The French government has knighted another Japanese citizen. Late last week, the French government conferred the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, or the Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters, on manga creator Rumiko Takahashi. She received this honor at the France ambassador’s residence in Tokyo, Japan.
The Frech Ministry of Culture describes the Order of Arts and Letters as one “intended to reward people who have distinguished themselves by their creations in the artistic or literary field or by the contribution they have made to the influence of the arts and letters in France and in the world.”
“The Order of Arts and Letters (Ordre des Arts et des Lettres) was established in 1957 to recognize eminent artists and writers, as well as people who have contributed significantly to furthering the arts in France and throughout the world,” meanwhile, was how the Cultural Services of the French Embassy described this honor.
Distinguished manga creator
Since her career debut in 1978, Takahashi has created various manga that have been turned into popular animes, such as “Ranma 1/2″ and “Inuyasha.” She is also the manga artist behind “Urusei Yatsura,” “ Maison Ikkoku,” “Mermaid Saga,” “Rumic Theater,” and “One-Pound Gospel.”
Throughout her career spanning more than four decades, many of her works have become popular internationally, and inspired both anime and live-action adaptations.
She ended her RIN-NE manga in Weekly Shonen Sunday in December 2017. This manga’s 40th and final compiled volume shipped in Japan shortly after, in January 2018. Then, in May 2019, she launched a new manga title, MAO.
Award-winning
This newly knighted manga creator was also previously inducted into the Harvey Awards’ Hall of Fame and the Will Eisner Comic Awards’ Hall of Fame in 2018. These are two of the most prestigious awards in the comics industry.
Furthermore, Takahashi also received the Fall 2020 Medal with Purple Ribbon from the Japanese government.
She was born in Niigata. Though she showed little interest in manga as a child, she said she would occasionally doodle in the margins of her papers while attending Niigata Chūō High School. In a 2000 interview published on VIZ Media, she said she had always wanted to become a professional comic author since she was a child.
Motivation to create more manga
The manga creator is not the first Japanese citizen conferred the knighthood. Other Japanese citizens who received the French honor include manga creators Leiji Matsumoto, Jiro Taniguchi, Akira Toriyama, Katsuhiro Otomo, and Go Nagai. This French honor was also conferred upon Studio Ghibli co-founder Isao Takahata, filmmaker and actor Takeshi Kitano, and video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto.
According to MANTANWEB, Takahashi expressed her thanks for being given the title, saying she was very happy the French also enjoyed her works. She added she would use this as her motivation to continue working hard and creating manga.
