NANA (Series) Yazawa Ai Images

NANA is a manga created and illustrated by Ai Yazawa and premiered in 2000 in the shojo manga magazine, Cookie. The series continued until June 2009 when Ai Yazawa fell ill and went on hiatus. The anime adaptation was animated by Madhouse and directed by Morio Asaka. The anime aired in April 5, 2006.

NANA Plot:

Nana revolves around two women called Nana and their journey to meet each other as well as their struggles.

Nana Osaki was a punk singer for the band, Black Stones, where her boyfriend, Ren, was the bassist. Nana has lived with Ren ever since she was 16 and they have been a couple before that. Ren is then invited to become the guitarist for the famous band, Trapnest, and transfers to Tokyo but Nana stays with Black Stones refusing to live the life of being a rockstar’s girlfriend.

Nana Komatsu is a girl who is dependent on other people to do things for her. She is also prone to falling in love with anybody who shows her compassion as well. She decides to move to Tokyo following her friends and boyfriend.

Both Nana’s happen to end up in the same apartment in Tokyo which is coincidently apartment number 707 (The Japanese for seven is “nana”). Nana Osaki gives Nana Komatsu the nickname “Hachi” referring to the famous story of Hachiko and because “hachi” is “eight” in Japanese. The Black Stones begin their rise to fame resorting to out of the blue gigs and using Tapnest’s reputation by flaunting that Nana Osaki is Ren’s girlfriend. During their time together, both Nanas go through many trying times like relationships, fame, heartbreak and even pregnancy.

NANA Characters:

Osaki Nana – Nana is the lead vocalist for the punk band, Black Stones. Her boyfriend, Ren, was the bassist for Black Stones until he became the guitarist for the band, Trapnest. She considers Trapnest as her rival and refuses to lose to them. She also becomes the roommate of Hachi (Nana Komatsu) and protects her.

Komatsu Nana – Komatsu Nana (later named Hachi) follows her friends and boyfriend to Tokyo. She becomes Nana Osaki’s roommate and is the source of her financial stability. Hachi gets into a relationship with Takumi and Nobu and ends up becoming pregnant by one of them. She chooses Takumi as he can provide financial security. She gives birth to a girl, Satsuki.

Terashima Nobuo – Nobu is the lead guitarist of Black Stones and is Nana Osaki’s highschool friend. Nobu comes from a wealthy family but chooses to pursue a career in music with Osaki. He gets in a relationship with Hachi. Hachi becomes pregnant and fears that the child might be his. Hachi chooses Takumi over him and he chooses to be in a relationship with Yuri.

Honjo Ren – Ren used to be the bassist of Black Stones but is now the lead guitarist of Trapnest. He and Nana break off their relationship after he moves to Tokyo but still harbors feelings for her. He proposes to Nana but later discloses that he was not sincere about it.

NANA Similar Series:
1. BECK
2. Paradise Kiss
3. Skip Beat!

source: Zerochan; written by Bootan