News
KochiKame Creator Osamu Akimoto Wins Japan's Medal with Purple Ribbon
posted on by Crystalyn Hodgkins
The Japanese government announced on Saturday that manga creator Suicide Club), were selected to receive the award this month.
Kyodo News posted a video of a press conference where Akimoto talked about accepting the award.
Akimoto (66) launched the Weekly Shonen Jump's longest-running manga series.
The manga series had approximately 150 million copies in print as of June 2016 when the 199th volume shipped. The manga has inspired a television anime series, anime films, anime specials, live-action films, a live-action series, and several stage plays. Akimoto then launched four new manga after Kochikame ended.
Past recipients of the honor include:
- Manga creator Shigeru Mizuki in 1991
- Fujio Akatsuka in 1998
- Isao Takahata in 1999
- Manga creator Leiji Matsumoto in 2001
- Manga creator Tetsuya Chiba in 2002
- Composer and Studio Ghibli's frequent collaborator in 2009
- in 2010
- Manga creator Ryohei Saigan in 2010
- Manga creator in 2012
- Manga creator and anime director in 2013
- Manga creator in 2014
- Anime director in 2018
received a Medal with Blue Ribbon in 2013. The medal is "awarded to individuals who have made prosperous efforts in the areas of public welfare and education."
Sources: YouTube channel via Hachima Kikō
