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Dan Doh!! Artist Daichi Banjou Discusses Struggle with Cancer

DAN DOH!! artist Daichi Banjou reported on his current struggle with cancer on social media last Wednesday, “My PET [Positron Emission Tomography] scan detected several cancerous recurrences after my surgery. (T^T)” Banjou added that further surgeries were not a practical option, and he will have to decide whether to undergo chemotherapy. However, the manga artist lamented that the cancer patients he knew who had underwent chemotherapy all still fell ill and passed away.

The manga illustrator added that he hopes his life would continue without any major issues. Banjou noted one set of cancerous cells are near a “dangerous area” and if left untreated would lead to difficulties. He further wrote, “But since I'm struggling with post-op pain and difficult rehabilitation, if I remain hospitalized and battle the side effects, I'll run out of energy to draw manga.”

On the pain following his surgery, Banjou said, “I don't want to experience the excruciating pain I felt after my cancer surgery.” He also emphasized he is less scared of dying than experiencing that level of pain again: “Do you understand? Those hellish weeks of sleepless nights because I was suffering agonizing pain. (⌒-⌒;)”

Banjou ended his post by lamenting, “I did all I could, but it returned. But I'll keep fighting on.” The manga artist then likened his life to manga: “No one can replace me as the main character in my own life. You can't let your life be canceled partway through serialization,” Banjou wrote. He concluded he would choose a life with the least amount of suffering.

Banjou made a second post to express his gratitude to fans for their words of encouragement and support. “When I was told I have cancer at the hospital, even my spirit took a little damage. But my spirit recovered thanks to everyone's kind words,” the manga artist wrote. He ended his post by thanking his fans and supporters.

As of press time, Banjou's two posts has received over 5,000 likes, over 900 reposts, and 196 comments.

Banjou announced he had been diagnosed with cancer on social media in May 2020. In that initial post, the illustrator wrote, “I checked the symptoms on several sites, and they all point to colon cancer. I will get tested by a physician soon.” In a followup post, Banjou stated he was diagnosed with cancer and needed surgery.

Days after Banjou revealed his diagnosis, Shogakukan's Shōnen Sunday S magazine announced his Gundam manga series, Mobile Suit Gundam Aggressor, would go on hiatus while Banjou underwent treatment. Banjou resumed the manga series in September 2020.

Banjou and writer Nobuhiro Sakata created the golf manga series DAN DOH!! in 1995 and serialized it in Shogakukan's Weekly Shonen Sunday magazine until 2000. The series inspired an anime series in 2004. Bandai Entertainment released the anime series in North America.

Banjou then serialized Mobile Suit Gundam: Hunter of Black Clothes (Kidō Senshi Gundam: Kokui no Kariudo) or iterally, Mobile Suit Gundam: The Hunters in Black) in Shōnen Sunday S in 2012. The series ended in 2013.

Banjou launched Mobile Suit Gundam Aggressor in Shōnen Sunday Sin October 2014.

Sources: Daichi Banjou's X/Twitter account (link 2, link 3), Suponichi, Shogakukan's website via Hachima Kikō