Yawara!

Serialized in Big Comic Spirits from 1986 to 1993, Yawara! was created by Naoki Urasawa during a pivotal era for Japanese sports manga. The series follows Yawara Inokuma, a young woman whose immense talent for judo conflicts with her simple desire for a normal social life. Urasawa crafted the narrative to blend high-stakes athletic competition with the gentle comedic tropes of the shōjo genre, effectively bridging the gap between traditional male-targeted sports manga and female-centered character studies.

The character design reflects Urasawa’s meticulous attention to movement and facial expression, which would later define his more famous thriller works like Monster and 20th Century Boys. At the time of its release, the series was celebrated for its charm and technical accuracy regarding judo maneuvers. It became a cultural touchstone in Japan, notably coinciding with the sport's inclusion as an official event for women in the 1992 Summer Olympics, which significantly bolstered the series' popularity and helped solidify Urasawa’s reputation as a versatile master of the medium.