Beautiful Disaster: The Artistic Legacy of Kyoko Okazaki
Harsh contrasts of black and white magnifying expanses of negative space. Loose penwork applied with reckless abandon. Lavish models drawn in the finest caricature of high fashion. Such are the hallmarks of Kyoko Okazaki, one of the most avant-garde mangaka of the late 20th century.
From the start of her career, Kyoko Okazaki firmly set herself apart from her contemporaries. In 1983, fresh out of college, Okazaki made her debut in Manga Burikko, a hentai anthology magazine led by then editor-in-chief, Eiji Otsuka. Okazaki’s brutally honest work quickly stood out against the magazine’s erotic, male-driven fare. Her success inspired budding mangaka Erica Sakurazawa and Moyoco Anno to join the industry. Their collective work produced in this decade marked the start of the modern josei manga genre.
The second half of the 1980s were a busy time for Okazaki. She published six major works, including Boyfriend is Better (1985) and Take It Easy (1986), in a variety of publications. Lots of her minimalistic illustrations drawn around this time emulate that of another 80s artistic icon, Patrick Nagel, though without the polish and gloss of his high-beauty portraiture.
In 1989, right before Japan’s bubble economy burst, Okazaki published Pink, a witty story about a young office worker who moonlights as a Tokyo call girl in order to support her pet crocodile. The outlandish but realistic takes on a capitalist society and contemporary consumerist culture made Pink a hit. Okazaki would later attack the 1980s, highlighting the era’s moral degradation in a 1991 essay: “Romantic feelings toward decadence. The comfort of regressing. Wistfulness toward being materialized.”
Her vicious critique of Japanese society would continue well into the 1990s, brewing in 1993’s River’s Edge and ultimately culminating in Helter Skelter (1995), considered her magnum opus among many fans. Both series encapsulated the anguish and loneliness felt throughout Japan post-burst. River’s Edge explores the hardships faced by teenagers in a Tokyo suburb, tackling subjects such as extreme bullying, homosexuality, eating disorders, and death.
Helter Skelter, on the other hand, completely skewers celebrity worship, media sensationalism, and the pursuit of unattainable beauty. It follows the story of Liliko, a model who, after tons of plastic surgery, has reached the top of her game. But she quickly realizes just how fast fame can fade away, as her beautiful body—and warped mind—literally start breaking apart.
No matter how hard they try and create this so-called “other world,” doesn’t it just get tossed out and forgotten in no time? Maybe a few weeks for posters? A month for magazines? Half a year for CDs? What about books? A year? Two years? Three? Well?! They just all end up in the trash! – Liliko, Helter Skelter
In a sick twist of fate, life imitated art. During May of 1996, Kyoko Okazaki was struck by a drunk driver. Despite hints at her recovery over the years, this accident has effectively ended her career.
Though she may never draw again, Kyoko Okazaki continues to inspire readers from all cultures. Her unabashed attitude and eclectic style prove that with enough tenacity, we too can craft our own perfection in an imperfect world.
This post originally appeared on Hakutaku.