Gantz Creator Hiroya Oku Plans to Retire After Finishing Kanrekihime
Oku's stated retirement after Kanrekihime signals the end of a long-running career in manga, with his latest work framed as a final project.
Reporting from 1 source: Anime News Network.
Hiroya Oku, creator of Gantz, Inuyashiki, and GIGANT, said in an interview with Courrier Japon that he plans to retire after finishing his current manga Kanrekihime. He cited a lack of energy and stamina for drawing as the reason, calling the series his end-of-life preparation.
Hiroya Oku told Courrier Japon that he has decided to stop drawing after Kanrekihime, which he described as his shukatsu, or end-of-life preparation. He said the desire to create remains, but the energy and stamina required to write and draw a story are no longer there.
Kanrekihime launched in Shogakukan's Big Comic Superior in December 2025, and its first compiled volume shipped on May 29. Oku said the old men in the story reflect him and his production team.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.