'Yu-Gi-Oh!' creator Kazuki Takahashi found dead

Jul 08 (npr.org) - Kazuki Takahashi, creator of the popular Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise, was found dead on Wednesday, according to Japan public broadcaster NHK and other media sources. He was 60 years old.

Takahashi's body was reportedly found floating off the coast of Nago in Okinawa, wearing snorkeling gear.

Takahashi, a comic book artist, started his career in the 80s. But his big success came in 1996, when he first published the Yu-Gi-Oh! in the popular comic magazine Weekly Shonen Jump. The series focused on a spiky haired precocious boy named Yugi who, after solving an ancient puzzle, gets possessed by an ancient spirit that helps Yugi challenge various bullies and bad guys to mystic games.

The comic ran for 8 years and became a worldwide sensation, inspiring a trading card game that's sold billions of cards, a popular anime series that ran in the U.S. for 6 years, and various other spin-off series, movies, and video games.

Source: 日テレNEWS

Four Young Mechanics Die After Car Crashes at High Speed

A passenger car was captured speeding across the frame from left to right by a security camera just moments before a fatal crash in Iida City, Nagano Prefecture, that claimed the lives of four vocational school students.

Fire Breaks Out on Yodobashi Camera Billboard in Front of JR Osaka Station

A fire broke out on the evening of April 25th on an electronic billboard attached to the Yodobashi Camera commercial complex in front of JR Osaka Station, prompting a large emergency response. No injuries were reported.

Toxic Chemicals Detected in Rivers and Groundwater Across Japan

Organic fluorine compounds known as PFAS—suspected to be harmful to human health—have been detected at concentrations exceeding the national provisional target in rivers and groundwater at 242 sites across 22 prefectures, according to a government survey.

Japan to Issue Bicycle Blue Tickets from April 2026

The Japanese government will begin issuing blue tickets for bicycle traffic violations in April 2026, with fines including 5,000 yen for ignoring stop signs and up to 12,000 yen for riding while using a smartphone.

Woman Arrested for Drunk Driving After Eating Alcohol-Filled Chocolate

A 26-year-old woman was arrested in the early hours of April 24th in Kasuya Town, Fukuoka Prefecture, on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. While admitting to the offense, she claimed, "I ate chocolate that contained alcohol."

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Entertainment NEWS

Kusanagi Reveals His Role in 'Bullet Train Explosion'

Bullet Train Explosion is a high-octane thriller set aboard Hayabusa 60, an E5 Series Shinkansen racing from Shin-Aomori to Tokyo — and it can’t drop below 100 km/h, or a hidden bomb will detonate.

Nagano Watches Offline Love Episode 1

For the first time in his life, comedian Nagano—known for disliking romance reality shows—sat down to watch one with TV personality Chinatsu Wakasugi, a self-proclaimed romance reality show enthusiast. The pair viewed the premiere episode of the new series Offline Love together.

Massive Queues for Gravure Idols at Sauna Heatwave Events

A growing number of Japanese gravure idols—models known for their swimsuit photo shoots—are entering the sauna world, fueling a new entertainment trend known as "nettobashi" (heatwave shows). These events feature the idols dressed in swimsuits, vigorously fanning heat across sauna-goers in steamy venues packed with excited fans.

Troubled Teen Finds His Voice as Christian Rapper

Shonosuke, a 28-year-old rapper from Sapporo, once spent his teenage years in constant fights, arrests, and turmoil. Raised in a single-parent household, his playground was the nightlife district of Susukino, where he ran away from home, dropped out of high school, and was arrested several times for soliciting customers.

Star Wars Celebration Returns in Full Force, Uniting Fans Across the Galaxy in Japan

What began as a swirl of excitement quickly became a full-blown celebration of galactic proportions as Star Wars Celebration made its triumphant return to Japan, bringing together fans from more than 125 countries for a spectacular weekend of panels, premieres, and unforgettable moments.

The Yorozuya Goes to Konpira!

This video focuses on the Yorozuya's kabuki performances at the Kanamura-za theatre in Konpira. (Kabuki In-Depth)

Must-Sees at Expo 2025

The World Expo 2025 in Osaka begins on April 13 and runs until October 13, 2025, on Yumeshima Island in Osaka Bay. With the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives,” it will showcase innovations in sustainability, technology, and cultural exchange.

Maximizing ROI - Combining Paid Followers with Content Marketing

It’s easy to dismiss paid followers as a shortcut — or worse, a scam. But here’s a smarter, more strategic way to look at it: paid followers are not the end goal. They’re just the start of a much bigger content-driven journey.

< 2 3 4 5 >