Hitoshi Iwaaki

2.1. Birth and Family

Hitoshi Iwaaki was born on July 28, 1960, in Tokyo, Japan. He is male. His birth name is also given as Hitoshi Iwaki (岩城 均_{Iwaki Hitoshi}^Japanese). His father, Masao Iwaki (born 1930), is an emeritus professor at Wako University and a scholar specializing in the history of primitive technology and technology theory.

2.2. Education and Influences

Iwaaki's engagement with manga began relatively late; he did not read manga extensively until his third year of high school. When he first became engrossed in the medium, he reportedly felt a sense of embarrassment even when purchasing manga. The first manga he bought was a small, bunko-sized volume by the legendary artist Osamu Tezuka, who became a significant early inspiration for Iwaaki's own artistic aspirations. During his student years, Iwaaki contributed illustrations for his father's published academic works. He later attended Wako University but withdrew before completing his degree.

3.1. Early Career and Debut

In 1984, Iwaaki began his professional journey as an assistant to the manga artist Kazuo Kamimura, who is known for his influential works such as Lady Snowblood. The following year, in 1985, Iwaaki made his official debut with the short story "Gomi no Umi" (ゴミの海_{Gomi no Umi}^Japanese, lit. "Sea of Trash"). This foundational work was recognized with the prestigious Tetsuya Chiba Award for newcomers and was subsequently published in a special edition of Morning magazine, titled Morning Open Zōkan.

3.2. Major Publishers and Collaborations

Since his debut, Hitoshi Iwaaki has primarily worked with Kodansha, one of Japan's largest publishing houses. His works have frequently appeared in Kodansha's Monthly Afternoon magazine.
Iwaaki maintains a close friendship with fellow manga artist Sugahara Hiroshi. Their professional relationship has led to unique collaborations; Iwaaki contributed a one-shot manga inspired by Sugahara to the end of a collected volume of Sugahara's Yoshie-san. In return, Sugahara penned a fictional one-shot manga titled "Kisei OL" (寄生OL_{Kisei OL}^Japanese), featuring Iwaaki as the protagonist, which was included as a special contribution in a collected volume of Parasyte. The character design for Iwaaki in "Kisei OL" was later reused for the protagonist, Tamotsu Enokida, in Sugahara's work Sore wa Enokida!.
Iwaaki has also provided script contributions for other manga, such as Black Jack ~Aoki no Mirai~ (ブラック・ジャック~青き未来~_{Burakku Jakku ~Aoki no Mirai~}^Japanese), a remake of Osamu Tezuka's classic Black Jack. For the collected volume of this work, he was credited under the pseudonym "Yamaishi Jitsugetsu" (山石日月_{Yamaishi Jitsugetsu}^Japanese), although he was credited under his real name during its magazine serialization. His ongoing work, Historie, has been on hiatus since 2022.

5.1. Gomi no Umi

"Gomi no Umi" (ゴミの海_{Gomi no Umi}^Japanese, lit. "Sea of Trash") is the short story that marked Hitoshi Iwaaki's debut as a manga artist in 1985. It was published in Kodansha's Morning Open Zōkan and earned him the Tetsuya Chiba Award for new artists. This foundational work was later included in his short story collection Hone no Oto.

5.2. Fūko no Iru Mise

Fūko no Iru Mise (風子のいる店_{Fūko no Iru Mise}^Japanese, lit. "Fūko's Shop") was Iwaaki's early serialized work, running in Kodansha's Morning magazine from 1986 to 1988. This manga, which focuses on the small, everyday events surrounding a high school girl named Fūko, is characterized by its slice-of-life narrative and detailed character portrayals, spanning four collected volumes.

5.3. Parasyte

Parasyte (寄生獣_Kiseijū^Japanese) is Hitoshi Iwaaki's most famous and commercially successful work, a science-fiction horror manga that captivated audiences with its unique and unsettling premise. It was initially serialized in Kodansha's Morning Open Zōkan in 1989 before moving to Monthly Afternoon, where it ran from 1989 to 1994 (some sources indicate 1995). The series was collected into 10 volumes, with a later "perfect edition" released in 8 volumes.

The plot of Parasyte revolves around mysterious, amorphous alien creatures that descend upon Earth and burrow into human hosts, taking control of their brains and transforming them into monstrous, flesh-eating beings. The protagonist, Shinichi Izumi, is a high school student whose right hand is infected by one such parasite, which he names Migi (ミギー_Migi^Japanese, lit. "Righty"). Unlike other parasites, Migi fails to take over Shinichi's brain, leading to a symbiotic relationship between the two as they fight against other hostile parasites. The manga explores profound themes such as environmentalism, the nature of humanity, and the definition of monsters.

Parasyte achieved immense popularity, selling over 10 M copies in Japan. Its critical acclaim is evidenced by the numerous awards it received, including the 17th Kodansha Manga Award in the general category in 1993 and the 27th Seiun Award in the comic category in 1996. The series has been published internationally, with English editions initially by Mixx and later by Del Rey Manga starting in 2007, where the spelling of Iwaaki's name was noted to differ between the two publishers (Hitosi by Mixx, Hitoshi by Del Rey Manga). It also inspired various adaptations, including anime and live-action films. The Parasyte universe has been expanded with spin-off anthologies like Neo Parasyte f (2015) and Neo Parasyte (2016), as well as a sequel series, Parasyte Reversi (2018-2021), illustrated by Moare Ohta, which was serialized on Comic Days.

5.4. Hone no Oto

Hone no Oto (骨の音_{Hone no Oto}^Japanese, lit. "Sound of Bone") is a collection of short stories by Hitoshi Iwaaki, published by Kodansha in 1990. This volume includes his debut work, "Gomi no Umi," showcasing his early artistic versatility and thematic interests beyond his more famous serialized works. It was later re-released in a larger format in 2003.

5.5. Tanabata no Kuni

Tanabata no Kuni (七夕の国_{Tanabata no Kuni}^Japanese, lit. "Country of Tanabata") was serialized in Shogakukan's Big Comic Spirits from 1996 to 1999, compiled into four volumes (or two in a perfect edition released in 2003). This manga delves into unique settings and themes, often incorporating supernatural or societal elements that explore the mysteries and complexities of human existence and interaction.

5.6. Yuki no Tōge, Tsurugi no Mai

Yuki no Tōge, Tsurugi no Mai (雪の峠・剣の舞_{Yuki no Tōge, Tsurugi no Mai}^Japanese, lit. "Snow Pass, Sword Dance") is a collected volume of two distinct stories published in 2001. "Yuki no Tōge" (雪の峠_{Yuki no Tōge}^Japanese, lit. "Snow Pass") was a short concentrated serialization in Kodansha's Morning Shin-Magnum Zōkan in 1999. "Tsurugi no Mai" (剣の舞_{Tsurugi no Mai}^Japanese, lit. "Sword Dance") was serialized in Akita Shoten's Young Champion in 2000. Both stories are often set in historical periods, particularly the Sengoku period of Japan, showcasing Iwaaki's talent for historical narratives and artistic execution. "Yuki no Tōge" was also included in the 2014 anthology Bushido no Hokori (Manga-ka-tachi ga Egaita Nihon no Rekishi).

5.7. Heureka

Heureka (ヘウレーカ_Heureka^Japanese) is a historical manga by Hitoshi Iwaaki, serialized in Hakusensha's Young Animal Arashi from 2001 to 2002 and compiled into a single volume. This work focuses on ancient conflicts, specifically depicting events related to the Punic Wars, demonstrating Iwaaki's continued interest in historical subjects following his earlier works.

5.8. Historie

Historie (ヒストリエ_Hisutorie^Japanese) is an acclaimed historical manga by Hitoshi Iwaaki, which began serialization in Kodansha's Monthly Afternoon in 2003 and has been ongoing, though it has been on hiatus since 2022. The series, currently spanning 11 volumes, is a detailed biographical narrative focusing on the life of Eumenes of Cardia, who served as the secretary and general to Alexander the Great. The manga is praised for its meticulous historical research, intricate plot, and compelling character development. Historie has received significant critical success, winning the Grand Prize in the manga division of the 14th Japan Media Arts Festival in 2010 and the Grand Prize of the 16th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in 2012.

5.9. Reiri

Reiri (レイリ_Reiri^Japanese) is a manga for which Hitoshi Iwaaki provided the original story and script, with illustrations by Daisuke Muroi. It was serialized in Akita Shoten's Bessatsu Shōnen Champion from 2015 to 2018, concluding with six volumes. This collaborative work further diversified Iwaaki's portfolio, and it earned him the 3rd Saito Takao Award in 2019.

5.10. Other Contributions

In addition to his major serialized and collected works, Hitoshi Iwaaki has contributed to various other manga projects and anthologies:

• Black Jack ~Aoki no Mirai~**: Iwaaki provided the script for this remake of Osamu Tezuka's Black Jack, which was serialized in Akita Shoten's Weekly Shōnen Champion from 2011 to 2012. He was credited under the pseudonym "Yamaishi Jitsugetsu" (山石日月_{Yamaishi Jitsugetsu}^Japanese) in the tankōbon volumes, although he used his real name during magazine serialization.
• Neo Devilman**: A contribution to an anthology, originally published in Takeshobo's Comic Gamma in 1996. It was later re-released in various collected editions by Kodansha.
• Dai Gō Saku**: A collaborative work published in Kodansha's Monthly Afternoon in February 1997, later collected in an Afternoon KC Deluxe volume in 2002.
• Manga no DNA - Manga no Kami-sama no Ishi o Tsugu Monotachi -**: A 2016 commemorative mook for the 20th anniversary of the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize, published by Asahi Shimbun Publishing, which featured Iwaaki's contribution "Character ga Saki? Monogatari ga Saki?" (キャラクターが先？物語が先？_{Character First? Story First?}^Japanese).
• Uncollected Works**: Several short stories remain uncollected in tankōbon volumes, including "Gozen no Hoshi" (午前の星_{Gozen no Hoshi}^Japanese, 1986, published in Comic Morning Party Zōkan), "Dairiseki no Miyako" (大理石の都_{Dairiseki no Miyako}^Japanese, 1986, published in Comic Morning Open Zōkan), "Sakaba Shinshi" (酒場紳士_{Sakaba Shinshi}^Japanese, 1988, published in Comic Morning Special Edition THE OPEN), "Hankōteki Seito Ichimei" (反抗的生徒一名_{Hankōteki Seito Ichimei}^Japanese, 1989, published in Comic Morning), "Zanzō" (残像_Zanzō^Japanese, 1991, published in Comic Morning), "Manga no Rittai-ka da!" (漫画の立体化だ！_{Manga no Rittai-ka da!}^Japanese, 2004, published in Monthly IKKI), "Me wo Mite Hanase" (目を見て話せ_{Me wo Mite Hanase}^Japanese, 2003, published in Ace Tokunō and re-recorded in Comic Charge in 2008), and an untitled work for Big Comic Spirits 2000th issue commemoration in 2018.

6.1. Major Awards

Iwaaki's significant contributions to manga have been recognized with the following major awards:

• 1985**: Tetsuya Chiba Award for "Gomi no Umi" (ゴミの海_{Gomi no Umi}^Japanese).
• 1993**: 17th Kodansha Manga Award in the general category for Parasyte (寄生獣_Kiseijū^Japanese).
• 1996**: 27th Seiun Award in the comic category for Parasyte.
• 2010**: Grand Prize in the manga division of the 14th Japan Media Arts Festival for Historie (ヒストリエ_Hisutorie^Japanese).
• 2012**: Grand Prize of the 16th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize for Historie.
• 2019**: 3rd Saito Takao Award for Reiri (レイリ_Reiri^Japanese).

6.2. Impact and Critical Reception

Hitoshi Iwaaki's works, particularly Parasyte and Historie, have had a considerable impact on the manga industry and have been met with widespread critical acclaim. Parasyte not only achieved massive commercial success with over 10 M copies sold, but it also garnered significant critical praise for its innovative blend of science fiction, horror, and philosophical depth. Critics have consistently lauded Iwaaki's ability to craft compelling narratives that explore complex themes such as environmentalism, human nature, and morality, often juxtaposing brutal imagery with profound introspection. His later focus on historical manga, exemplified by Historie, has further showcased his versatility and meticulous research, earning him accolades for bringing ancient history to life with dramatic storytelling and detailed character development. Despite his self-acknowledged slower pace of work, his dedication to quality over quantity has cemented his legacy as a highly influential and respected figure in contemporary manga.