The famous mangaka, Gosaku Ota, passed away at the age of 74. On January 1, Haruka Takachiho, co-founder of Studio Nue, shared this news on Twitter. It is still unknown whether Ota will have a public memorial.
The Sponichi News reported that Ota got infected with COVID-19 at the end of November and was taken to the hospital. There he was treated and his condition stabilized. However, as his strength declined, he contracted pneumonia, from which he died on December 12 at the age of 74.
きょうになって喪中欠礼葉書が届きました。
— 高千穂遙 (@takachihoharuka) January 1, 2023
えええええ？ 桜多吾作さんが、12月12日にコロナ感染で、亡くなられた？
いやもう、言葉がありません。ただただご冥福を祈るばかりです。
Biography and work
Gosaku Ota was born on March 16, 1948, in Kaminoyama, where he grew up. He was a former member of Dynamic Production. His real name was Junichi Ota, and he also used the pseudonym, Satoshi Kitagawa. He made his professional debut in 1971 with “Himawari-chan” for Shueisha’s magazine Bessatsu Shonen Jump. He worked as an assistant to Shotaro Ishinomori, creator of 009 Re: Cyborg and Kamen Rider, who was an assistant to the famous Osamu Tezuka. After working as an assistant, he worked as a shoujo manga artist.
His most famous works are the manga adaptations of Go Nakai’s works such as Mazinger Z, Great Mazinger, Getter Robo, Getter Robo G, UFO Robo Grendizer, and Kotetsu Zieg. He also drew the second part of another Nakai work called Machine Saurer. The first part of this manga was drawn by Nakai’s protégé, Ken Ishikawa.
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Gosaku Ota also illustrated a fishing manga called Tsuri Baka Taishō, which started airing in 1981. He also created the anime adaptation of Go Nakai’s manga Groizer X which ran from 1976 to 1977. The two created the anime together as a side project while working on various Mazinger series. In addition to all that, Ota also drew the Mach SOS manga.
Gosaku Ota may have passed away, but the impact he had on the manga and anime world will live on forever.
Conclusion
It’s not easy to hear anime news like this. This news shook fans all over the world. Gosaku Ota was one of the most important manga artists of his era. We’ll remember him for his great work, cheerful personality, and the impact he had on the industry. He played an important role in popular Japanese culture and we’ll make sure to remember and honor him.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Mazinger Z?
Mazinger Z is a famous manga and anime series by Go Nagai. The manga debuted in 1972 and ran for a year. The anime began airing in December of the same year.
What is the American name for Mazinger Z?
American name for Mazinger Z is Tranzor Z.
Is Mazinger Z the first Mecha Anime?
Yes, the Super Robot show Mazinger Z is the first anime featuring a giant mecha.
