Moyoco Anno’s popular josei manga, Go Happy Mania, is set to conclude its serialization with its next chapter, appearing in the October issue of Shodensha’s Feel Young magazine on October 8. The sequel series, which revisits the life of protagonist Kayoko Shigeta, began in September 2019, building upon the legacy of the critically acclaimed original Happy Mania.
The End of a Modern Love Story
The final chapter of Go Happy Mania will bring a definitive close to the contemporary struggles of its heroine, Kayoko Shigeta. Launched in September 2019 in Shodensha’s Feel Young magazine, the series has since accumulated five compiled book volumes, with the most recent one published in August 2024. Readers have followed Shigeta through new challenges, including a shocking divorce request from her husband after 15 years of marriage, as she navigates life in her mid-40s without children, a job, or significant savings.
A Continuation of the “Happy Mania” Saga
Go Happy Mania serves as a direct sequel to Anno’s seminal work, Happy Mania, which ran from 1995 to 2001 in the same Feel Young magazine. The original series chronicled the tumultuous love life of a young Kayoko Shigeta, often characterized by her “runaway locomotive of love” approach and her pursuit of passionate romance, despite frequently making poor judgments in relationships. The initial Happy Mania sold over three million copies and was adapted into a 12-episode television drama in 1998.
The sequel picks up 15 years after the original’s conclusion, depicting a 45-year-old Kayoko confronted with the complexities of divorce and rediscovering happiness in a different phase of life. This narrative choice allowed Anno to explore mature themes of marital crisis and self-discovery in adulthood, a hallmark of the josei genre.
Moyoco Anno’s Enduring Legacy in Manga
Moyoco Anno is a highly respected Japanese manga artist and fashion writer known for her distinctive artwork and compelling storytelling that often centers on female characters and themes of feminism. Beyond the Happy Mania series, Anno’s extensive bibliography includes other notable works such as Sugar Sugar Rune, which won the Kodansha Manga Award in 2005; Hataraki Man, adapted into both anime and live-action drama; and Sakuran, which became a successful movie.
Anno’s ability to delve into the psychology of her characters and depict the realities of women’s lives, from love and relationships to work-life balance, has garnered her significant popularity among young women in Japan and abroad. Her works have frequently explored the ambiguous line between manga and fine art, securing her place as an influential figure in the manga world.
Critical Acclaim for Go Happy Mania
The sequel has also received critical attention, with Go Happy Mania ranking second on Takarajimasha’s Kono Manga ga Sugoi! list of best manga for female readers in 2021, showcasing its continued resonance with audiences and critics alike. As the series concludes, fans await the final resolution to Kayoko Shigeta’s ongoing quest for happiness.
