The NANA manga by Ai Yazawa has been on hiatus since 2009 following a serious illness that required Yazawa to step back from work. While no official resumption date has ever been confirmed, Yazawa has made occasional appearances and statements over the years that suggest the story is not permanently abandoned. In 2023, Yazawa confirmed via social media that she still thinks about NANA and the characters, fueling ongoing hope among fans that the series may eventually return. The NANA fandom continues to be one of the most loyal in shojo manga, regularly trending on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) whenever any related news or anniversary arises.

Shinichi Okazaki and Reira Serizawa develop a deeply complex and unconventional relationship in the series. When they first meet, Shin is only 15, which immediately creates a moral tension that Ai Yazawa does not shy away from. Reira, a famous pop idol, is emotionally isolated despite her fame, and Shin becomes one of the few people who sees her as a real person. Their bond evolves from companionship into romance, and the series portrays it with considerable nuance rather than glorifying its complications. Fans frequently discuss this storyline because Yazawa handles the darker undertones with narrative honesty, making it one of the most talked-about plot threads in the NANA anime and manga community.

The NANA series has experienced several waves of renewed popularity since the manga went on hiatus. A major contributing factor is nostalgia among millennials who grew up with the 2006 anime, now revisiting the series as adults and introducing it to younger fans. Additionally, the early 2000s aesthetic, including the punk and alternative fashion styles worn by characters like Shin and Nana Osaki, has returned to mainstream popularity through Y2K and alternative fashion trends on TikTok and Instagram. The NANA anime and manga are also frequently cited in discussions about emotionally mature storytelling in shojo, drawing in readers who previously overlooked the genre. Ai Yazawa's occasional social media activity also reliably sends the fandom into a flurry of renewed activity and trending discussions.

Many fans consider Shinichi "Shin" Okazaki to be among the most underappreciated characters in the NANA series, despite having one of the most compelling arcs. While Nana Osaki, Nana Komatsu, Ren, and Nobu often dominate fan discussions, Shin's journey from a runaway teenager to a skilled bassist navigating adult-level emotional complexities is considered by many to be some of the most quietly powerful writing in the series. Online fan communities, particularly on Reddit, Tumblr, and X, regularly feature posts arguing that Shin Okazaki deserves far more attention and that his storyline is central to understanding the emotional core of the manga. His pairing with Reira, his dynamic within BLACK STONES, and his visual design continue to make him a firm fan favorite.

BLACK STONES, often referred to as Blast, is the punk band fronted by Nana Osaki in the NANA anime and manga. The band consists of Nana on vocals, Ren on guitar, Nobu on guitar, and Shin on bass. What makes Blast so beloved is that each member carries a rich personal backstory, and the band itself represents a found-family dynamic for characters who are all in some way running from or searching for something. Shin Okazaki's role as the youngest member adds an interesting dynamic to the group, as his talent is undeniable but his youth creates friction in certain situations. Their rivalry with TRAPNEST, the polished pop group that many Blast members have complicated ties to, forms one of the central narrative tensions of the series and is a major reason why the NANA series continues to be discussed decades after its debut.