Darkness Falls: Legendary Japanese Horror Manga Master Kazuo Meitu Passes Away at 88
2024/11/5 12:32
(Updated at 11/6 08:23)
Kazuo Kazuo: A Legendary Horror Manga Master
(Central News Agency reporter Dai Yazen, Tokyo, 5th) Kazuo Kazuo, a well-known Japanese horror comic master, passed away on October 28 at the age of 88 due to stomach cancer. Funeral services have been conducted by relatives, and a farewell party will be held at a later date.
Kazuo Kazuo was born in Kwasan, Wakayama Prefecture in 1936 and grew up in Nara Prefecture. At the age of 18, he debuted in the comics industry by co-creating “The Forest Brothers” with Takeko Mizutani.
In 1961, Kazuo Kazuo created a new genre of “horror comics” in the field of rental comics. In 1965, he serialized snake girl comic series such as ”Mom is Scary” and “Pickle Girl” in Kodansha’s comic magazine “Girls Friend”, establishing his status as the standard bearer of horror comics. He had a profound influence on later horror cartoonists such as Junji Ito and was called the “God of Horror Comics”.
Kazuo Kazuo then entered shōnen manga magazines. In 1969, “Spirit Snake” was serialized in Shōgakukan’s “Weekly Shōnen Sunday”, expanding his style of work into the psychological suspense genre. In 1972, he created “The Drifting Classroom”, which depicted the struggle of young girls to survive in a desolate future, cementing his position in the comics industry.
“Drifting Classroom” was adapted into a TV series in 2002, starring A-list actors such as Takako Tokiwa, Yosuke Kubotsuka, Takayuki Yamada, and Tomohisa Yamashita. The story tells that the protagonist, along with the school’s 862 teachers and students, travels to a desolate future world during a big explosion and must try to survive amid mutual suspicion, attacks by terrifying monsters, and the frustration of not knowing if they can return home safely.
In addition to horror comics, Kazuo Kazuo also produced comedy comics. In 1976, his work “まことちゃん” depicted the story of a funny kindergarten child, and the classic poses include “baptism” and ”14 years old”.
Kazuo Kazuo was famous for his red and white striped shirt and released albums as a singer. He was active in various fields and had no new work since 1995, but in 2022, 27 years later, he published a series of 101 works, announcing his new beginning as an artist.
Kazuo Kazuo won the Shogakukan Manga Award in 1975 for “Drifting Classroom”. He won the “Heritage Award” at the French Angoulême International Cartoon Festival for “I Am Shingo” in 2023 and the Tezuka Cultural Prize Special Award.
Kazuo Kazuo’s death has been mourned by Japan’s comics industry. “One Punch Man” artist Yusuke Murata said, ”Mr. Masuto’s works were my first experience with horror comics. When I was in kindergarten, the cover alone scared me to death, but I couldn’t read because of the fear. I was so scared that I didn’t dare to go to the toilet at night. Thank you for the stimulation and shaking.”
Junji Ito, the well-known horror cartoonist who created “Tommy” and “Uzumaki,” said, “In the past, I had a conversation with my teacher at his house, and then I entertained him at an Italian restaurant in Kichijoji. It will become the most precious memory of my life. I pray for the blessings of my dear friend.”
Kaoru, the second daughter of “Genius Little Fishing Man” cartoonist Takao Yaguchi, said, “I was shocked and screamed on the side of the road after hearing the news. Kazuo Kazuo, my eternal Bible teacher, I have always loved you and pray for your blessings from the bottom of my heart.”