According to Japanese media reports, Monkey Punch (real name: Kazuhiko Kato), the author of the "Lupin III" manga series, died of pneumonia at 19:26 (Japan time) on April 11 at the age of 81. According to the person's wishes, the funeral will be held only by close relatives. A remembrance meeting is scheduled to be held at a later date, and the specific date and place will be announced after the decision is made.
Kato-sensei was born on May 26, 1937 in Hamaka-cho, Atsugi-gun, Hokkaido. Lupin III, which began to be serialized in weekly manga Action (Futabasha) in 1967, is a popular masterpiece that has been animated and live-action.
In the years after 1980, he received many awards such as the "Ink Bottle Award" at the San Diego International Comic-Con and the AMD Award for Meritorious Service, and enjoyed high praise both in Japan and abroad.
As Kato-sensei's masterpiece, "Lupin III" has a high status in the minds of the Japanese post-70s and post-80s people, and it can be seen in many anime works such as "Detective Conan". (For example, robbers who rob banks wearing Lupin and Fujiko's hoods, etc.)
In addition, the third theatrical version of the "Lupin III" series adaptation of Kato-sensei's original work, "The Lie of Lupin III's Peak Fujiko", will be released on May 31, but kato-sensei has no chance to meet this movie in the theater.
As a memorial service, on April 19, nippon television's program "Kanyo ROAD SHOW!" will be held. In 1978, "Lupin III/Lupin VS Replicants" was broadcast. The changed broadcast time of "Detective Conan, Sky's Shipwrecked Ship" originally scheduled for Broadcast On April 19 has not yet been determined.
Finally, let us wish Kato-sensei a good journey. R.I.P.