Meet the artist: Novala Takemoto
Novala Takemoto (嶽本 野ばら), or Toshiaki Takemoto (嶽本 稔明), is an well-known Japanese author and fashion designer. Although he has largely contributed with essays, collabs and designs, he’s mostly known in the Lolita Fashion niche for his work with Kamikaze Girls (Shimotsuma Monogatari / 下妻物語).
Novala was born in 1968 and was consistently featured throughout the Gothic and Lolita Bible issues. He has made numerous collabs with BABY, the Stars Shine Bright, and dressed models such as Ogura Yuko.
Novala Takemoto made his debut as an author in 1992 whilst contributing to Hanagata Bunka Tsūshin (花形文化通信), a free arts newspaper. His life as an author for the Lolita Fashion niche began around 2000, when Shogakukan published his first novel Missin’, a cute story about a Punk Lolita, who also happens to be the vocalist of a band, and a high school girl who seems infatuated with her. After Missin’, Novala kept on writing novels with lolita characters, including Emily (2002) and Lolita (2004), which got the Yukio Mishima Literary Award in Japan.
Nowadays it’s still possible to find Novala’s works in digital stores, such as CMOA. One may also find his physical books in second-hand market as well as big retailers such as Amazon.
Below you can check some of his main novels and those that were translated to English:
- 2000 Missin’ (ミシン); (English translated)
- 2001 Café: A Collection of Literary Sketches (Café Shōhinshū / カフェー小品集);
- 2002 Emily (エミリー); (English translated)
- 2002 Shimotsuma Story (Shimotsuma Monogatari / 下妻物語); (English translated as Kamikaze Girls)
- 2003 Princess Scale (Uroko-hime / 鱗姫)
- 2003 A Child Abandoned by Deus (Deusu no Sutego / デウスの棄て児);
- 2004 Lolita. (ロリヰタ。);
- 2004 Missin’ 2: Kasako (ミシン２／カサコ); (English translated)
- 2005 SHIMOTSUMA STORY FINAL (Shimotsuma Monogatari Kan—Yankī-chan to Rorīta-chan to Satsujin Jiken / 下妻物語・完 ヤンキーちゃんとロリータちゃんと殺人事件);
- 2005 Sicilienne (シシリエンヌ);
- 2006 Happiness (ハピネス);
- 2007 Metamorphosis (Henshin / 変身);
- 2009 Unhallowed Kingdom (Shukufuku sarenai ōkoku / 祝福されない王国);
- 2009 Long-Distance Love at 14 Years Old (Jūyonsai no enkyori ren’ai / 十四歳の遠距離恋愛);
You can find more about Novala Takemoto on old Gothic and Lolita Bibles and So Pretty, Very Rotten.
27-years-old Brazilian, trying to survive with a black and navy wardrobe during the summer. I work as a freelancer writer in fashion, games and education. During my free time I enjoy sewing, writing fiction, drawing and, of course, playing lots of video game.
