Nana is a manga series by Ai Yazawa that captures the intersecting lives of two young women who both share the name Nana. One, Nana Osaki, is a punk rock singer aiming for musical stardom in Tokyo. The other, Nana Komatsu, is an optimistic, romantic spirit searching for love and a new life in the city. Their chance meeting sparks a story of friendship, love, heartbreak, and the pursuit of dreams. First serialized in Cookie magazine from 2000, Nana became a beloved franchise, spawning anime, films, CDs, and games. Due to the author’s illness, the manga has been on hiatus since 2009 but remains a cultural icon with over 50 million copies in print.
Set in modern-day Tokyo around the turn of the millennium, Nana's world is a vibrant blend of the city’s bohemian music scene, small apartments, and bustling urban life.
The manga contrasts Nana Osaki's gritty ambitions as part of the punk band BLACK STONES and the glamorous world of the chart-topping band TRAPNEST.
Key locations include their 707 shared apartment, live music venues, and the intertwining circles of musicians, friends, and rivals.
Personal struggles, complicated relationships, and professional competition showcase real-life pressures young adults face in the city.
The story begins with Nana Komatsu, moving to Tokyo to live with her boyfriend, and Nana Osaki, pursuing musical success in the city—both meeting by chance on a snowbound bullet train.
They become roommates at apartment 707 and quickly entangle their destinies.
The plot weaves together the rise of BLACK STONES and TRAPNEST, with heartbreak, betrayal, and shifting friendships.
Nana Osaki battles for musical recognition while hiding her emotional wounds, especially regarding her past with Ren Honjo, a guitarist now in TRAPNEST.
Nana Komatsu, soon nicknamed Hachi, juggles her romantic dreams, her growing feelings for bandmate Nobu, and an unexpected pregnancy that catalyzes life-changing decisions.
Both Nanas must confront their ambitions, love, loneliness, and the cost of following dreams, all while striving to keep their friendship alive.
Long-term glimpses into the future, shown from volume 12 onward, add a bittersweet layer that keeps fans guessing about the heroines’ ultimate fates.
BLACK STONES (Blast) — The punk band fronted by Nana Osaki, aiming for stardom.
TRAPNEST — Ren Honjo, Reira Serizawa, Takumi Ichinose, Naoki Fujieda's famous band; former bandmate Ren left Blast for TRAPNEST.
Hachi — Nana Komatsu's affectionate nickname, symbolizing her loyal, dog-like personality.
Apartment 707 — The shared apartment number of the two Nanas, a recurring motif.
Cookie — The magazine Nana was serialized in.
Monologue — Each manga volume includes reflective inner monologues from both Nanas, often from a perspective set years after current events.
Nana won the 48th Shogakukan Manga Award for Best Shojo Manga in 2002.
It continued to rack up accolades, including rankings at the top of Oricon comic charts.
The films garnered honors such as the Japan Academy Prize’s Popularity Award and recognition for lead actress Mika Nakashima.
At its popularity peak, Nana was a cultural phenomenon in Japan.
Both manga and film adaptations drew massive attention—over 50 million copies of the manga sold by 2019.
The first live-action movie grossed over 4 billion yen with more than three million viewers and ignited a fad for punk fashion among readers.
The anime adaptation scored record-high ratings for a late-night slot, new for shoujo manga adaptations.
Nana’s international releases, including English, French, German, and more, expanded its devoted fanbase worldwide.
The films and anime employed iconic songs that resonated with fans.
"GLAMOROUS SKY," performed by Mika Nakashima (Nana Osaki), was written by Ai Yazawa with music by HYDE from L'Arc～en～Ciel and became a major hit.
"Endless Story" by Yuna Ito (Reira Serizawa) and "Wish," "Starless Night," and "a little pain" from the anime soundtrack also left a big mark.
Anime versions featured voices and separately, singing by Anna Tsuchiya (Nana Osaki’s vocals) and OLIVIA (Reira Serizawa’s vocals), further blurring fiction and reality.
Nana was adapted into two live-action films: "Nana" (2005) and "Nana2" (2006), both directed by Kentaro Otani.
The TV anime aired from 2006-2007, illustrated by Madhouse studio, totaling 47 episodes plus recaps.
Video games for PlayStation 2, PSP, and Nintendo DS expanded the world with simulation and board game elements.
Multiple tribute and image albums were produced, with fan submissions inspiring "Nana's Song Is My Song."
Official fanbooks, illustration collections, and translated editions across many languages reflect its enduring power.
Nana began as a pair of stand-alone stories coinciding with Cookie magazine’s initial issues.
Its serialization started when Cookie formally began as a monthly publication.
Ai Yazawa was approached to continue the story, resulting in two distinctly different Nana characters who meet in the main series.
Serialization slowed and has been on hiatus since 2009 due to the author’s illness.
Ai Yazawa’s insightful depiction of the contrasting Nanas—one fierce and self-reliant, the other dreamy and naïve—allows readers to see themselves in both.
Yazawa’s artistry blends punk aesthetics with heartfelt emotion, capturing the bittersweet moments of youth.
The manga is known for its inner monologues, flash-forwards, and multi-layered relationship drama, often dissecting themes of love, ambition, and dependency.
The creative process was influenced by music culture, fashion, and the changing dynamics of contemporary Japanese society.
Nana’s influence extended beyond manga and anime into music, film, and pop culture.
It inspired a surge of tribute works, fan clubs, and even other literary projects, with cameo references in separate novels.
The shared apartment 707 is an iconic fandom symbol.
Nana continues to captivate old fans and new readers alike, leaving an unmissable pop culture legacy despite its uncertain conclusion.
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