On July 6, 2022, Kazuo Takahashi, also known as Kazuki Takahashi, was found dead at 300 or 980 ft off Nago, Okinawa, by the Japan Coast Guard. Takahashi was wearing snorkeling gear at the time of his death which was a few days before his body was found.
Investigations are still being conducted to determine the cause of death. However, a rental car that’s been confirmed to have been used by Takahashi was found nearby.
Takahashi died at age 60 and will be missed for years to come.
Celebrating the life of the true King of Games
Takahashi entered the manga scene in 1982, and his first work Tokio no Taka or Fighting Hawk was published in 1990. Another of his earliest works was Tennenshoku Danji Buray, that only produced two volumes and ended in 1992.
But success came in 1996 with his masterpiece, Yu-Gi-Oh! Not only would the manga run from September 30, 1996 – March 8, 2004, in its original run.
With 38 volumes recollected into omnibus editions, technically two anime adaptations, four films, and seven anime spin-offs, three of which received a manga adaptation, a novel, a sequel, and a bounty of video games and one of the best-selling card games.
Yu-Gi-Oh! classic, and Season Zero will forever be my Kings!
Like many fans in the US, I watched the classic Yu-Gi-Oh! Every Saturday without fail, but it wasn’t until I moved to Wisconsin as a teenager that I discovered the manga. Yu-Gi-Oh! Volume one was my first manga outside of the Shoen Jump magazines.
And I couldn’t believe how amazing it was! I had to look up the true first season of Yu-Gi-Oh! On YouTube, and the original film that came after it.
Yu-Gi-Oh! It is my first obsession. After that, I collected most of the manga/anime. It was my first time searching for fanfiction inspired me to begin writing.
I have nothing against the spin-offs, but classic and Season Zero will always reign supreme to me. Yu-Gi-Oh! R is only available as a five-volume manga and captures a lot of the fun of Yu-Gi-Oh!
I love all the movies, with The Dark Side of Dimensions being my favorite! And the abridged version by Little Kuriboh is a loving adaptation that only reminds me why I fell in love with Yu-Gi-Oh!
Mr. Kazuki Takahashi, thank you for a fantastic journey. Thank you for gifting the world with your works, and rest assured, your message at the end of volume 38 was felt.
You’ve touched so many lives, and this world will never be the same without you. Rest In Peace, Mr. Kasuki Takahashi!