Ryohei Saigan
Description
Ryohei Saigan is a Japanese manga artist born on July 30, 1947, in the Setagaya ward of Tokyo, Japan. He is a graduate of Rikkyo University, where he studied economics. While still a student, he also attended a manga workshop, and he made his professional debut in 1972 with the work Yume no Heihachiro no Seishun in the magazine Big Comic Original.
Saigan is best known as the original creator of the long-running manga series San Chōme no Yūhi, which is also known as Yūyake no Uta San Chōme no Yūhi or Sunset on Third Street. The series began serialization in 1974 in the manga magazine Big Comic Original and follows the lives of residents in a fictional Tokyo neighborhood during the post-war years of the mid-1950s to mid-1960s. The manga was awarded the 27th Shogakukan Manga Award in the general category. It has been collected into numerous volumes and has remained in publication for decades.
The success of the manga led to its adaptation into a 27-episode anime television series, San Chōme no Yūhi, which was broadcast from October 1990 to March 1991. The series was produced by the studio Group Tac and Toho, and directed by Tsuneo Maeda. Beyond its animated form, Saigan's work is most widely recognized for inspiring a highly successful trilogy of live-action films. The first film, Always: Sunset on Third Street, was released in 2005, directed by Takashi Yamazaki. It was followed by two sequels: Always: Sunset on Third Street 2 in 2007 and Always: Sunset on Third Street 64 in 2012. The first film was a major critical and commercial success, becoming the number one film at the Japanese box office for two weeks and winning 12 awards at the 2006 Japanese Academy Prizes.
In addition to his signature work, Saigan has created several other notable manga series. These include Kamakura Monogatari, a mystery series that began in 1984 and was later adapted into a 2017 live-action film titled Destiny: The Tale of Kamakura. Other works by Saigan are Tanpopo-san no Uta (1982), Akai Kumo (1982), Time Scooter (1991), Mysteryan (1985), Polar Lady (1985), Shinkirō (1980), and the short story collection Professional Retsuden. One of his stories, Akai Kumo, was also adapted as an episode of the television drama series Yo nimo Kimyō na Monogatari.
While his artistic style is often described as charming and accessible, his narratives frequently explore deeper themes, blending warmth and nostalgia with elements of melancholy, humor, and even the supernatural. His personal interests include photography, model trains, and mystery novels, which are reflected in the diverse genres and detailed settings of his work. Through his long career, Ryohei Saigan has established himself as a significant figure in Japanese manga, with his most famous creation becoming a beloved portrait of Showa-era Japan.
Saigan is best known as the original creator of the long-running manga series San Chōme no Yūhi, which is also known as Yūyake no Uta San Chōme no Yūhi or Sunset on Third Street. The series began serialization in 1974 in the manga magazine Big Comic Original and follows the lives of residents in a fictional Tokyo neighborhood during the post-war years of the mid-1950s to mid-1960s. The manga was awarded the 27th Shogakukan Manga Award in the general category. It has been collected into numerous volumes and has remained in publication for decades.
The success of the manga led to its adaptation into a 27-episode anime television series, San Chōme no Yūhi, which was broadcast from October 1990 to March 1991. The series was produced by the studio Group Tac and Toho, and directed by Tsuneo Maeda. Beyond its animated form, Saigan's work is most widely recognized for inspiring a highly successful trilogy of live-action films. The first film, Always: Sunset on Third Street, was released in 2005, directed by Takashi Yamazaki. It was followed by two sequels: Always: Sunset on Third Street 2 in 2007 and Always: Sunset on Third Street 64 in 2012. The first film was a major critical and commercial success, becoming the number one film at the Japanese box office for two weeks and winning 12 awards at the 2006 Japanese Academy Prizes.
In addition to his signature work, Saigan has created several other notable manga series. These include Kamakura Monogatari, a mystery series that began in 1984 and was later adapted into a 2017 live-action film titled Destiny: The Tale of Kamakura. Other works by Saigan are Tanpopo-san no Uta (1982), Akai Kumo (1982), Time Scooter (1991), Mysteryan (1985), Polar Lady (1985), Shinkirō (1980), and the short story collection Professional Retsuden. One of his stories, Akai Kumo, was also adapted as an episode of the television drama series Yo nimo Kimyō na Monogatari.
While his artistic style is often described as charming and accessible, his narratives frequently explore deeper themes, blending warmth and nostalgia with elements of melancholy, humor, and even the supernatural. His personal interests include photography, model trains, and mystery novels, which are reflected in the diverse genres and detailed settings of his work. Through his long career, Ryohei Saigan has established himself as a significant figure in Japanese manga, with his most famous creation becoming a beloved portrait of Showa-era Japan.
Works
- Topics: Anime overview