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How did Takao Saito die? Creator of classic manga series 'Golgo 13' dead at 83

'What a body of work to treasure. Rest In Peace, Master,' tweeted Toonami co-creator and Lord of The Rings producer Jason Demarco

Famous artist and creator of iconic manga series 'Golgo 13', Takao Saito, has died at the age of 84 on September 24, 2021. As soon as the news of his death was confirmed by Yahoo News Japan, manga lovers across the world poured in their tributes for the celebrated author. Though Saito is hailed as the creator of the oldest manga still in publication, he himself did not identify himself as a manga artist. Rather, he always considered himself as a patron of gekiga art, or a series of dramatic pictures. 

For his lifetime literary contribution, the Japanese government awarded him with a Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon in 2003. Takao Saito launched the 'Golgo 13' series way back in 1968 and it is still ongoing after 50 years, with over 200 volumes in publication. The series has been listed as the second bestselling manga of all times, closely surpassed by Eiichiro Oda's 'One Piece'. The story revolves around the legendary assassin Duke Togo aka Golgo 13. The series proceeded around the fictional hitman's many missions around the world, targetting to kill people for the right price. The manga even saw not one, but two silver screen adaptations in 1973 and 1977. The titular role of Golgo 13 was essayed in the second movie by famous actor and martial artist Sonny Chiba.

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How did Takao Saito die?

Born in Wakayama and brought up in Osaka, Saito was inspired by movies like 'King Kong' and 'War of the Worlds' as a child. He started his career in manga with the series 'Baron Air' in 1955, at the age of 19 years. Four years later, in founded the Gekiga Kobo which offered support and patronage to seven other gekiga artists. In 1960, he started the Saito Production, which is still running at present. 

Soon after 'Golgo 13' was published in 1968, the manga became a top favorite among readers in Japan as well as in other parts of the world. In 1976, the popularity of Golgo 13 earned him the Shogakukan Manga Award, followed by many other notable honors throughout his lifetime. In 2018, The Saito Takao Gekiga Cultural Foundation started the Saito Takao Award in his honor to be awarded to notable manga artists, scenario writers, and editors. 

The unparalleled legend of gekigo was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer recently and eventually succumbed to the disease. 

Toonami co-creator and Lord of the Rings producer Jason Demarco tweeted, "Man, RIP to Takao Saito, creator of one of my favorite characters, Duke Togo aka Golgo 13. He died at 84, having produced over 600 volumes of Golgo stories. What a body of work to treasure. Rest In Peace, Master."

"Oh maaan, Golgo 13 just recently became the longest running single series manga in Japan then this happened.. R.I.P. Saito sensei," a Golgo 13 reader tweeted. Another fan wrote, "The passing of manga artist Takao Saito at age 84 today represents the end of an era. He's famed for creating the antihero assassin-for-hire Golgo 13, but he's also a pioneer of "gekiga" (劇画): a cutting edge form of illustrated entertainment intended to dethrone manga."

"Tonight while watching a James Bond film I thought about how I would do a badass spy story, then I thought, "I'd want it to be more like GOLGO 13 than Bond. For sure." Then I come home to find its creator, Takao Saito, has passed. My next spy story is for you Takao. #RIP," tweeted another user.