Uta Isaki
Japanese manga artist
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Uta Isaki (Japanese: 伊咲ウタ, Hepburn: Isaki Uta) is a Japanese manga artist and illustrator. They debuted in 2008 and began their first series, Sayabito: Swords of Destiny, in Good! Afternoon in 2009, where it was serialized until 2013. They later created Generation Witch, which was serialized in Monthly Comic Rex from 2013 to 2016, and Is Love the Answer?, which was serialized in Hatsu Kiss from 2020 to 2021.
| Uta Isaki 伊咲ウタ | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 14 Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan |
| Area | Manga artist |
Notable works | |
Biography
Isaki was born in Shizuoka Prefecture on February 14.[1] They became interested in becoming a manga artist in kindergarten, when they read Swan.[2] They later attended and graduated from Osaka University of Arts.[3] In 2008, they won the grand prize at the Afternoon Shiki Awards.[4]
On March 5, 2009, Isaki began serializing their first series, Sayabito: Swords of Destiny, in Kodansha's Good! Afternoon magazine.[5] It completed its serialization on March 7, 2013.[6] It has been published in English digitally by Kodansha USA.[7] Their next series, Generation Witch, began serialization in Ichijinsha's magazine Monthly Comic Rex on December 27, 2013.[8] Its serialization was completed on April 27, 2016.[9] Seven Seas Entertainment is publishing the series in English.[10]
In 2016, Isaki serialized Katsuji Chūgoku-sha no ma hon Tansaku, Aruiwa Ura Toshokon no Koto: Mahotan in Nakayoshi.[11] Isaki began serializing their next series, Bukimi no Tani no Roboko-san, in Dengeki Daioh on August 26, 2017.[12] It completed its serialization on February 27, 2019.[13] They also published "Kamiyui" in Éclair: A Girls' Love Anthology That Resonates in Your Heart in 2016 and "Mishin" in its 2017 sequel Éclair Blanche.[14][15]
Is Love the Answer?, Isaki's next series, began serialization in Kodansha's Hatsu Kiss magazine on August 25, 2020.[16] Its serialization was completed on January 25, 2021.[17] Kodansha USA published it in English.[18] In October 2023, Irodori Comics crowdfunded an English release of Isaki Uta: The Lost and Found Collection, collecting "Mermaid in the Bottle", "Leapers", "Mine-kun Is Asexual", and "Silkscreen", four doujinshi (self-published) works by Isaki.[19] At Anime NYC 2023, Kodansha USA announced that Isaki's next series, The Spellbook Library, would be published in English first on their website.[20]
Style
Isaki is often noted for their works related to LGBTQ topics and gender expression,[21][19] though they also have many works with other themes.[22]
Influences
Isaki has cited the works of Yuri Narushima as an influence on their work, particularly in how to depict characters.[23]
Works
Series
| Title | Year | Magazine | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sayabito: Swords of Destiny | 2009–2013 | Good! Afternoon | [5][6] | |
| Generation Witch | 2013–2016 | Monthly Comic Rex | [8][9] | |
| Katsuji Chūgoku-sha no ma hon Tansaku, Aruiwa Ura Toshokon no Koto: Mahotan | 2016 | Nakayoshi | [11] | |
| Bukimi no Tani no Roboko-san | 2017–2019 | Dengeki Daioh | [12][13] | |
| Is Love the Answer? | 2020–2021 | Hatsu Kiss | [16][17] | |
| The Spellbook Library | 2023–2026 | N/a | [20][24] | |
Short works
| Title | Year | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Kamiyui" | 2016 | Included in the anthology Éclair: A Girls' Love Anthology That Resonates in Your Heart | [14] |
| "Mishin" | 2017 | Included in the anthology Éclair Blanche | [15] |
| "Leapers" | 2018 | Included in the anthology Isaki Uta: The Lost and Found Collection | [19] |
| "Mermaid in the Bottle" | 2019 | Included in the anthology Isaki Uta: The Lost and Found Collection | [19] |
| "Mine-kun Is Asexual" | 2019 | Included in the anthology Isaki Uta: The Lost and Found Collection | [19] |
| "Kimi wa Tokubetsu Nako" | 2020 | Published in Comic Polaris | [25] |
| "Silkscreen" | 2020 | Included in the anthology Isaki Uta: The Lost and Found Collection | [19] |