She was born on 18th of December 1947, in Osaka, Japan and studied Philosophy. During her university years, in 1967, she started publishing her work in the magazine Kashihonya. Her style is said to have been close to that of Osamu Tezuka at first. Among her early works there are: Bara Yoshikino Shojo (The Girl of the Rose) and Soyoy Kaze no Mary (Mary of the Evening Breeze). 
Her first very successful novel was Berusaiyu no Bara in 1972 which was followed by many more mangas as: 
Jotei Ecatherina (Empress Chaterina, 1972) Published in five books. The inspiration for this manga came from Henry Troyat's book about Catherine the Great, so it is obvious, that Ikeda-sama is often inspired by studying historical figures (like it was the case with Marie Antoinette in Berubara). 
Shoji no Etude (Shoji's music) and Claudine (both 1974-75 both in the same volume), 
Orpheus no Mado (Orumado; The Window of Orpheus) It was published by Shueisha in weekly Margaret and monthly Seventeen from January 1975 to August 1981, published later in 4, 9, 18 or 21 volumes, according to edition. This is claimed to be Ikeda-sama's most complex work in her best style and her extreme accuracy in historic details. 
Eroika is a manga that is somewhat the continuation of Berubara telling the story of Napoleon's empire. It also includes some characters from Berubara like Alain, Bernard and Rosalie. It is a work of 14 volumes minimum. 
Oniisama e... (Most dearest brother, 1975) This is the only one, apart from Berubara, that has been animated. It became an anime in 1991 as a series of 39 episodes with the participation of artists like Osamu Dezaki and Akiu Sugino. 
She does not draw manga as often as she did anymore. She travels a lot now and she is visiting a Music School, as she always wished to (Her youth dream was singing). She has also been married, but got divorced. Now she is said to have married again. As you can see by the picture, she is very beautiful - yes, she still is. 

Other works of Ikeda-sama: 
Wedding Dress
Epitaramu
Pushike Kefu zo kataku o !!
Seitokutaiko
Shiroi Egmond
Yôko
Romantic Eidô

To my great regret, I know very little of her other works, so there's nothing I can write about these. If anyone can help me with the summaries, I would be most grateful to them! 

Back