Watanabe Taeko has been in the manga industry for quite a long while and was one of the popular authors working for Bessatsu Shoujo Comic during the 80's. In fact, she made her debut sometime in 1979, just 19 years old!

Below are pictures of Watanabe-sensei accepting her Shogakukan Manga Award for Kaze Hikaru! She is the one wearing a light blue kimono. As you can see, she looks quite different from her self-portaits. I think she looks very elegant! :)

She has won this award twice, first for Hajime-chan ga Ichiban (1991), and then for Kaze Hikaru (2003). Photo credits goes to http://www.joqr.co.jp/