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▲Kazuki Takahashi (59)
The voices of condolences from manga and anime officials and fans around the world are continuing as the author of the popular Japanese manga 'Yu-Gi-Oh', Kazuki Takahashi (59), was found dead in the sea.
According to local media reports, Takahashi was found dead in the sea off the coast of Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture on the morning of the 7th.
The Nago City Maritime Security Office received a report from a local water leisure company, and after checking, it was revealed that the body was found 300 meters away from the beach and the identity of the body was found to be Kazuki Takahashi.
Takahashi is said to have visited the area alone for sightseeing.
TBS News reported that Takahashi was wearing the gear he needed for snorkeling, and had damage to his abdomen and lower body that appeared to have been made by marine life.
Local police are investigating the exact cause of Takahashi's death.
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▲ Animation 'Yu-Gi-Oh'
When the news of the death of Yu-Gi-Oh's original creator Takahashi became known, a wave of mourning continued.
Gensho Ono, who worked as a voice actor for the animation 'Yu-Gi-Oh', and George Morikawa, the writer of 'The Fighting', also wrote condolences to remember the deceased. "Thank you for serializing the Yu-Gi-Oh series," and "I wish the genius writer Takahashi a rest."
Born on October 4, 1961 in Tokyo, Takahashi became a worldwide hit by serializing 'Yu-Gi-Oh' in 'Weekly Shonen Jump' from 1996 to 2004.
The cumulative circulation of the series has reached 40 million, and a card game based on Yu-Gi-Oh manga was released in 1999, and since 2000, it has been made into a TV anime and aired.
In particular, in the case of the Yu-Gi-Oh card game, cumulative sales exceeded 25.17 billion copies in 2011, setting the Guinness Book of Records for 'the world's most sold card game'.
In Korea, original manga, anime, and Yu-Gi-Oh card games have also become popular.