“Yu-Gi-Oh!” mangaka Takashi Kazuki found dead

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Mangaka Takashi Kazuki (60), creator of the popular Japanese manga and anime franchise “Yu-GiOh!” was found dead in the sea off the city of Nago, Okinawa Prefecture.

According to the Nago Maritime Security Office, a body was found 300 meters offshore. The body was identified as Takashi.

According to sources, Takashi was visiting the location for sightseeing and snorkeling around 9 p.m., the rental car company which can track the vehicle rented by Takashi consulted with police as they were not able to contact Takashi. Around 10:30 a.m., a marine leisure business employee made an emergency call that something that looks like a dead body was floating 300 meters off shore.

According to the coast guard, the abdomen and lower body was damaged which could be caused by marine life such as sharks. According to new sources, Takashi was wearing a t-shirt, underwater mask, snorkel and fins and was floating face down.

Shueisha released a statement, “We are surprised by the sudden news. We are very sorry and pray for his soul”.

Ono Kensho, the voice actor for the character Sakaki Yuya of “Yu-Gi-Oh!” wrote, “I pray for his soul”, Morikawa George, author of “Hajime no Ippo” wrote, “It was close around the time I debuted, so I became friends with him.  His drawing power was outstanding. We almost never talked about manga.  We discussed memories of Las Vegas and the sea”.

Takashi Kazuki was born on October 4, 1961 in Tokyo. He made his Jump debut in 1990 with “Tokio no Taka” for Weekly Shonen Jump Special 1990 Summer Special and his series “Yu-Gi-Oh!” was serialized in “Weekly Shonen Jump” from 1996 to 2004 which became an international hit. The official card game was released in 1999 which sold over 22 billion cards and was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records. The cards were followed by a popular animated series “Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters”) in 2000.

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— Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG (@YuGiOh_TCG) July 7, 2022

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