Monkey Punch

Kazuhiko Katō, who worked under the pen name Monkey Punch, was born on May 26, 1937, in Hamanaka, Hokkaido, Japan, and died on April 11, 2019. He is best known as the creator of the long-running manga and multimedia franchise *Lupin III*, which he launched in 1967. After studying at Tōhō Gakuen, he entered the manga industry through *kashi-hon* (rental book) comics, where his energetic, cinematic style first emerged. His art blended the influence of American comic strips and animation with a loose, expressive line, perfectly suited to the caper adventures of master thief Arsène Lupin III. Monkey Punch’s signature work, *Lupin III*, was adapted into multiple anime series, films, and specials, with the character becoming a pop-culture staple in Japan and abroad. In the English-language market, his work appeared in a handful of comic issues from 2002 to 2005, including *Lupin III* and *New Lupin III: World's Most Wanted*. He received the Medal with Purple Ribbon from the Japanese government in 2014 for his contributions to the arts. Monkey Punch’s legacy endures through the enduring popularity of *Lupin III*, which continues to inspire new generations of creators and fans.