Riyoko Ikeda

Born in Osaka in 18th December, 1947, she is the oldest of 4 brothers. In her childhood she stood out by being calm and studious and for always having clear her thoughts.

In high school, she took part a wind instruments band where she played the trumpet, it was then when she decided to study music and piano, but before giving the entrance examination she realized she didn’t have the necessary talent, then she applied to the school of philosophy at the Tokyo Educational University (currently Tsukuba University).

Her father, a very traditional man, acceded to her going to university only if she complied with very strict rules such as it should be a state University, she would not reprove any class and after the first year she should pay her studies.

It was the 70’s and at the university she joined an anti-violence group, where the experiences she had would later be reflected on BeruBara.

To economically maintain herself while she was studying she started to work as a waitress at a coffee shop, but then decided that drawing mangas would be a much more calm way of working.

Her debut as Drawer was in 1967 in the magazine Kashihonya, with “Bara-Yashiki no Shoujo” (“The Girl of the Rose”), but she made her debut at the weekly magazine “Margaret” at the age of 21, during her third year at university. Her drawings had a great acceptance, which is why she was allowed to do a series. She had to leave university because the creation of a serie was a great responsibility, this is how at the age of 24 she started Berusaiyu no Bara, even though the editors opposed, she always wanted to draw something about Marie Antoinette, so they put the condition that if the series was not a success it would finish immediately, but for Riyoko Ikeda’s happiness, and ours of course, in the first poll that was made to manga readers, it reported in the first place as the most popular series in Japan. Then, more series came a and new successes such as Orpheus Window, Empress Chaterina and other historical dramas.

When Riyoko was 40 years old, she realized she wanted to do other stuff, accomplish old dreams, that the drawing life had passed, that’s why at the age of 47 she entered university to study music.

Now, she has the university degree of vocalist and dramatist, with the chant as her main activity, performing about 3 to 4 times in a month.

Presently, she is also writing the script for the opera of “Rose of Versailles”. She opened a chant school for third age people and in August 2001 she opened her website, where she keeps in touch with her fans

More information here: http://www.ikeda-riyoko-pro.com/

Ryoko Ikeda in concert in Rome/part 3

Do you want to watch her singing? Visit: https://youtu.be/0PKzx_kyras

Uta wa Utsukushikata Ovoide E Bonbori chez Columbia records en 2003

http://www.larosadiversailles.com/RiyokoIkeda_CANTO.htm

Watch the trip that Ryoko Ikeda made to Versailles in 2011:

[GONG] INSIDE : RIYOKO IKEDA A VERSAILLES

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2d94ca?syndication=115573

Riyoko Ikeda's works:

Bara Yashiki no Shōjo (1967) — short story
Soyo Kaze no Mary — short story
Francesca no Shouzou (1969)
Sokoku ni Ai o (1969)
Freesia no Asa (1970)
Futari Pocchi (1971)
Ikite te Yokatta! (1971)
Jinchouge (1971)
Mariko (1971)
Sakura Kyou (1972)
Berusaiyu no Bara (1972) — The Rose of Versailles
Shiroi Egmont (1973)
Yureru Soushun (1973)
Shōko no Etude (1974)
Oniisama e (1975)
Orpheus no Mado (1975)
Claudine (1978)
Ayako (1980)
Epitaram: A Wedding Song (1981)
Aoi Zakuro (1983)
Jotei Ecatherina (1983)
Berusaiyu no Bara Gaiden (1984) — extra chapters for The Rose of Versailles
Eikou no Napoleon – Eroica (1986)
Glass no Yami (1987)
Mijo Monogatari (1988)
Kasuganotsubon - Kefuzo Kataku o (1989)
Porando Hishi Ten no Hate Made (1991) — Poland's Secret Story: To the Borders of Heaven
Shoutoku Taishi (1991)
Fuyu no Shukusai (1997)
Elizabeth (1999) — text only; art by Erika Miyamoto
Niberunku no Yubiwa (2000) — Der Ring des Nibelungen
Ikeda Riyoko the Best: Ai to Tatakau Onnatachi (2001)
Falcon no Meikishu (2004)
Ai wa Waltz ni Nosete (2005)
BeruBara Kids (2006) — The Rose of Versailles Kids (parody)
Haru no Yuki (2006) — Spring Snow
Taiyou Shijinki (2007)
Taketori Monogatari (2014)

https://www.goodreads.com/series/list/480374.Riyoko_Ikeda.html

Jotei Ecatherina (1983)

Orpheus no Mado (1975)

Images from: http://www.ikeda-riyoko-pro.com/goods/index.html

Ryoko Ikeda received on March 11th 2009, from the French Embassy in Japan, the insignia of Knight in the National Order of the Legion of Honor.

Do you want to read more? Visit: https://jp.ambafrance.org/Remise-de-la-Legion-d-honneur-a,3402

2017 RYOKO IKEDA's EXHIBITION IN TOKYO

In 2017 was Ryoko Ikeda's 50th annyversary of her manga debut. From the 8th to 20th March that year, there was an exhibition in the Takashimaya shopping center to conmmemorate this annyversary.

This is a website, originally in Italian, where you can see images and the story of Jessica who attended the exhibition.

http://www.tokyotiger.it/2017/05/15/ryoko-ikeda-exhibition-in-tokyo/