Leiji Matsumoto, renowned mangaka author of “Captain Harlock”, passed away at the age of 85

Japanese manga artist (mangaka) Leiji Matsumoto, author of influential works such as “Captain Harlock” or “Space Battleship Yamato”, has died at the age of 85, his representative and daughter announced on Monday.

Matsumoto passed away on February 13 at a Tokyo hospital.according to a statement published on the social networks of his official website, Leijisha, managed by his daughter, Makiko Matsumoto.

“The ‘mangaka’ Leiji Matsumoto undertook a journey to the sea of ​​stars on February 13, 2023. (…) He always said: ‘We will meet again in that place where the wheels of time cross’. We believe in those words and we look forward to that day.”Makiko wrote in the death announcement.

matsumoto “He had a happy life because he was able to continue drawing stories like ‘mangaka’”, continued his also agent.

His daughter thanked the support of the fans and the people involved in the publication of his leftovers, as well as the medical staff “who helped him in the preparation of this trip.”

The family funerals have already been held, but a farewell event is expected to be organized on a date yet to be determined.

The “mangaka”, whose birth name is Akira Matsumoto, was born on January 25, 1938 in the city of Kurume, in Fukuoka Prefecture, in the southwest of the Japanese archipelago.

Matsumoto began drawing when he was six years old and his encounter at the age of nine with the work “Shin Takarajima” (The New Treasure Island, 1947) by the master Osamu Tezuka, considered the father of modern manga, made him discover his vocation. as “mangako”.

At the age of 16, he made his editorial debut with “Mitsubachi no boken” (The Adventures of the Bee), published in the “Manga Shonen” magazine after winning an award organized by its publisher.

Among his most representative works are “Space Battleship Yamato” or “Captain Harlock”, whose rich universe would lead to works that include “Galaxy Express 999″ or “Queen Emeraldas”.

In 2001, Matsumoto was awarded the Japanese Government’s Purple Ribbon Medal for his contributions to development and artistic achievements, and in 2010 he was awarded the Gold Ray Ribbon with Cockade of the Japanese Order of the Sacred Treasure.

The Japanese author was also decorated in 2012 with the Order of Arts and Letters from the Government of France.

With information from EFE