Shouji Sato

Shōji Satō is a Japanese manga artist and illustrator best known for his dynamic character designs and detailed artwork on the action-horror series *Highschool of the Dead*. Born in Japan, he began his career as an assistant to Kōshi Rikudō, creator of the comedy manga *Excel Saga*, before striking out on his own. Under the pen name Inazuma, Satō has also produced numerous dōjinshi and erotic works, and he runs the adult-oriented group Digital Accel Works. His signature style blends kinetic, cinematic action sequences with highly stylized character designs, often leaning into ecchi and horror themes. His major co-creations include *Highschool of the Dead* (as artist and character designer) and *Triage X*, a series that similarly mixes gunfights, fan service, and dark conspiracies. He also contributed to *Divine Raiment Magical Girl Howling Moon*. Satō’s work is characterized by a polished, energetic linework and a flair for explosive, over-the-top combat. His later career has continued to focus on action-heavy, risqué manga and illustration. While he has not received major mainstream awards, his influence is felt in the survival-horror and ecchi genres, and his art remains popular among fans of high-octane, adult-oriented manga.