Kimiko Uehara's manga "Inochino Utsuwa," set in a gynecological clinic, reached its final chapter, chapter 392, in the April issue of the serialized magazine "Four Mrs." (Akita Publishing), released on March 3rd, bringing the curtain down on its 35-year run. It was also announced that the final volume, volume 100, will be released on April 16th. There are only around 20 manga with the same title that have released more than 100 volumes in Japan, and in the women's manga category, this is said to be rare.
"Vessel of Life" is a human drama about obstetrician-gynecologist Kyoko Ariyoshi, who develops an appreciation for the preciousness of life and family bonds as she meets her husbands, children, and patients with various circumstances. The series began serialization in the manga magazine "Eve Special for Mrs." (same publisher) in 1991, and continued even after it became a monthly publication under the title "For Mrs." It is the magazine's flagship work and the longest-running series of the same title. In 1998, it was adapted into a TV drama starring actress Azusa Watanabe.
When asked about the secret to her long-running serialization, author Uehara said, "I've been able to continue because I love drawing manga. When my editor at the time suggested the theme of 'the human relationships between a female obstetrician-gynecologist and a pregnant woman,' I thought, as I myself knew nothing about pregnancy, I absolutely had to draw it! Over the 35 years of serialization, I tried to make this manga fun, so that if there are people who find comfort in it, then it's fun for me to draw it. Works that readers find fun to read are also fun for me to draw."
Now that the series has concluded, she commented, "When I started drawing the final chapter, I thought, 'I'm going to cry...' but as the final page approached, my heart strangely began to feel lighter. The moment I put my pen down on the last page, a sense of accomplishment exploded and I burst into a smile. I have no regrets. I want to enjoy the rest of my life."
