Junichi Nakahara (中原淳一, NAKAHARA Junichi) was an artist and illustrator popular during the pre- and post-war periods in Japan. He is known for his graceful, lyrical style featuring young, stylish women with large eyes and long eyelashes. His illustrations were featured in a variety of magazines targeted at young girls and women including the immensely popular Shojo No Tomo during the 1930s and Soleil, Junior Soleil, and Himawari, all published by Junichi soon after WWII.
Despite not being a manga artist himself, Junichi’s aesthetic style had a huge impact on shojo manga (manga targeted at girls and young women). He is credited with being one of the key influencers of the characteristic shojo style, particularly the use of oversized eyes. Popular shojo manga artists from the 60s and 70s such as Macoto Takahashi, Hanamura Eico, and Ikeda Riyoko all credit Junichi as being major influence in developing their own artistic styles. In addition to his illustration work, Junichi was also a leading figure in fashion and interior design. Through his magazine publications, dress patterns, and various other goods from stationery to wallpaper featuring his designs, Junichi was a leading figure in shaping popular girl culture in Japan from the 1930s through 1960s.
Junichi was born in 1913 in the Kagawa prefecture of Japan and started out working as a dress designer and fashion illustrator in the 1920s. He also had an interest in French doll making, and it was this hobby that brought him to Tokyo in 1932 for a solo exhibition at the famous Ginza Matsuya department store. Some have even linked this early interest in French dolls with his use of the oversize eyes in his illustrations.
It was not long after arriving in Tokyo that Junichi started to work as an illustrator for the popular girls’ magazine, Shojo No Tomo (Girl’s Friend) doing cover art, inside illustrations, and designing furoku – small toys or goods that came with the magazine. Due to Shojo No Tomo’s popularity and high circulation, Junichi’s illustrations soon became loved by young girls across Japan and his signature style became synonymous with girl culture.
However, with the intensification of WWII in the late 30s, interest in cute, lyrical designs, and fashion goods started to wane. Additionally, Junichi’s illustrations featuring his western-style large-eyed women began to catch the attention of the military and by 1940 his illustrations were no longer allowed to be published. Despite this turn of events, Junichi continued to actively pursue his passions and that same year, he opened Himawari-ya in the Chiyoda ward of Tokyo selling a variety of fancy goods featuring his designs.
In August of 1946, less than a year after the war ended, Junichi published the first issue of his women’s magazine, Soleil, which he started to help inspire and encourage women following the long years at war. This was soon followed in 1947 with Himawari targeted at younger girls and later Junior Soliel in 1954, a junior version of Soleil for young women. While he was often assisted by a variety of other designers, Junichi was highly involved in all aspects of the magazines including content development, editing and design. He also helped to mentor and support up and coming artists such as Naito Rune who mimicked and modernized his classic style.
Starting in the late 50s, a series of heart attacks and other heart problems forced Junichi to slow down his active pace. In 1960, due to a heart attack, Soleil and Junior Soleil stop publishing. In 1964, Junichi traveled to Europe and spent half of a year in France. Inspired by the trip he gradually started to work again. In 1970 he published Onna No Heya, however due to his health only 5 issues were published. His health continued to worsen throughout the 70s, and sadly he passed away in 1983.
Junichi’s influence on the evolution of the Japanese kawaii aesthetics during the early part of the 20th century cannot be understated. His illustrations not only inspired future manga artists, but his designs and fashions were loved and cherished by many girls and women throughout Japan and helped to elevate the artistic style of girls’ culture and design. His classic style continues to be popular today and has even gained in popularity in recent years. In 2012, Sou Sou, a popular women’s brand in Japan released clothing lines featuring his designs such as this stylish yukata (summer kimono). Additionally, if you happen to be Tokyo, check out Soleil which sells prints and various other trinkets, goods, and fashion featuring his illustrations and dress patterns.
More information about Junichi can be found at his own site: http://www.junichi-nakahara.com/
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