Yokusaru Shibata
Description
Yokusaru Shibata is a Japanese manga artist and creator known for his work on several long-running series, often with a focus on action, specialized competitions, and passionate fandom. He was born on July 1, 1972, in Rubeshibe, Hokkaido, Japan.
Shibata began his career in the manga industry after moving to Tokyo following high school, where he worked as an assistant to established artists such as Makoto Kobayashi, Harold Sakuishi, and Jun Watanabe. He made his debut in 1992 with a series titled Tanikamen.
His first major success and best-known work is Air Master, a series about a former gymnast who engages in street fighting. Air Master was serialized for a number of years and was adapted into a television anime in 2003. Another of his notable series is 81diver, which focuses on the world of professional shogi. This manga was adapted into a live-action television drama in 2008. Shibata has cited his own childhood interest in becoming a professional shogi player as an influence on this work.
Shibata is the creator of the manga Tōjima Tanzaburō wa Kamen Rider ni Naritai, which is serialized with the cooperation of Toei and Ishimori Productions. The series began publication in Hero's Inc. Monthly Hero's magazine in May 2018. When that magazine ceased publication in October 2020, the series was moved to the Comiplex website. As of 2025, the manga is ongoing with over fifteen collected volumes. An anime television series adaptation produced by Liden Films is scheduled to premiere in 2025.
Several recurring themes and interests can be observed across Shibata's body of work. His early involvement in an amateur wrestling club in high school is reflected in the physical combat depicted in Air Master. His personal interest in shogi informed the narrative of 81diver. A prominent theme in his recent work is a deep enthusiasm for tokusatsu and superhero media, which serves as the foundation for the plot of Tōjima Tanzaburō wa Kamen Rider ni Naritai. This interest in passionate devotion to a specific subject is a common thread throughout his career.
Shibata began his career in the manga industry after moving to Tokyo following high school, where he worked as an assistant to established artists such as Makoto Kobayashi, Harold Sakuishi, and Jun Watanabe. He made his debut in 1992 with a series titled Tanikamen.
His first major success and best-known work is Air Master, a series about a former gymnast who engages in street fighting. Air Master was serialized for a number of years and was adapted into a television anime in 2003. Another of his notable series is 81diver, which focuses on the world of professional shogi. This manga was adapted into a live-action television drama in 2008. Shibata has cited his own childhood interest in becoming a professional shogi player as an influence on this work.
Shibata is the creator of the manga Tōjima Tanzaburō wa Kamen Rider ni Naritai, which is serialized with the cooperation of Toei and Ishimori Productions. The series began publication in Hero's Inc. Monthly Hero's magazine in May 2018. When that magazine ceased publication in October 2020, the series was moved to the Comiplex website. As of 2025, the manga is ongoing with over fifteen collected volumes. An anime television series adaptation produced by Liden Films is scheduled to premiere in 2025.
Several recurring themes and interests can be observed across Shibata's body of work. His early involvement in an amateur wrestling club in high school is reflected in the physical combat depicted in Air Master. His personal interest in shogi informed the narrative of 81diver. A prominent theme in his recent work is a deep enthusiasm for tokusatsu and superhero media, which serves as the foundation for the plot of Tōjima Tanzaburō wa Kamen Rider ni Naritai. This interest in passionate devotion to a specific subject is a common thread throughout his career.
Works
- Topics: Anime overview