Uoto
{{Short description|Japanese manga artist (born 1997)}}
{{Infobox artist
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|05|29}}
| birth_place = Tokyo, Japan
| notable_works = Orb: On the Movements of the Earth
| awards = {{ubl|2021: Mangado Kobayashi Award|2022: Osamu Tezuka Cultural Prize|2023: Seiun Award}}
}}
{{nihongo|Uoto|魚豊|extra=born May 29, 1997}} is a Japanese manga artist known for blending surrealist horror, psychological drama, and social commentary. He is better known for writing and illustrating the Japanese manga Orb: On the Movements of the Earth. It has been critically acclaimed and has won several prestigious awards. Uoto has gained recognition for his intricate storytelling, historical research, and detailed artwork.
Early life and career
Uoto was born in Tokyo. His pseudonym {{nihongo|Uotoyo|魚豊}} derives from his fondness for Daggertooth pike conger ({{lang|ja|ハモ/鱧}} {{Transliteration|ja|hamo}}), his favorite fish.{{Cite web|script-title=ja:魚豊先生に聞く『チ。』のタイトルに込めた意味｜川島・山内のマンガ沼web {{!}} マンバ通信 |url=https://manba.co.jp/manba_magazines/12922|access-date=April 14, 2025|website=Manba|language=ja}} From childhood, he displayed a passion for drawing and harbored a vague aspiration to become a manga artist. This ambition crystallized during his first year of junior high school after watching the anime Bakuman, which revealed the professional path of manga creation. Inspired, he began submitting his original work for publication.{{Cite web |title=[マンガのラジオ] Vol.13 魚豊さん（その1）「最近24歳になりました」 - マンガのラジオ|url=https://omny.fm/shows/manganoradio/vol-13-1?in_playlist=manga |access-date=April 14, 2025|website=omny.fm}}
Uoto enrolled in university to study philosophy but left after two years to pursue manga full-time. During a May 5, 2021, interview on Yomiuri TV’s Kawashima and Yamauchi's Manga Swamp, he stated: "I'm now 23, but I began submitting manga at age 13".
In 2017, his one-shot, Honorable Work, earned selection for the Weekly Shōnen Magazine Newcomer Manga Award and was published in Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine, marking his official debut. By early 2018, he further honed his skills as an assistant for The Kindaichi Case Files Gaiden: The Case Files of the Criminals.{{Cite web|script-title=ja:マガポケ6周年記念読み切り『金田一少年の事件簿外伝 犯人たちの事件簿』 - 原作/天樹征丸 金成陽三郎 さとうふみや 漫画/船津紳平 / 【特別読み切り】|url=https://pocket.shonenmagazine.com/episode/3269754496417672094|access-date=April 14, 2025|website=Magazine Pocket|publisher=Kodansha|language=ja}}
From November 2018 to August 2019, he serialized 100 Meters—a story about a swift-footed boy—in Magazine Pocket.{{Cite web|script-title=ja:誰よりも速く100mを走ればいい、マガポケ新連載「ひゃくえむ。」|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/306816|access-date=2025-04-14 |website=Comic Natalie|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|language=ja}} The series' success garnered attention from prominent editors across the industry. Even before its final volume's release, he connected via Twitter with Chiyoda, an editor at Weekly Big Comic Spirits, signaling his rising prominence.{{Cite web|script-title=ja:【イベントレポート】米代恭×魚豊が3時間半の創作談義、なぜフィクションを描く？たった1つの確固たる理由 |url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/457529|website=Comic Natalie|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|access-date=April 14, 2025|language=ja}} Despite being a third-year editor at the company and facing career disadvantages, Chiyoda proactively networked with Uoyu, joining Yoneshiro Kyo and his editor Kinjo for drinks. This personal outreach proved pivotal—Uoyu ultimately chose to serialize his work in Chiyoda's magazine.
In 2020, Uoto launched his critically acclaimed series Orb: On the Movements of the Earth in Big Comic Spirits, marking his debut in the prestigious magazine.{{Cite web|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|script-title=ja:地動説描く「チ。」1巻、「寄生獣」岩明均が"まぎれもない才能を感じる"と推薦（コメントあり）|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/408453|access-date=April 14, 2025|website=Comic Natalie|language=ja}}
In July 2021, when Big Comic Spirits revamped its Newcomer Award into the "Spirits Newcomer King Championship", Uoto was honored as its inaugural judge.{{Cite web|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|script-title=ja:「チ。―地球の運動について―」魚豊が審査員に、スピリッツ賞がリニューアル（コメントあり）|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/435485 |access-date=April 14, 2025|website=Comic Natalie|language=ja}} In 2022, Orb On the Movements of the Earth earned the 26th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize's Manga Grand Prize.{{Cite web|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|script-title=ja:第26回手塚治虫文化賞マンガ大賞は魚豊「チ。」、新生賞に谷口菜津子|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/475241|access-date=April 14, 2025|website=Comic Natalie|language=ja}} In 2023, the same work secured the 54th Seiun Award in the Comics category.{{Cite web|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|script-title=ja:「チ。―地球の運動について―」が星雲賞コミック部門を受賞、 アート部門に鶴田謙二|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/535788|access-date=April 14, 2025|website=Comic Natalie|language=ja}} Later, in August, Uoto began serializing Welcome to FACT (Tokyo S Ward Second Branch) simultaneously in Manga One and Ura Sunday. In August 2024, he received the Forbes Japan 30 Under 30 award in Entertainment & Sports.{{Cite web|script-title=ja:FORBES JAPAN 30 UNDER 30 2024｜日本発「世界を変える30歳未満」|url=https://forbesjapan.com/feat/30under30/2024/|access-date=2025-04-14|website=Forbes JAPAN|language=ja}}
Influences
- Musical: Uoto initiated a creative correspondence project with lead singer Hiromu Akita of the rock band Amazarashi, exchanging original artworks and dialogues.{{Cite web |title=チ。 × amazarashi {{!}} 往復書簡プロジェクト『共通言語』 |url=https://www.amazarashi.com/kyoutsuugengo/ |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=チ。 × amazarashi {{!}} 往復書簡プロジェクト『共通言語』 |language=ja}}
- Philosophical: Uoto cites philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche and manga artist Chidori{{'}}s Daigo as key influences.
- Artistic: Uoto credits Parasyte, Ping Pong, Ushijima the Loan Shark, Kaiji, Ajin, and Death Note as pivotal works shaping his style.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{ANN|person|224531}}
{{Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize}}
Category:Manga artists from Tokyo