The Beauty Of Nana

‘Today is the oldest you’ve ever been, and the youngest you’ll ever be again.”

Nana Komatsu and Nana Osaki

Recently, I revisited an old TV show, which I used to watch when I was a kid. I wasn’t a big follower of human nature, and the first time I was exposed to it was on a screen. The static of the TV became increasingly loud. I was 9 when I first discovered Nana. The story really stuck with me for a long time. As the years passed, I revisited Nana, back in late 2022. Admiring the works of Ai Yazawa, a Japanese manga artist and illustrator from the 90s to the 2000s. I wanted to delve into my opinions of Nana as an avid fan of Yazawa’s work.

The story begins with two girls from different backgrounds meeting on a train for the first time. As a watcher, it was one of the sentiments of what being human is all about. It’s about exploring it. The good and the bad. This show covers that. It has a very dark plots which cover subjects like addiction, abuse (financial and emotional), grooming (Shin’s storyline), and also how we operate as humans through these characters.

When I was younger, it was mostly about music for me. That’s why I resonated with Nana Osaki’s character the most. Things took a drastic turn. I wasn’t 9 anymore. I was 20 when I watched it again. This time with better quality. There’s this website where you can watch any anime in the world. Dubbed or Subbed. I pressed on my laptop, and placed my heater on. It was starting again. Episode 1. The beginning of the manga I read when I was a child. Of course, at the time, it wasn’t available due to the books being sold for a very high price because of their popularity. Luckily, being born in the 00s had its advantages. I was so fortunate to have discovered this at a young age.

It’s probably encouraged my sense of self through expressing myself creatively. They would have Vivienne Westbrook inspired from head to toe. I always wondered how they would have afforded it throughout the show. Nana Osaki’s character would tell a story. Her rebellion and grit in her voice and heart, trying to find her dreams in a world that tests her every single day. That’s what drawn me into her charcter, and I think Ai Yazawa’s work showcases that as human beings. We’re constantly been tested on something that causes us to either keep pushing ahead or to forget about it. She chooses her own destiny in life which inspires me to choose mine every single day.

Nana Osaki and Nana Komatsu

On the other hand, Nana Komatsu shows hope and vulnerability. One thing I struggle with as a viewer but somehow she manages to touch the places that makes me vulnerable. Her longing to be loved, while navigating the complexities of relationships that are rarely simple or kind in her life, which also connects their paths together.

As a viewer I see them connecting in ways the other characters around them couldn’t comprehend or understand. The fashion connects through different periods or stages in their lives which I find really cool while watching it. It showcases their growth throughout the story. I related to Komatsu’s at the start. The vulnerability part. The last time I’ve felt vulnerable was the passing of my mum. During periods of my life. High school could be a good example of that but it would be redundant. The age I’m at now. I think it’s more needed now than ever. If we were more honest about our feelings would it impact the environment around us, would it break us or would it change us for better or worse? As humans we always pin the blame onto something.

Black Stones Band in Manga/Show

Trapnest Band in Manga/Show

Someone. Circumstances. The list goes on and on. With Nana it shows that. Friendships fracturing. Love faltering, and the echoes long after they’re being made. This story reminds us of what being human means. That people are complicate, and our world is too. It’s filled with things we desire that aren’t long term but is in the realm of it. I find myself connecting to shows that showcases the importance of human nature. The good. The bad and the ugly. Desires clash and suddenly nothing feels real anymore. The rush fizzles out and the reality of it becomes clearer. Every heartbreak we face, every triumph we make, and every quiet moment in between is lived in. It showcases the medication of youth and it’s impermance. Chasing dreams and finding out what you want is what’s important in Nana.

I think it does a fantastic job of showing that through the whole show/manga. I will say that reading the manga it shows more lore and is an addition to the show arguably. Nana shows us that life isn’t always straightforward and being human is just the start of it. It’s profound if you really think about it. I’ve been thinking of the day when I revisited Nana again as an adult. It gave me hope to keep on living again. Live your 20’s with achieving what you can possibly dream of. It also teachers you about relationships too.

I’ve always felt like Nana Komatsu all my life. Idealism, limerance and the need of wanting someone. I’ve found a home within my relationships. The friends i’ve made along the way have made life so much better and the introspective conversations we have by the table. It shows how human connections are being formed by the same thing. It’s like a wired experience only a few could truly say they have. I saw my 15 year old self in her. I didn’t understand the true meaning of love. 13–15 were the years of truly understanding what that meant for me as a working class girl, living a religioud household.

I saw love for what was shown to me. Sometimes the ones we do hold dear close to our hearts hurt us and it makes us question, what does humanity mean? What does it mean to be actually human? Has anyone ask this question before and if so tell me. As an avid reader, viewer and writer. Overall I think Nana shows that life isn’t always linear, and I think that it’s raw, beautifil and is a show that is timeless beyond its years.