Isaki Uta is a talented manga artist renowned for their captivating artwork and captivating storytelling. They have gained recognition for their masterpiece, Mine-kun is Asexual, which fans have warmly received worldwide.
Isaki Uta’s stories explore personal identity and the challenges of navigating a society that may not readily accept or even understand those who are “different.” In addition to their commercial manga works, such as Is Love The Solution? published by Kodansha, Uta has also created remarkable doujinshi, including titles like Leaper and Silkscreen. Their unique storytelling style and LGBTQ+-focused narratives have made them a beloved figure in the manga community.
Irodori Comics has recently announced the launch of the Kickstarter campaign for “Isaki Uta: The Lost & Found Collection” showcasing the remarkable works of Isaki Uta. Published in the United States by Kodansha, Isaki Uta’s stories delve into individuals’ complex journeys and personal struggles as they explore and embrace their gender and sexual identities.
This collection allows a broader audience to appreciate the artistic brilliance and emotional depth of Isaki Uta’s writing and art.
The Kickstarter launch page for “Isaki Uta: The Lost & Found Collection” is now available. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to delve into four of Isaki Uta’s most acclaimed stories by visiting the official Kickstarter page. Story synopsis are as follows,
Mine-kun is Asexual
(Preview below)
In “Mine-kun is Asexual,” Mine doesn’t like sexual intimacy in a relationship. He can kiss a girl, but it’s not something he wants to do if he can help it. But Murai loves him so much that she’s willing to overlook the fact that she can’t hold his hand; that she can’t cuddle up next to him when they watch movies together; that she can’t fall in love with him the way that she hopes to be loved in return. In the eyes of those around them, is this even a relationship that’s meant to last, or is it a train wreck just waiting to happen?
Leaper
Leapers—individuals who were born on February 29th that age at a rate four times slower than that of a normal person and can live for over 300 years. Mio Aono is one of these leapers and like many, experiences all the emotions that come with living beyond the normal, mortal lifespan. This story won an honorable mention in the Monthly Afternoon Magazine Manga Competition and jumpstarted Isaki Uta’s career! Originally published in 2008, this landmark work has been updated and re-released as a doujinshi and localized in English for fans to enjoy.
Mermaid in the Bottle
Takeru has always felt like another cog in the wheel of corporate society, but things take a strange turn when he and his sister discover a mermaid inside a cosmetic lotion bottle. Memories of childhood; a brother and sister separated in the aftermath of a failed marriage; corporate money disappearing off the ledgers… Mermaid in the Bottle is Isaki Uta’s tour-de-force first foray into self-publishing and features a unique story looking into the bitter-sweet relationship of a brother and sister with a shared, troubled past.
Silkscreen
A girl falls in love and devotes herself to them, but they don’t conform to her expectations, perhaps because she looks at them through a blurry curtain. Silkscreen touches on a bittersweet romance between a lesbian and a genderqueer individual, who later comes out as a trans man. Those familiar with Isaki Uta’s previous works like Mermaid In The Bottle, Leaper and Mine-kun is Asexual, will know that the author has a unique style of storytelling that leaves a lot to the reader’s interpretation. Silkscreen is a bittersweet story that briefly explores the concepts of identity, rejection, and acceptance.
“Isaki Uta’s works are gems in the world of Japanese LGBTQ＋ comics,[. . .] The relationships between characters aren’t cookie cutter and show the rawness and intensity of discovering one’s sexuality and gender identity. It makes queer individuals like myself feel seen and that these kinds of stories are worth telling.”
– ITSUKI, Irodori Comics Translator via Press Release
Isaki Uta added,
“I put my heart and soul into drawing these stories, so I hope you enjoy them!”
Isaki Uta via Press Release
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