Yu-Gi-Oh! Creator Takahashi Kazuki Found Dead, Aged 60

The Japanese artist and creator behind the long-running manga series Yu-Gi-Oh!, Kazuki Takahashi, has been found dead, as reported on Thursday morning by Japanese news outlets.

Takahashi, whose real first name was Kazuo, was discovered in the sea near Nago, part of Okinawa Island, in the Okinawa prefecture early on Wednesday 6th, July and was identified a day later. Authorities are still investigating the cause of death.

To many, he was best known as the creator of Yu-Gi-Oh!, a series about a young boy who solves a puzzle and becomes host to the ancient Egyptian spirit named Pharaoh.

Yu-Gi-Oh! was a hit back when it started appearing in the pages of Weekly Shōnen Jump between the years 1996-2004 and has since gone on to spark a popular animated TV show, a successful trading card game, and several video games going all the way back to the original PlayStation.

Takahashi's other works include Tokiō no taka, his first manga published in 1990, and Tennenshoku Danji Buray, a series that ran between 1991 to 1992.

The story is still developing. But for now, we can only express our heartfelt condolences to his friends and family, as well as the multitude of fans who have been touched by his work over the years.