“Yu-Gi-Oh!” creator Kazuki Takahashi’s July loss of life got here after he tried to avoid wasting a baby, girl and a soldier from a treacherous rip present off the coast of Japan, a brand new report mentioned.
Authentic experiences indicated that the creator of the “Yu-Gi-Oh!” empire was discovered lifeless after snorkeling in southwestern Japan. However new particulars revealed Wednesday by Stars and Stripes present that Takahashi was aiding within the rescue of an 11-year-old lady, her mom and a soldier caught in a present at Mermaid’s Grotto in Okinawa, Japan.
Based on the publication, US Military Main and scuba diving teacher Robert Bourgeau was on the in style dive spot with college students when he heard the screams of an unidentified Japanese mom caught within the present and jumped into motion.
Sooner or later through the rescue, Takahashi, 60, was seen by the scholars leaping into the water to help within the rescue, however then disappeared beneath the waves.
“He’s a hero,” Bourgeau mentioned of Takahashi, including, “He died making an attempt to avoid wasting another person.”
Bourgeau managed to bodily save the lady and little one and was in a position to verbally information the soldier to security.
The anime and manga creator’s physique was found two days after the rescue — seen floating off the coast of Okinawa by an individual operating a marine leisure enterprise, in accordance with an official on the Naha Coast Guard Nago station.
The official additionally shared in a July interview that Takahashi’s physique confirmed indicators of being attacked by a marine creature, probably sharks, however the reason for loss of life was nonetheless underneath investigation.
Later, a rental automotive was found at Mermaid’s Grotto underneath the buying and selling card recreation creator’s title, permitting his household to determine his physique.
Bourgeau was nominated for the Soldier’s Medal for his rescue efforts. The medal acknowledges acts of heroism not involving precise battle with an enemy.
“Yu-Gi-Oh!” debuted in Shonen Soar journal in 1996 — rapidly exploding into an internationally acknowledged cultural icon — the place it offered greater than 40 million manga copies.
As for the buying and selling playing cards — which hit cabinets in 1999 — that quantity is nicely into the billions right this moment and continues to be a popularly performed and traded card recreation around the globe.
A TV present, video video games and plenty of different collectible gadgets quickly grew among the many franchise.
The world mourned Takahashi’s loss of life in July and once more Wednesday, with an outpouring of affection from followers and associates internationally.
A author for Crunchyroll, a preferred streaming service for Japanese anime, wrote on Twitter, “He was a hero. As soon as once more, thanks for the whole lot, Takahashi.”
“RIP Kazuki Takahashi. Your coronary heart is ceaselessly within the playing cards,” one other account tweeted.
