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Gantz Creator Hiroya Oku Plans to Retire After Finishing Kanrekihime Manga
posted on by Alex Mateo
"No, this is it. I've made up my mind. To be honest, I just don't have the energy to keep drawing anymore.The desire to create is still there. But coming up with a story, drawing it, and keeping that process going — all of it takes an enormous amount of energy and stamina. I just don't have the energy to do that anymore."
He also referred to his latest manga Kanrekihime as his shūkatsu (end-of-life preparation), and stated that the old men in the story reflect him and his production team.
Oku launched the Kanrekihime (The Sweet Sixty Princess) manga in Shogakukan's Big Comic Superior magazine in December 2025. Shogakukan published the manga's first compiled book volume on May 29.
Oku's Gantz manga ran from 2000 to 2013. The manga inspired a television anime, a CG anime film, two Japanese live-action films, and two spinoff manga. Dark Horse Comics released the manga in North America. Oku launched the GANTZ:E historical spinoff manga with artist Jin Kagetsu in January 2020. Shueisha's Jump TOON vertical-scrolling manga service launched a new vertical-scrolling full-color edition of the manga titled GANTZ: T in July 2025. A Hollywood live-action adaptation of the manga was announced in November 2021.
Oku ended his Inuyashiki manga series in its 10th volume in September 2017. Kodansha USA Publishing releases the manga in North America in print, and Crunchyroll released the series digitally. The manga's anime adaptation premiered in October 2017, and it streamed on Amazon's Anime Strike service. A live-action film adaptation opened in Japan in April 2018.
Oku launched the GIGANT manga in Big Comic Superior in December 2017, and it ended in 2021.
Source: Courrier Japon (Kozumo Nagahashi)
