Master of Macabre: Kazuo Uchida, Creator of Chilling ‘Drifting Classroom’ Manga, Passes Away at 88
JapanThe well-known master of horror comics, Kazuo Meito, famous for his works such as “The Lost Classroom” and “Snake”, died on October 28 at 3:40 pm of stomach cancer at the age of 88. Funeral services have been conducted by relatives and a farewell party will be held at a later date.
The Yomiuri Shimbun reported that Kazuo Kazuo was born in Kwasan, Wakayama Prefecture in 1936 and grew up in Nara Prefecture. At age 18, he debuted in the comics industry by co-creating “The Forest Brothers” with Takeko Mizutani.
In 1961, he 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”. do , establishing his status as a standard-bearer for horror comics and subsequent horrorthe cartoonistJunji Ito and others have had a profound influence and are known as the “Gods 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.
In addition to horror comics, Kazoo also produces comedy comics. In 1976, his work “まことちゃん” depicts the story of a funny kindergarten child, and the classic poses include “baptism”, “14 years old”.
Kazoo Kazoo is famous for his red and white striped shirt and has released albums as a singer and is active in various fields. He has 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 Umetu 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 did not 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.”
“I was shocked and screamed on the side of the road after hearing the news,” said Kaoru, the second daughter of “Genius Little Fishing Man” cartoonist Takao Yaguchi. Don’t read comics” my eternal bible kazoo kazoo, I have always liked you and pray for your blessings.