Izumi Takemoto

He cites artists such as Shinji Wada, Fumio Hisamatsu, Shotaro Ishinomori, and Mitsuteru Yokoyama as his influences.

• Name Nonen — 竹本 泉 • Nonus — ja • Birth Name — 竹本 謙 (Takemoto Ken) • Born — 19 January 1959 • Birthplace — Saitama Prefecture, Japan • Notable Works — * Aoi-chan Panic! • Anmitsu-hime • Website — himawarihouse.com • Manga Artist — y • Artist — y

Ken Takemoto was born January 19, 1959, in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. He attended and graduated from Nihon University in the College of Economics. His professional manga debut, Yumemiru July Cat (using the pen name Izumi Takemoto), appeared in the August 1981 issue of Nakayoshi, though it wasn't published in book form until 2003. All of his professional manga and illustration work has appeared using the name "Izumi Takemoto". In an interview with BookScan, Takemoto cited artists such as Shinji Wada, Fumio Hisamatsu, Shotaro Ishinomori, and Mitsuteru Yokoyama as his influences. His first experience with science fiction was through the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs, and the majority of his works reflect this SF influence. He is also a cat lover, and while cats frequently appear in his works, he had never owned a cat until 2003. He used his first experiences with his cat when he wrote Aru Hi no Zwei. Takemoto's works have been nominated seven times for the Seiun Award in the Best Comic category but never won the award. His third published manga, Aoi-chan Panic! (1983–1984), was nominated in 1985. His second nomination came in 1993 for Usagi Paradise (1990–1992), followed the next year by a nomination for Neko Mēwaku (1991–2004). In 2002, Hataraku Shōjo: Tekipaki Workin' Love (1995–2001) was nominated. Yomikiri Mono no... (2006–2009) was nominated in 2010, followed by Akaneko no Akuma (2009–2013) in 2014, and Natsu ni Sekiran'un made (2015–2016) in 2017. Some of his older and uncollected works have been rereleased through Enterbrain, beginning with Pineapple Mitai and Chotto Commercial.

All works are listed chronologically within each section.

These are either soundtrack albums for Takemoto's games or audio drama albums based on his manga. • Otoban Neko Mēwaku (July 1994) • Ujauja Paradise: Izumi Takemoto Original Album (May 1994) • Otoban Hatarakimono (January 1996) • Daino Island Soundtrack (February 1997) • Teketeke My Heart Drama CD (April 2006) • Otoban Lup Salad (February 2008) • Takemoto Izumi Utakore Otoban: Datam Polystar Uta no Album (December 2009) • Contains music from Hataraku Shōjo: Tekipaki Workin' Love, Neko Mēwaku, and Rupupu Cube Lup Salad games from Datam Polystar.

Takemoto has had several works produced as games for various platforms. They are listed chronologically. • Yumimi Mix (January 1993, Mega-CD) • Yumimi Mix (1993, FM-Towns) • Yumimi Mikkusu Rimikkusu (July 1995, Saturn) • Tsuin Kuikkusu (1995, Arcade) • Rupupu Cube Lup Salad (August 1996, PlayStation (SLPS-00416)) • Hataraku Shōjo: Tekipaki Workin' Love (March 1997, PC Engine) • Para PAR∀ Paradise (March 1997, FM Towns) • Para PAR∀ Paradise (August 1997, Windows 95) • Dino Island (February 1997, Saturn (T-4503G)) • Hataraku Shōjo: Tekipaki Workin' Love FX (March 1998, PC-FX) • Yumimi Mix Remix (March 1998, Windows 95) • Dino Island (April 1998, Windows 95) • Click Manga: Click no Hi (October 1999, interactive comic, PlayStation (SLPS-02354)) • Click Manga: Click no Hi (October 1999, interactive comic, Windows 95/98) • Rupupu Cube Lup Salad DS (January 2008, Nintendo DS) • Rupupu Cube Lup Salad Portable...Mata Tabi (January 2010, PSP (ULJM-05520)) • Mermaid Days (June 2020, iOS / Android)

• Yumemiru July Cat (1981 in Nakayoshi, Kodansha) • Pineapple Mitai (1982 in Nakayoshi, Kodansha) • Aoi-chan Panic! (1983–1984 in Nakayoshi, Kodansha) • Hajimerudo Monogatari (1984 in Nakayoshi, Kodansha) • Mahōtsukai-san Oshizuka ni! (1984–1985 in Nakayoshi, Kodansha) • Chotto Commercial (1985–1986 in Nakayoshi, Kodansha) • Anmitsu-hime (1986–1987 in Nakayoshi, Kodansha) • Himawari Enogu (1988 in Nakayoshi, Kodansha) • Usagi Paradise (1990–1992 in Comic Master, Hobby Japan) • Lup Salad (1990–1991 in Be Love Parfait, Kodansha) • Neko Mēwaku (1991–2004 in Apple Fantasy and Apple Mystery, Ohzora/Mugenkan) • Chimarima Waltz (1992, Shufu to Seikatsu Sha) • Apple Paradise (1992–1997 in Comic Master EX, Comic Master, and RPG Magazine, Hobby Japan) • Sēfukumono (1993–1994 in Apple Mystery, Ohzora) • Twinkle Star Nonnonzie (1993–1994 in Young Animal, Hakusensha) • Twinkle Star Nonnonzie EX (2004, Hakusensha) • Twinkle Star Nonnonzie SUN (2018, Hakusensha) • Ichigo Times (1993–1995 in Haoh, Media Works) • Shima Shima Yōbi (1993–1995, ASCII) • Sayori na Parallel (1993–1996 in Comic Ganma, Takeshobo) • Hatarakimono (1995, Shufu to Seikatsu Sha) • Hataraku Shōjo: Tekipaki Workin' Love (1995–2001 in Monthly ASCII Comic and Comic Beam, ASCII/Enterbrain) • Nijiiro Bakuhatsu Musume (1996–1997, Ohzora) • Babaroa Ehon (1997, Ohzora) • Mukimono 67% (1997, Ohzora) • Yo no Naka na Mahō (1997, Ohzora) • Otome Atlas (1997–1998 in Nora Comics DX, Gakken) • Transistor ni Venus (1999–2004 in Monthly Comic Flapper, Media Factory) • Teketeke My Heart (1999–2012 in Manga Life, Takeshobo) • Piko Piko no Kira Kira (2001, Ohzora) • Yomikiri Mono (2001–2006 in Comic Beam, Enterbrain) • Aru Hi no Zwei (2003, Tokuma Shoten) • Sakura no Kiwa (2004–2008 in Monthly Comic Flapper, Media Factory) • Kawaii Ya (2005 in Manga Time Kirara, Houbunsha) • Takemoto Izumi no Iroiro Book (2006, SB Creative) • Variety Mornin (2006–2010 in Manga Time Kirara Carat, Houbunsha) • Iro Iro Memo- (2006–2009 in Gēmaga, SB Creative) • Yomikiri Mono no... (2006–2009 in Comic Beam, Enterbrain) • MAGI×ES (2007-2009 in Monthly Comic Flapper, Media Factory) • Toaru Hi no Kuru (2009 in Peach Comics, Gakken) • Later re-published and continued 2013-current (As of January 2021) in Pet Comics from Shusuisha and Daitosha) • Nichinichi ni Panorama (2009-2011 in Monthly Comic Flapper, Media Factory) • Akaneko no Akuma (2009-2013 in Comic Beam, Enterbrain) • Kokome Fujōten (2010-2013 in Manga Time Kirara, Manga Time Kirara Carat, and Manga Time Kirara Ichimaru Ichimaru, Houbunsha) • Nagarururururuko (2011-2012 in Manga Time Kirara, Houbunsha) • Garden Shimai (2012-2020 in Manga Life, Takeshobo) • Iroiro to ka Gēmu to ka (2013, Takeshobo) • Shinryakumono de (2013-2014 in Comic Beam, Enterbrain) • Natsu ni Sekiran'un made (2015-2016 in Comic Beam, Enterbrain) • Aru Hi to Aru Hi no Neko-tachi (2016, Daitosha)

• Apocalypse Hotel (2025, original character designs)