‘Yu-GI-Oh!’ Creator Kazuki Takahashi Passed Away at the Age of 60

A number of news organizations, including the public broadcaster NHK, have reported that Takahashi was recovered from the water after being found approximately 300 meters offshore. According to the broadcasting company TBS, Takahashi was by himself while he was in Okinawa. A car rental company contacted the police on Wednesday night to report that it was unable to get in touch with him, which led the coast guard to suspect that the body was his.

Between the years 1996 and 2004, the title “Yu-Gi-Oh!” was serialized in the comics section of the Japanese weekly magazine “Shonen Jump.” The plot centered on Yugi, a young man who, after being given an ancient puzzle, discovers that he can transform into the guise of a powerful Egyptian pharaoh. The success of the manga spawned a multi-media franchise that consists of a trading card game, mobile game, anime television series, and film adaptations.

Later on, the Japanese publishing powerhouse Shueisha turned it into a series of 38 books; however, the company did not immediately issue any statement regarding Takahashi’s passing away.

Although he published under a different name, Takahashi’s real first name was Kazuo.

According to Kyodo News, the trading card game “Yu-Gi-Oh!” was recognized by Guinness World Records in 2011 as the world’s best-selling trading card game. This was accomplished by selling more than 25.17 billion sets around the world.