Natsuki Takaya photo

Natsuki Takaya

Name (in native language) : 高屋奈月

Natsuki Takaya (高屋 奈月 Takaya Natsuki, real name Naka Hatake) is the penname of a Japanese manga artist best-known for creating the series Fruits Basket. She was born on July 7, 1973; (Tanabata). Takaya is left-handed and once revealed that she wanted to be a mangaka since first grade, when her sister started drawing.

She was born in Shizuoka, Japan, but was raised in Tokyo, where she made her debut in 1992. She enjoys video games such as the Final Fantasy series or Sakura Wars, or working on her different manga series, such as Fruits Basket, which is the second best-selling shōjo manga ever in Japan, and the top selling shōjo manga in North America. Fruits Basket has also been adapted into a twenty-six-episode anime series.

In 2001, Takaya received a Kodansha Manga Award for shōjo manga for Fruits Basket.

According to Takaya (in a sidebar of a Fruits Basket manga volume), she enjoys drawing girls (girly ones) more than she does boys. Takaya also enjoys electronics and music, but dislikes talking about herself. Also revealed in a sidebar of Fruits Basket, Takaya broke her drawing arm (left) after Fruits Basket volume six was published. She had to go into surgery, and as a result, had put Fruits Basket on a brief hiatus. Takaya made a full recovery, but complains that her handwriting had gotten uglier, due to the surgery. During her hospital stay, she gained an interest in baseball.


“Saying she doesn't mind being alone...that she's alright... There isn't a person alive who'd really feel that way!”
Natsuki Takaya
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“He gets hurt by the smallest touch. It'll be okay, as long as there will finally be a day. Eventually, one day. It will be good if all our burdens would finally be released. I really hope you can do it. I hope you two can both live happily.”
Natsuki Takaya
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“Sometimes living can be hard, but it's only because we're alive that we can make each other laugh,cry...be happy! In this world, if that's not a reason for being born in this world...I don't know what is!”
Natsuki Takaya
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“There's no such thing as a person who has to go away.”
Natsuki Takaya
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“Ayame: In fact, perhaps it would be easier if we just discussed me instead.Yuki: What would be the point in that?Ayame: Oh, in that case, I should be prepared to talk about why I chose this lyrical professional overflowing with fantasy! It's because I wanted to create something. Even I, who have a charisma that wafts of noble refinement, have times when I lose confidence! Ans so I had this uncontrollable urge to try making something. Anything, it didn't matter what. It just so happened that dress-making suited me best.... I just wanted to make sure that I had the power to make something. Maybe I wanted to know if I could create something with my own hands. If there could be something that couldn't exist without me.”
Natsuki Takaya
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“Ritsu: Please, Onii-san, please write with takoyaki power!Mitsuru: Yes, sensei! With ikyayaki or takoyaki or whatever it takes! Write quickly, without hesitation! Ah... Um... W-what is takoyaki power?Ritsu: Well, that is--! When Shigure-niisan eats takoyaki, he transforms into a great warrior...Shigure: No I don't.”
Natsuki Takaya
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“Because if you stay true to yourself and live your life boldly, someday you might be able to meet someone who will want to eat takoyaki with you more than anyone else.”
Natsuki Takaya
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“I'm sure that inside your heart you're trying with all your might to find it on your own... the reason you were born. Because really, there might not be anyone who was born with a reason. I think... that everyone... everyone might have to find one on their own. A reason for being born, a reason that it's okay to be alive, a reason to exist. I think everyone might have to find it themselves... and decide it for themselves... The reason you're looking for might be vague, unclear and uncertain. And you might lose it. But as long as you're alive, you have to keep searching for that reason.”
Natsuki Takaya
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“Ayame: Hello, Tori-san!! You're not going to believe what Yuki just told me!”
Natsuki Takaya
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“Shigure: Perhaps I can offer some advice? ...You know, Tohru-kun, when you get anxiety about the future it's better not to think about it. And let's not wipe our faces with dishtowels... For example let's say, Tohru-kun, that you are surrounded with a mountain of laundry piled so high around your feet that you can't move. Are you with me? Now, let's assume you don't have a washing machine, so you have to wash everything individually by hand. You would be at a loss for what to do, right? You'd worry about if you could ever wash everything, if you could get it all clean, if you'd ever have time for anything but laundry ever again! The more you'd think about it, the more anxious you'd get. But the time keeps passing, and the laundry doesn't wash itself. So what do you do, Tohru-kun? It might be a good idea to start washing the laundry right at your feet. Of course it's important to think about what lies ahead, too, but if you only look at what's down the road you'll get tangled in the laundry at your feet and you'll fall, won't you? You see, it's also important to think about what you can do now, what you can do today. And if you keep washing things one at a time, you'll be done before you know it. Because fortune is looking out for you. Sometimes the anxiety will start to well up, but when it does, take a little break. Read a book, watch TV, or eat soumen with everyone. Oh my, I'm shocked! Wow! What a wonderful analogy! I really must treat myself to some soumen as a reward... Oh! I'd like some tea, too!Kyo: Why you... You just wanted to eat soumen, didn't you?!”
Natsuki Takaya
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“People aren't born with kindness, it grows with them...”
Natsuki Takaya
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“To forgive or not to forgive... are those my only choices?”
Natsuki Takaya
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“Hanajima, my spear! Bring me my spear!”
Natsuki Takaya
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“I love you. I love you just the way you are. I love you so much!" ~Kyo”
Natsuki Takaya
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“There was something I wanted, something I envisioned, loving parents, a happy home with everyone smiling at me. A home that no one would ever want to leave, a warm place , a warm person. It exists, I know it does”
Natsuki Takaya
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“I love the stars.Because they can't say anything.I love the stars.Because they do not judge anyone.”
Natsuki Takaya
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“If you want to stop me you're going to have to came at me like your going to kill me." -Hatsuharu”
Natsuki Takaya
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“You may be an idiot but I don't think you're a fool.”
Natsuki Takaya
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“Just be yourself and you'll be fine”
Natsuki Takaya
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“When snow melts, what does it become?'It becomes water, of course'Wrong! It becomes spring!”
Natsuki Takaya
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“When did you become a woman?"-HatoriHow dare you ask that after you have seen me naked so many times..."-YukiGASP! No it cant be! Yuki-kun, does that mean..." fan club girlsNO! He's my doctor..."Yuki”
Natsuki Takaya
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“Sometimes it feels like the whole world is conspiring to destroy my house... "- Shigure Sohma”
Natsuki Takaya
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