A new report has revealed additional events regarding the death of the mangaka Kazuki Takahashi, known for his Yu-Gi-Oh! Manga series. The report, made by the US Department of Defense’s publication Stars and Stripes, notes that Takahashi died while trying to save other people from drowning.
In the Stripes report, Maj. Robert Bourgeau of the 10th Support Group at Torii Station in Yomitan, details how he rescued a pair of students at the Mermaid’s Grotto in Onna, Okinawa. He later noted that Takahashi jumped in to aid in the rescue, albeit he didn’t see him fully during the ordeal.
Witnesses claim that they caught glimpses of Takahashi being overwhelmed by the sea waves, until he finally disappeared from view. Later reports from the Japan Coast Guard confirm that Takahashi was found 1,000 feet offshore in Awa, Nago City. His rental car was left behind on Mermaid’s Grotto.
“He’s a hero. He died trying to save someone else,” Bourgeau said. In a later statement provided by the US Army, he added, “That was one the hardest things I have ever had to do, I let [the man] go so I could save myself.”
Kazuki Takahashi was confirmed dead by authorities on July 7 this year, as previously reported. Reports from NHK noted that he was found wearing snorkeling equipment by the time he was seen offshore in Awa. He died at the age of 60.
He was born on October 4, 1963 and launched the popular Shonen manga series Yu-Gi-Oh! in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in 1996, which ended in 2004 with a total of 38 volumes. The series inspired anime adaptations, and Yu-Gi-Oh! Go Rush!! has been airing since April 2022. Konami has been developing and publishing the popular Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game.
Source: Stars and Stripes
