October 4, 1961
Tokyo, Japan
Shonen Jump, 1991
23 millions books all over the world

During March 17-20, 2005, Kazuki Takahashi visited Leipzig, Germany. He signed his autograph with Yugi image for many fans. Read further information

Postscript in comic vol. 38
Translated by Athena

"For any given assistance, thank you very much "

After spending over 7 years on "Yu-Gi-Oh", I feel I have been able to write all the themes I wanted to express, but whether they have been well conveyed to my readers remains my honest concern.

From the time he put together the Millenium Puzzle, Yugi has had "another self." I believe that the reason why this series continued for so long was that it was necessary to take that time to close the distance between the main character's two hearts.

In our everyday lives, we are unable to see ourselves, except in front of a mirror. And even the mirror cannot reflect back what is in our hearts. The main character of this story had to eventually find the courage to face himself and his heart.

As we live on, we meet people, see them and face them in various situations and learn from them. We at times bring people joy, or pain; we may agree with others or quarrel with them. And through such interactions, we begin to understand that people or ways of thinking are never one-sided. You may think that such a thought is obvious, but I wrote this story precisely because I wanted to express that link between people...through "games."

The characters in my story engage in games - never through facing a monitor, but rather by facing others. In one's opponent, one's own heart is reflected. Guided by one rule, each must battle against the other's will. Because this was a manga, I explored a colorful world of good against evil, but I believe the true nature of "games" is to define the link between people. I believe that is the reason why the "Yu-Gi-Oh" card game became such a success throughout the world.

The "Yu-Gi-Oh" within me has come to an end. However, my work and cards have been picked up by so many people throughout the world, that I gratefully wish to continue expanding the world for "Yu-Gi-Oh" for just a little while longer.

I would like to take the space here at the end of the book to give a heart-felt thanks to everybody who has supported this work.

April 14, 2004
Kazuki Takahashi

Postscript in comic vol. 37
Translated by Janime

Yu Gi Oh was created and finished completely and perfectly. I think that I have already done what I would love to do. Card then becomes the main plot of the story. People all have two minds inside themselves such light and darkness, evil or goodness, or anger or kindness. A pendulum influences those minds to move on. People's fight always faces problems. Those people who can stand them are presented in a duel pattern. We had better let the pendulum swing following its own rhythm, and everything will be fine. That is the strength of the main character of this story.

Postscript in comic vol. 36
Translated by Janime

I would like to describe briefly my background of becoming a manga artist. My first masterpiece, which I drew when I was 19, was luckily selected to be published in a Boshonen magazine. So, it was my successful openning. After that, I was in such a difficult time. No matter how hard I tried, my works still weren't published. I moved back and forther at the publishing studio for 10 years. Then, Yu Gi Oh was published in Jump for 7 years until today. Ummm, I think that a life isn't bad that much. If we don't lose attempt, we may be better in one day.

Postscript in comic vol. 35
Translated by Janime

This summer, there was Yu Gi Oh World Championship in New York. There were more than 10,000 audiences. People enjoyed cheering the tournament of the duelists. My work has been published for 7 years. I've just realized that Yu Gi Oh has also been published in more than 30 countries all over the world. It finally becomes an oversea masterpiece that gives people fun and entertainment. I feel very thankful to people. In spring of the next year, I intend to travel around the world to see Yu Gi Oh in oversea by sight.

Postscript in comic vol. 34
Translated by Janime

Last day, I had a chance to talk to Sawai Sensei, a comic comedy artist, at the Jump party. He was such a hard-working and serious person that I couldn't help thinking how he could create funny work. Anyway, after reveiving, I see that the comedy story is something that we change daily activities into irrational issues. Also, we have to leave any common sense out off our heads. In other words, to write a comedy story, we have to eliminate irrational story and common sense. Personally, I think that the comedy artists are such great persons. Ah..in fact, I also have no common sense and am an irrational guy (Laughing).

Postscript in comic vol. 33
Translated by Janime

March 20, 2003, the war began on the other side of the world. No matter how good the reasons are, I strongly disagree to killing and hurting people. In the future, although it may be an era that we may not live, we hope to see human beings living together in peace without race or territory dispute.

Postscript in comic vol. 32
Translated by Janime

I compare drawing to taking a plane. I feel that there are something in common. For example, it is difficult when the plane will take off. If we don't have enough power, we can't fly into the sky. However, when the plane moves into proper wind current, it can go on smoothly. Also, when we have a meal on a narrow seat and then when can't move anywhere, it is very boring. After that, the final difficulty is when the plane is landing. "Pharaoh's Memory Series" that will start from this book is similar to the period when the plane is going to land. I hope it will land smoothly.

Postscript in comic vol. 31
Translated by Janime

When I started drawing Battle City, there was a project to create the second time of anime Yu Gi Oh. Story and plot were set longer than that planned. Yet, for the past three years, anime has been chasing after me. Characters'movement in TV, anime producers, voice dubbers all affect my original work. Also, they make me feel that Yu Gi Oh gets such good support from everybody.

Postscript in comic vol. 30
Translated by Janime

Vol. 30! I have been drawing for around 6 years. I feel very proud of myself that I can work for such a long time. At first, I never thought that I wrote the story of Yu Gi Oh about card game. It took me a night to set up rules of the card game from the beginning to the end. They finally become my good sources and guidesto work on the story line. Anyway, I also have to thank everybody who supports Yu Gi Oh. Thank you very much.

Postscript in comic vol. 29
Translated by Janime

When I was in an elementary school, there was a rental book store near to my house. Everyday, I went there to rent some comic books and then read them before going to bed. I sometime read more than 10 books in a day. One day, I found that "This comic is bad. The line art face of the main character has been changed from what it ever was in vol. 1 ". When time has passed, I went back to read Yu Gi Oh vol. 1. Then I found that Yugi's face was also different from the current one. As a result, my childhood doubt is finally cleared. Yugi is also growing up.

Postscript in comic vol. 28
Translated by Janime

This event occurred when I was in the first year of a junior high shcool. "W" was my class teacher and he seemed unfriendly to me. Then he turned to me and said to all of my classmates, "Takahashi! you merely eat, defecate and sleep. You are a machine producing shit!". All of my friends in class laughed very loudly, so did I. Yet, I still held my hand tightly and thought, "Should I punch this squid?". Can the machine producing shit create comic!!? (Angry). As a result, I decided to be a comic artist.

Postscript in comic vol. 27
Translated by Janime

I have a habbit. If it isn't close to deadline, I won't work. I usually take a rest and relax as long as the deadline hasn't come yet. Sleep, eat, drink and go back to sleep again. When the deadline comes, I always think, "Why didn't I start my work early? Why didn't I create any idea at first?". When my work is finished, I will repeat my ordinary activities. I think that I've already got familiar with them.

Postscript in comic vol. 26
Translated by Janime

This is my weekly work schedule.
Monday - Have a rest
Tuesday - I am usually inattentive, thinking about what I should draw next. I will start by the title of an episode.
Wednesday - Having finished creating the title, I set up a staff meeting and listen to the editor's opinion.
Thursday - I start drafting and draw line arts with help of my staffs.
Friday-Sunday - We help together to complete the episode.

Postscript in comic vol. 25
Translated by Janime

When I was in an elementary school, there was an old guy showing a paper play near to my house. When the school was over, I usually came first to reserve the best seat for the play. Then I enjoyed sitting and waiting for the show. Also, I thought that the paper play was exactly the old guy's drawings. One day, I was so curious that I followed the old guy riding a bicycle to go home. Yet, he rode too fast for me to follow. Coming back, I though that the old guy might be an inspiration of my career as a comic artist.

Postscript in comic vol. 24
Translated by Janime

A person can't definitely alone create a comic. First, we have to create the title of the comic (Comic's plan). Then we consider the story line, set up team and draw briefly story boards. Then I start drawing characters and monsters while my staffs put in backgrounds and line arts. Finally, the work is completely finished. If I alone had done everything, I wouldn't have finished my work on the weekly magazine.

Postscript in comic vol. 23
Translated by Janime

I have never brought mobile phone with me. If I do, the editor will be able to catch me where I am. While walking around in the city or seeing my friends, I feel that it is my private time. Yet, I usually hear these words in my mind, "Hurry to send your work! This is not time to take a rest or have fun!". Ahhh...I would like to have more fun. Please, anybody,...help me! Ha ha! I think that I've come up with a new character; an ugly character residing inside Malik is appearing.

Postscript in comic vol. 22
Translated by Janime

Among letters from fans sent to me, there are numerous monster pictures they create by themselves. Those images are very beautiful (I couldn't draw these pictures by their ages). When I design a monster, I have to refer to a character that plays it. Good mind, bad mind, generous mind are all basics of monster creation. Is a monster in your mind smart and strong?

Postscript in comic vol. 21
Translated by Janime

My top ten cards
1. Blue Eyes White Dragon (No explanation for this monster)
2. Black Magician (Real actor)
3. Kuribo (Its eyes look pity)
4. Red Eyes Black Dragon (What a cool monster!)
5. Panther Warrior
6. Buster Raider (People usually use it for commercial advertisement and promotion)
7. Black Magician Girl (Woman is rare)
8. Exodia (This comes from a legend of god)
9. Time Magician (This is actual magic card)
10. Kia Warrior (I am lazy to write)

Postscript in comic vol. 20
Translated by Janime

Wow! Vol. 20! I have been working Yu Gi Oh for 4 years. At first, I intended to write at least 5 books. Anyway, I have never imagined that I can write it for long. This is because support from readers. In fact, I have already set up the ending scene of Yu Gi Oh. However, I think that it may take such a long time to reach there. By the way, I hope everything will run smoothly.

Postscript in comic vol. 19
Translated by Janime

If we talk about fun and interest of game card in comic, I can say that the more dispute there occurs in real game, the more power of card a player can obtain. Then the game is more fun. However, because we need the main character to win his opponent in comic at the end of the game, I have to break balance. As a result, I have to change some detail and information in cards. Forgive me!

Postscript in comic vol. 18
Translated by Janime

"Another personality hidden inside..." This is a heart of "Yu Gi Oh". Anyway, the character in the comic may be another personality inside my mind or the creator's mind. Yugi, Jyonouchi, Kaiba.., Pegasus, Mai, Ushio, Insector Haga, Esper Roba and many monsters are all in my mind. So, what specie of human am I?

Postscript in comic vol. 17
Translated by Janime

One day, my friend told me, "Previous day, I asked a card player for teaching me how to play card". Then the guy replied, "Hi! If you would like to know, give me 10,000 cards". When I heard about this story, I felt very angry. Anyway, I think that I can use this personality in my character. That is why Kaiba Seto is created. I hope everybody is friendly to people and cards.

Postscript in comic vol. 16
Translated by Janime

At first, I created drafts of many comics. Because they were boy comics, I had to write about "Battle". Thinking about fighting, I couldn't come up with any new idea. Finally, I set up "The battle that the main character goes to fight against the opponent directly". This was such a complicate line for me. However, when I found out a key term "Game", my future was once openned. This was the origin of Yu Gi Oh.

Postscript in comic vol. 15
Translated by Janime

Three years have passed since I first drew Yu Gi Oh. The longest series, Duelist Kingdom, is in this book. Anyway, I haven't felt that I expressed impression of card game. The battle between Yugi and Kaiba haven't been finished yet. When they meet each other again, I feel very excited by how their game will be.... Well, have fun with this series!

Postscript in comic vol. 14
Translated by Janime

Have you ever faced some scary story? My fear isn't about spirit experience but it is "Haunted Hose" (How embrassing!) at Shart street in Florida. There is the most scary haunted hose located on. Walking in deep darkness, I always felt frightened despite the fact that I knew that they were all actors with special face design. They almost drove me crazy. It also took me more than 30 mins. If you have some chance, don't forget to try testing your sense.

Postscript in comic vol. 13
Translated by Janime

This comic has been published for more than 2 years. There are both game cards and computer games available on sale. Yet, I still have to sit at my desk and have no chance to see my friends playing. I prefer seeing people enjoying and playing real card game. If Yu Gi Oh can provide fun or entertainment for at least one or many people, I will feel very happy to create it.

Postscript in comic vol. 12
Translated by Janime

Do you have some Yu Gi Oh cards? Of course, I must have some. When I returned to my home time, I intended to show cards to my family. Anyway, my dad also had them. Then everybody told me, "At a card machine, when we turn a button to the right, a card comes out". I still heard that they took a bus to buy some cards at a nearby village. Please...dad, you are too old to buy cards...!

Postscript in comic vol. 11
Translated by Janime

Yu Gi Oh now becomes card comic. There are many monsters coming out. Reveiwing carefully, I can't stand seeing some monster design (But a combination of monsters in this book is not bad). Yet, there are many that I am please with. So, I will continue trying my best...

Postscript in comic vol. 10
Translated by Janime

I first drew comic in Jump 8 years ago. Before that, I had worked in a game company. Because I would like to draw comic, I created work of 100 pages. Then I sent 200 postcards to the head editor. After that, I went to knock door at the publishing company and had an interview with the editor T. When the editor T first saw the number of pages, his face didn't look good. However, when he read all of them, he understood that I would like to write the story about the battle. Finally, I came to work in Jump and created the duel story of Yu Gi Oh.

Postscript in comic vol. 9
Translated by Janime

I think that a person may have another personality inside himself. Another personality may be waiting for coming out. In case he is strongly forced by parents or societies or receives too much hope from people, he may not be able to stand and explode it out in a day. Then he may lose his real personality and another unexpected personality may appear instead. I think that we had better run our lives normally after doctors.

Postscript in comic vol. 8
Translated by Janime

When this book is released, anime Yu Gi Oh has finally been released. When I knew that it was going to be the anime, I felt happy and anxious a little bit. I was uncertain how good the story would be when it became anime on TV. So, I went to the studio production and felt very glad because of good team staffs. Seiyuu (Voice dubbers) were really professional. They not only dubbed  for anime's characters but added their lives inside them. I was very impressed.

Postscript in comic vol.7
Translated by Janime

I wrongly wrote "Jyonouchi" in Jump vol. 6 from what I set before. Forgive me! This is totally my fault. Please forgive me. From now on, please go on reading the story in this book (Stupid Artist).

Postscript in comic vol.6
Translated by Janime

This was a story when I went buying something outside in a day. When I finished buying, I went to Pa-Chin-Ko. Then I paid too much attention there until I just found out that my bad was gone. In the bag, there were my purse and notebook with comic information. If someone saw my comic notebook, I felt very ashamed. Dam! Give me my notebook back, the theif! So, I totally forgot information in the notebook.

Postscript in comic vol. 5

Postscript in comic vol. 4

Postscript in comic vol. 3

Postscript in comic vol. 2

Finally, it has reached vol.2. Before I wrote this story, I went to gather information in Egypt. The most impresive thing in Egypt was personalities of Egyptian that look friendly. When I had a chance to talk to Egyptian with that kind of smile, I couldn't stand buying the stone that I hadn't expected to buy, riding a donkey that I hadn't want to do even buying some pictures that I had been forced to buy. However, when I saw those smiles, I would like to forgive them all.

Postscript in comic vol. 1

Yes! The Yu Gi Oh graphic novel's been released! For all of you who've purchased this, thank you so much and for those of you who are borrowing it from your friends, please buy one! It must sound weired for the artist to be saying this, but I think that Yu Gi Oh is hind of a stange story that centered around "The mysterious" . In everyday likfe, before I realized it, I ended up incorporating this and that so many different things. I hope you all become good friends of Yugi, Jyoonouchi , and Anzu