Taiyo Matsumoto's works
One of my all-time favorites, and probably the main inspiration of my own endeavours. Masterful does not begin to describe his art. He's worked on quite a few series by now, with quite a variation in styles, but I'd say what characterizes all of his art is an incredible minimalism and refinement, not restrained, entirely free, almost moving. He truly makes it look easy. I have actually not even been capable to read any of his books cover to cover yet, simply 'cause they are too beautiful to take all in at once, you almost feel it in your chest. I first learned about Taiyo Matsumoto, actually, not through his work itself, but through the live action movie based on his manga Blue Spring 『青い春』. The film shares the same name as the manga, and was released in 2001 and directed by Toshiaki Toyoda.