Since the anime and manga industry is growing ever so rapidly, the older series eventually get forgotten over time, especially if they don’t keep returning with new releases. However, there’s always an exception to the rule, especially if a story is well-received by fans. One such series is Ai Yazawa’s acclaimed series, Nana. The manga began serialization on Shueisha’s Shojo and Josei magazine, Cookie, in 2000. It didn’t take long for the series to become one of the most iconic Shojo of all time. Yazawa is one of the most celebrated manga creators of all time, known for several classic works such as I’m No Angel, Neighborhood Story, Paradise Kiss, and more. Her most famous work went on a hiatus in 2009, which hit the fandom hard, and the creator hasn’t returned with a new story since then. Nana went on an indefinite hiatus in June 2009, after the release of Chapter 84, due to the creator’s sudden illness.
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Even so, the manga creator has been actively involved with the illustrations and new updates regarding the series. In 2025, the manga sparked hopes for a return after Yazawa confirmed she plans to eventually conclude the story since it’s already in its final stage. However, even after almost a year since the announcement, fans have been waiting for a return date. The renowned animation studio Madhouse also released an anime adaptation in 2006 and released 47 episodes, but was never able to conclude the story. Since the anime is commemorating its 20th anniversary this year, Sentai Filmworks released a complete edition of the Blu-ray DVD. It includes the creditless opening and ending themes along with all the anime episodes that have been released. Since the manga has been on a hiatus for several years now, the anime also hasn’t released a sequel.
What Is Nana So Loved Even After All These Years?
Nana is one of the most realistic and painful portrayals of young adulthood and human relations. Shojo is famous for portraying picture-perfect romances and fairy-tale endings. However, this exceptional story instead focuses on flawed characters through the messy and codependent nature of love. The story revolves around two women sharing the same name, Nana Osaki and Nana Komatsu.
However, the name is just about the only thing they have in common, as their personalities and everything else about them are complete opposites. Despite being so different, they easily befriended each other during a chance meeting on a train and somehow ended up sharing the same apartment.
Osaki chose to pursue her dream of becoming a lead vocalist for a punk band even if it meant separating from her boyfriend. On the other hand, Komatsu is a naive girl who easily falls for others. She left her home to follow her boyfriend and live in the same city as him. The story follows the girls’ journeys as they deal with heartbreaks and several more obstacles along the way before they find their true selves.
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