Messages to Kentarou Miura: Satoru Akahori (1)

This post is now available to Bronze & Silver patrons.


The heavens had coveted him.

He always wore a smile. He was a gentle person.
But everybody knew the vehemence that was something like a madness in him.
I’m not exaggerating; how much flame, anger, conflict and nervousness would he need to have inside to create the work that changed this world!

Genius, gifted, whiz, incomparably first-rate, super-mangaka or drawing monster. Which expression would be suitable? No, I know that all of them are. Nonetheless, the familiar word that came to my mind was “greatness”, which made me want to say “beyond awesome!”.
This being so, the size of our loss appalls me.

Seeing the tone of public opinions (about him), it may be misleading. Because of the finesse of his work, because of his being stoic, they guessed that he only shut himself up in his workshop, doing nothing but face his work as if he had lived in a prison, without celebrating any holidays like the Bon festival (1) or New Year’s Day.
It’s not true.

I wouldn’t want to keep company to such an ordinary genius. Of course, before a deadline, like a scene of carnage, he must have been under so much pressure that he might have gone crazy. But, other than that, he was a real cool guy with a plump purse, who drank much and talked much. Not to mention manga, he had a deep and extensive knowledge of subcultures including animation, games, etc. When I met him first, I was surprised to learn that he had been mastering “Sakura Wars”. I was like “how could he have enough time?!”

General note: In contrast to Takashi Hoshi’s tribute, which had a “rambling” quality to it, Satoru Akahori speaks in a poetic manner. It can’t really be conveyed in English.

Note 1: 盆 (bon) is a traditional Japanese holiday celebrated in the Fall and that takes place under the full moon. Equivalents of it are celebrated throughout Asia.