Igarashi, Daisuke

Daisuke Igarashi (五十嵐大介) is a Japanese manga artist born in Saitama in 1969. He studied oil painting at Tama Art University, where he was classmates with Hiroaki Samura, and debuted professionally in 1993 in Monthly Afternoon. He is known for his meticulous depictions of the natural world and his use of spiritual or surreal elements to explore the relationship between humanity and nature. Igarashi draws inspiration from folklore and nature combined with surrealism and spiritual themes to create a style that has earned comparisons to the films of Hayao Miyazaki (Igarashi himself stated in an interview that Miyazaki's film My Neighbor Totoro was a key influence on his decision to become a manga artist). He works without assistants, producing intricate, photorealistic backgrounds in ink and ballpoint pen.

His series "Witches" and Children of the Sea - both published in Monthly Ikki - received Excellence Prizes at the Japan Media Arts Festival. Children of the Sea was adapted into an anime film by Studio 4°C in 2019.

1990s

1994
Hanashippanashi (はなしっぱなし) (1994 - 1996)

2000s

2002
Sora Tobi Tamashii (そらトびタマシイ)
Ritoru Foresuto リトル・フォレスト) (2002 - 2005)

2003
Majo (魔女) | Published in English as "Witches" (2003 - 2004)
Kabocha no Bōken (カボチャの冒険) (2003 - 2007)

2006
Kaijū no Kodomo (海獣の子供) | Published in English as "Children of the Sea" (2006 - 2011)

2010s

2010
Saru

2015
Kyō no Ani Imōto (きょうのあにいもうと)
Dizainzu (ディザインズ) | Published in English as "Designs" (2015 - 2019)

2017
Umwelt (ウムヴェルト)

2020s

2022
Kamakura Bake Neko Club (2022 - present)