is a Japanese

manga artist A is a comic artist who writes and/or illustrates manga. As of 2006, about 3,000 professional manga artists were working in Japan. Most manga artists study at an art college or manga school or take on an apprenticeship with another artist be ...

born in Fukuoka (which became

Kamifukuoka was a city A city is a human settlement of notable size.Goodall, B. (1987) ''The Penguin Dictionary of Human Geography''. London: Penguin.Kuper, A. and Kuper, J., eds (1996) ''The Social Science Encyclopedia''. 2nd edition. London: Routledge. ...

in 1972 and then Fujimino in 2005),

Saitama Prefecture is a landlocked prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of Honshu. Saitama Prefecture has a population of 7,338,536 (1 January 2020) and has a geographic area of 3,797 km2 (1,466 sq mi). Saitama Prefecture borders Tochigi Prefecture ...

, Japan, though she grew up in

Mibu 270px, Mibu Toy Museum is a town located in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. , the town had an estimated population of 39,158 in 16,149 households, and a population density of 640 persons per km². The total area of the town is . Geography Mibu is l ...

, Shimotsuga,

Tochigi Prefecture is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of Honshu. Tochigi Prefecture has a population of 1,943,886 (1 June 2019) and has a geographic area of 6,408 Square kilometre, km2 (2,474 Square mile, sq mi). Tochigi ...

. Hiiragi currently resides in

Hakodate is a city and port located in Oshima Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the capital city of Oshima Subprefecture. As of July 31, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 279,851 with 143,221 households, and a population density of 412.8 ...

Hokkaidō is Japan's second largest island and comprises the largest and northernmost prefecture, making up its own region. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaidō from Honshu; the two islands are connected by the undersea railway Seikan Tunnel. The la ...

. Hiiragi made her

manga Manga (Japanese: 漫画 ) are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long prehistory in earlier Japanese art. The term ''manga'' is u ...

debut with ''Cobalt Blue no Hitoshizuku'' in the

manga magazine Manga (Japanese: 漫画 ) are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long prehistory in earlier Japanese art. The term ''manga'' is used ...

Ribon Original was a Japanese manga magazine published by Shueisha. It was a sister magazine of '' Ribon'', and was published from 1981 until 2006. New and up-and-coming ''Ribon'' manga artists A is a comic artist who writes and/or illustrates manga. As ...

'' in 1984. Many consider stories such as ''Hoshi no Hitomi no Silhouette'' and ''Gin'iro no Harmony'' to be her masterpieces. However, she is known for her ''

Whisper of the Heart is a 1995 Japanese animated romantic drama film directed by Yoshifumi Kondō and written by Hayao Miyazaki based on the 1989 manga of the same name by Aoi Hiiragi. It was animated by Studio Ghibli for Tokuma Shoten, Nippon Television Network ...

'' manga, which was made into an anime film by

Studio Ghibli is a Japanese animation studio headquartered in Koganei, Tokyo."Studio Ghibli Collection - Madman Entertainment". ''Studio Ghibli Collection - Madman Entertainment''. Retrieved 2020-12-14. It is best known for its animated feature films, and ha ...

. ''Baron, Neko no Danshaku'', was also animated by Studio Ghibli and released as ''

The Cat Returns is a 2002 Japanese animated fantasy film directed by Hiroyuki Morita, produced by Toshio Suzuki and Nozomu Takahashi, written by Reiko Yoshida, based on the manga ''The Cat Returns'' by Aoi Hiiragi, with music by Yuji Nomi, animated by Studio ...

''. While a sequel of sorts, it is not a continuation of the story found in ''Whisper''.

Bibliography

Manga

Series

*''Gin'iro no Harmony'' (''Ribon'', 1990–1992) *''Hoshi no Hitomi no Silhouette'' (''

Ribon is a monthly Japanese manga magazine published by Shueisha on the third of each month. First issued in August 1955, its rivals are ''Nakayoshi'' and '' Ciao''. Its target audience is girls roughly 8–14 years old. It is one of the best-s ...

'', 1985–1989) *''Hoshi no Hitomi no Silhouette Bangaihen'' **''Oinari-san Dai Panic'' (''Ribon'', 1988) **''Engage'' (''Ribon Original'', 1991) **''Engage II'' *''Kono Machi de Kimi ni (''

Margaret Margaret is a female first name, derived via French () and Latin () from grc, μαργαρίτης () meaning "pearl". The Greek is borrowed from Persian. Margaret has been an English name since the 11th century, and remained popular througho ...

'', 2002) *''"Okaa-san" no Jikan'' *''Peppermint Graffiti'' (''Ribon Original'', 1994) *'' Mimi wo Sumaseba'' (''Ribon'', 1989) *''Mimi wo Sumaseba: Shiawase na Jikan'' (''Ribon Original'', 1995) *''Smile!'' (''

'', 1998) *''Step'' (''Ribon'', 1993) *''Yuki no Sakura no Ki no Shita de...'' (''Bouquet'', 1997) *''Yume no Machi: Neko no Danshaku'' (''

'', 2002)

One-shots

*''Campus Sketch'' *''Cobalt Blue no Hitoshizuku'' (her debut work) *''Harukaze no Melody'' *''Hajimemashite'' *''Joshikō no Okite'' *''Kikyou no Saku Goro'' *''Kisetsu no Shiori'' *''Kono Machi de Anata ni'' *''Kono Machi de Issho ni'' *''Kono Machi de Kimi ni'' *''Mahō no Toketa Princess'' *''Naimono Nedari'' *''Naimono Nedari 2'' *''Otome Gokoro·Yume Gokoro'' *''Shōjo Shōkei'' *''Spring!'' *''Yuki no Sakura no Ki no Shita de...'' *''Yume no Kaori no Tea Time''

Commissioned works

* ''

'' (2002)

Art books

*''Sora no Eki'' (2002)

Image album

*''Hoshi no Hitomi no Silhouette

Image album An image is a visual representation of something. It can be two-dimensional, three-dimensional, or somehow otherwise feed into the visual system to convey information. An image can be an artifact, such as a photograph or other two-dimensiona ...

'' (Warner/Pioneer, 1987)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Hiiragi, Aoi 1962 births Living people Manga artists Women manga artists Japanese female comics artists Female comics writers 20th-century Japanese women writers 21st-century Japanese women writers