How did Leiji Matsumoto die? Legendary Manga and anime creator cause of death explained

Legendary Japanese Manga and anime creator, Leiji Matsumoto, passed away at the age of 85. Let’s see How did Leiji Matsumoto die and Leiji Matsumoto Cause of death in detail.

 

How did Leiji Matsumoto die?

Leiji Matsumoto, a Japanese manga and animation author best known internationally for creating the television series “Space Battleship Yamato” in the 1970s, has passed away on February 13. He was 85 years old. Although he went by the pen name Leiji, his real name was Akira.

Zack Davisson, a translator who worked for Leiji Matsumoto wrote,

“Saddened to hear of the passing of Leiji Matsumoto. As a young boy, he showed me a train going into space, and I have never been the same since. It has been my great honor to translate his works and bring them into English. 然らば, sensei.”

Leiji Matsumoto Cause of death

We’re sorry to have to inform you that Leiji Matsumoto has passed away.

Leiji Matsumoto was regarded as having a friendly personality. Many people must be curious to know the Leiji Matsumoto cause of death in light of the recent news.

Matsumoto passed out on November 15, 2019, at a Captain Harlock anime adaptation 40th-anniversary tour event in Turin, Italy, due to severe respiratory issues. After being admitted to the emergency unit, he was transported to a hospital in critical condition and had a breathing tube placed in. Yet, two days later, it was determined that he was no longer in danger. On February 13, 2023, Matsumoto, who was 85 years old, passed away in a hospital in Tokyo from acute heart failure.

Leiji Matsumoto cause of death has left the community inconsolable.

 

Who was Leiji Matsumoto?

Leiji Matsumoto was a Japanese mangaka, creator of several anime and manga series. Matsumoto was well-known for his space operas, including Galaxy Express 999 and Space Battleship Yamato. His work is known for its mythological and frequently tragic plots, morally-compelling heroes, attractive heroines, and a fondness for odd, eerie settings. In 1954, Matsumoto made his publishing debut as Akira Matsumoto with the publication of Mitsubachi no bken in the journal Manga Shnen.

Leiji Matsumoto’s contribution in Television Series

In 1971, Matsumoto received his major break with the release of Otoko Oidon, a television series that followed the lives of a young man studying for university entrance tests. For the 1972–1975 Play Comic magazine season, he produced the mature-themed dark comedy Western seinen serial Gun Frontier. At about the same time, he began the Senjo Manga Series, a collection of standalone World War Two short stories that would eventually gain popularity under the name The Cockpit. He contributed to the 1974 film Space Battleship Yamato and developed the wildly successful television programs Space Pirate Captain Harlock and Galaxy Express 999. (both 1977). He received the Shogakukan Manga Award for shnen in 1978 for his work on Senjo Manga Series and Galaxy Express 999.

The animated versions of Captain Harlock and Galaxy Express 999 take place in the same universe, which also included Queen Emeraldas and Queen Millennia, among other spin-offs and related shows. Matsumoto supervised the production of several music videos for Daft Punk, a French house band, set to songs from their album Discovery. These movies were released in their entirety on a DVD named Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem, creating a full-length animated film.

“Space Battleship Yamato”

Yoshinobu Nishizaki and Matsumoto collaborated on Space Battleship Yamato (known outside Japan under various names, but most commonly as Star Blazers). The Yamato makes guest appearances (without crew) in several of Matsumoto’s works, including the Galaxy Express 999 manga, which was partially based on the television series.

Because of licencing concerns with Nishizaki, Matsumoto’s later work Great Yamato, which included an improved Yamato, had to be renamed Great Galaxy. With the restrictions that Matsumoto cannot use the name Yamato or the plot or characters from the original, and Nishizaki cannot use the conceptual art, characters, or ship designs of the original, Matsumoto and Nishizaki were collaborating on independent anime projects in 2009 that featured the acclaimed Space Battleship Yamato. These limitations may or may not still be in force given Nishizaki’s passing in 2010.

To commemorate his debut’s 60th anniversary, Matsumoto published Captain Harlock: Dimensional Journey in the pages of Akita Shoten’s Champion Red magazine in August 2014. The manga was illustrated by Kichi Shimahoshi. The Space Pirate Captain Harlock manga from the year 1978 was recreated in Dimensional Journey. Seven Seas had granted it an American licence. Matsumoto was one of Koriyama City’s “Frontier Ambassadors” (Fukushima Prefecture).

Matsumoto received the Medal with Purple Ribbon from the Japanese government in 2001 and the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette in 2010.

Tributes to Leiji Matsumoto

The worlds of anime fans have come together to pay tribute to Leiji Matsumoto, the Legendary Manga and anime creator who died suddenly at the age of 85.

Discotek Media wrote,

We were saddened to hear of the recent passing of Leiji Matsumoto, one of the greats of anime & manga. The list of what he created can feel almost endless, from Galaxy Express 999, Captain Harlock, to Space Battleship Yamato (Star Blazers.) His work will continue to be loved.”

Marie wrote,

The passing of Leiji Matsumoto was unexpected and sad news for me. His works made a great impact in my life. I made many wonderful friends and branched out to other genres like Gundam and Dunbine, thanks to his works. May we meet in the Sea of Stars someday.”

One of the worst things anyone can go through in life is losing a loved one. Any journey must have a destination at the end. The person’s time on earth has regrettably come to an end now that they have died. We wish him eternal peace and send our thoughts and prayers to his loved ones, family, friends. May he rest in peace.

Kindly use the comment box below to honor the death of Leiji Matsumoto by leaving a tribute.

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