Sailor Moon

Naoko Takeuchi, born March 15, 1967, in Kōfu, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, is one of the most influential figures in shōjo manga. Originally aspiring to a career in chemistry, Takeuchi graduated with a degree in the subject. However, her passion for art and storytelling led her to submit work to the Nakayoshi magazine’s new artist contest, where her debut piece Love Call earned recognition in 1986.

Before Sailor Moon, Takeuchi created several short works and the magical-girl manga Codename: Sailor V (1991), which introduced Minako Aino, the prototype for the later Sailor Moon series. Encouraged by her editor, Takeuchi expanded the concept to include a team of heroines, incorporating elements of sentai (team-based action heroes), astrology, mythology, and high school romance.

Sailor Moon began serialization in Nakayoshi in 1991 and ran until 1997, spanning 18 volumes. Volume 1 serves as both a character introduction and narrative foundation for the rest of the series. Each chapter introduces a new key ally, expanding the team while gradually increasing the threat posed by the Dark Kingdom. Characters sometimes break the fourth wall and address the reader directly, a common device in manga. Central mysteries—the true identity of the Moon Princess, the location of