is a

Japanese Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...

light novel A light novel (, Hepburn: ''raito noberu'') is a style of young adult novel primarily targeting high school and middle school students. The term "light novel" is a ''wasei-eigo'', or a Japanese term formed from words in the English languag ...

illustrator An illustrator is an artist who specializes in enhancing writing or elucidating concepts by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text or idea. The illustration may be intended to clarify complicat ...

. He is notable for the illustration for the series ''

Zero no Tsukaima is a Japanese fantasy light novel series written by Noboru Yamaguchi, with illustrations by Eiji Usatsuka. Media Factory published 20 volumes between June 2004 and February 2011. The series was left unfinished due to the author's ...

''. He illustrates insert images for many novels. Eiji Usatsuka signature in Comic Exhibition 20070811

After university graduation he was employed as illustrator by the

visual novel A , often abbreviated as VN, is a form of digital semi-interactive fiction. Visual novels are often associated with and used in the medium of video games, but are not always labeled as such themselves. They combine a textual narrative with sta ...

publisher

Visual Art's , formerly and previously spelled in English as VisualArt's, is a Japanese publishing company which specializes in publishing and distributing visual novels for a large list of game developers. Visual Arts has developed game engines their brands ...

using the pseudonym ''Sawagani'' (サワガニ, ''Japanese Freshwater Crab''). As side job he made illustrations for light novels which is against the company policy. The similarity of "both peoples" designs, were however noticed and later revealed by Tōya Okano (scenario assistant for Visual Art's'

Clannad Clannad () is an Irish band formed in 1970 in Gweedore, County Donegal by siblings Ciarán, Pól, and Moya Brennan and their twin uncles Noel and Pádraig Duggan. They have adopted various musical styles throughout their history, including ...

) in a ''

Dengeki G's Magazine is a Japanese magazine published by ASCII Media Works (formerly MediaWorks) and sold monthly on the thirtieth that primarily contains information on bishōjo games, but also includes an entire section on anime based on bishōjo games, and seria ...

'' interview article presenting Visual Art's brand ''Mana''’s game ''Angel Magister''.

Works

Novels and other works he contributed his illustrations to include: *''

Hayate the Combat Butler is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kenjiro Hata. It was serialized in Shogakukan's ''Weekly Shōnen Sunday'' magazine from October 2004 to April 2017. Shogakukan released 52 volumes in Japan from February 2005 to Jun ...

'' light novel #2 *''

'' **''Zero no Tsukaima Gaiden: Tabatha no Bōken'' **''Kaze no Kishihime'' *'' Shinkyoku Sōkai Polyphonica Marble'' *''Shinkyoku Sōkai Polyphonica Blue Series'' *''Scramble Heart'' as Sawagani *'' In Another World With My Smartphone'' *''Angel Magister''

References

External links

Eiji Usatsuka's personal website
* Japanese illustrators Living people People from Osaka Prefecture Year of birth missing (living people) {{illustrator-stub