Yuki Midorikawa

Midorikawa's record is not measured in trophies. It is measured in longevity. Natsume's Book of Friends has run since 2005, produced seven anime seasons between 2008 and 2024, inspired multiple feature films, and sold more than 5 million copies by its 12th volume. The series was nominated for the Manga Taisho, and it remains a fixture of Hakusensha's shōjo lineup. Few shōjo manga sustain a multi-decade anime adaptation. Midorikawa has done it with a quiet supernatural series about returning names to spirits, and she has done it without chasing trends or raising her voice. Her work was included in the LaLa Manga 50th Anniversary Original Artwork Exhibition in 2026, a recognition of her place within the magazine's history.