The recent death of legendary manga creator Akira Toriyama at the age of 68 on March 1, 2024, due to acute subdural hematoma, has brought to light a disturbing trend about the lifespan of manga creators in Japan.
The 2020s have proven to be a particularly devastating decade for the manga industry. In 2021, Kentaro Miura, the creator of “Berserk,” passed away at the age of 54.
The following year, “Yu-Gi-Oh!” author Takahashi Kazuki died at 60, and Terasawa Buichi, the creator of the manga “Cobra,” passed away at 68. Now, in 2024, the manga world has lost yet another legend.
A striking commonality among these mangakas’ deaths is that their average lifespan is significantly shorter than that of their fellow Japanese men.
A Japanese blog “Yaraon” compiled the birth and death dates of 219 mangakas, revealing that on average, they live for only 62.6 years, compared to the average lifespan of 83 years for Japanese men.
Suite à la mort d'Akira Toriyama j'ai chercher à savoir si les mangakas mourraient réellement plus jeune que le reste des japonais.
— Niho Ame – Sang noir 1 dispo (@niho_ame) March 10, 2024
l'info n'est pas trouvable en français ni anglais, mais en cherchant bien je suis tomber par chance sur un blog japonais qui faisais une liste . pic.twitter.com/JF0uDYrwh7
It is important to note that this list only includes mangakas who died from natural causes, excluding those who passed away due to accidents.
One of the primary factors contributing to the early deaths of mangakas is the intense workload they endure. For instance, Eiichiro Oda, one of the most popular active mangakas and creator of “One Piece,” sleeps only 3 to 4 hours a day. Although Oda takes a full day off per week to catch up on sleep, this grueling schedule is still far from ideal.
Other prominent mangakas have also faced health issues due to their demanding work. “My Hero Academia” author Kohei Horikoshi has taken numerous breaks to address health concerns, while “Hunter x Hunter” creator Yoshihiro Togashi has taken extended hiatuses from drawing and writing manga due to severe back pain.
The manga industry’s intense work culture, coupled with the immense pressure to meet deadlines and maintain high-quality output, has taken a significant toll on the health and well-being of its creators, shortening their life span to 20 years on average.
As fans, it is crucial to recognize the sacrifices these artists make to bring us the stories we love and to advocate for better working conditions and support for their well-being.
Source: Yaraon
