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Called the Princess of Manga, Rumiko Takahashi was the first female mangaka (manga writer / artist) to gain popularity in the otherwise male-dominated industry. Born in October 10, 1957, Rumiko-sensei had only considered manga as a hobby throughout her secondary education, founding the Manga Appreciation Society in her high school. Enrolling in Gekiga Sonjuku, a famous manga school founded by Crying Freeman creator Kazuo Koike, while studying at Japan Women's University, Rumiko acquired later decided to make manga her profession - a difficult choice, considering that until then mangaka was mostly men, and that finding another job (especially since she was a woman) if she did not succeed will be almost impossible.

In the early 1980s, Rumiko eventually began publishing her stories in Shonen Sunday, a weekly boy magazine. She won the "Best New Artist award" for her first work, "Those Selfish Aliens" - later on, this story would become her first most popular work, Urusei Yatsura. Another popular work of hers was published almost at the same time - Maison Ikoku. In 1981, Urusei Yatsura became an anime, first airing on Ocober 14 under Kitty Animation.

Her next series in 1987, after ending both Urusei Yatsura and Maison Ikoku, was the Mermaid Saga, which reflected a darker and more violent side than her previous series had been. This was followed by One Pound Gospel, another serious title. Both were often published in the magazine Big Comic Spirits. 1987 was also the year where she released her next biggest hit: Ranma 1/2, her take at martial arts comedy. It went on to become an anime series, which ended in 1992, also by Kitty Animation. By then Takahashi-sensei became a very celebrated mangaka, and won the Inkpot Award in 1994 at the San Diego Comic Convention. This marked the start of her rising fame not only in Japan, but in other places such as America.

By 1990s, Rumiko had also garnered her next biggest hit: Inu Yasha Sengoku o Togi Zoshi (Inu Yasha: A Feudal Fairy Tale), and is a still ongoing series. It became one of her best successes, and was aired in 1996 by the animation company Sunrise.

1. Her characters are not necessarily bad, nor are they necesarily good. Heroes have their share of flaws, and "antagonists" are villains only because they are pitted against the hero. Ryouga Hibiki of Ranma 1/2 only wants to be strong, and to win Akane's heart (though he could never tell her his feelings). Ataru, hero of Urusei Yatsura is an unrepentant lecher, though he has good intentions at heart. Sesshoumaru hates Inu Yasha because he wants his father's sword that the latter possesses, and because Inu Yasha is half-human; a human (Inu Yasha's mother) had inadvertently caused his father's death. Naraku of Inu Yasha, the first unredeemable main villain that Takahashi created, is the only exception.

2. Her female characters are one of the first to be portrayed as strong rather as being damsels in distress.

3. Her stories, while filled with slapstick comedy and humor at times, are very real. Takahashi's immortals in Mermaid Saga would rather give up their immortality for a normal life. One Pound Gospel's Angela is torn between her desire to serve God and her feelings for the boxer Kosaku.

Urusei Yatsura: A young boy named Ataru is picked to play a game of tag with the alien Lum, to determine the fate of the world. Ataru manages to win, but Lum mistakes his shouts of victory as a marriage proposal. Unfortunately, Ataru seems to be interested in every other female BUT Lum...

Maison Ikoku: Yusaku Godai is a ronin who must study to pass his entrnace exams, having already failed. He moves into an apartment and, despite the crazy tenants, falls in love with the apartment manager Kyoko. Unfortunately for him, a rich and handsome tennis coach named Shun Mitaka has also fallen in love with Kyoko.

Mermaid Saga: Yuta is a 500 year old youth who has eaten mermaid's flesh, said to grant immortality, but for a price. While there have been a few who have gained immortality from eating mermaid's flesh, a larger majority are instead transformed into monsters. Yuta has grown weary of his longevity, and seeks to find a way to break his curse. He is accompanied by a yong girl named Mana, who had recently become an immortal herself.

One Pound Gospel: Angela is training to become a sister in the convent, but her commitment to God is tested in the form of the young boxer Kosaku Hatanaka, a boxer with an eating problem who wants to win her heart.

Ranma 1/2: A martial artist named Ranma Saotome has just been engaged to Akane Tendou by their parents, with the hopes that they would eventually take over the Anything-Goes-Martial Arts dojo. Unfortunately, Ranma has a curse: he turns into a girl when doused with cold water, and back into a man with hot. And more problems come Akane and Ranma's way when they discover that Akane is not the only woman Ranma has been engaged to by his irresponsible father.

Inu Yasha: Kagome Higurashi accidentally falls into a well and winds up in feudal Japan, where she meets a half-human, half-dog demon named Inu Yasha, and discovers she was the reincarnation of th priestess Kikyou, keeper of the legendary Shikon no Tama. Together, they must hunt for the jewel, which can grant its user any wish - even the ability to make Inu Yasha fully human...

Rumic World: a series of short stories drawn and written by Rumiko Takahashi.