Buichi Terasawa, a renowned Japanese manga artist, was born in 1955 in the northernmost island of Hokkaido, Japan. In 1976, he made the bold decision to relocate to Tokyo, driven by his passion for the art of manga and a desire to hone his skills under the guidance of the legendary Osamu Tezuka.
It was during this period that Terasawa's creative genius began to flourish, as he published his magnum opus, the iconic Space Adventure Cobra, in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine from 1978 to 1984. This critically acclaimed manga series followed the enigmatic Cobra, a man with the extraordinary ability to transform his left arm into a deadly firearm, as he navigated a treacherous landscape of authorities and nefarious forces, shrouded in mystery due to his troubled past.
Over three decades later, Terasawa reignited his creative spark by launching the sequel manga Cobra: Over the Rainbow on Kadokawa's Comic Walker and Nico Nico Manga websites in November 2019. This bold move demonstrated his unwavering dedication to his craft, as well as his ability to adapt to the ever-evolving landscape of the manga industry.
In the intervening years, Terasawa continued to push the boundaries of his art, experimenting with innovative techniques and mediums. In 1987, he launched the Goku - Midnight Eye manga, a testament to his boundless creativity and artistic vision. During the 1980s, he began utilizing computers to create his manga, a pioneering move that paved the way for future generations of manga artists.
Terasawa's impressive body of work also includes the Kabuto and Black Knight Bat manga, as well as the groundbreaking Takeru manga, widely regarded as the first comic book series to incorporate computer graphics. This trailblazing achievement cemented his status as a true visionary and innovator in the world of manga.
Tragically, Buichi Terasawa's life was cut short when he passed away on September 8th, 2023, due to a heart attack. His untimely passing leaves behind a legacy of groundbreaking work, a testament to his unwavering passion and dedication to the art of manga.
