A Pioneer of Shōjo Manga: The World of Waki Yamato Waki Yamato, born in Sapporo, Japan, on March 13, 1948, stands as a monumental figure in the history of shōjo manga—comics geared towards young women. Her career, launched in 1966 with the short story *Dorobō Tenshi* (Thief Angel), blossomed into a prolific and influential body of work that redefined the genre. Yamato didn’t simply create comics; she crafted immersive worlds filled with romantic longing, strong female characters, and a keen eye for historical detail, establishing herself as one of Japan's most beloved manga artists. Her endu…