Takao Saito

Takao Saito (November 3, 1936 – September 24, 2021) was a Japanese manga artist, although he rejected the term and considered his work gekiga. He was best known for Golgo 13, which has been serialized in Big Comic since 1968, making it the oldest manga still in publication. Golgo 13 holds the Guinness World Record for "Most volumes published for a single manga series" and, in accordance with Saito's wishes, it continues to be serialized following his death from pancreatic cancer in September 2021. Saito won several awards in his 66-year career, including the Shogakukan Manga Award twice, and received the Medal with Purple Ribbon and Order of the Rising Sun from the Japanese government for his contributions to the arts.