This is sad news that shakes this Tuesday morning. Kazuo Umezualso nicknamed Kazuo Umezz, died at the age of 88.
His death occurred on October 28, but the announcement was made this morning on various Japanese media.
(Credit photo: Yu-chan, manager de Kazuo Umezu)
Born in September 1936, Kazuo Umezu began his career as a mangaka at the age of 19, in the 1950s. A particularly rich career since the author navigated between genres, but distinguished himself as one of the masters of manga of horror. He notably signed The snake woman, Orochi, Baptism, I am Shingoor even The school taken awayhis most popular work. Also, Kazuo Umezu has never stopped pushing the limits of his art. Thus, in 2022, it was during an exhibition dedicated to him that the artist revealed Zoku-Shingoa sequel to his famous I am Shingo which took the form of 101 acrylic paintings. In 2018, it was Je suis Shingo which allowed the author to win the Heritage Prize at the Angoulême International Comic Strip Festival. Convinced of the artistic significance of his mangas, the master left us leaving one final wish: that his works be shared and read throughout the world.
In our regions, Glénat was a pioneer by publishing Kazuo Umezu in 2004 with L’école swept (reissued since 2021) then Baptism. From 2015, it was Le Lézard Noir which put the artist back in the spotlight with a succession of publications started by The Insect Houses. Currently, the Poitevin publisher is publishing The left hand of God, the right hand of the Devilof which 2 of the 4 volumes are available.
It is therefore a very big name in manga who is leaving us. We send our condolences to Kazuo Umezu’s loved ones but also to his fans and readers.
