Shigeru Mizuki, the acclaimed Japanese manga artist best known for his spooky and delightful yōkai (supernatural creatures) manga series GeGeGe no Kitaro, will be inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Awards Hall of Fame in 2025. This prestigious honor recognizes Mizuki’s significant contributions to the world of comics and graphic storytelling.
Shigeru Mizuki: Master of Yōkai and War Narratives
Shigeru Mizuki (1922-2015), born Shigeru Mura in Osaka, Japan, was a prolific manga artist and historian. He is celebrated for popularizing yōkai through his manga, most notably GeGeGe no Kitaro, which began as a kamishibai (storycard theater) piece called Kitaro of the Graveyard in 1960.
Beyond yōkai, Mizuki was lauded for his war stories, often drawn from his own experiences as a soldier in the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II, where he lost his left arm.
Early Life and the Horrors of War
Mizuki’s childhood nickname was “Gege,” which he gave himself as a toddler struggling to pronounce his own name. His early life in Sakaiminato, Tottori Prefecture, and wartime experiences profoundly shaped his artistic vision.
GeGeGe no Kitaro: A Cultural Phenomenon
GeGeGe no Kitaro centers around Kitaro, a one-eyed yōkai boy who navigates the human and spirit worlds, solving supernatural problems. The manga’s success led to numerous anime adaptations, live-action films, and video games, cementing its place in Japanese popular culture.
Autobiographical Works and Historical Insight
Mizuki’s autobiographical works, such as Showa: A History of Japan, offer a unique perspective on 20th-century Japanese history, blending personal narrative with historical events.
The Eisner Hall of Fame: Recognizing Comics Excellence
The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, often called the “Oscars” of the comic book industry, celebrate creative achievements in American comic books. Named after pioneering cartoonist Will Eisner, the awards have been presented annually at San Diego Comic-Con since 1988.
A Prestigious Honor
The Eisner Awards recognize outstanding work in over 30 categories, including the Hall of Fame, which honors individuals for their significant and lasting contributions to the medium.
Hall of Fame Selection
The Eisner Hall of Fame inductees are chosen through a two-step process. First, a panel of judges selects a number of automatic inductees. Then, the judges nominate a slate of candidates from which comics industry professionals vote to select additional inductees. To be eligible, a person’s first professional work must have occurred at least 35 years prior to the award year.
Mizuki’s Place Among Manga Legends
Mizuki joins a distinguished list of Japanese manga artists previously inducted into the Eisner Hall of Fame, including:
- Osamu Tezuka (2002)
- Kazuo Koike (2004)
- Goseki Kojima (2004)
- Katsuhiro Otomo (2012)
- Rumiko Takahashi (2018)
- Moto Hagio (2022)
- Keiji Nakazawa (2024)
Mizuki’s Enduring Legacy
Shigeru Mizuki’s induction into the Eisner Hall of Fame is a testament to his extraordinary talent, his profound influence on the manga world, and his ability to blend the fantastical with the historical. His yōkai stories and war narratives continue to captivate and resonate with audiences worldwide.
