The Pioneers of Shojo Manga
Moto Hagio, Ryoko Yamagishi, and Waki Yamato are celebrated as the trailblazers who redefined “shojo” (girls) manga, transforming it into one of Japan’s most influential storytelling traditions. Their groundbreaking careers have left an indelible mark on the industry and popular culture in Japan. An upcoming landmark exhibition will spotlight their achievements, showcasing their creative journeys and the lasting impact they have had on the world of manga.
These three artists challenged the traditional conventions of shojo manga, which was once seen as solely for younger girls. By exploring various genres and creating numerous masterpieces, they expanded the boundaries of what shojo manga could be. This article delves into the history of shojo manga, the contributions of these three artists, and the enduring appeal of their works that have captivated readers for decades.
The “Shojo Manga Infinity: Moto Hagio, Ryoko Yamagishi, and Waki Yamato” exhibition will open this fall at The National Art Center, Tokyo in the capital’s Roppongi district. This event marks the first large-scale shojo manga exhibition ever held at a national art museum in Japan.
Three Artists Who Created New Frontiers
Hagio, Yamagishi, and Yamato all made their professional debuts in the late 1960s and played pivotal roles in transforming the shojo manga industry starting in the 1970s. While shojo manga had its roots in the achievements of earlier creators, such as Hideko Mizuno in the 1950s, the genre expanded significantly from the 1960s onward with the launch of weekly shojo manga magazines. These publications introduced a variety of themes beyond romance, including school stories, sports dramas, and other styles.
Hagio, Yamagishi, and Yamato rose to prominence in the following generation, creating works that attracted a broad audience, including many male readers. Each artist developed a unique creative path, exploring themes such as personal identity, relationships, women’s independence, diverse expressions of gender and sexuality, and richly imagined fantasy worlds.
Moto Hagio Explores Life, Death, and Gender
Moto Hagio made her debut in 1969 with “Lulu and Mimi.” Her work, characterized by sweeping science fiction, fantasy settings, sophisticated psychological portrayals, and literary depth, developed a unique artistic vision. One of her best-known works, “The Poe Clan,” serialized from 1972 to 1976, follows Edgar, a boy who becomes an immortal vampire known as “vampanella.” Celebrated for its literary and artistic qualities, the series became a landmark in the transformation of shojo manga. Serialization resumed in 2016, and Hagio continues to work on the series today.
In “The Heart of Thomas,” published in 1974 and set in a German all-boys boarding school, Hagio portrayed the loneliness and love experienced by adolescent boys with remarkable emotional precision. She also produced science fiction works such as “THEY WERE 11!” in 1975, along with numerous other acclaimed titles including “The Iguana Girl” in 1992, later adapted into a television drama series, and “A Cruel God Reigns,” which ran from 1992 to 2001 and received the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize for Excellence.
Throughout her career, Hagio has explored universal themes including emotional growth, inner conflict, life and death, and gender in a style unlike any other. In 2012, she became the first shojo manga artist to receive Japan’s Medal with Purple Ribbon. She was named a Person of Cultural Merit in 2019 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, prestigious U.S. prizes in the comic industry, in 2022. Her work continues to receive widespread recognition both in Japan and overseas.
Ryoko Yamagishi Pursues Ballet, Mythology, and More
Ryoko Yamagishi debuted in 1969 with “Left and Right.” She initially created romantic comedies, then quickly expanded into works centered on horror, gender, and other themes. Her authentic ballet manga “Arabesque,” which started in 1971, became a major hit, establishing her as one of the leading artists of her generation.
Her masterpiece “Emperor of the Land of the Rising Sun,” published from 1980 to 1984, stars semilegendary politician Prince Shotoku as its protagonist. Yamagishi reimagined him as an enchanting, androgynous young man with supernatural powers. Through its delicate artwork and nuanced psychological portrayal, including Prince Shotoku’s romantic feelings for statesman Soga no Emishi, the work earned an enthusiastic following that extended well beyond manga fans.
The series received the Kodansha Manga Award. In 2025, it was adapted for the first time into a stage production combining a traditional Noh theatrical play and “kyogen” comical play, drawing widespread attention. Popular kyogen actor Mansai Nomura served as director, adapter, and lead performer.
Yamagishi has worked across an extraordinary range of genres including ballet, mythology, history, and horror, captivating readers through her detailed psychological portrait. Her ballet manga “Terpsichora,” serialized from 2000 to 2010, won the Grand Prize for the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize.
She also serves as vice representative of the Hokkaido Manga Museum Project, an initiative to establish a cultural facility dedicated to the works of manga artists connected to her home region of Hokkaido. She shares the role with her longtime friend Waki Yamato, whom she has known since their high school days in the city of Sapporo and who serves as the project’s founding representative.
Waki Yamato Creates a New Image of Independent Women
Waki Yamato made her debut in 1966 with “Angel The Thief.” One of her signature works, “Haikara-san: Here Comes Miss Modern,” published between 1975 to 1977, is a romantic comedy set during Japan’s Taisho era (1912-1926). It follows the spirited and free-thinking heroine Benio Hanamura and her eventful romance with army lieutenant Shinobu Ijuin. Alongside the love story, the manga portrays Benio’s determination to build a career as a working woman, a theme that helped make the series an enormous success. It received the Kodansha Manga Award in 1977 and has remained beloved across generations through anime, live action adaptations, and stage productions by the Takarazuka Revue.
Independent women are one of the defining features of Yamato’s work. In “Yokohama Story,” which ran between 1981 and 1983, and “N.Y. Komachi” (The Belle of New York), published from 1985 to 1988, readers embraced protagonists who pursued their dreams with resilience during the Meiji era (1868-1912).
No discussion of Yamato would be complete without “Dreams at Dawn,” her manga adaptation of the 11th-century masterpiece “The Tale of Genji.” The series, published from 1979 to 1993, has long been regarded as essential reading for students studying Japanese classics and has been introduced in classrooms both in Japan and abroad. She later turned to historical fiction again with “The Daughter of Ishtar: The Tale of Otsu,” which ran from 2009 to 2017, and was set between the Azuchi-Momoyama period at the end of the 16th century and the early Edo period (1603-1867).
Exhibition of Artwork from Iconic Scenes
An exhibition celebrating the artistic achievements of Moto Hagio, Ryoko Yamagishi, and Waki Yamato will be held at The National Art Center, Tokyo in Roppongi as the museum marks its 20th anniversary. Shojo manga experienced extraordinary growth during the 1970s. This exhibition traces the creative journeys of these three pioneering artists, from their earliest works to the present day. Visitors will be able to experience beautiful color illustrations, original artwork from unforgettable scenes, and many rare materials that reveal the richness and depth of their artistic worlds.
Exhibit Information
“Shojo Manga Infinity: Moto Hagio, Ryoko Yamagishi, and Waki Yamato”
Dates and Hours: Open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Fridays and Saturdays until 7:30 p.m. between Oct. 28, 2026, and Feb. 8, 2027. Closed every Tuesday except Nov. 4 as well as Dec. 8 and Dec. 28 through Jan. 5.
Venue: Exhibition Gallery 2E at The National Art Center, Tokyo in 7-22-2 Roppongi, Minato Ward, Tokyo. Accessible from Nogizaka Station and Roppongi Station.
Advance Tickets: A ticket costs 2,000 yen (about $13) for adults, 800 yen (some $5) for university students and 300 yen (roughly $2) for high school students. Same day tickets are 200 yen (approx. $1) more for each admission category. Advance tickets are available until Oct. 27.
Inquiries: For inquiries, contact the information hotline at 050-5541-8600 (in Japanese).
Organizer: The National Art Center, Tokyo
Co-organizer: The Mainichi Newspapers Co.
Special Cooperation: Uwanosora Co., Kodansha Ltd., Shogakukan Inc.
Cooperation: Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc.
For more information on the event, visit the exhibition’s official website or its official X account.
Please note that scenes displayed in the exhibition may differ from those featured in this article.
Which Manga Fits Your Mood Today?
Answer a few questions to discover the manga that best matches how you’re feeling right now using the interactive recommendation chart on the exhibition’s website (in Japanese).
