Which Nana Suffered More? Komatsu or Osaki?

Over time, manga and anime adaptations continue to adapt to contemporary societies, offering timeless classics that captivate audiences with compelling plotlines, richly-developed characters, and mature themes that resonate deeply – even when experienced vicariously as a spectator. NANA, which first appeared as manga in May 2000, was certainly ahead of its time. When the anime followed six years later, it broadened its appeal to an ever-growing fanbase eager to witness these captivating stories unfold. Straddling the boundary between shojo and josei genres, NANA introduced us to two fascinating young women who share only their names: Nana.

Through a serendipitous meeting on a leisurely train ride heading to Tokyo, two women named Nana, distinct as night and day, crossed paths. One is the bohemian musician, Nana Osaki, aiming for success in the music industry, while the other, Nana Komatsu, relocates her life to be near her boyfriend, Shoji. Although they didn’t exchange farewells at the station, it soon became apparent that fate had orchestrated their meeting for a purpose. When these two Nanas happened to rent the same apartment and became roommates, it marked the start of a lifelong friendship that would be put to the test in ways that would leave readers gasping with anticipation as they follow every page turn and animated scene.

The charm of NANA resides in its captivating characters, who seem real yet magical, leaving viewers feeling like they’re experiencing love for the first time all over again. This series boasts an array of characters with intriguing pasts, and the challenges they encounter are so moving and intense that it’s almost astonishing the two Nanas manage to remain friends after everything they’ve been through. These two contrasting personalities form a special, indestructible bond that is consistently tested, and the experiences that molded them into the women they are play a significant role in their development. Let us explore which of the two has a more complex, heart-wrenching, and poignant history.

Nana Komatsu’s Naievete Sets Her Up For Constant Disappointment

She Pins Her Personal Happiness On Romantic Relationships

In a small mountain-ringed town, resided Nana Komatsu, affectionately known as Hachi by Nana Osaki. Hailing from a lively family, Nana K. grew up with little financial or food concerns. At sixteen, she enrolled in an all-girls school, where she forged a lifelong friendship with Junko. Despite her own decisions sometimes bringing shame, Junko remains steadfast in her support. Nana K.’s life revolves around the pursuit of love, going to great lengths to attain it.

Nana K. tends to experiment with her crushes on men in a manner similar to how many teenagers approach fashion trends. She frequently finds herself smitten at first sight, suggesting she may not fully grasp the essence of love. For instance, her affections for Mr. Okamoto, her art teacher, were ignited swiftly upon meeting him, and this pattern persists with men who catch her eye, often being significantly older than herself. Her romantic interests range from video store clerks to pizza delivery guys, with the majority not reciprocating her feelings. However, this lack of mutual interest does little to deter her, as she continues to admire them until a new intriguing individual captures her attention.

Due to her tendency to fall head over heels in love instantly, she finds herself drawn to Takeshi Asano, who’s twenty-nine years old and happened to meet at a cinema. What makes things even more challenging is the fact that Takeshi is already married. Taking advantage of Nana’s longing for affection, he engages her in a sexual relationship that spans multiple months. Scarred as a young girl from this exploitation, both emotionally and physically, Nana struggles to manage the pain she endures, masking it as heartache for years.

Nana K.’s Love Life Only Gets More Troubling With Time

Later, when she encounters Shoji – unlike any of the others – she decides to follow Junko’s suggestion of cultivating a friendship instead of rushing into love. As their bond deepens and he develops feelings for her, she eventually reciprocates, forming a romantic relationship. However, both Shoji and Junko are planning to relocate to Tokyo for university. Since Nana can’t gain admission there and has no other motivation, the prospect of moving to Tokyo solely for Shoji’s sake becomes a dilemma for her.

They devise a strategy for her to work and save money so she can live independently in Tokyo. After relocating to the city, her relationship with Shoji deteriorates when she uncovers his infidelity with his colleague, Sachiko. Subsequently, she becomes engrossed in assisting Nana O. in launching her punk band, Black Stones (Blast). Through Nana O.’s connections, Hachi encounters the members of her favorite band, Trapnest, leading to an entanglement with their demanding and dominating bassist, Takumi Ichinose. To shield herself from criticism, she conceals certain aspects of her life from Nana, further straining their friendship.

Takumi views Hachi as just a casual partner when he’s in the mood, ignoring her when he’s on tour. Despite her feeling sad and lonely, she maintains hope until Nobuo Terashima from the band Blast confesses his feelings for her. Upon realizing they feel the same way, she ends things with Takumi, only to find out she’s pregnant. Feeling it would disrupt Nobu’s life, she decides to stay with Takumi and eventually marries him. Her actions towards Nobu and Nana O., as well as leaving them behind, caused a long-lasting divide that kept them apart for many years.

Punk Rocker Nana Osaki Seems Tough As Nails On the Outside

Internally, Nana O. Feels Incredibly Vulnerable and Alone

In contrast to Hachi, Nana Osaki didn’t experience a nurturing family environment. Instead, her grandmother, who was strict and harsh, took care of her when she was just four years old. This woman, troubled by Nana’s mother abandoning her for another man, often vented her anger on her granddaughter. She never provided emotional or financial support to Nana. For instance, she wouldn’t allow Nana to wear pink, considering such feminine colors were meant to attract men, and she didn’t want Nana to resemble her mother in any way.

During her high school years, Nana was incorrectly charged with being a prostitute, which led to her expulsion. Unable to challenge these false accusations, she saw it as a chance to earn some money through work. This unfortunate event deepened the divide between Nana and her grandmother, who passed away under the misconception that her granddaughter was engaged in such activities. Although Nana rarely expressed her emotions, there were moments when she felt vulnerable enough to confess that she carried a sense of guilt for allowing her grandmother to believe these untruths, believing that they may have contributed to her grandmother’s eventual demise.

Following her grandmother’s demise, the initial action Nana undertook was purchasing a striking red dress. With this new attire on, she attended a punk concert with her companion Nobu, where she encountered Ren, who would later become her soulmate, for the first time. Their paths crossed again when she dropped by Nobu’s residence, where Ren, Yasu, and others were discussing forming a band. They required a vocalist, and upon Nana’s arrival, everything seemed to click into place. They established a band named Black Stones with aspirations of achieving greatness, but after just a year, Ren received an offer to perform for a well-known and successful band called Trapnest. Rather than hindering him, she chose not to impede his progress, even as the fragments of her own dreams seemed to disintegrate before her eyes.

Ren Honjo and Nana Osaki Were Both Broken People

Nana realized she could accompany him, yet her self-respect prevented her from being a homebound companion while Ren lived out her dreams without her. They shared deep affection, but deemed long-distance unworkable and chose to part ways. Two years post-Ren’s departure, driven by ambition to be a professional musician, Nana purchased a one-way ticket to Tokyo. A fortuitous meeting with another Nana, Komatsu, propelled her toward realizing her aspirations for stardom and rekindling her relationship with Ren.

Sadly, Nana and Ren had a deep rift between them, stemming from the time he left her to pursue his ambitions. This reminded Nana of how her own mother abandoned her, causing her to withdraw emotionally when they reconnected. Despite their shared living arrangement and successful careers, their relationship became tumultuous as the media intruded on their personal lives, and Ren succumbed to drug abuse.

Due to an abundance of unspoken words, Ren collides with a building and perishes, leaving Nana in deep remorse. She starts experiencing severe panic attacks and feels utterly isolated. Given the tension between her and Hachi following his marriage to Takumi, eventually Hachi emerges as the sole individual she can truly rely on.

Who Has It Worse: Nana Komatsu or Nana Osaki?

Both Nanas Obviously Struggled, But Nana O Definitely Had It Worse

In my perspective, these two extraordinary women, Nana Osaki and her namesake, share a heart-wrenching bond shaped by their past traumas stemming from abandonment. Despite the scars etched deep in our hearts, they’ve found solace in each other amidst life’s stormy battles, sometimes losing ground or even testing their friendship to its limits.

Comparing their hardships is a daunting task, but one thing’s for sure – Nana Osaki, with her fate seemingly sealed from the outset, carries an almost insurmountable burden. Yet, through it all, they stand together, offering mutual support that has become our lifeline in this tumultuous journey of life.

Nana O. lived a large portion of her existence feeling intensely lonely, having been forsaken by her mother, ill-treated by her grandmother, uncertain about her father’s identity, and ultimately being discarded by the individual she had formed a bond with, all in pursuit of his aspirations. The one constant support throughout her journey was herself. Although she felt a connection to Nana K., she also experienced disappointment due to her friend’s self-centered nature.

Nana K. experienced loneliness, sometimes self-inflicted due to her high standards and expectations towards others. Despite hailing from a supportive family and having friends who stood by her through tough times, she found it hard to find contentment. In contrast, Nana O. faced hardships not of her own making.

One striking feature of Yazawa’s depiction of these characters lies in the conclusion of their joint tale. Ultimately, Nana K. prioritizes another person, vowing to look after Nana O., now that Ren is no longer around. The two Nanas endure through adversity because they rely on each other, and there can be little debate that their bond is among the most potent, stunning, and intricate in both manga and anime worlds.

2025-04-23 04:38