© Screenshot: TMSアニメ公式チャンネル | Takao Saito Golgo 13 is a popular manga and anime. Above is a still from the 1983 animated film Golgo 13: The Professional. It was the first animated movie based on the original publication.
AFP
Manga artist Takao Saito, who created the most prolific Japanese comic-book series of all time "Golgo 13", has died aged 84, his publisher said Wednesday.© STR Takao Saito, who wrote and illustrated hit manga series 'Golgo 13', died of pancreatic cancer
"Golgo 13", the tale of a legendary professional hitman, was first printed in 1968 and has been adapted into anime series, video games and two live-action films.
The assassin Golgo, also known Duke Togo, is of unknown nationality and carries out his hits around the world, with current affairs often inspiring its plotlines.
Its 201st edition came out in July this year, breaking the Guinness world record for the most volumes ever published of a single manga series.
Saito, who wrote and illustrated the series, died on Friday of pancreatic cancer, according to Shogakukan, the publisher of the anthology magazine "Big Comic" in which "Golgo 13" is serialised.
"We offer our heartfelt respect to Mr Saito's achievement and offer our deep condolences," Shogakukan said.
"We plan to continue Golgo 13 in cooperation with his staff, in accordance with his wishes," it added.
Saito was born in Japan's western Wakayama prefecture in 1936, and made his manga debut in 1955 with the title "Baron Air".
The success of another of his works called "Typhoon Goro" in 1960 led him to move from Osaka to Tokyo to establish his own production company.
He was also one of the founders of "gekiga", a realistic genre of manga aimed at adults which began in the 1950s.
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Takao Saito, Creator Of Golgo 13, Dies At 84
Brian Ashcraft
On Wednesday, the editorial department of Big Comic announced that Takao Saito passed away on September 24 from pancreatic cancer. He was 84.
Golgo 13 is the second-biggest selling manga series of all time, straddling One Piece at number one and Dragon Ball at number three. It debuted in Big Comic in 1968 and has been in serialization ever since, making it the oldest manga in publication.
When Saito was coming up in the late 1950s and early 60s, he and his cohorts took a stand against the term manga, which is commonly used to categorize Golgo 13. The word evoked cartoony cute characters—kid stuff. “Manga” was antithetical to Saito’s style.
Golgo 13 is the second-biggest selling manga series of all time, straddling One Piece at number one and Dragon Ball at number three. It debuted in Big Comic in 1968 and has been in serialization ever since, making it the oldest manga in publication.
When Saito was coming up in the late 1950s and early 60s, he and his cohorts took a stand against the term manga, which is commonly used to categorize Golgo 13. The word evoked cartoony cute characters—kid stuff. “Manga” was antithetical to Saito’s style.
© Photo: STR/JIJI PRESS/AFP (Getty Images)
Takao Saito is the creator of the popular manga Golgo 13.
Pictured is Takao Saito in a 2017 file photo.
“My people hated that name, so we decided to call our work gekiga [literally ‘theatre-images’] to show that it was about drama,” Saito told The Financial Times in 2015. “So, no, from the very beginning I have never been a manga artist. What I produce is drama.”
Gekiga was not aimed at children, but at adults with adult themes and situations. The stories were the gritty, sexy, and violent. The characters were hard-nosed, like the assassin that made Saito famous. The audience was ready, and Golgo 13 was a smash hit at home. Exporting it seem like a no-brainer.
Starting in the 1980s, Golgo 13 was translated into English—something that Saito was initially against, because even though the main character, also known as Duke Togo, was a modern, gun-toting hitman, he was deeply influenced by samurai.
“That is why I was against the idea of introducing Golgo to foreign countries,” Saito told The Financial Times. “Just take as an example the timing of when he actually takes his shot. It evokes iaido [the martial art of drawing one’s sword and mimicking a deadly blow]. It is the same movement and the same shape. I love Japanese samurai stories and that is why, unconsciously, Golgo moves like a samurai. That is why I thought foreigners wouldn’t understand the story.”
Pictured is Takao Saito in a 2017 file photo.
“My people hated that name, so we decided to call our work gekiga [literally ‘theatre-images’] to show that it was about drama,” Saito told The Financial Times in 2015. “So, no, from the very beginning I have never been a manga artist. What I produce is drama.”
Gekiga was not aimed at children, but at adults with adult themes and situations. The stories were the gritty, sexy, and violent. The characters were hard-nosed, like the assassin that made Saito famous. The audience was ready, and Golgo 13 was a smash hit at home. Exporting it seem like a no-brainer.
Starting in the 1980s, Golgo 13 was translated into English—something that Saito was initially against, because even though the main character, also known as Duke Togo, was a modern, gun-toting hitman, he was deeply influenced by samurai.
“That is why I was against the idea of introducing Golgo to foreign countries,” Saito told The Financial Times. “Just take as an example the timing of when he actually takes his shot. It evokes iaido [the martial art of drawing one’s sword and mimicking a deadly blow]. It is the same movement and the same shape. I love Japanese samurai stories and that is why, unconsciously, Golgo moves like a samurai. That is why I thought foreigners wouldn’t understand the story.”
Screenshot: TMSアニメ公式チャンネル | Takao Saito
Golgo 13 is one of the biggest selling manga in history.
Prior to animated feature, there had been two live-action films, including that starred Sonny Chiba.
According to Big Comic’s editors, when Saito was still alive, he reportedly said, “Even without me, I want Golgo 13 to continue.” Originally, he did everything from the drawing to the writing, but his production company Saito Production was restructured so that his creation could continue after he was gone. Golgo 13 will remain in publication in accordance with Saito’s wishes, with his company and the editors of Big Comic working together on each new installment.
Saito pushed the envelope and transformed the medium. His influence will continue to be felt. May he rest in peace.
Prior to animated feature, there had been two live-action films, including that starred Sonny Chiba.
According to Big Comic’s editors, when Saito was still alive, he reportedly said, “Even without me, I want Golgo 13 to continue.” Originally, he did everything from the drawing to the writing, but his production company Saito Production was restructured so that his creation could continue after he was gone. Golgo 13 will remain in publication in accordance with Saito’s wishes, with his company and the editors of Big Comic working together on each new installment.
Saito pushed the envelope and transformed the medium. His influence will continue to be felt. May he rest in peace.
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