Nana

Synopsis

Nana Komatsu, nicknamed Hachi (like the faithful dog), is a naive, emotionally dependent, and dreamy young woman who leaves her hometown to join her boyfriend in Tokyo. Nana Osaki is a punk rock singer with a strong character, determined to make her band Blast break through in the capitals music scene. The two Nanas meet by chance on the Shinkansen and, through a series of coincidences, end up sharing apartment 707 in a Tokyo building. Despite their diametrically opposed personalities, a deep and complex friendship blooms between them.

The manga follows the intertwined lives of the two heroines in the ruthless world of Tokyo. Nana Osaki reforms Blast with guitarist Nobu, bassist Shin, and new drummer Yasu, her childhood friend secretly in love with her, while she maintains a complicated relationship with Ren Honjo, guitarist of rival band Trapnest, her ex-boyfriend turned rock star. Hachi, meanwhile, goes through chaotic romantic relationships — with Shoji who cheats on her, then Takumi Ichinose, the cold and manipulative Trapnest leader, by whom she becomes pregnant.

The second half of the manga darkens considerably, exploring the painful compromises of adult life, toxic relationships, addictions, and the gradual distancing of the two friends under the weight of fame and responsibilities. Enigmatic flash-forwards hint at a future where the two Nanas are separated, creating permanent narrative tension. The manga has been on hiatus since 2009 due to Ai Yazawas illness, leaving the story unfinished at chapter 84.

Themes and Influence

Nana is an unflinching exploration of young adult life: passionate and destructive loves, friendships tested by success and jealousy, dreams confronted with reality. The work treats with maturity emotional dependency (embodied by Hachi), ambition and the price of success (embodied by Nana O.), abusive relationships, and the difficulty of staying true to oneself. The manga had an immense cultural impact in Japan and Asia, influencing fashion (Nana O.s punk-rock style inspired by Vivienne Westwood), music, and the perception of josei manga as a full narrative form. Two live-action films (2005 and 2006) and a 47-episode anime (Madhouse, 2006-2007) were produced.