IKEDA Riyoko was one of the most popular Japanese comic-artists in the 1970s, being best known for The Rose of Versailles (see also the manga's Wikipedia article).

For a while, she gave up drawing manga to pursue a musical career. She studied singing at the Music Academy and then embarked on a new and successful career as soprano, releasing two albums and taking part in a number of international tours.

She made a comeback to the comics industry as a scenarist in 1999. Her use of foreign settings and androgynous themes made such works of hers as The Rose of Versailles and Orpheus no Mado enormous successes.

In 2009, she received France's top honor, the Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur, at the degree of Chevalier (Knight). Well known in English as the French Legion of Honor, it was established by Napoleon Bonaparte, who she had made the subject of her 12-volume sequel to The Rose of Versailles, Eikou no Napoleon, which ended in 1995 (see also this manga's Wikipedia article).

Ambassador Philippe Faure presented Ikeda with the Chavelier medal and said that Japanese people have a cultural awareness of France's history, language, and cuisine thanks to Ikeda's works. Ikeda said that she gave up her entire life from the age of 24 to 26 to draw her shōjo manga classic. She added that she had long aspired for the honor she received.