Through publication of her manga by Antarctic Press, and then by Studio Ironcat - and through her cosplay - Ippongi Bang has risen to the status of fan favorite. Yet, she nearly chose the life of an animal doctor to the career of drawing manga, creating wild costumes and singing before appreciative audiences. 

"If there was no manga in Japan, I don't know what I would have become. Manga is my life and my identity," Bang said at a Feb. 27 Katsucon panel.

Among those accompanying Bang to Katsucon 4 were (to Bang's left) Takora Katayama, former assistant to Bang who is starting her own career as a featured artist; Kuni Kimura, Studio Ironcat publisher; and Mio Odagi, manga artist and illustrator of children's' books.

Bang was attending college in 1982, studying animal science and looking at a career as a zoologist; at one time she wanted to care for elephants! At the same time, she was drawing her own comics and participating in cosplay. In 1982, she won a cosplay contest that brought her to the attention of a manga publisher, who gave her a chance to make a professional debut. Her first effort, about her college life, led to her manga career that has seen Bang's work published on both sides of the Pacific.

Now, Takora Katayama is emerging from Bang's studio to begin her own career, winning an award as one of the best new comic artists from publisher Shogakukan. "I grew up reading manga. I love manga, so I wanted to be a manga artist. I wanted to give the same good feeling I got from manga to young people," she said.

Bringing his own manga talent - and love of wild costumes - to Katsucon was Reijiro Kato. "I love entertaining other people. Manga is only one way of entertaining people. It  doesn't matter if it's manga or wearing costumes of dancing, I love entertaining people," said Kato.

But what about that wildly colored hair that is Bang's trademark, an extreme gesture in black-haired Japan where brown hair is considered radical? "I just like it (brightly colored hair). I just change it according to my feelings. The hair color may represent me. When I went to Hong Kong I went to a bird shop and scared hell out of the birds. When I went to bolivia butterflies came out of the grass and nested in my hair like I was their friend."