Person: Urasawa Naoki

Urasawa Naoki, born January 2, 1960 in Tokyo, Japan, is a manga artist. He graduated from Meisei University with a degree in economics. In 2008, Urasawa had a guest teaching post at Nagoya Zokei University, where he taught classes on manga.

He made his professional manga debut with Return in 1981. Three of his series have been adapted into anime: Yawara! A Fashionable Judo Girl (1986-1993), Master Keaton (1988-1994), and Monster (1994-2001). Arguably his most notable work, 20th Century Boys (2000-2006), was made into a three-part movie series, which were released in 2008 and 2009. He has received the Shogakukan Manga Award three times, the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize twice, and the Kodansha Manga Award once. As a storyteller, his most distinctive characteristics are his dense, multi-layered, interconnecting narratives, his mastery of suspense, clever homages to classic manga & anime and a frequent use of German characters and settings.

In 2008 the winner of the Pulitzer Prize for fiction Junot Diaz praised Monster series and added that "Urasawa is a national treasure in Japan." In December 2009 8th Viz Media released his Monster Box Set 1.

As a hobby Urasawa is also the vocalist and guitarist of a rock band. He released his debut single Tsuki ga Tottemo... in 2008 and his debut album Half Century Man in 2009.

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