'Golgo 13' Creator Takao Saitou Dies at 84

by DatRandomDude
Sep 29, 2021 6:38 PM | 32 Comments

Publishing company Shogakukan announced on Wednesday that manga author Takao Saitou, known for creating Golgo 13, passed away on September 24 at 10:42 a.m due to pancreatic cancer. He was 84 years old. The funeral was attended by his relatives only due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, farewell gatherings will be considered in the future.

Satou was born in November 1936 in Nishwasa City (now Wakayama City), Wakayama prefecture. After graduating from junior high school, Takao decided to pursue a career as a manga artist. In 1955, he made his debut with the manga Kuuki Danshaku (Baron Air). He founded the Gekiga Kobo in Tokyo in 1959 with the aim to spread Gekiga, a dramatic comic style aimed at adults. The following April, he founded the manga production company Saitou Production.

Saitou began publishing Golgo 13 in Big Comic magazine in 1968. Shogakukan shipped the 202nd volume on September 6, breaking the previous world record for most volumes of a single manga series. Both Saitou Production and Big Comic also announced that they would be taking charge of the Golgo 13 manga per Saitou's wishes.

The manga was adapted into a movie in 1983, an original video anime in 1998, and a 50-episode television anime that ran from April 2008 to March 2009. The manga also inspired two live-action films and several video games.

In 2017, the Takao Saitou Gekiga Cultural Foundation established the Takao Saitou Award. The award consists of three categories: Manga Artist, Scenario Writer, and Editors.

Source: Oricon News

Mangaka Life Event

20 of 32 Comments Recent Comments

He leaves behind quite the legacy.

Oct 6, 2021 8:02 PM by malvarez1

RIP I just finished watching all the anime and now I learn of this damn :( now I'm off to the mango

Oct 3, 2021 10:42 PM by CRXWLEY666

Rest in peace Mr Saitou. Thank you for the creation of a classic thriller story/anti-hero.

Sep 30, 2021 4:43 PM by Haneken2086

After berserk creator Miura now Takao

Sep 30, 2021 2:38 PM by Rogerhunter

Rest In Peace Sir!

Sep 30, 2021 10:46 AM by genesisinfinity

damn RIP. one of my favorite animes of all time

Sep 30, 2021 10:40 AM by p0rque

Rest in piece legend, you were good, real good. Maybe even the best.

Sep 30, 2021 9:01 AM by Paituwin

I started watching and reading golgo 13 since last week
and I'm starting to get interested in it, I'm always waiting for news updates about the continuation of golgo 13 and I really enjoy it

but damn, i really can't believe what news i got about golgo 13 right now

Thank you Mr. Saitou for creating Duke Togo for us, One of the best protagonists i've ever seen

Rest In Peace.

Sep 30, 2021 7:28 AM by BrianSuperPie

RIP maybe I should go watch that last episode finally

Sep 30, 2021 6:28 AM by Shiniela

RIP, the creator of one of the biggest GIGACHAD characters in the animanga medium.

Sep 30, 2021 6:18 AM by Ramkec

RIP my G. RIP. 1 LOVE!

Sep 30, 2021 6:11 AM by Tony2Phones

Rest in Paradise, I really enjoyed Golgo 13. So unfortunate, fuck cancer.

Sep 30, 2021 6:02 AM by Azalar

Rest in peace to the legend.

Sep 30, 2021 5:25 AM by BlackCicero

May he rest in peace.