Born: 15 March 1967, Japan
Died: NA
Country most active: Japan
Also known as: 武内 直子, Takeuchi Naoko
The following bio was written by Emma Rosen, author of On This Day She Made History: 366 Days With Women Who Shaped the World and This Day In Human Ingenuity & Discovery: 366 Days of Scientific Milestones with Women in the Spotlight, and has been republished with permission.
In 1991, Naoko Takeuchi published the first installment of her manga series “Sailor Moon” (美少女戦士セーラームーン) in the shōjo manga magazine Nakayoshi. The series became one of the most popular and influential manga series worldwide, particularly within the magical girl genre.
Naoko Takeuchi (武内 直子), born on March 15, 1967, in Kofu, Yamanashi, Japan, is a renowned Japanese manga artist celebrated for her iconic creation, Sailor Moon. Her journey began when she submitted “Love Call” to Kodansha at the age of 19, receiving Nakayoshi’s New Artist award. She went on to craft “Maria” and “The Cherry Project” before conceiving the idea for “Codename: Sailor V,” which ultimately led to the Sailor Moon series.
Sailor Moon became a cultural phenomenon, inspiring an anime adaptation, movies, video games, and extensive merchandise. Takeuchi’s influence on the “magical girl” genre and her contributions to manga and anime have solidified her as a significant figure in the industry. Beyond Sailor Moon, she worked on various projects, including “Toki☆Meca” and “Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal.”