2005 · Konami Computer Entertainment Japan · Adventure · Drama

Nana

PlayStation exclusive

Nana is a simulation game released in 2005 based on the manga of the same name, where the player can choose their character and experience the Tokyo life by meeting other characters, getting part-time jobs, buying clothes, and decorating their room.

Released: 17 March 2005
Platforms: PlayStation 2
Genres: Adventure Drama Rhythm Romance Simulation Slice of life Visual novel
Developers: Konami Computer Entertainment Japan
Publishers: Ribon Mascot Comics Panini Comics
Series: Nana
Perspective: Text
Themes: Romance
Country: Japan
Languages: Japanese

About

Nana (stylized as NANA) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Ai Yazawa. First published as a two-part prologue in Shueisha's monthly shōjo manga magazine Cookie in 1999, Nana was later serialized in the same magazine from May 2000 to May 2009 before going on indefinite hiatus. Its chapters have been collected in 21 tankōbon volumes. The series centers on Nana Osaki and Nana Komatsu, two women who move to Tokyo at the age of 20, with the story focused on Nana O.'s pursuit for fame and Nana K.'s pursuit for romance, all while struggling to maintain their friendship.

The manga was adapted into a live-action film in 2005, with a sequel released in 2006. A 47-episode anime television series adaptation, produced by Madhouse and directed by Morio Asaka, aired on Nippon TV between April 2006 and March 2007. All Nana media has been licensed for English language release in North America by Viz Media, which serialized the manga in their Shojo Beat magazine until the August 2007 issue, while also publishing it in the tankōbon format. They released both films in 2008, and their English dub of the anime was broadcast on the Funimation Channel beginning in 2009. The anime series was later re-licensed by Sentai Filmworks in 2021.

Keywords

life simulation
character customization
female protagonist
otome
based on - manga
customization
gothic lolita
musical themes
modern day tokyo
modern day earth
interior design

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Story

On March 5, 2001, Nana Osaki and Nana Komatsu, nicknamed Hachi, meet when Nana K. moves to Tokyo at age 20. Nana O. aims to establish a music career with her band, Black Stones, while Nana K.

joins her friends and moves in with her boyfriend. Despite their contrasting personalities, the two decide to become roommates to save money on rent. Their friendship later faces challenges as they navigate love, ambition, and personal struggles.

Development

Manga author Ai Yazawa was asked to create two one-shots to accompany the launch of Shueisha's Cookie manga magazine, and she decided to make both stories related to each other so that they would be easier to read in case they were picked up for serialization. Yazawa stated that while creating I'm No Angel in the early 1990s, she had wanted to draw a story centered on a rockabilly band. For Nana, she decided to focus on a punk band instead because she had already drawn one of the main characters for I'm No Angel with a pompadour. The series prominently features the brand Vivienne Westwood, as Yazawa herself is a fan of the brand. Some outfits featured in the series are clothing from her personal collection.

Nana ran in Cookie for 84 chapters, until May 26, 2009 (July 2009 issue), and in June of that same year it was announced that the series would be put on hiatus due to Yazawa falling ill. Yazawa returned from the hospital in early April 2010, but it was unspecified when or if she would resume the manga. During Yazawa's 2022 art exhibition, she expressed interest in continuing the series once she could.

Reception

Nana was one of the Manga Division's Jury Recommended Works at the sixth and eighth installments of the Japan Media Arts Festival Awards in 2002 and 2004, respectively. Along with Kaze Hikaru, Nana won the 48th Shogakukan Manga Award in the shōjo category in 2003. It was the top favorite shōjo manga for Oricon Style in 2005. It was nominated for the 10th Osamu Tezuka Cultural Award in 2006.

The Young Adult Library Services Association in the United States listed the series in its "Great Graphic Novels for Teens" in 2007. Deb Aoki of About.com ranked Nana as the fifth "Must-Read" shōjo manga series in its "Top shojo Manga Must-Reads" list, with Aoki stating the manga is "a beautifully-drawn series that is filled with heartfelt drama, big city glamor, fabulous fashion, rock and roll sass and many unexpected twists." She also ranked the manga in its "50 Essential Manga for Libraries" list, noting its mature themes and "demonstrates the need for an adult collection. In a survey conducted by Goo in 2012 among 1,939 people, Nana was among the top favorite manga for women. The Independent stated that part of the appeal of Nana in Japan was how it was centered on the juxtaposition between a rebellious character and a character aligned to traditional values.