Photo: yves Tennevin from La Garde, France / CC BY-SA 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Naoki Urasawa was born on January 2, 1960 in Fuchū, Tokyo, Japan. Naoki Urasawa is listed as a mangaka, songwriter and guitarist. The age as of 2026 is 66. Education on record includes Meisei University. Recorded honors include Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire for Best Manga (2013), Seiun Award for Best Comic (2008, 2010), Best foreign work published in Spain (2006) and 1 more.
My Take
Naoki Urasawa stands, for me, in a class of his own among manga artists. Monster, 20th Century Boys, Pluto, Master Keaton, each is a suspense engine that simply will not let you put it down. Drawing since the age of four, he is a born storyteller, and the awards, from Seiun prizes to Angouleme's, confirm that his appeal jumps borders effortlessly. He plays guitar and hosts radio too, but what truly floors me is his ability to render human darkness and human decency wearing the same face. That lingering moral weight after the final page is something almost no one else in the medium achieves.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Naoki Urasawa
- Name (Japanese)
- 浦沢直樹
- Reading
- うらさわ なおき
- Born
- January 2, 1960 (age 66)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Capricorn / Rat
- Origin
- Fuchū, Tokyo, Japan
- Occupation
- mangaka / songwriter / guitarist / radio personality / illustrator
2. Background
- University
- Meisei University
Awards & achievements
- 2013 Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire for Best Manga
- 2008 Seiun Award for Best Comic
- 2010 Seiun Award for Best Comic
- 2006 Best foreign work published in Spain
- 2004 Angoulême International Comics Festival Prize for a Series
3. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | 20th Century Boys | — | |
| Notable work | Monster | — | |
| Notable work | Yawara! | — | |
| Notable work | Master Keaton | — | |
| Notable work | Pineapple Army | — | |
| Notable work | Pluto | — |
4. Links
- Xhttps://x.com/urasawa_naoki
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naoki%20Urasawa
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%B5%A6%E6%B2%A2%E7%9B%B4%E6%A8%B9
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q348436
5. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-17
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Naoki Urasawa born?
Born January 2, 1960 (age 66).
Where is Naoki Urasawa from?
Naoki Urasawa is from Fuchū, Tokyo, Japan.
What does Naoki Urasawa do?
Naoki Urasawa works as mangaka, songwriter, guitarist, radio personality, illustrator.
What is Naoki Urasawa known for?
Notable works include 20th Century Boys, Monster, Yawara!.
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