Takao Saito

Takao Saito was a Japanese manga artist best known for creating *Golgo 13*, the long-running series that began serialization in *Big Comic* in 1968 and holds the Guinness World Record for most volumes published for a single manga series. He rejected the term "manga" for his work, preferring to call it *gekiga*, a more dramatic, cinematic style. Born on November 3, 1936, in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, Saito began his career in the 1950s, contributing to the *kashihon* (rental manga) market before finding his signature voice with *Golgo 13*. The series, following the exploits of a stoic assassin, became a cultural touchstone and was adapted into anime and live-action films, including the 1983 feature *The Professional: Golgo 13*. Saito’s work was marked by meticulous realism, intricate plotting, and a cool, detached tone. He collaborated with a team of assistants to maintain the series’ demanding weekly schedule. Over his 66-year career, Saito won the Shogakukan Manga Award twice and received the Medal with Purple Ribbon and the Order of the Rising Sun from the Japanese government. He died of pancreatic cancer on September 24, 2021, at age 84, but *Golgo 13* continues serialization per his wishes.