Category: Manga

It’s been over a decade since Nana first hit bookshelves and screens, but the story still lives on — deeply rooted in the hearts of fans all over the world. With its punk rock aesthetic, raw emotional storytelling, and unfiltered look into young adulthood, Nana has never really gone out of style.

But what makes Nana still so relevant today, especially when there are thousands of new manga and anime series out there competing for attention?

Let’s break it down.

❤️ 1. Relatable, Imperfect Characters
At its core, Nana is about two young women—Nana Osaki and Nana Komatsu—trying to figure out who they are and what they want in life. They mess up. They fall in love with the wrong people. They get lost. They get back up.

These aren’t perfect characters wrapped in fantasy. They’re us.

Nana O. is independent and fierce but emotionally vulnerable underneath.

Hachi is impulsive and romantic, often seeking love in the wrong places, but her heart is always genuine.

In a world where so much media portrays idealized lives and characters, Nana stands out by being real — and that realism hasn’t aged a day.

🌆 2. Realistic Adult Themes
Nana doesn’t shy away from mature topics — it dives into them headfirst:

Toxic relationships and emotional manipulation

Unplanned pregnancy

Addiction and self-destruction

Depression, loneliness, and trauma

The pressure of fame and public scrutiny

These issues aren’t just used for drama — they’re explored in depth, showing how they affect each character’s mental health, choices, and relationships. In today’s world, where conversations around mental well-being, toxic dynamics, and identity are becoming more open and important, Nana feels more timely than ever.

🎶 3. Music and Subculture That Still Speaks
Even if you’re not a punk rock fan, the music in Nana hits hard. That’s because the bands—Blast and Trapnest—aren’t just there to sound cool. They represent freedom, rebellion, connection, and emotional release.

Today’s youth still turn to music as a form of self-expression and escape, just like Nana Osaki and her band did. The themes of independence, passion, and healing through creativity resonate with a new generation discovering themselves.

And let’s be honest — the soundtrack still slaps.

💔 4. The Power of Female Friendship
So many manga and anime still struggle to depict authentic female friendships without drama, rivalry, or cliches. Nana shows us something different: a deep, messy, but beautiful friendship between two women who couldn’t be more different — and yet are everything to each other.

Nana and Hachi’s bond is intense, sometimes painful, and incredibly layered. Their friendship is passionate and co-dependent at times, full of misunderstandings and forgiveness. It’s not perfect — it’s real.

And in a world where people are craving connection more than ever, this portrayal of chosen family is powerful.

📱 5. It Mirrors the Millennial and Gen Z Experience
Nana was ahead of its time. It captured the uncertainty of your 20s — the feeling of being stuck between teenage dreams and adult responsibilities. Many fans who first read it in high school now relate to it even more as adults.

From struggling with money, chasing dreams, facing heartbreak, trying to “make it” in a big city, and figuring out who you are — all of that still hits today, maybe even harder than it did when it first came out.

It’s basically the manga version of journaling at 2 AM wondering if you’ve ruined your life (but make it punk rock).

✨ Final Thoughts: Nana Is Timeless
Even though the manga has been on hiatus for years, the world of Nana remains emotionally alive. The characters feel like old friends. The music still echoes. The emotions still hit.

In a constantly changing world of trends and short attention spans, Nana remains a rare story that sticks with you — not because of flashy action or fantasy, but because it dares to be raw, emotional, and real.

That’s why Nana is still relevant today.

One of the most iconic elements of Nana is its music — not just as a background aesthetic, but as a central heartbeat of the entire story. Whether it’s the raw punk energy of Blast or the polished emotional pop-rock of Trapnest, the soundtrack of Nana is not only unforgettable — it’s a character in its own right.

Unlike many anime or manga series where music is just part of the ambiance, Nana revolves around music — it drives the characters’ motivations, shapes their identities, and reflects their emotional journeys. So, why does the Nana soundtrack hit so hard? Let’s dive into the reasons this series’ music continues to resonate so deeply with fans.

🎤 1. Music Reflects the Characters’ Souls
Ai Yazawa didn’t just create fictional bands. She created fully fleshed-out musical personas.

Blast (Black Stones) represents rebellion, raw emotion, and the struggle for authenticity. Their sound is aggressive, passionate, and unfiltered — much like Nana Osaki herself.

Trapnest, in contrast, is polished, glamorous, and emotionally intense — mirroring the complexity of characters like Ren and Takumi.

The duality of these two bands reflects the dual narrative of the two Nanas. When you listen to a Blast track, you feel Nana O.’s pain, ambition, and punk spirit. When you hear Trapnest, you’re pulled into a world of bittersweet longing and emotional entanglement.

The music isn’t just good — it’s character-driven.

🎸 2. Real Musicians, Real Emotion
One of the standout elements of the Nana anime adaptation was the decision to bring in real-life singers to voice the music:

Anna Tsuchiya as Nana Osaki (Blast)

Olivia Lufkin as Reira (Trapnest)

These weren’t just voice actors; they were actual musicians, and it made a massive difference. Their vocal performances captured raw, unfiltered emotion in a way that made the songs feel lived in. When Anna Tsuchiya screams into the mic in “Rose” or “Lucy,” it’s not just a performance — it feels like a diary entry, or a breakdown turned into sound.

Olivia’s haunting ballads like “Wish” and “A Little Pain” are fragile, ethereal, and heartbreakingly beautiful. Her voice becomes Reira’s — delicate yet powerful, carrying years of emotional burden in every note.

These aren’t just anime songs — they’re full-fledged tracks that still hold up today in any music library.

🎧 3. Lyrics That Hit Where It Hurts
The Nana soundtrack doesn’t just sound good — it says something.

Take a look at the lyrics of some of the songs:

“A Little Pain” talks about hiding sadness behind a smile, trying to move forward while carrying emotional scars.

“Zero” is about losing yourself, the chaos of love and identity, and feeling like you’re disappearing.

These lyrics mirror the emotional arcs of the characters. Whether it’s Nana Osaki’s internal struggle with loneliness or Hachi’s conflict between desire and responsibility, the lyrics act as inner monologues, giving us insight into what the characters can’t always say out loud.

As a fan, hearing those lyrics while watching the story unfold makes everything hit ten times harder.

🎼 4. Music as Connection and Conflict
In Nana, music isn’t just about performance — it’s about relationships.

Nana Osaki and Ren bonded through their shared love for punk rock — their guitars were extensions of their hearts.

Reira and Takumi’s complicated emotional history is written in the quiet yearning of Trapnest’s songs.

Even Hachi, who isn’t a musician, connects to the band’s music in a way that influences her choices, dreams, and identity.

Music acts as both a bridge and a barrier between characters. It brings people together, but also drives them apart — especially when fame, creative control, or personal trauma gets in the way.

This dynamic shows us that music is more than entertainment — it’s life, love, pain, and power.

📝 Final Thoughts: Why We Still Listen
Years after its release, the Nana soundtrack still holds a special place in fans’ hearts. It’s more than nostalgia — it’s an emotional anchor.

These songs captured the spirit of Nana in a way no other anime soundtrack has quite matched. The raw vulnerability, the edge, the romantic despair — it all lives on in the music. Whether you’re blasting “Rose” to feel fierce or quietly crying to “A Little Pain,” the Nana soundtrack offers comfort, catharsis, and connection.

It’s proof that Nana isn’t just a story — it’s a sound. And for many of us, that sound never fades.

Ai Yazawa’s Nana isn’t just a story — it’s a deeply emotional experience. With its raw depiction of love, heartbreak, dreams, and the complexities of human relationships, the manga has delivered some of the most unforgettable and tear-jerking moments in shojo history. Whether you’re new to the series or a longtime fan, here are 5 emotional scenes in Nana that shook readers to the core and stayed with us long after we turned the page.

😢 1. Nana Osaki Waiting for Hachi at the Train Station
This moment is a masterclass in subtle emotional devastation.

Nana Osaki and Nana Komatsu once promised to live together, support each other, and chase their dreams in Tokyo. But as life began to pull them in different directions, especially after Hachi’s unexpected pregnancy and relationship with Takumi, cracks started to form in their once-unbreakable bond.

In a deeply symbolic scene, Nana Osaki waits at the train station for Hachi — who never comes.

We see Nana sitting on a bench, chain-smoking, eyes scanning the crowds with quiet desperation. The train arrives, and leaves. She stays. Alone.

It’s not just about the missed meeting. It’s about the realization that their friendship — the one thing she thought was solid — is slipping away. Readers feel her loneliness and loss without a single word of dialogue.

💔 2. Hachi Telling Nobu She’s Pregnant… With Takumi’s Baby
This is the moment when Nana turns from a drama into a tragedy.

Nobu, who truly loved Hachi, was hopeful they could have a real relationship — one built on trust and shared dreams. But that hope is shattered when Hachi reveals that she is pregnant… and the father is Takumi.

The emotional weight in this scene is unbearable. Nobu’s expression says everything — betrayal, confusion, heartbreak. He tries to stay calm, but his world is clearly crumbling. Hachi cries too, hating the situation but knowing she has to make a decision that will change everything.

It’s a brutal reminder that love isn’t always enough, and that life often forces you to choose between your heart and your responsibilities.

💔 3. Ren’s Death
One of the darkest and most heart-wrenching moments in Nana is the sudden death of Ren, Nana Osaki’s lover and the guitarist of Trapnest.

Ren, struggling with fame, addiction, and emotional detachment, tragically dies in a car accident on the night he was supposed to be with Nana. What makes this moment even more devastating is how it happens after a brief reconciliation between the two, giving fans hope that they might rebuild their broken relationship.

Nana’s reaction is raw and terrifying. She spirals into a deep depression, questioning everything she believed in — her music, her relationships, her very existence. The manga doesn’t shy away from the pain. It lingers in it. And so do we, as readers.

😭 4. The Flash-Forwards: A Future Without Closure
One of the most unique storytelling tools in Nana is the use of flash-forwards — brief glimpses into the future where we see that Nana Osaki has vanished, and Hachi is now a mother, still longing to reconnect with her lost friend.

These moments hit hard because they don’t come with explanations. We’re left piecing together clues from brief images and vague conversations. We see Hachi looking out at the sea, holding a child. We see her holding a letter, her eyes full of hope and sadness. And we see a world where two women who once meant everything to each other now live separate lives.

It’s this emotional ambiguity that keeps fans up at night, wondering: What happened to Nana? Will they ever meet again?

💔 5. Hachi’s Internal Monologue About Regret and Loneliness
One of the quietest yet most powerful moments in Nana is when Hachi reflects on the choices she’s made. She thinks about her past — the dreams she let go of, the people she hurt, and the life she ended up with.

There’s a line where she wonders if she made the right choice in marrying Takumi, whether she betrayed her younger self, and if the love she lost was worth the stability she gained.

It’s heartbreaking because it’s so real.

Everyone, at some point in life, asks themselves: Did I choose the right path? Would I be happier if I had taken a different road? Hachi’s introspection becomes a mirror for readers, forcing us to confront our own regrets and decisions.

📝 Final Thoughts
Nana is more than a manga — it’s an emotional journey that captures the raw, unfiltered chaos of being young, in love, and unsure of the future. These five moments don’t just bring tears — they bring empathy. We don’t just cry for the characters, we cry with them, because they reflect pieces of ourselves.

That’s the power of Ai Yazawa’s storytelling. And that’s why, years later, Nana continues to break our hearts in the most beautiful way.

In the emotional rollercoaster that is Nana, written and illustrated by Ai Yazawa, two women with the same name take center stage. One of them is Nana Komatsu, affectionately nicknamed “Hachi.” While often overshadowed by her more rebellious and intense counterpart, Nana Osaki, it is Hachi who acts as the emotional backbone of the series. Her journey, though quieter, is deeply relatable, complex, and heartbreakingly real — and it’s this quiet strength that makes her the true heart of the Nana manga.

💫 Who Is Nana Komatsu?
Nana Komatsu is a small-town girl with big dreams, but no clear direction. At the beginning of the story, she is portrayed as naïve, boy-crazy, and emotionally dependent. She tends to fall in love easily, often confusing affection with love, and seeks security in romantic relationships.

But over time, we begin to see her layers. Hachi is a kind, thoughtful, and incredibly empathetic person. She forms deep connections, not just romantically, but with friends who become her true family in Tokyo. While her flaws are obvious and often frustrating, they’re what make her human.

🧠 Why Do Fans Often Misjudge Her?
Some fans criticize Hachi for being indecisive or weak, especially when compared to the fierce and independent Nana Osaki. But this criticism often misses the point of her character. Hachi is not meant to be a rockstar or a rebel. She is meant to represent the everywoman — the one who learns through pain, makes mistakes, and grows slowly.

Her emotional vulnerability isn’t weakness — it’s courage in a different form. She survives betrayal, heartbreak, and uncertainty, all while trying to protect the people she loves. Her desire for a stable home, a family, and unconditional love is portrayed with sincerity, and it’s something that resonates with many readers on a deep level.

🍼 The Pregnancy Arc: A Turning Point
One of the most significant and heart-wrenching moments in Hachi’s story is her unexpected pregnancy with Takumi’s child. Her decision to keep the baby and marry Takumi — despite lingering feelings for Nobu — was controversial, but also deeply mature.

It marked a turning point in her journey: Hachi moved from a girl who chased after fleeting love to a woman who prioritized her child’s future over her own desires. It was no longer just about what she wanted — it was about becoming responsible, even if it meant living a more difficult life. This arc challenges readers to think about what it means to grow up and make sacrifices.

🤝 Her Relationship with Nana Osaki
The core of Nana is not romance — it’s friendship. And the most powerful relationship in the manga is undoubtedly the one between the two Nanas.

Hachi and Nana Osaki balance each other like yin and yang. Where Nana Osaki is tough, Hachi is soft. Where Hachi needs comfort, Nana provides protection. Their friendship is raw, messy, and real — filled with jealousy, deep love, misunderstandings, and co-dependence.

Their emotional connection goes far beyond what we usually see in manga. It reflects the kind of bond that leaves a permanent imprint on someone’s soul. When Hachi and Nana begin to drift apart, readers feel the loss just as intensely as any romantic breakup.

🎭 Symbolism of “Hachi” — A Loyal Dog
Nana Osaki gives her the nickname “Hachiko” (later shortened to Hachi), referencing the famously loyal dog in Japanese culture. It’s a playful jab, but also a bittersweet truth. Hachi is loyal — sometimes to a fault. She stays even when she’s hurt. She forgives easily. She gives more than she receives. But this loyalty also becomes her superpower.

Unlike others in the series who burn out, fade away, or self-destruct, Hachi endures. She may cry and fall, but she keeps standing back up. That kind of quiet endurance is what makes her character so powerful.

🧭 A Journey of Growth
By the later chapters of Nana, Hachi has changed dramatically. She’s no longer the girl who needed saving. She becomes a mother, a stable figure, and someone others depend on. She makes peace with her choices, even the painful ones. And through her evolution, we see the message of the manga: growing up means accepting that life is complicated, and love is never simple.

📝 Final Thoughts
Nana Komatsu may not be everyone’s favorite at first glance. But she is the emotional thread that holds the Nana story together. Her growth, sacrifices, and emotional vulnerability add a layer of realism that makes the series more than just a tale of punk rock and romance. Through her, Ai Yazawa tells a story about finding meaning in heartbreak, discovering strength in softness, and navigating adulthood with all its confusion and compromise.

So, if you ever feel frustrated with Hachi, take a second look. You might find that she represents the part of ourselves that just wants to love and be loved — and that’s something truly beautiful.

Nana Osaki is one of the two main protagonists in the manga and anime series Nana, written and illustrated by Ai Yazawa. Known for her fierce attitude, gothic punk style, and powerful vocals, Nana Osaki is a standout character who leaves a lasting impression on every reader or viewer who experiences her story.

Born into a difficult childhood, Nana was abandoned by her mother and raised by her strict grandmother. These early experiences shaped her into a strong-willed, independent young woman who refuses to rely on anyone. Her passion for music became her escape, and she found meaning in her life through punk rock. She eventually became the lead vocalist of the band Black Stones, also known as BLAST, where her charisma and talent quickly made her a central figure.

One of the most important relationships in Nana’s life is with Ren Honjo, a former BLAST member who left to join the more popular band Trapnest. Their romance is full of intensity, heartbreak, and longing. Although they love each other deeply, their different paths and the pressures of fame constantly test their bond.

When she moves to Tokyo to pursue her music career, Nana’s fate changes forever after a chance encounter with Nana Komatsu (Hachi). Despite being polar opposites in personality, the two Nanas develop a deep and meaningful friendship, becoming roommates and emotional anchors for one another.

What makes Nana Osaki so compelling is the emotional complexity behind her tough exterior. She carries her trauma with grace, hides her vulnerabilities, and fights for her dreams in a world that hasn’t always been kind. She symbolizes strength, ambition, and resilience, while also showcasing the pain that often comes with love and loneliness.

For fans of strong female leads, emotional storytelling, and character-driven narratives, Nana Osaki is one of the most unforgettable characters in manga history.