Aim for the Ace!
The Masterpiece of Japanese Women's Comics?

Date：31, May, 2022
Investigated and Written by Misaka Youhei
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Hello. Today I'm talking about "Aim for the Ace!" ("Ace wo Nerae!" in Japanese language) here. That is a masterpiece of the Japanese numberless comics for women. They have created its film version and animations, you may have met it before. If you haven't, don't care about it.

The manga first appeared on Weekly Margaret published by Shuei-sha in 1973, the series had been on till 1975. About 50 years ago! It may sound kind of cliche, time flies for real. And the TV anime got a lot of popularity, "Aim for the Ace!" came back in 1978. The 2nd series kept until 1980. Today Yamamoto Sumika (the author) does not write and illustrate any manga, I hear. Of course, it is all up to her, I have nothing to say. Maybe some fans still wait for the 3rd series.

What's the story? Saying simply, it is a Bildungsroman tale of a female tennis player named Oka Hiromi. She is the central character, a high school student who deeply longs for Reika. Reika is the star female tennis player belonging to the tennis club of the high school Hiromi also belongs to. Reika invites Himori to the club. Let's play together. Then starts Hiromi's life as a tennis player.

The manga got lots of popularity, today we still have it as one masterpiece of women's comics. And how's the author doing now? I heard she returned to her hometown Yamanashi in 1980's, founded a religion there. I have not seen her before and will never, guess she's aiming for her own ace herself.