Update: Thu 7th Jul, 2022 17:25 BST: The official Twitter page for Yu-Gi-Oh! Card Games from Konami Europe has tweeted out its condolences in relation to the passing of Kazuka Takahashi, pledging to carry on the Yu-Gi-Oh! legacy with the love and care it deserves.
Original Article: Thu 7th Jul, 2022 12:05 BST:
Kazuki Takahashi, the Japanese manga artist known for creating the wildly successful Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise, has sadly died.
As reported by Japanese public broadcaster NHK, Takahashi was found in the ocean 300 metres off the coast of Nago City, Okinawa. He was discovered wearing snorkelling equipment and the Police and Coast Guard are now investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.
Born in Tokyo in 1961, Takahashi's original manga Yu-Gi-Oh! series ran from September 1996 to March 2004. Its success spawned a trading card game, anime films and TV shows, and a huge number of video games, many of which have come to Nintendo systems over the years. The Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise is now considered one of the highest-grossing media of all time with upwards of $17 billion in total revenue.
Our thoughts are with Takahashi-san's family and friends at this difficult time.
[source www3.nhk.or.jp, via ign.com]
Comments 38
Too young and too tragic
Thoughts go to the family. Rest in peace
there've been a lot of mangaka dying this year, but takahashi's feels especially tragic giving the circumstances in which he died
ITS TIME TO DUUUUUUUUUUEL!!!
Can’t believe that the guy who came up with this phrase passed away. Someone like him deserves to live for a long time. I’m sad and I give my condolences to his family.
The circumstances of the death was terrifying to me though.
As someone who grew up watching and playing Yu-Gi-Oh! reading this hurts. Rest in piece
Jeez, that’s a horrible way to go out. Such a shame, his work is legendary.
Aw man I remember watching YuGioh from Saturday morning and after school this is part of my childhood RIP legend you won't ever be forgotten. This really hurts to hear he passed.
Oh wow that's unfortunate. I loved Yu-Gi-Oh as a kid. RIP.
Well, that sucks. RIP, quite enjoyed the anime (well, the first show anyway), the card game was nice, and I just have overall fond memories of it. So thank you mister Takahashi for those fond memories, and may you rest in peace!
That is terrible. Got back into the game, and show a bit, thanks to Covid. His legacy will live on at least.
Oh bless him, Yu-Gi-Oh! Was a huge part of my life for years & I met a lot of great friends as I went from locals to nationals to working on summer tours, teaching younger kids to play.
While his original focus wasn't on the card game.. when the series was pushed in that direction he ran with it. His legacy lives with all the fun and fond memories current & retured duelist hold in their hearts.
Sad to hear. My condolences.
Watched the series my whole childhood and still now. Same goes for still playing the card game.
This franchise never did interest me except during the early years. This being said what an awful way to die, may he R.I.P and my condolences to his friends and family 🙁
RIP.😔 Yu-Gi-Oh is pretty much what got me interested in CCGs, but CCGs are simply its most evolved and recognizable aspect - the original series (and its adaptation sometimes referred to as Yu-gi-oh Zero) is even broader and more intriguing in its subject. Thanks for all of it.
Rest in peace, Mr. Takahashi. Yu-Gi-Oh! was a big part of my childhood. I'm grateful for the series you created, and the card game that spawned from it.
Oh wow, that is really terrible. My condolences to his family.
I'm honestly still in shock even after reading over the headline probably a dozen times. Yu-Gi-Oh art is some of the most highly detailed and beautifully stylised anime/manga art in the entire business and he was the reason we have such an iconic style to this day. Such a tragic way to go, my thoughts go out to his family.
I have the original manga volumes that Viz Media released. RIP to this Jump legend.
@Xiovanni Too soon man.... too soon.
This is the saddest thing I've read in some time. I was really into the original anime back in the day and collected a decent amount of cards, too.
My condolences to his family and acquaintances. It seems he went out doing something he enjoyed.
My condolences to his family.
Grew up watching Yu-Gi-Oh. Stopped at GX.
Collected some of the cards and even owned one of the GBC games.
May he duel in peace.
This is sad to hear.
I haven't been into Yu-Gi-Oh! in years, but it was a big part of my life back in middle school (I remember watching new episodes every Saturday morning & playing the card game with my friends), so he will be missed.
I'm sorry to hear that. Thanks for all of your hard work.
Rip , thanks for all the memories...
Thanks for your hard work and rest in peace.
I was never big on the card game, but grew up with the anime.
Gutted, Yugioh has been a big part of my life and its thanks to him. His art is godly, i make sure to nap any card with art on it. I think Magi Magi and his version of Dark Magician are my favs of his plus his version of Slifer.
Whaat?? That's not a cause of death I was expecting, that's so sad. :c
I need to read the original manga at some point. Fell out of it when I got older but the anime was a big part of my childhood. RIP Takahashi-san
Very saddened by the news. Prayers for his family and friends.
So sad to hear about his passing. My condolences. I was a big fan of Yu-Gi-OH at the end of middle school/beginning of high school. So many great memories playing the card game, video games, and watching the TV show. R.I.P.
Sorry to read that. Loved the early series work. He leaves quite a legacy. Thank you.
No, not him.
At the age of 60 and under that specific sort of circumstance is an absolute tragedy.
I will never forget when I was at the age 7 in 2002 and saw Yu-Gi-Oh for the first time on television all those years back and it being my first exposure to anime really blew my mind with the kind of character driven plots and visuals I had never seen in any other form of media at the time.
Then being drawn to the card game itself when most of my classmates and friends started playing it and it got me into collecting the cards and appreciating the artwork on them.
I will never forget Yu-Gi-Oh and the impact it had on me, I will always cherish those nostalgic memories I've had of experiencing something great at the height of it's popularity at that impressionable age when it really sparked my imagination.
Rest in Peace Kazuki Takahashi, may your works live on and inspire future generations.
Godspeed.
Sad news, and the way he was discovered is heartbreaking.😟
Yu-Gi-Oh was a part of my childhood growing up, though not as big or long-lasting as some other franchies. I read the early volumes of the manga (don't remember exact when I stopped reading but maybe at volume 7 or 8), I watched the '98 anime (didn't watch the other anime series) and I played the card games, which was also how I think I discovered "cool-looking anime art" cards as I called them back then. Never played any of the games.
Mr. Takahashi left quite the legacy behind and he will be missed, RIP.
RIP Takahashi, though I don't play the trading card games I did enjoy some of the Yu-Gi-Oh videogames especially on PS1, PS2, GameCube, GBA, and Nintendo DS and had watch the Yu-Gi-Oh anime series up til season 5. Condolence to his family.
I loved playing and watching Yu-Gi-Oh. weather it was the Card Game, Video Game, and the Anime. while i've grew out of the Card games, i've still have fond memories of playing them, when i was much younger.
Rest in Peace, to Kazuki Takahashi
aw that's why I saw "Yu-Gi" trending on twitter that sucks he is at peace unbound from our human prison at least ☹
Ohhhh noooooo :'c. We still haven't got a VR Yu-Gi-Oh yet...rip. what a legend.
I have fond memories of playing one of the tournament games on the DS, and Yu-Gi-Oh gx ds as well. And the Yu-Gi-Oh duel links app. And ofc the awesome OG show. I still have my cards too. May his legacy live on.
Just really sad...the one person whom created the franchise dies tragically if circumstances shows this happened.
This news utterly destroys me, so young and such a cool dude too...
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