On July 7th, 2022, manga artist 高橋和希 Kazuki Takahashi, creator of the popular manga 遊☆戯☆王 Yu-Gi-Oh! was found dead. He was 60 years old.

According to NHK, he was found floating with snorkeling equipment off the coast of Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture, yesterday July 6th, 2022.

The Japan Coast Guard and police in Nago City are investigating the circumstances leading up to his demise.

Yu-Gi-Oh! began serialization in 1996 and became a worldwide hit as a card game. The first anime adaptation began airing in 1998 and new series have continued to be made ever since.

The news of Takahashi's untimely passing was understandably difficult for fans and people who grew up with the card game and manga. On social media, there continues to be an outpouring of grief, with comments such as "I am too shocked for words" and "It is too soon" testifying to the creator's legacy and how appreciated his works are.

May Takahashi Sensei rest in peace.