Takao Saito - the creator of the manga Golgo 13 has passed away at the age of 84
Shogakukan announced this Wednesday that Takao Saito, the creator of the Golgo 13 manga, died of pancreatic cancer on September 24. He was 84 years old when he passed away.
In 1955, he made his debut with the comic Kki Danshaku. In 1968, he also released the manga Sagashiya hage Taka Tj!! before publishing Golgo 13 later that year.
At the 50th Shogakukan Manga Awards, Golgo 13 earned the 21st Shogakukan Manga Award, the Japan Cartoonists Association Grand Prize, and the special judge's award.
In 2003, Saito received the Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon, and in 2010, he received the Order of Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays With Rosette.
In 2018, Golgo 13 marked its 50th year of serialization, and in 2020, Saito will mark his 65th year as a manga creator.
Saito had stated before his death that he intended the manga to continue without him, and the Saito Production group of artists will carry on the work with the help of Shogakukan's Big Comic magazine's editorial department and additional scriptwriting personnel.
On July 17, Saito Production released the franchise's first-ever spinoff manga.
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