date=}}</ref> about a seemingly ordinary teenage boy whose body contains an omnipotent ninja power that hidden ninja clans battle to claim.<ref name=":1" /> It was a finalist under the Story Manga division in the ninth Japan Media Arts Festival in 2005 and was ultimately recommended by the committee.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://plaza.bunka.go.jp/english/festival/2005/recommend/magazine.php|title=2005 9th Japan Media Arts Festival|accessdate=June 1, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080403234518/http://plaza.bunka.go.jp/english/festival/2005/recommend/magazine.php|archive-date=April 3, 2008|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The first volume of an English translation of the manga was released in May 2009 by Yen Press.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://yenpress.us/?page_id=450|title=Nabari no Ou|publisher=Yen Press|accessdate=June 1, 2008}}</ref> The 14th and final volume was published in Japan in 2011<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4757531346/|title=隠の王(14)|website=Amazon.com|accessdate=May 8, 2018}}</ref> and in the United States in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.b2c.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/none/nabari-no-ou-vol-14/9780316204866/?yen|title=Nabari No Ou, Vol. 14|publisher=Hachette Book Group|accessdate=May 8, 2018}}</ref> Kamatani worked with J.C.Staff to create a 26-episode anime adaptation of ''Nabari no Ou''. Directed by Kunihisa Sugishima, the series aired in Japan on TV Tokyo in 2008.

''Shounen Note: Days of Evanescence'' (少年ノート, ''Shōnen Nōto'') was published by Kodansha, serialized in their seinen ''Monthly Morning Two'' magazine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://morning.moae.jp/lineup/105|title=少年ノート|publisher=Kodansha|accessdate=May 8, 2018}}</ref> The story follows a boy soprano with an angelic voice and his life as a member of his middle school choir.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.j-mediaarts.jp/en/festival/2013/manga/works/17mj_Shonen_Note/|title=Shonen Note (The Boy's Note)|publisher=Japan Media Arts Festival|accessdate=May 8, 2018}}</ref> Kodansha published eight volumes in Japan from 2011 to 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4063870197/|title=少年ノート(1)|website=Amazon.com|accessdate=May 8, 2018}}</ref> In 2013, the manga was a Jury Selection for the 17th Japan Media Arts Festival.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.j-mediaarts.jp/en/festival/2013/manga/|title=17th Japan Media Arts Festival {{!}} Manga Division|publisher=Japan Media Arts Festival|accessdate=May 8, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4063883574/|title=少年ノート(8)<完>|website=Amazon.com|accessdate=May 8, 2018}}</ref>

''Busshi no Busshin: Kamakura Hanbun Busshiroku'' (ぶっしのぶっしん 鎌倉半分仏師録) is a historical fantasy manga published by Square Enix and serialized in its digital magazine ''Gangan Online''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ganganonline.com/contents/busshino/|title=ぶっしのぶっしん 鎌倉半分仏師録|website=Gangan Online|accessdate=May 8, 2018}}</ref> The first volume was published in Japan in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4757543638/|title=ぶっしのぶっしん 鎌倉半分仏師録(1)|website=Amazon.com|accessdate=May 8, 2018}}</ref>

In ''Shimanami Tasogare'' (しまなみ誰そ彼), set in Onomichi, Hiroshima, Kamatani depicts [[queer]] characters coming to terms with their identity. Shogakukan published four ''tankōbon'' volumes from December 11, 2015 to July 19, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogakukan.co.jp/books/09187419|script-title=ja:しまなみ誰そ彼　1|publisher=Shogakukan|accessdate=August 8, 2018|language=Japanese}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogakukan.co.jp/books/09860040|script-title=ja:しまなみ誰そ彼　4|publisher=Shogakukan|accessdate=August 8, 2018|language=Japanese}}</ref>

Seven Seas Entertainment licensed the manga for North American release under the title ''Our Dreams at Dusk: Shimanami Tasogare'', beginning on May 7, 2019, stating "[Shimanami Tasogare] manages to represent so many different ways that people shape their identities and find their unique spaces, which is something anyone can relate to. It’s no wonder this compelling drama has resonated with so many people."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sevenseasentertainment.com/2018/06/29/seven-seas-celebrates-pride-month-with-powerful-lgbt-manga-shimanami-tasogare/|title=Seven Seas Celebrates Pride Month with Powerful LGBT+ Manga SHIMANAMI TASOGARE|website=Seven Seas Entertainment|accessdate=June 29, 2018}}</ref>

Kamatani returned to Kodansha's ''Monthly Morning Two'' with ''Hiraeth wa Tabiji no Hate: The End of the Journey'' (ヒラエスは旅路の果て), starting October 22, 2020. The story follows a god, an immortal man, and a girl who wants to die so she can reunite with a friend.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Our Dreams At Dusk's Yuhki Kamatani Launches New Manga in October|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-09-23/our-dreams-at-dusk-yuhki-kamatani-launches-new-manga-in-october/.164340|access-date=2020-10-23|website=Anime News Network|language=en}}</ref>

''Liberamente'' (リベラメンテ), a collection of fantasy manga short stories, was published in 2005 by Square Enix.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4757515626/|title=リベラメンテ―鎌谷悠希短編集|website=Amazon.com|accessdate=May 8, 2018}}</ref>

Manga short stories by Kamatani have appeared in several official ''Touken Ranbu'' anthologies published by Shogakukan and Square Enix.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.shogakukan.co.jp/books/09187387|title=刀剣乱舞－ＯＮＬＩＮＥ－　アンソロジー～ヒバナ散らせ、刀剣男士～|website=Shogakukan|accessdate=May 8, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.shogakukan.co.jp/books/09187824|title=刀剣乱舞－ＯＮＬＩＮＥ－　アンソロジー　～ヒバナ舞え、刀剣男士～|website=Shogakukan|accessdate=May 8, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://magazine.jp.square-enix.com/top/comics/detail/9784757547063/|title=刀剣乱舞-ONLINE-アンソロジーコミック～刀剣男士幕間劇～|website=Square-Enix.com|accessdate=May 8, 2018}}</ref>