Japanese manga artist Matsumoto Leiji has died
TOKYO: Japan’s leading manga artist Matsumoto Leiji died on February 13 in Tokyo at the age of 85.
News of the manga legend’s passing was announced by his representative on Monday.
It is understood that Matsumoto’s cause of death was due to heart failure.
Matsumoto whose real name is Matsumoto Akira was born in 1938 in Kurume, a city on the southern Japanese island of Kyushu.
Matsumoto began drawing manga professionally after arriving in Tokyo at the age of 18.
His first appearance in the manga arena was in 1954 with a comic titled “Mitsubachi no Boken” (The Adventure of the Honey Bee).
The deceased is known for his manga works that revolve around ronin (masterless samurai), cowboys and several other subjects.
But his most notable writings are series of space adventures, including “Space Pirate Captain Harlock” and “Galaxy Express 999” in 1977.
