Leiji Matsumoto's memory is recognised by members of the anime and manga industries

On February 13, Matsumoto, who was 85 years old, passed away.

By Sonu | Feb 21, 2023 | 6 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

Leiji Matsumoto was a well-known manga author, illustrator, and designer, and the anime and manga sectors have been paying tribute to him since the word of his passing spread. On February 13, Matsumoto, who was 85 years old, passed away. In response to the loss of the creator of Galaxy Express 999, Yasuhiro Nightow, Miyako Maki, and others. Creator of the Trigun manga Yasuhiro Nightow tweeted: “Matsumoto-sensei. Because of his art, I became interested in manga culture. The stardust he gave me to work with is all over my creation. I am happy that they have passed on their expertise to the following generation. I’ll be perusing Daijunj-kun and Wadachi tonight. I appreciate your hard effort. And I want to thank you from the depths of my heart.” Leiji Matsumoto’s memory is recognised by members of the anime and manga industries.

Through Miime and Miikun, two of Matsumoto’s most adored cats, Leijisha, Matsumoto’s personal company, made the following announcement on Twitter:

A tribute message from Leijisha:

The manga creator Leiji Matsumoto set out for the sea of stars on February 13, 2023, from a local hospital. We are appreciative of all of his supporters. “You can meet again at a location that connects to the distant ring of time,” was a common saying used by Matsumoto. We cling to those statements and eagerly await that day.

The following message was also left by Miyako Maki, the representative head of Leijisha and the spouse of manga creator Matsumoto:

Leiji Matsumoto, a manga creator, set out for the sea of stars on February 13, 2023, from a municipal hospital. 85 years old was the man. Already, a private funeral was conducted by his close family. I think he led a contented existence, expressing himself as a manga artist as he felt through the tales he drew. You can re-connect at a location that links to the far ring of time, Matsumoto would always say. I am hopeful for that day and I firmly believe those statements.

I’d like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who helped him along the way, including the hospital staff, his fans, those involved in getting his work out to the public, members of the government and other organisations who have supported him, and the manga creators who worked with him when he was younger. Much appreciation.

Sorry, but I must decline any and all flowers, presents, or telegrams sent as expressions of sympathy. At the farewell party, which will be held at a later time, I intend to receive floral tributes and telegrams. Furthermore, I am unsure of when I will be able to share information about the farewell meeting.

Masako Nozawa, a voice actress for Tetsuro Hoshino, said, “Matsumoto-sensei joined me on so many Galaxy Express 999 events across the nation. He spoke with authority and was amiable. His joy when donning a railway conductor’s uniform in Yamaguchi is something I can still see clearly today. It was very simple for us to behave when he visited the recording studio while we were doing the film’s recordings and complimented us. He was an incredibly generous man. We should do something with 999, he would say every time we would meet. It breaks my heart that I will never get to enjoy his companionship once more because I was looking forward to it.

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Captain Harlock, Tetsuro Hoshino, and Maetel, three of Matsumoto’s well-known characters, are depicted in the animation by Hirotoshi Sano (Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory, RahXephon) in the drawing below:

Distributor of anime Discotek Media tweeted: “One of the greats of anime and manga, Leiji Matsumoto, recently passed away, and we were shocked to learn of his departure. From Captain Harlock, Galaxy Express 999, and Space Battleship Yamato to name just a few of his creations, the list can seem essentially infinite (Star Blazers.) His contributions will always be admired.”

Zack Davisson, who translates the comic Captain Harlock and Queen Emeraldas, tweeted:

We were shocked to learn of Leiji Matsumoto’s death. He first showed me a train going into space when I was a young child, and ever since, I have never been the same. It has been an enormous honour for me to translate his writings into English. Hello, sensei.

Leiji Matsumoto is one of the few creators who had as much of an impact on my life. Some of his works were among the first to be published in English. Leiji Matsumoto was well-known to us before the English tongue even had the words “anime” or “manga.”

I couldn’t miss an episode of STAR BLAZERS, so I got up every morning six hours before I had to get ready for school. The never-ending countdown of the days remaining to save the planet

Science fiction was Leiji Matsumoto’s purported genre, but he dubbed it “Boy’s Romance.” And that’s what it was; it inspired my emotions and my imagination in a manner that was unmatched by any other story. It helped me realise who I wished to be.

What we now refer to as “anime/manga fans” both in the US and Japan have their roots in the works of Leji Matsumo. There is a reason why the first-ever anime convention hosted in the US was called “Yamato Con.” And a cast of Leiji Matsumoto figures served as the inspiration for the first-ever anime cosplay.

Leiji Matsumoto has had a similar impact on the contemporary world as George Lucas. His art is evident everywhere. He was as big as any of his personalities. An individual with impressive goals.

Ami Shibata, the author of Papuwa manga, tweeted: “A lengthy greeting that was full of sternness, kindness, and a tonne of heart was sent to me when I was still a newcomer. I’ve made the decision to publish it because it can also serve as advice for all aspiring manga writers. Matsumoto-sensei, it was because I read so many of your works that I decided to pursue a career as a manga artist.”

Matsumoto praised Shibata’s storytelling skills and referred to her as being at the vanguard of the new generation in the message. He continued by saying that a manga artist’s work is a lifetime effort and that having a goal or a source of power is necessary for maintaining the stamina needed to continue drawing for so long. Shibata was inspired by him to take on new tasks and to be proud of who she is.

Nozomu Tamaki, the author of the manga Dance in the Vampire Bund, tweeted:

Leiji Matsumoto and I only had one encounter. I spoke with him at the time regarding a PS game called Space Battleship Yamato. What kind of manga are you drawing, he inquired on the way home after we had a lively discussion covering a broad range of subjects.

I was then working for an adult publication and barely making ends meet. I sheepishly explained the main points to him. He then boosted my confidence by saying: “I think that’s okay. As soon as you can, try to draw that sort of object. Soon, even when you want to sketch it, you won’t be able to do so!”

Are you referring to an age when you say “not being able to sketch it”? I questioned. You’ll be made fun of by kids at school, he said with a smile in answer. I imagine he was thinking back to his time sketching Mystery Eve and Sexaroid. It was a particular instance that I remembered even more than the interview.

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