Nana Komatsu is a young woman who's endured an unending string of boyfriend problems. Moving to Tokyo, she's hoping to take control of her life and put all those messy misadventures behind her. She's looking for love and she's hoping to find it in the big city. Nana Osaki, on the other hand, is cool, confident and focused. She swaggers into town and proceeds to kick down the doors to Tokyo's underground punk scene. She's got a dream and won't give up until she becomes Japan's No. 1 rock'n'roll superstar. This is the story of two 20-year-old women who share the same name. Even though they come from completely different backgrounds, they somehow meet and become best friends. The world of Nana is a world exploding with sex, music, fashion, gossip and all-night parties.
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Book Description
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Nana, Japan's most popular shojo (girl's) manga, is appearing in English for the first time. Nana Komatsu is a flaky young woman who's just emerged from an emotionally devastating affair with an older, married man. She dreams of a perfect romantic love, like in the movies, but her best friend, Junko, counsels her that it might be time to try being friends with a guy instead of just falling in love with him. So when she meets Shoji, Nana is determined to be completely platonic, despite Shoji's interest. Meanwhile, Nana Osaki, a high school dropout, is rocking onstage as lead singer of a punk band and offstage with the band's guitarist, Ren. When Ren alone is offered a recording contract, Nana decides not to go to Tokyo with him. She wants to prove to herself that she can be a star without Ren. Both Nanas find their way to Tokyo, where this first issue sets them up, leaving later volumes to unfold the complexities of their entwined destinies. Despite the soap opera surface, Yazawa's art is graceful and naturalistic, portraying all of the characters, both main and supporting, with such depth and care that you cannot help being drawn in. (Dec.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
About the Author
Ai Yazawa is the creator of many popular manga titles, including Tenshi Nanka Janai (I'm No Angel) and Gokinjo Monogatari (Neighborhood Story). Another series, Kagen no Tsuki (Last Quarter), was made into a live-action movie and released in late 2004. American readers were introduced to Yazawa's stylish and sexy storytelling in 2002 when her title Paradise Kiss was translated into English. Nana has become the all-time best selling shojo title from Japanese publishing giant, Shueisha. Cumulative sales from the first 12 graphic novels have sold more than 22 million copies and the series even garnered a Shogakukan Manga Award in the Girls' category in 2003. A live-action Nana movie hit Japanese theaters in the fall of 2005.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I am definitely going to be a fan for all volumes...,
By Nichole Beaulieu (new york, ny) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Nana, Volume 1 (v. 1) (Comic)
I simply adore this manga.
Huge in Japan, NANA recently made the swim across the Pacific to US markets, and horray for that! 20-something Nana Komatsu is your average charming 'hopeless good girl,' an aimless graduate trying to find direction, survive self-doubt, and a string of never-ending boyfriends. Nana Osaki is nearly the opposite: a cool, confident, focused lead singer of her own punk band and dealing with internal longing for success and the only man she loves. This first volume fills in the details of their lives and how it is that they later came to be on the same train to Tokyo, where despite their obvious differences, they soon become roommates and the best of friends in one of the most charming and endearing storylines ever. This is not necessarily what American audiences think of when they think of manga (Japanese comics). It's not rockets or robots shooting up the old west, or cowboys in deep space. Instead NANA is a more down-to-earth read about growing up, aspirations, relationships and a more intimate side of two contemporary heroines. The title falls under the term 'shojo' and it's like 'chick-lit' manga - except for a slightly mature audience. This particular series is not for young kids as it has an amount of sex and adult socializing, but NANA is a really good read!! Forget feeling silly, or feeling like you're 'too grown up' to read comic books! Artist Ai Yazawa has created a story and artwork that is both delicate and nicely stylized. It's a pleasure to read, doesn't force unrealistic circumstances down your throat, but rather engages and endears. Most of all, it's just as enjoyable the second time around... and there aren't many 'chick-lit' or even manga books that can claim that. I understand that in Japan, NANA is such a sensation that fans have named cafes and clubs after it, demanded and purchased a NANA video game, and there has been a live-action movie (I'd definitely see that). I've read the first novel and kept up on the serialized version in various magazines. I'm already convinced I'm going to be a fan for all volumes... Read with confidence, NANA is an enjoyable guilty pleasure - like getting the uber-large super mocha latte...
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Two roads diverted in a wood...,
By Karusichan "Karusichan" (Lansing, MI. USA.) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Nana, Volume 1 (v. 1) (Comic)
Nana Komatsu has had a string of bad luck when it comes to men. One right after another she falls into desperate love with them and ends up heartbroken and alone. So when her most recent relationship with Takashi Asano (age 29) ends in his moving to Tokyo she doesn't know what to do. Having applied at an art college with her friend Jun she bobs her hair and sets out for a new life and a new attitude. Of course the first thing that happens when she enters class is she falls in love with Shoji Endo, an amenable fellow who knows Jun from Junior High. He introduces the two too Kyosuke Takakura, his friend, and everything seems to be going ok. Jun points out Nana's attraction and accounts it to be the reason why Nana has no male friends, which Nana resolves to change. From then on she refuses to see men as object and vows to befriend them. This puts a cramp in Shoji's plans, who actually is attracted to Nana. Things become even more complicated when Jun surrenders to her mutual attraction to Kyosuke. Nana thinks this is betrayal, but actually does feel as if she is growing from her male friendships. When the group decides to apply to art colleges in Tokyo Nana is the only one who is rejected. She goes on a scouting trip anyways where she has a fight with Shoji and then ends up running into Takashi and making amends all around. Things with Shoji end up so intense that they manage to maintain a long distance relationship while she works and is determined to reapply to the Tokyo schools the following year. Enter an entirely different Nana. Nana Osaki lives with her boyfriend and band mate Ren Honjo. Fronting a punk band has her feeling good about her past, a childhood where she grew up apart from her parents, alone and unwanted. Suddenly Ren is afforded this great opportunity to make it in the music industry by joining another band as their bassist, and he decides to take it. Nana decides to wait until she is better prepared to follow, but in the end she packs her bags and heads off to Tokyo. The series is interesting, especially with the two points of view on life. I imagine the two Nanas will meet up together, but from there I don't know quite what to expect. Will they be friends? Enemies? Lovers? Who knows. It is obvious that these two will meet up in Tokyo, but how it will go from there is unknown. I admire some of the art.... I do stress some though. There are parts that are beautifully drawn, and then there are some parts that are just not well done...and the super tall and skinny frames of the main characters are a touch exaggerated at times for my taste. Overall though, a decent read. I will probably check more of this series out in the future. For now though we must all be content with the two that are available, thus far.
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nana...,
This review is from: Nana, Volume 1 (v. 1) (Comic)
Nana is a story of two girls who meet on a train to Tokyo and become fast friends. The first volume in this 14+ volume series introduces us to the girls (both are named Nana, which means seven in Japanese) to their friends, and the loves of their lives.
Nana is by the same manga-ka who did Paradise Kiss, and it is a manga more concerned with day to day lives of the characters and their interactions. The art style is very unique and very beautiful. Yazawa carefully constructs three dimensional characters that one comes to care about. Nana Komatsu is a boy-crazy artist wannabe who follows her boyfriend to Tokyo. She is a bit airheaded, but not stupid. She is aware that her sometimes foolish ways can get her into trouble and she's quite superstitious, citing that the Demon King is out to punish her for her deeds. Nana Osaki is a singer in a rock group. She goes to Tokyo to pursue a singing career. She is more levelheaded and serious. When these two girls meet, they hit it off immediately and by coincidence become roommates. The story chronicles their friendships, hardships and so forth. This type of manga is usually classified as Shojo, because it generally appeals to females. The rating will probably be older teen because this series deals frankly with issues like sex, though it is never gratuitous. Nana will probably appeal to those who like Paradise Kiss or any of Ai Yazawa's other work. Here's hoping that Nana being translated means that Yazawa's other work like Gokinjo make it over here as well.
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