Like an eternal child, Leiji Matsumoto was always going off on imaginary adventures into outer space.
Matsumoto died on February 13, at age 85, and was made public on Monday, leaving a legacy of manga characters whose journeys will forever remain in the hearts of readers.
He portrayed them believing in their own dreams, from Maetel and Tetsuro in Ginga Tetsudo 999 Galaxy Express 999 to the title characters in Uchu Kaizoku Captain Harlock Space Pirate Captain Harlock and Queen Emeraldas.
His production company, Leijisha, announced his passing on Monday. He said that Matsumoto would often say, We can meet again in a faraway place where the rings of time touch each other. We believe those words and look forward to that day. Since making his debut more than 60 years ago, Matsumoto drew manga in a variety of genres, from the poignancy of living in a tiny 4.5 tatami-mat room to the realistic action of a battlefield, from sexy tales for adults to sci-fi adventures in outer space. Each had its own identity, making up a vast universe.
Matsumoto said in an interview in 2018 that 999, Harlock, Emeraldas and Otoko Oidon Oidon Oidon are the man. I am hoping to come up with a story with all of them together, but making it kill me, so I don't want to do it yet, he said.
In 2018 Matsumoto released what appeared to be the beginning of a work with the final installment of the Galaxy Express 999 series, called Dream Black Hall, in which Maetel and Tetsuro board the 999 on an eternal journey in search of the truth of the universe.
I'm really curious whether this is the only universe or whether there are a number of others, Matsumoto once said. What we call the other world may be another universe. If so, death is not something to be feared. It could be a sendoff into another life in another time and space. Matsumoto inspired dreams of outer space among many readers, and his death is being mourned by people from all walks of life.
I traveled in space wearing Mr. Matsumoto's Speedmaster watch, and I remember he was very happy about that, said Mamoru Mori, 75.
Through the Young Astronauts Club Japan, Matsumoto was chairperson which has the goal of going to Mars through joint international cooperation, he expressed his passion for space and helped educate youth. Machiko Satonaka, 75, current chairperson of the Japan Cartoonists Association, recalled the influence of fellow mangaka Matsumoto.
From the late 1950s to the early 1960s he contributed to girls manga magazines that inspired many girls aspiring to become mangaka who became enthralled by his sci-fi fantasies that addressed social issues, Satonaka said.
After becoming a great master with international fame, I will never forget how he helped young artist by taking up the manga copyright problem.