Kaoru Mori (森 薫, Mori Kaoru, born 18 September 1978) is a Japanese manga artist from Tokyo and the creator of the manga series Shirley, Emma, and A Bride's Story. Many of her works are centered on female characters in the 19th century, such as a maid in Victorian Britain and a bride in Turkic Central Asia. She also wrote dōjinshi (self-published manga) under the pen name Fumio Agata (県 文緒, Agata Fumio) as a member of the dōjin circle Lady Maid.[1]

Kaoru Mori
森 薫
Born (1978-09-18) 18 September 1978 (age 45)
Tokyo, Japan
NationalityJapanese
Area(s)Character design, writer, manga artist, illustrator
Pseudonym(s)Fumio Agata (県 文緒, Agata Fumio)
Notable works
Awards
Signature
Signature of Kaoru Mori

Mori's works are known for their high level of detail in terms of clothing design, historical nuances, and background work. Her manga series are often published outside Japan in larger, hardbound editions to complement the heavy detail seen on every page. Similar to authors such as Hiromu Arakawa, Mori often depicts herself in unflattering self-portraits with a simple outline for a body and a head full of wild hair, as she is very reluctant to show her face during public events or interviews.[1]

In 2010, Mori's first published work, Shirley, was revived in a two-part continuation called Shirley Madison in Fellows! (now Harta) magazine.[2] Her latest work, A Bride's Story, began serialization in the same magazine in 2008 and transferred to Aokishi [ja] magazine in 2021.[3][4]

Mori visited Finland in 2014, participating in the Animecon event held in Kuopio.[5]

Works edit

  • Shirley (シャーリー, Shārī) – Release date: February 2003, relaunched in 2010. ISBN 4-7577-1313-4.
  • Emma (エマ, Ema) – Serialized in Enterbrain's Comic Beam magazine from 2002 to 2008. Published in 10 volumes.
  • A Bride's Story (乙嫁語り, Otoyomegatari) – First serialized in Enterbrain's Harta magazine from October 2008 to November 2020. Transferred to Kadokawa's Aokishi [ja] magazine in June 2021.

Contributions edit

  • Violet Blossoms (すみれの花, Sumire no Hana) – Art; story by Satoshi Fukushima.

Awards edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Chang, Chih-Chieh (1 September 2006). "Interview: Kaoru Mori". Anime News Network. Retrieved 30 December 2007.
  2. ^ Loo, Egan (16 February 2010). "Emma's Mori Draws Shirley Spinoff, Satoshi Fukushima to Start Series". Anime News Network. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
  3. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (15 December 2020). "Kadokawa Launches New Aokishi Manga Magazine on April 20". Anime News Network. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  4. ^ Lee, Choo Sum (14 February 2022). "Kaoru Mori's A Bride's Story Gets First Original Art Exhibition". Anime News Network. Retrieved 19 April 2022. It began serialization in 2008, ... It is currently being published under Kadokawa's Aokishi magazine, with 13 volumes already released.
  5. ^ "Tunnetko jo Kaoru Morin?". Savon Sanomat (in Finnish). 23 July 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  6. ^ 2005年 文化庁メディア芸術祭 マンガ部門. Japan Media Arts Plaza (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 23 December 2008. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
  7. ^ Loo, Egan (29 January 2012). "Bride's Story, Drifting Life Win at France's Angoulême". Anime News Network. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  8. ^ Hanashiro, Emma (27 March 2014). "Kaoru Mori's A Bride's Story Wins 7th Annual Manga Taisho Award". Anime News Network. Retrieved 27 December 2014.

External links edit