Shigeru Mizuki

A Japanese mangaka illustrator and a leading researcher in youkai painting and youkai research. Although born in Osaka he was raised in Sakaiminato City Tottori Prefecture. In 1943 during World War II he joined army as a soldier under New Guinea Front Rabaul. After many harsh war experiences he lost his left arm in an attack by the US. He debuted in 1958 with his work Rocketman. From 1960 he started releasing one of his most famous works GeGeGe no Kitaro series. For a while he worked for rental magazines until 1964 when he debuted for his first commercial magazine i.e Garo. As a youkai researcher he has served as president of the World Youkai Association a member of the Japanese Folklore Society and a member of the Council of the Folk Art Society.