Takashi Nagasaki

Takashi Nagasaki was born on January 14, 1956, in Japan. He began his career in 1980 at the publishing house Shogakukan, where he worked as an editor on various manga magazines, eventually becoming editor-in-chief of *Big Comic Spirits* from 1999 to 2001. After going freelance, Nagasaki wrote under several pen names, including Keishi Edogawa and Garaku Toshusai. He is best known for his long-running collaborations with artist Naoki Urasawa, co-writing the acclaimed science-fiction mystery *Pluto* (2003–2009) and the sprawling historical thriller *Billy Bat* (2008–2016). Nagasaki is credited as writer on over fifty issues, with his most prominent titles including *20th Century Boys* and its related editions. The Kobe Shimbun noted that he brought the concept of a producer into the manga industry, forging a new kind of partnership with artists. Anime News Network described him as the only editor to have risen to the level of co-creator alongside the artist. His work has earned him a reputation for shaping complex, thematically rich narratives, and he remains a significant figure in modern manga for redefining the editor’s role.