He was born in 1936 in Koyasan, Wakayama Prefecture, and grew up in Nara Prefecture. He began drawing comics in 4th grade, and during his senior year of high school, he debuted by publishing the graphic novels Betsu Sekai and Mori no Kyōdai through Tomo Book Company. His hit works such as Hebi Shōjo and Nekome Kozō earned him the nickname “The God of Horror Manga.” He won the Shogakukan Manga Award for Hyōryū Kyōshitsu (The Drifting Classroom). At the same time, he showcased his comedic talent with Makoto-chan, and the iconic gag “Gwashi” became a social phenomenon.
In addition to his earlier works, he has created numerous other hit titles, including Orochi, Senrei (Baptism), Watashi wa Shingo (My Name Is Shingo), Kami no Hidari Te Akuma no Migi Te (The Left Hand of God, the Right Hand of the Devil), and 14-sai (FOURTEEN). Beyond his manga career, he has taken on many other roles, including that of a talent, singer, and film director, actively
contributing to various fields. In 2018, he received the Heritage Award at the Angoulême International Comics Festival in France for Watashi wa Shingo. In the same year, he was honored with the Commissioner’s Award from Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs. In 2022, after a 27-year hiatus, he released a new work, ZOKU-SHINGO. In 2023, he was awarded the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize – Special Award.
