Ookawa Nanase
Date of birth: 02 May 1967
Igarashi Satsuki
Date of birth: 08 February 1969
Nekoi Mikku
Date of birth: 21 January 1969
CLAMP is composed of 4 talented ladies and each member has her own
specialty. Core members of CLAMP are Mokona Apapa (main artist) and
Ookawa Nanase (writer) who are directly responsible for such manga
as RG Veda, X and Tokyo Babylon. Without doubt, CLAMP is the hottest
shojo-manga artist in Japan now.
*** Tonghyun Kim, Rec.Arts.Manga Manga Guide
CLAMP (Art: Mokona Apapa; Story: Ookawa Nanase)
CLAMP with Mokona as the artist and Ookawa as the story creator is
the best. I have no idea why all the CLAMP members draw similar
(almost identical) arts, but Mokona still outshines the other CLAMP
artists in terms of skill. Her color works are breathtaking.
*** Miho Nishida, Griffin Report #4, 9 March 1993
CLAMP, a manga drawing group consisting of four female artists
(Ookawa Nanase: script and direction; Mokona Apapa: characters,
difficult backgrounds and zip-tone art; Nekoi Mick: direction and art
assistance; Igarashi Satsuki: art assistance and cooking), has made a
name for itself with RG VEDA and is currently enjoying wide
popularity. Their works have had wide appeal and are read by both
male and female readers (Japanese mangas can be classified into 2
major categories: shonen mangas targeted for the male readers and
shohjo mangas targeted for the female readers). They're currently
busily producing several series at the same time (_RG VEDA_ in
_Wings_, _X_ in _Asuka_, _Tokyo Babylon_ in _South_, _School Special
Police Duklyon_ in _Genki_). RG VEDA, unlike mangas such as
Takahashi Rumiko's Ranma that are more familiar to the U.S. fans,
takes on the novel-style that is used by most shohjo mangas, i.e. the
story is continual and not a series of separate episodes. Like a
novel, there is a story-line and a definite conclusion. RG VEDA has
not yet concluded and appears in the monthly comic magazine _Wings_.
*** Miho Nishida, Griffin Report #5, 24 March 1993
There is a picture with all four members of CLAMP available by FTP
(see the section Available Illustrations below).
The following is an interview translated by Cynthia Ma. It was posted on
rec.arts.manga on May 11, 1993.
Here is the translation of part of the interview of Clamp on [X]. The original
can be found in Asuka #6, June, 1993.
*What is the meaning of "X"?
Ookawa : There are several meanings. It can mean a cross of cruxification,
of course, or unknown in formulae and scientific analysis, and there
is also a narcotic named "X". "X" is a combination of meaning like
these.
*What is the meaning of "the promised day of 1999"?
Ookawa : Like the "Revelation to John" of Christians and Nostradams (sp?), the
final judgement day is called the "promised day". Although the
Christians did not presume it to be in the year of 1999, combining
the stories of the "last war" according to various religion, it is
said to be 1999.
*What is the difference between "seven seals" and "seven messengers"?
Ookawa : "Seven messengers" belong to the Kanoe side of the Earth Dragon,
while the "seven seals" belong to the Hinoto side of the Heaven
Dragon. (In Chinese, the word "hinoto" is the 4th of the 10 Heavenly
Stems, and "kanoe" is the 7th of the 10 Heavenly Stems.)
*Are Hinoto and Kanoe really sisters?
Ookawa : They don't look alike, but they are sisters.
*Does Sorata go to school?
Ookawa : He has applied for leave of absence, so he is taking a break now.
*Is Kamui human?
Ookawa : Although his eyes are too big to look like human, (laugh) he is human.
*It is said that characters from other stories will also appear in "X".
Ookawa : Yes, they will appear properly.
Mokona : The trio from "Clamp Campus Detective Team" (Clamp Gakuen Tanteidan)
Ookawa : When they appear, it will be understood why the Clamp campus has a
star shaped plan.
Mokona : We really did plan it right from the start! (laugh)
*** Cynthia Ma, rec.arts.manga, 11 May 1993