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Takao Saito

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For the Japanese cinematographer, see Takao Saito (cinematographer). For the Japanese politician, see Saitō Takao (politician).

Takao Saito
Saito in 2017
Born(1936-11-03)November 3, 1936
Wakayama Prefecture, Japan
DiedSeptember 24, 2021(2021-09-24) (aged 84)
OccupationManga artist
Years active1955–2021
Known forGolgo 13
Awards

Takao Saito (Japanese: 齊藤 隆夫（さいとう・たかを）, Hepburn: Saitō Takao, November 3, 1936 – September 24, 2021[1]) was a Japanese manga artist,[2] although he rejected the term and considered his work gekiga.[3] He was best known for Golgo 13, which has been serialized in Big Comic since 1968, making it the oldest manga still in publication.[4][5] Golgo 13 holds the Guinness World Record for "Most volumes published for a single manga series" and, in accordance with Saito's wishes, it continues to be serialized following his death from pancreatic cancer in September 2021. Saito won several awards in his 66-year career, including the Shogakukan Manga Award twice, and received the Medal with Purple Ribbon and Order of the Rising Sun from the Japanese government for his contributions to the arts.

Early life and career

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Born in Nishiwasa city (now Wakayama city), Saito's family moved to Osaka soon after and opened a barbershop.[6] He did not know he was born in Nishiwasa until he was 43 years old.[7] After his father left the family to become a photographer, his mother raised Saito and his four siblings alone while working as a hairdresser.[6] After graduating from junior high school in 1950, Saito worked at the family barbershop and took it over in 1952.[6]

Having always been known as a skilled artist, Saito drew in his spare time and created his first manga Baron Air in 1955.[7][6] After having him spend a year rewriting it, rental-manga magazine publisher Hinomaru Bunko released it in 1956. That same year, Saito quit the family business to focus on manga, an act that angered his mother so much, that she never picked up one of his works for the rest of her life.[6] Under the guidance of manga artist Masami Kuroda, he moved to Tokyo in 1958. In 1959, Saito co-founded the Gekiga Kōbō (劇画工房) in Tokyo with seven other artists, including Yoshihiro Tatsumi and Masahiko Matsumoto, in order to spread gekiga.[8] Since April 1960, he has run Saito Production, a company with currently 19 employees.

Saito entered the mainstream manga industry in 1963 with 007, an adaptation of Ian Fleming's James Bond novels for Shogakukan's Boy's Life magazine.[6] He started Golgo 13 in Shogakukan's Big Comic magazine in 1968 and serialized it continuously until his death. With the publication of volume 201 in July 2021, it was certified as holding the Guinness World Record for "Most volumes published for a single manga series."[9] In 2013, Saito said "The manga has continued so long that it is no longer the property of the author; it belongs to the readers."[10] It has been adapted into two live-action films, one animated film, an OVA, an anime TV series, and several video games. In 1971 Saito also started to give courses in drawing manga.

Saito illustrated an adaptation of Shōtarō Ikenami's Onihei Hankachō novel series that has been continuously serialized in Leed Publishing's Comic Ran magazine since 1993, although a mistake by the editorial department resulted in the September 2019 issue becoming the first in 25 years to not include a chapter.[11] He initially created it based on scripts by Sentarō Kubota (volumes 1–40), then on scripts by Kusumi Ohara from volume 40 until 53, when Ohara was joined by Kaori Moriyama.

JManga released digital English versions of several of Saito's series, including Onihei Hankachō, Barom-1, Japan Sinks and Doll: The Hotel Detective.[12][13]

Saito said he suffered retinal detachment at the age of 28 and was diagnosed as diabetic at 48.[14] He was a close friend of fellow manga artist Shotaro Ishinomori.

Saito died of pancreatic cancer at 84 on September 24, 2021.[15] His death was announced five days later by Shogakukan, along with his wish that Golgo 13 continue on without him. The Saito Production group of manga creators continues its publication with the assistance of the Big Comic editorial department.[15] Leed Publishing later announced that Onihei Hankachō will also continue per Saito's wishes.[16]

Leed Publishing

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Saito was a director at Leed Publishing (株式会社リイド社), a publishing company spun-off from his Saito Production.[17] It was founded in November 1974 and Saito's older brother was its president and CEO until his death in 2016. Following his brother's death, his brother's eldest son took over.[18] In addition to many other products, Leed jointly publishes the Golgo 13 tankōbon volumes with Shogakukan.

Awards and accolades

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Saito Production headquarters in Nakano, Tokyo, 2021

In 1976, Saito won the 21st Shogakukan Manga Award in the General category for Golgo 13.[19]

In 2002, he and Golgo 13 won the Grand Prize at the Japan Cartoonists Association Awards.[20]

In 2003, the Japanese government gave Saito the Medal with Purple Ribbon for his contributions to the arts.[21]

In 2005, Golgo 13 was one of two winners of the Special Judges Award at the 50th Shogakukan Manga Awards.[19]

In 2009, Saito was among the 158 manga artists invited to celebrate the 50th anniversary of both Shogakukan's Weekly Shōnen Sunday magazine and Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen Magazine at the Tokyo Imperial Hotel.[22][23]

In 2010, the Japanese government gave Saito the Order of the Rising Sun, 4th Class, Gold Rays with Rosette.[24]

In 2013, over 300 people attended an event at the Tokyo Imperial Hotel to celebrate 45 years of Golgo 13, including Deputy Prime Minister of Japan Tarō Asō.[25]

In 2017, Saito received the Iwate Hometown Special Manga Award at the 7th Iwate Manga Awards for having a residence in Hanamaki, Iwate and including a character from the prefecture in Golgo 13.[26]

In January 2018, he received the Wakayama Prefecture Cultural Award from his birth prefecture.[7]

In 2019, Saito was honored by the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly for his contributions to the arts as a meritorious resident of Tokyo.[27] That year he was also awarded the Special Prize from the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize committee for his contributions to manga over the decades.[28]

On October 6, 2021, the Japanese government decided to confer the Senior Sixth Rank to Saito posthumously.[29]

Saito Takao Award

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The Saito Takao Gekiga Cultural Foundation established the Saito Takao Award (さいとう・たかを賞, Saitō Takao Shō) in 2017 for "outstanding works" created using the division of labor system Saito employed of separating the writing and illustrating of manga.[30] First awarded in January 2018, it is given to the scenario writer, illustrating artist, and editor/editorial department of the winning manga. The prize given is called the "Golgo 13 Trophy," and winners in the writer and artist categories also receive 500,000 yen (about US$4,530). Only professional manga editors can submit nominations. Nominated manga must target adult readers and be completely original works, not adaptations.[31] In addition to Takao Saito (until his death), Ryoichi Ikegami, Jūzō Yamasaki and writer Masaru Sato have served on every final selection committee. Takashi Nagasaki has been on each committee following his winning the first year under the pen name Richard Woo. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, the fourth Saito Takao Awards presented a Special Award to Buronson for his 48 years in manga and announced that works nominated for that year would instead be treated as nominees for the following year.[32]

Recipients

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Year Title Writer Illustrator Editor(s) Ref.
2018 Abracadabra ~Ryōki Hanzai Tokusōshitsu~ Richard Woo Seimu Yoshizaki Nakayama, Hirai (Big Comic Original) [33]
2019 Issak Shinji Makari Double-S Hitoshi Arai [34]
2020 Reiri Hitoshi Iwaaki Daisuke Muroi Takafumi Sawa [35]
2021 Not awarded due to COVID-19 pandemic; Buronson was awarded a "Special Award". [32]
2022 Shrink ~Seishinkai Yowai~ Jin Nanami Tsukiko Naohiro Yamasato [36]
2023 Kēki no Kirenai Hikō Shōnen-tachi Koji Miyaguchi Suzuki Masakazu Tomoaki Iwasaka [37]
2024 Abura Number 8 Sakuzo Baku Sho Kobayashi, Shinpei Wada [38]

Selected works

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  • Baron Air (空気男爵, 1955)
  • Typhoon Goro (台風五郎, 1958)
  • Devil King (デビルキング, 1964)
  • 007 (1964–1967)
  • Muyonosuke (無用ノ介, 1967)
  • Golgo 13 (ゴルゴ13, 1968–present)
  • Kage Gari (影狩り, 1969)
  • Barom-1 (バロム・1, 1970)
  • Japan Sinks (1970) (manga adaptation)[39]
  • Master Thief Sugar (怪盗シュガー, Kaitō Shugā, 1972), which was adapted into the unreleased NES video game Secret Ties.[40]
  • Hawking (ホーキング, 1974)
  • Survival (サバイバル, 1976–1980)
  • Doll: The Hotel Detective (ホテル探偵DOLL, 1980)[41]
  • Kumotori Zanpei (雲盗り暫平, 1983–1988)
  • Onihei Hankachō (鬼平犯科帳, 1993–present) (manga adaptation)
  • Breakdown (ブレイクダウン, 1995)
  • Professional Swordsmen of the Edo Era (剣客商売, Kenkyaku Shōbai, 1998–1999) (manga adaptation)[42]
  • Shikake Jin Fujieda Baian (仕掛人 藤枝梅安, 2002–2016)

References

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  1. ^ 「ゴルゴ13」漫画家のさいとう・たかをさん死去　84歳　連載は継続. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). September 29, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  2. ^ Onoda Power, Natsu. God of Comics: Osamu Tezuka and the Creation of Post–World War II Manga. University Press of Mississippi, 2009. p. 96. Great Comics Artists. ISBN 978-1-60473-221-4.
  3. ^ Lewis, Leo (October 16, 2015). "Interview: 'Golgo 13' creator Takao Saito". Financial Times. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  4. ^ "Golgo 13 Author Saito Discusses Manga's Hypothetical Ending". Anime News Network. November 16, 2013. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
  5. ^ "Artists Celebrate 45 Years of Golgo 13". Anime News Network. November 13, 2013. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Harding, Daryl (September 29, 2021). "Golgo 13 Manga Creator Takao Saito Passes Away Aged 84". Crunchyroll. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  7. ^ a b c "「故郷に認められ本当にうれしい」 さいとう・たかをさんに和歌山県文化賞授与". Sankei Shimbun. January 20, 2018. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  8. ^ "Gekiga: Alternative Manga from Japan". The Cartoon Museum. Archived from the original on March 12, 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  9. ^ "「ゴルゴ13」がギネス世界記録に認定、ちばてつやや高橋留美子らもお祝い". Natalie (in Japanese). July 18, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  10. ^ "Golgo 13 Author Saito Discusses Manga's Hypothetical Ending". Anime News Network. November 16, 2013. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
  11. ^ "Onihei Manga Skips Current Chapter Due to Story Issues". Anime News Network. August 7, 2019. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  12. ^ "JManga Adds Samurai Mystery Manga "Onihei, the Devilish Bureau Chief"". Crunchyroll. July 31, 2012. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  13. ^ "JManga Debuts "Professional Swordsmen of The Edo Era" Manga". Crunchyroll. April 5, 2012. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  14. ^ "【追悼】さいとう・たかをさん「私の頭の中にだけ眠る『最終回のアイデア』」最後に語った"ゴルゴのプロ意識"". Bungeishunjū (in Japanese). Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  15. ^ a b Hodgkins, Crystalyn (September 29, 2021). "Golgo 13 Author Takao Saito Passes Away at 84". Anime News Network. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  16. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (October 30, 2021). "Takao Saito's Onihei Crime Reports in Edo Manga Continues". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  17. ^ "Jason Thompson's House of 1000 Manga - Golgo 13". Anime News Network. March 1, 2012. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  18. ^ 【訃報】斉藤發司氏（さいとう・はつじ＝リイド社創業者、代表取締役社長） (in Japanese). Shinbunka. June 10, 2016. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  19. ^ a b 小学館漫画賞 過去受賞作 (in Japanese). Shogakukan Manga Award. October 25, 2018. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  20. ^ "Japanese Cartoonists' Association Awards". hahnlibrary.net. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  21. ^ "'Golgo 13' manga series author Takao Saito dies at 84 of cancer". The Asahi Shimbun. September 29, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  22. ^ "158 Manga Creators Mark Shonen Sunday, Mag's 50th Year". Anime News Network. March 19, 2009. Retrieved March 21, 2009.
  23. ^ 週刊少年サンデー・週刊少年マガジン50周年記念大同窓会、名だたる漫画家たちによるコメントムービー (in Japanese). gigazine.net. March 17, 2009. Archived from the original on March 22, 2009. Retrieved March 21, 2009.
  24. ^ "Golgo 13's Saito, Sunset on 3rd St.'s Saigan Win Medals". Anime News Network. April 28, 2010. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
  25. ^ Atsushi, Ohara (December 2, 2013). "Manga 'Golgo 13' celebrates 45 years of continuous publication". Asahi Shimbun. Archived from the original on October 24, 2015. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
  26. ^ 岩手の魅力、漫画で 大賞コン入賞２１作品表彰 さいとう氏に特別賞 (in Japanese). Iwate Nichinichi Shimbun. November 26, 2017. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  27. ^ 名誉都民にさいとう・たかをさんら３人 (in Japanese). Sankei Shimbun. October 1, 2019. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  28. ^ "Jitterbug The Forties, Golgo 13's Takao Saito Win Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prizes". Anime News Network. April 21, 2019. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  29. ^ 漫画家さいとうたかをさんに正六位 (in Japanese). Wakayama Broadcasting System. October 26, 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  30. ^ "新たなマンガ賞「さいとう・たかを賞」創設、BCにさいとうのインタビュー掲載". Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. June 9, 2017. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  31. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (June 11, 2017). "Golgo 13's Takao Saito Launches New Manga Award". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  32. ^ a b "さいとう・たかを賞で武論尊に特別賞「優しい叱咤と捉え、まだ前へ進もうと思います」". Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. December 10, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  33. ^ "さいとう・たかを、自身の名冠した賞の授賞式で「分業制作がマンガの本流になる」". Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. January 12, 2018. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  34. ^ "さいとう・たかを賞授賞式で「イサック」制作陣が喜び語る「我々は4人のチーム」". Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. January 11, 2019. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  35. ^ "さいとう・たかを賞受賞に岩明均「『レイリ』は僕が一兵卒だったから生まれた」". Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. January 17, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  36. ^ "「Shrink～精神科医ヨワイ～」が第5回さいとう・たかを賞を受賞". Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. December 10, 2021. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  37. ^ "「ケーキの切れない非行少年たち」が第6回さいとう・たかを賞を受賞". Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. December 9, 2022. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  38. ^ "第7回さいとう・たかを賞は「ABURA」、新選組の内部抗争・油小路事件描く時代劇". Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. December 8, 2023. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  39. ^ "Japan Sinks". JManga. Archived from the original on May 16, 2013. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
  40. ^ Cifaldi, Frank (August 2004). "Spotlight: Secret Ties". Lostlevels.org. Lost Levels. Archived from the original on April 3, 2016. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
  41. ^ "Doll the Hotel Detective". JManga. Archived from the original on May 15, 2013. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
  42. ^ "Professional Swordsmen of the Edo Era". JManga. Archived from the original on May 15, 2013. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
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