Tezuka Osamu was born on November 3, 1928, in Toyonaka, Japan, as the first child of Fumiko and Yutaka Tezuka. At the age of five, he and his family moved to the village of Kohama in Hyogo prefecture, which is now part of the city of Takarazuka.
Tezuka's early life was marked by bullying at school due to his small stature. However, his mother, a talented storyteller, would regale him with tales, and his father, a fan of comic books and animated movies, would show him films at home. This exposure would later inspire Tezuka to create story-length comics that rivaled the excitement of watching a movie.
As a child, Tezuka drew his first comic, "Bin Bin Namachan," a story about a bald-headed boy modeled after himself. He was also influenced by popular comics such as "Norakuro" and "Nakamura Manga Library." His other early works included "Kaseijin Kuru," a story about Martians, and "Fuku-chan to Uotsuri," which featured his famous character Hyotantsugi.
Tezuka's love for insects was another significant aspect of his childhood. He would often venture into the fields to study them and even drew his own encyclopedia. One day, he discovered an insect named Osamushi, which bore a resemblance to his name, and adopted it as his pen name.
As a teenager, Tezuka began to draw using pen and ink and write comics. At the age of 15, he self-published 13 books. In 1945, he entered Osaka University's medical division, but his passion for comics eventually led him to make his professional debut with the comic "Maachan no nikki-cho" in an Osaka children's newspaper.
Tezuka's breakthrough came in 1947 with the publication of "Shin Takarajima," which sold 400,000 copies. He went on to win first place at the YMCA for his piano performance and was also an active member of the university's acting club.
Tezuka's unique style, which featured three-dimensional characters and lively motion, set him apart from other artists. He continued to produce numerous works, including "Jungle Taitei" and "Tetsuwan Atom," which became a huge success.
In 1952, Tezuka passed the exam to become a practicing physician, but he ultimately chose to pursue a career in manga. He moved to the legendary Tokiwaso apartment, where he became a mentor to many young comic talents.
Tezuka married Etsuko Okada in 1959 and started his own animation production company, Tezuka Osamu Production Animation Department. He created numerous iconic works, including the animated version of "Tetsuwan Atom" and "Big X."
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Tezuka continued to produce a vast array of comics and animated series, including "Magma Taishi," "Mitsume ga tooru," and "Black Jack." However, his work load slowed down in the 1980s, and he became more of a cultural icon, attending social events and TV interviews.
Tragically, Tezuka passed away on February 9, 1989, due to stomach cancer, which was not revealed to him until shortly before his death. He left behind a legacy of over 700 stories spanning 170,000 pages, making him one of the most prolific artists in the field.
Tezuka's impact on Japanese society and culture is immeasurable. He single-handedly jump-started both the manga and anime genres, influencing countless artists and shaping the country's social culture. He will be remembered as the founding father of modern-day manga, a title that is still revered today.
