Popular manga icon and Yu-Gi-Oh! creator Kazuki Takahashi passed away yesterday as the result of what appears to have been a snorkeling accident he suffered during a stay in the southern Japanese province of Okinawa.
First published in 1996, Yu-Gi-Oh tells the story of Yugi Mutou, a shy young boy who was into gaming way before gaming became a multi-million dollar industry. Yugi enjoyed games as a means to escape the bullies who frequently tormented him in school. One day, he successfully solves an intricate puzzle game that releases a spirit, known as Pharaoh Atem, who merges with Yugi. Afterward, the spirit would arise whenever Yugi or his friends were threatened and challenge the malefactor to a game, where the loser will be subjected to a "dark punishment". The manga ran for eight years until 2004 and has subsequently inspired an entire trading card empire which is still popular to this day.
According to Japan's NHK news report, on Wednesday, July 6th, around 10:30 am a man wearing snorkeling equipment was found floating in the waters off of the coast of Nago City in Okinawa Prefecture. Ultimately, the man was confirmed to be dead. A preliminary investigation by the Japanese Coast Guard and police confirmed the identity of the man as Kazuki Takahashi. At the time of his passing, Takahashi was 60 years old. Pending a full investigation, no further details as to the cause of his death have been released.
During its run, Yu-Gi-Oh! grew to become one of Shonen Jump's most popular manga, generating 36 volumes of content that led to an animated television series, movie, and novel. The manga also inspired the widely popular and groundbreaking Yu-Gi-Oh card game, based on the Duel Monsters card game which eventually became the manga's primary focus. The Yu-Gi-Oh card game remains popular to this day with the new release of a digital version having come out just last January.
While Kazuki Takahashi was best known for Yu-Gi-Oh, and the universe it inspired it was not his only manga. Prior to releasing Yu-Gi-Oh, Takahashi authored two other manga, namely Fighting Hawk and Tennenshoku Danji Buray. Most recently Takahashi had been working with Marvel Comics to develop a Yu-Gi-Oh! styled story involving a boy who releases an evil spirit while playing a game at a gaming conference that just happens to be hosting Tony Stark and attended by Peter Parker. That collaboration entitled Marvel's Secret Reverse just went on sale last month. Kazuki Takahashi and Yu-Gi-Oh! undeniably left their mark on both the manga and card game industries, meaning the celebrated creator will certainly be mourned by countless fans worldwide.
Source: NHK Okinawa