Yoshiko Nishitani

Who is Yoshiko Nishitani?

Yoshiko Nishitani was a pioneering shōjo manga artist who released her works in Shōjo Club and Margaret. According to Matt Thorn, Nishitani "more or less single-handedly invented the school campus romance that remains the mainstay of shôjo manga today", and Robert Petersen regards her innovation as giving her characters personality. She gave her readers characters that were like them, "teenaged Japanese girls dealing with friendships, family, school, and, yes, falling in love." Her success inspired an influx of female manga artists. Her manga Mary Lou is thought to have opened up the idea of shōjo manga telling stories about ordinary teenagers.