Yuhki Kamatani is a Japanese manga artist and illustrator, best known for their first serialized series Nabari no Ou, published by Square Enix.
Personal life
Having come out in a 2012 tweet, Kamatani identifies as X-gender and asexual. In their Twitter profile, Kamatani notes their gender as "toX"—following the tradition of transgender individuals identifying as FTM or MTF—which conceals their assigned at birth gender. In a 2018 interview, Kamatani described the pain they faced in their teenage years due to their own identity struggles. These experiences are somewhat reflected in Kamatani's Shimanami Tasogare, which according to Rachel Matt Thorn marks "probably the first time that I can think of where an actual trans person is talking about or portraying " outside of the essay manga format.
Works
Kamatani's manga frequently features characters in transitional life stages and issues regarding identity and marginalization. They cite Moto Hagio as a major inspiration; like Hagio, their manga often explores gender and visual metaphor.
''Nabari no Ou''
Kamatani's debut work, Nabari no Ou, was a "modern ninja manga" about a seemingly ordinary teenage boy whose body contains an omnipotent ninja power that hidden ninja clans are battling to claim. It was a finalist under the Story Manga division in the ninth Japan Media Arts Festival in 2005 and was ultimately recommended by the Committee. The first volume of an English translation of the manga was released in May 2009 by Yen Press. The 14th and final volume was published in Japan in 2011 and in the United States in 2013. Kamatani worked with J.C.Staff to create a 26-episode anime adaptation of Nabari no Ou. Directed by Kunihisa Sugishima, the series aired in Japan on TV Tokyo in 2008.
''Shounen Note''
Shounen Note: Days of Evanescence was published by Kodansha, serialized in their seinen Monthly Morning Two magazine. The story follows a boy soprano with an angelic voice and his life as a member of his middle school choir. Kodansha published eight volumes in Japan from 2011 to 2014. In 2013, the manga was a Jury Selection for the 17th Japan Media Arts Festival.
''Busshi no Busshin''
Busshi no Busshin: Kamakura Hanbun Busshiroku is a historical fantasy manga published by Square Enix and serialized in its digital magazineGangan Online. The first volume was published in Japan in 2014.
''Shimanami Tasogare''
In Shimanami Tasogare, set in Onomichi, Hiroshima, Kamatani depicts queer characters coming to terms with their identity. Shogakukan published four tankōbon volumes from December 11, 2015 to July 19, 2018. Seven Seas Entertainment licensed the manga for North American release under the title Our Dreams at Dusk: Shimanami Tasogare, beginning on May 7, 2019, stating " manages to represent so many different ways that people shape their identities and find their unique spaces, which is something anyone can relate to. It’s no wonder this compelling drama has resonated with so many people."
Other works
Liberamente, a collection of fantasy manga short stories, was published in 2005 by Square Enix. Manga short stories by Kamatani have appeared in several official Touken Ranbu anthologies published by Shogakukan and Square Enix.
