He was a man ahead of his own time, a Creator that ventured across the sea of stars and created a vast, rich universe filled with Fantasy and Sci-Fi. That man’s name was Leiji Matsumoto, known for his work Captain Harlock, Galaxy Express 999, and Space Battleship Yamato.
It is with a heavy heart that I have the unfortunate opportunity to report that Leiji Matsumoto passed away on February 13th, 2023. Matsumoto was known for creating Space Operas such as Galaxy Express 999 and was also known for supervising the creation of several music videos for Daft Punk for their album Discovery. These music videos would be eventually released on DVD as a full-length animated feature called Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem.
According to an obituary published in The Japan Times, a private funeral was held with his next of kin. The ceremony was held by his wife, Miyako Maki, a former manga artist known for creating the illustration for the dress-up doll called Licca-Chan, the Japanese Equivalent of Mattel’s Barbie.
A company statement made on social media mentioned that Creator Leiji Matsumoto has departed for the sea of stars, thanking the fans for all of their support.
He was born in Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture, on January 25th, 1938. As a child and teenager growing up during the Pacific War, Matsumoto watched American Cartoons and read comics from his father, who was an elite pilot who served in the Japanese Imperial Army. His father would teach him that war should never be fought. Leiji Matsumoto would channel his creativity through his love of Cartoons and Science Fiction by forming a Manga Doujinshi Group in Elementary School. He would then move to Tokyo in 1953 to pursue a career in becoming a Mangaka at the age of 18. The first manga he would debut was titled Mitsubachi no Boken. In 2010, he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, 4th Class, Gold Rays with Rosette, for his work in promoting Japanese culture overseas. The French government knighted Matsumoto in 2013 honoring his work in the arts.
Thank you, Mr. Matsumoto, for everything you have created, everything you have accomplished in life, and for standing up against war. In the words of Leiji Matsumoto, “We will meet again, far away, where the wheel of time connects.”
Source: Crunchyroll, The Japan Times
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