<WAKAKI TAMIKI>
若木 民喜
(1972 May 9~)
Works:
Holy Crystal Albatross (聖結晶アルバトロス) - 2006
The World God Only Knows (Kami Nomi zo Shiru Sekai, 神のみぞ知るセカイ) - 2008
Wakaki Tamiki is now one of the popular mangaka from Weekly Shonen Sunday, now serialising 'Kami Nomi zo Shiru Sekai' for almost 3 years, reaching almost 150th chapter now.
However, behind this success, there is long history behind it. Katsuragi Keima, is actually reflection of 'AUTHOR HIMSELF', Wakaki's life was capturing god. Behind all those expert knowledges and ability to portray those parodies in brilliant manner, is all coming from his struggling for over 13 years of NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) life.
Wakaki Tamiki was born in Osaka, and graduated 'TOKYO UNIVERSITY' (omg rly?). He studied manga by 'HIMSELF' and submitted his first one shot in 1993, (age of 21) achieving 'Shogakukan Comics Award' the grand prize. He was first acclaimed to be 'Rising new figure who's future 10 years are anticipated'. No-one knew this will actually become '13 years' later. (...;_;...)
2. START OF HELL (already?)
After receiving some bad acclaims from the manga editor from various one shots, he disappeared from the world due to shock. After a year, he returns again as a newbie and starts his first assistant job under Takemura Yuuji, by finding that editor who scolded him. (and that editor is still Wakiki's manga editor until now...>_>)
Assistant work didn't help him in anyway from getting another serialization, and he falls into endless despair. Even with that excellent scholarship, he becomes NEET and comes back to his hometown (OSAKA). Not just NEET, but 'HARDCORE HIKIKOMORI' (shut-in). He starts his endless game life from this on, and when he returned to Tokyo, it was already 6 years past since he first achieved the award. (now 27 years old) In 2000 January, he submits oneshot called 'First Touch' (ファースト タッチ) and he was already 28. This fails again, and he falls into even deeper despair.
(...endless tears)
3. 13 Years later
In 2006, which was already 13 years past (he is already 33 at this stage...) after his entrance to hell-gate, named 'Holy Crystal Albatross'. However, his suffering hasn't ended.
The content itself was based on his old one shot called 'Information Thief Group Albatross'in 2004. He serialised this for around 1 year, and suddenly got 'CANCELED' and for its extremely low popularity. Something that is more saddening is that he was never able to finish it properly. For instance, the story was something about collecting 5 crystals, but ended with only collecting 2 and suddenly got gainax ending. Wakaki Tamiki made a blog post to explain all the plot+foreshadows+questions regards to storyline due to his sudden cancel.. (...*endless tears)
and pretty famous incident, 'I have less than 10,000 yen left in my bank balance'. (finally hit the bottom of hell) He says 'Now my bank balance fell below 10,000 yen. If I don't get any sort of cash by next week, I can't pay any public utility charges, thus I'm going back to the stone-age.' Funny thing is that he says that he had three choices left; 1. Lowering quality 2. debt 3. Canceling preorder of NINJAGAIDEN2. His choice was number 2... (...) He ends his blog with 'it's a world of majors which I longed and longed for, but why is it so painful...'. (*endless tears)
4. Escape from Hell - Becoming icon of otaku industry
His life changes with the one shut Koishite!? Kami-sama!! ( 恋して!? 神様!!).
The reception of this one shot wasn't too good. In internet + otaku community, it was groundbreaking one. (otaku can capture girls with knowledge from games!!!!) Everyone else thought it is shit. Since there were too much spare space for Shonen Sunday, it just went through to the serialisation, Kami Nomi zo Shiru Sekai.
With the actual series, editing department never liked it at first. Their prediction was 'This will never get over 5th volume, how can this shit get popular!' sort of thing. However, it gradually got recognition from general readers, not just eroge/galge otakus who were already treating it as 'Godly Manga'. Finally, Kami Nomi zo Shiru Sekai hits 11th volume now, and even got an animation.
and finally, he escapes from endless cycle of NEET, and becomes one of the most influential mangaka in Shonen Sunday.
5. Kami Nomi zo Shiru Sekai - Reflexion of Despair
Wakaki Tamiki's dramatic history is portrayed greatly in Kami Nomi zo Shiru Sekai, no it's Wakaki Tamiki's SOUL.
1. You find how first 4 captures go with the lightning speed pacing. That's all become he was afraid that this might get the same treatment as Holy Crystal Albatross, which got canceled and screwed ending due to pacing issues. Wakaki Tamiki tends to go with the pacing that long-term serialisation work tends to take, and it is the worst kind of approach when mangaka does not have any sort of fanbase to ignore all those slow pacing during the start. Knowing this failure of his previous work, he had to go faster this time.
2. Keima = Wakaki Tamiki is largely accepted for everyone who knows his back history. All those knowledge of galge is based on his own experience.
3. Keima frequently says 'Reality is shit'. That's what Wakaki Tamiki said all the time in his blog. (...)
4. He frequently describes the problems of manga industry that he experienced by 'himself'. Due to his 13 years of NEET Hikikomori (worst combination ever) life, he experienced how 'ROTTEN REALITY IS' and how he 'DESPERATELY ESCAPE FROM IT' through gaming. After all, he is from Tokyo University, and smart enough to know what's going on. (but thirteen years?...)
5. He actually played female eroge by himself for the sole reason of drawing Goido Yui's case. (...he is capturing god himself...>_>)
6. He never EVER takes a break. He says 'I'm afraid of taking a break'.
7. He describes Keima as 'A person who insist upon his thoughts, leads the situation as if it is the right thing, but 'A LUNATIC'. (Wakaki knows he is crazy)
8. In 8th Volume, he wrote his pathetic story... (*can't read without tears)
---
Age of 21 - 'Shogakukan Comics Award' Grand Prize, praised to be 'Huge new figure who's future 10 years are anticipated'
22 - Trashed for not being able to adapt to the serialisation system + cult material
23 - Not employed
24 - Game
25 - Game
26 - Determination to finally do something
27 - After 6 years, going back to Tokyo for return
28 - Again got criticised for the theme, breakdown
29 - deceived myself with gaming
30 - cannot escape anymore
31 - Finally realise that it is irrevocable
32 - Outcries, 'go to hell this damned world!'
33 - Albatross serialised due to staff's mistake
34 - Albastros canceled due to staff's power
35 - I checked my bank balance and it was 10,000 yen (*endless tears)
36 - After 10 years of gaming experience, Kami Nomi zo Shiru Sekai announced, offline treats me as madman, online thinks me as god. There were some sayings in editor department, 'Let's just cancel this since it is annoying'.
37 - 'Shogakukan Comics Award' .... REJECTED. (orz)
- various events created some topics, tears for additional printing that I heard for the first time of my career.
- Animation announced, draw chapter to commemorate it.
(*CANNOT READ WITHOUT TEARS)
When I first read about his history, I finally realised what manga Bakuman has always been talking about. Manga is gambling. One hit, changes ones life. However, Wakaki Tamiki is a bit extreme case. 13 years of NEET and come-back as popular mangaka is something unheard of. It was also time when I started to really respect his creation, Kami Nomi zo Shiru Sekai, which is consist of all his despair, sorrow and soul of his past 13 years of hell.
However, behind this success, there is long history behind it. Katsuragi Keima, is actually reflection of 'AUTHOR HIMSELF', Wakaki's life was capturing god. Behind all those expert knowledges and ability to portray those parodies in brilliant manner, is all coming from his struggling for over 13 years of NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) life.
-----------------------
1. Before the Suffering - 'Rising new figure of the Mangaka'
Wakaki Tamiki was born in Osaka, and graduated 'TOKYO UNIVERSITY' (omg rly?). He studied manga by 'HIMSELF' and submitted his first one shot in 1993, (age of 21) achieving 'Shogakukan Comics Award' the grand prize. He was first acclaimed to be 'Rising new figure who's future 10 years are anticipated'. No-one knew this will actually become '13 years' later. (...;_;...)
 |
After receiving some bad acclaims from the manga editor from various one shots, he disappeared from the world due to shock. After a year, he returns again as a newbie and starts his first assistant job under Takemura Yuuji, by finding that editor who scolded him. (and that editor is still Wakiki's manga editor until now...>_>)
Assistant work didn't help him in anyway from getting another serialization, and he falls into endless despair. Even with that excellent scholarship, he becomes NEET and comes back to his hometown (OSAKA). Not just NEET, but 'HARDCORE HIKIKOMORI' (shut-in). He starts his endless game life from this on, and when he returned to Tokyo, it was already 6 years past since he first achieved the award. (now 27 years old) In 2000 January, he submits oneshot called 'First Touch' (ファースト タッチ) and he was already 28. This fails again, and he falls into even deeper despair.
(...endless tears)
3. 13 Years later
In 2006, which was already 13 years past (he is already 33 at this stage...) after his entrance to hell-gate, named 'Holy Crystal Albatross'. However, his suffering hasn't ended.
and pretty famous incident, 'I have less than 10,000 yen left in my bank balance'. (
4. Escape from Hell - Becoming icon of otaku industry
His life changes with the one shut Koishite!? Kami-sama!! ( 恋して!? 神様!!).
 |
| Cover of the one shot ( |
With the actual series, editing department never liked it at first. Their prediction was 'This will never get over 5th volume, how can this shit get popular!' sort of thing. However, it gradually got recognition from general readers, not just eroge/galge otakus who were already treating it as 'Godly Manga'. Finally, Kami Nomi zo Shiru Sekai hits 11th volume now, and even got an animation.
and finally, he escapes from endless cycle of NEET, and becomes one of the most influential mangaka in Shonen Sunday.
5. Kami Nomi zo Shiru Sekai - Reflexion of Despair
Wakaki Tamiki's dramatic history is portrayed greatly in Kami Nomi zo Shiru Sekai, no it's Wakaki Tamiki's SOUL.
1. You find how first 4 captures go with the lightning speed pacing. That's all become he was afraid that this might get the same treatment as Holy Crystal Albatross, which got canceled and screwed ending due to pacing issues. Wakaki Tamiki tends to go with the pacing that long-term serialisation work tends to take, and it is the worst kind of approach when mangaka does not have any sort of fanbase to ignore all those slow pacing during the start. Knowing this failure of his previous work, he had to go faster this time.
2. Keima = Wakaki Tamiki is largely accepted for everyone who knows his back history. All those knowledge of galge is based on his own experience.
3. Keima frequently says 'Reality is shit'. That's what Wakaki Tamiki said all the time in his blog. (...)
4. He frequently describes the problems of manga industry that he experienced by 'himself'. Due to his 13 years of NEET Hikikomori (worst combination ever) life, he experienced how 'ROTTEN REALITY IS' and how he 'DESPERATELY ESCAPE FROM IT' through gaming. After all, he is from Tokyo University, and smart enough to know what's going on. (
5. He actually played female eroge by himself for the sole reason of drawing Goido Yui's case. (...he is capturing god himself...>_>)
6. He never EVER takes a break. He says 'I'm afraid of taking a break'.
7. He describes Keima as 'A person who insist upon his thoughts, leads the situation as if it is the right thing, but 'A LUNATIC'. (Wakaki knows he is crazy)
8. In 8th Volume, he wrote his pathetic story... (*can't read without tears)
---
Age of 21 - 'Shogakukan Comics Award' Grand Prize, praised to be 'Huge new figure who's future 10 years are anticipated'
22 - Trashed for not being able to adapt to the serialisation system + cult material
23 - Not employed
24 - Game
25 - Game
26 - Determination to finally do something
27 - After 6 years, going back to Tokyo for return
28 - Again got criticised for the theme, breakdown
29 - deceived myself with gaming
30 - cannot escape anymore
31 - Finally realise that it is irrevocable
32 - Outcries, 'go to hell this damned world!'
33 - Albatross serialised due to staff's mistake
34 - Albastros canceled due to staff's power
35 - I checked my bank balance and it was 10,000 yen (
36 - After 10 years of gaming experience, Kami Nomi zo Shiru Sekai announced, offline treats me as madman, online thinks me as god. There were some sayings in editor department, 'Let's just cancel this since it is annoying'.
37 - 'Shogakukan Comics Award' .... REJECTED. (orz)
- various events created some topics, tears for additional printing that I heard for the first time of my career.
- Animation announced, draw chapter to commemorate it.
(*CANNOT READ WITHOUT TEARS)
-----------------------
When I first read about his history, I finally realised what manga Bakuman has always been talking about. Manga is gambling. One hit, changes ones life. However, Wakaki Tamiki is a bit extreme case. 13 years of NEET and come-back as popular mangaka is something unheard of. It was also time when I started to really respect his creation, Kami Nomi zo Shiru Sekai, which is consist of all his despair, sorrow and soul of his past 13 years of hell.
Link to original post - http://animapple.blogspot.com/2011/03/people-wakaki-tamiki-mangaka-of-kami.html
Credit goes to ringOtamegane
