‘Yu-Gi-Oh!’ creator Kazuki Takahashi died trying to save woman, child

Takahashi died making an attempt to save lots of three individuals caught in a rip present off the coast of Japan.
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“Yu-Gi-Oh!” creator Kazuki Takahashi’s July demise got here after he tried to save lots of a baby, girl and a soldier from a treacherous rip present off the coast of Japan, a brand new report stated.

Unique experiences indicated that the creator of the “Yu-Gi-Oh!” empire was discovered useless after snorkeling in southwestern Japan. However new particulars revealed Wednesday by Stars and Stripes present that Takahashi was aiding within the rescue of an 11-year-old woman, her mom and a soldier caught in a present at Mermaid’s Grotto in Okinawa, Japan.

In keeping with the publication, US Military Main and scuba diving teacher Robert Bourgeau was on the well-liked dive spot with college students when he heard the screams of an unidentified Japanese mom caught within the present and jumped into motion.

Takahashi’s manga grew into an internationally liked anime and buying and selling card recreation.

Warner Bros. Footage.

In some unspecified time in the future throughout the rescue, Takahashi, 60, was seen by the scholars leaping into the water to help within the rescue, however then disappeared beneath the waves.

“He’s a hero,” Bourgeau stated of Takahashi, including, “He died making an attempt to save lots of another person.”

Bourgeau managed to bodily save the girl and baby and was in a position to verbally information the soldier to security.

The anime and manga creator’s physique was found two days after the rescue — seen floating off the coast of Okinawa by an individual operating a marine leisure enterprise, in line with an official on the Naha Coast Guard Nago station.

The official additionally shared in a July interview that Takahashi’s physique confirmed indicators of being attacked by a marine creature, probably sharks, however the reason for demise was nonetheless underneath investigation.

Later, a rental automobile was found at Mermaid’s Grotto underneath the buying and selling card recreation creator’s identify, permitting his household to determine his physique.

Bourgeau was nominated for the Soldier’s Medal for his rescue efforts. The medal acknowledges acts of heroism not involving precise battle with an enemy.

“Yu-Gi-Oh!” debuted in Shonen Leap journal in 1996 — shortly exploding into an internationally acknowledged cultural icon — the place it offered greater than 40 million manga copies.

Billions of the “Yu-Gi-Oh!” buying and selling playing cards are in rotation immediately, as the sport remains to be performed by many followers.

Shohei Miyano/Kyodo Information/AP

As for the buying and selling playing cards — which hit cabinets in 1999 — that quantity is properly into the billions immediately and remains to be a popularly performed and traded card recreation all over the world.

A TV present, video video games and lots of different collectible objects quickly grew among the many franchise.

The world mourned Takahashi’s demise in July and once more Wednesday, with an outpouring of affection from followers and buddies internationally.

A author for Crunchyroll, a preferred streaming service for Japanese anime, wrote on Twitter, “He was a hero. As soon as once more, thanks for every thing, Takahashi.”

“RIP Kazuki Takahashi. Your coronary heart is ceaselessly within the playing cards,” one other account tweeted.