NHK News has reported that Yu-Gi-Oh! series creator, Kazuki Takahashi, is dead at age 60, and his body was found off the coast of Nago City.
Specifically, the NHK News report stated that on July 6, a man wearing snorkeling equipment was found off the coast of Nago City in Okinawa Prefecture. His death was confirmed shortly after.
At the following day, the Japanese Coast Guard has confirmed that the man was indeed Yu-Gi-Oh! series creator, Kazuki Takahashi.
Based on the report, it seems that Takahashi may have died due to a diving accident. Though it was also mentioned that the Japanese Coast Guard and Nago city officials are still investigating the events leading up to his death.
６日、沖縄県名護市の沖合でスノーケリングの器具を装着している男性が浮いている状態で見つかり、その後、死亡が確認されました。死亡したのは東京都在住の少年向けの人気漫画「遊戯王」の作者の高橋和希さん、本名、一雅さん（６０）と確認されたということです。https://t.co/tBrLWlRIi1
— NHK沖縄さぁたぁちゃん (@okinawa_nhk) July 7, 2022
In case you’re unfamiliar, Takahasi is the author of the original Yu-Gi-Oh! manga series which was published on Weekly Shonen Jump from 1996 to 2004.
Aside from being one of the most popular manga on Weekly Shonen Jump, Yu-Gi-Oh! has become one of Japan’s biggest media franchises. Since the manga’s release, there have been numerous anime and game adaptations based on the series. And of course, there’s the ever-popular Yu-Gi-Oh! trading card game which continues to be one of the most popular card games currently.