[Announced today! ]Won the 28th Osamu Tezuka Cultural Award Short Story Award! The masterpiece manga, Miri Masuda’s “Natsuko Tsuyukusa’s Life” is now in its third printing!

Miri Masuda’s “Natsuko Tsuyukusa’s Life” features Natsuko, a 32-year-old manga artist, as the main character. This is the author’s longest manga ever, with unexpected twists and turns that will shake your heart.

The winning works of the 28th Osamu Tezuka Cultural Award (sponsored by Asahi Shimbun) were announced today. Miri Masuda’s masterpiece manga “Tsuyukusa Natsuko no Issei”, which has caused a lot of excitement right after its release, won the short story award at the same award! To commemorate the award, it was reprinted for the third time.

The Osamu Tezuka Cultural Award is an award project established in 1997 to commemorate the achievements of Osamu Tezuka, a giant star in the Japanese manga world, and to continue his aspirations and contribute to the healthy development of manga culture. Manga artists Osamu Akimoto and Machiko Satonaka will serve as external selection committee members. The short story award was previously awarded to entertainer and manga artist Taro Yabe’s “Oya-san to Boku,” which attracted a lot of attention.

What is “The Life of Natsuko Tsuyukusa”?

Natsuko, a 32-year-old manga artist, is spending her second spring wearing a mask. Natsuko draws “now” into manga. The uneasy feeling I feel every day, the structure of society, the old man who came to my part-time job, the war, my part-time friends whose university life is not going well due to the coronavirus… Because drawing allows me to face the world, others, and myself. I wondered why I was so happy when I said, “We understand each other.” This is a story for you, who cherish what you love and live your life with care.

This work is also Masuda’s longest manga work. It’s a touching action that will definitely bring you to tears!

dayflower (dayflower)

…Small blue petals.

A fleeting flower that blooms in the morning and wilts by noon.

■Click here for a book review by author Kikuko Tsumura

■Click here to preview the 3 episodes

■Book content introduction

“If you have no expectations or despair, you can still live.”

This is the author’s longest emotional work, with unexpected twists and turns that shake your heart! 〉

Natsuko, a 32-year-old manga artist, is spending her second spring wearing a mask. Frustrated by the inequalities in society, Natsuko’s thoughts reflect on someone’s casual words, and she draws the “now” into a manga. Because drawing allows me to face the world, others, and myself. Why does it make me so happy to say that we can understand each other? A story for you to live your life with what you love.

■Author introduction

Born in Osaka in 1969. Illustrator. Her major publications include the manga “Mariko, it’s going to be great” (Shinchosha), “Sue-chan” (Gentosha), “My sister” (Magazine House), “Every day like this at the Sawamura family” (Bungei Shunju), and “Koharu.” “Diary” (KADOKAWA), “Tea Time” (Kodansha), “Crybaby Chieko-san” (Shueisha), etc., essays “Tokyo Atafutazoku” (Mishima Publishing), “Little Me” (Poplar Publishing), “Eternal Outing” (Mainichi Shimbun Publishing), “Inside Osaka People’s Hearts” (Kobunsha), “I’m Curious About Small Things” (Chikuma Shobo), and other picture books include “Don’t Say Hurry, Hurry” (Mishimasha, illustrated by Hirasawa). Ippei) etc.

■Book data

[Title]Life of Natsuko Tsuyukusa

[Author name]Miri Masuda

[Release date]Released on June 29, 2023

[Format]A5 hardcover, 272 pages

[List price]1,980 yen (tax included)

[ISBN]978-4-10- 351982-9

[URL]