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Photo of Naoki Urasawa

Photo: yves Tennevin from La Garde, France / CC BY-SA 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)

Naoki Urasawa

Naoki Urasawa was born January 2, 1960 (age 66). From Fuchū, Tokyo, Japan. Mangaka / songwriter / guitarist. 46 credited works.

Mangaka from Japan

  • Tokyo
  • mangaka
  • songwriter
  • guitarist

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.

This take was written by generative AI, one per person, from publicly reported facts (editorial policy). It is a reading of the record, not reporting.

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)
Origin
Fuchū, Tokyo, Japan
Occupation
mangaka / songwriter / guitarist / radio personality / illustrator
Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
Capricorn / Rat
Active years
1983 -

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

Works summary

Appearances
41 (1991–2026)
By year (titles with a known year)
1991: 1, 1999: 1, 2005: 1, 2007: 2, 2008: 4, 2009: 8, 2013: 1, 2014: 3, 2015: 3, 2016: 1, 2017: 3, 2018: 2, 2020: 1, 2022: 2, 2026: 2, year unknown: 6
Debut work
人気漫画家大会

Filmography / notable works

CategoryTitle
Notable work20th Century Boys
Notable workMonster
Notable workYawara!
Notable workMaster Keaton
Notable workPineapple Army
Notable workPluto

5. About this entry

Tags

  • Tokyo
  • mangaka
  • songwriter
  • guitarist
Last updated

Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. Works and profile fields sourced from Wikipedia reflect content as of 2026-08-26. 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?

Naoki Urasawa was born on January 2, 1960 and is 66 years old.

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.

Where did Naoki Urasawa study?

Naoki Urasawa attended Meisei University.

How long has Naoki Urasawa been active?

Naoki Urasawa has been active since 1983.

What is Naoki Urasawa known for?

Naoki Urasawa's notable works include 20th Century Boys, Monster, Yawara!.

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