- Known For
- Writing
- Born
- September 3, 1936
- Place of Birth
- Kōya, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan
- Died
- October 28, 2024
Kazuo Umezu
Kazuo Umezu or Kazuo Umezz (楳図 かずお, Umezu Kazuo, birth name 楳図一雄; born September 3, 1936) is a Japanese manga artist, musician and actor. Starting his career in the 1950s, he is among the most famous artists of horror manga and has been vital for its development, considered the "god of horror manga". In 1960s shōjo manga like Reptilia, he broke the industry's conventions by combining the aesthetics of the commercial manga industry with gruesome visual imagery inspired by Japanese folktales, which created a boom of horror manga and influenced manga artists of following generations. He created successful manga series such as The Drifting Classroom, Makoto-chan and My Name Is Shingo, until he retired from drawing manga in the mid 1990s. He is also a public figure in Japan, known for wearing red-and-white-striped shirts and doing his signature "Gwash" hand gesture.
Filmography
movieKaidan. Strange Stories of Japanese Ghosts
2023 · Himself
movieMy Name is Shingo
2016 · Original Story
tv吉祥寺だけが住みたい街ですか？
2016 · Kazuo Umezu
movieTales of the Bizarre 25th Anniversary Spring Special: Popular Manga Artist Competition
2015 · Comic Book
movieWhy Horror?
2014 · Self
movieMother
2014 · Director, Screenplay
movieOrochi - Blood
2008 · Comic Book, Story
movieGu Gu, the Cat
2008 · Umezu
movieTamami: The Baby's Curse
2008 · Comic Book
movieCat-Eyed Boy
2006 · Comic Book
movieGod's Left Hand, Devil's Right Hand
2006 · , Novel
movieTokyo Zombie
2005 · Akiyama / Prince
movieKazuo Umezu's Horror Theater: Snake Girl
2005 · Original Story
movieKazuo Umezu's Horror Theater: Death Make
2005 · Original Story
movieKazuo Umezu's Horror Theater: Present
2005 · Writer, Original Story
movieKazuo Umezu's Horror Theater: The Wish
2005 · Original Story
movieKazuo Umezu's Horror Theater: Diet
2005 · Original Story
movieKazuo Umezu's Horror Theater: House of Bugs
2005 · Original Story
movieYaji & Kita: The Midnight Pilgrims
2005 · Old Man
tvGaki no Tsukai No Laughing Batsu Game
2003 · Guest
movieGozamareji
2003
tvLong Love Letter
2002 · Novel
movieBaptism of Blood
1996 · Original Story
movieDrifting School
1995 · Author
Kazuo Umezu's Terror Zone: Horror!
movieKazuo Umezu's Terror Zone: Horror!
1993 · , Comic Book
movieMonster Heaven: Ghost Hero
1990
movieThe Curse of Kazuo Umezu
1990 · Original Story
movieThe Drifting Classroom
1987 · Policeman C (special guest), Novel, Comic Book
movieMonster Heaven
1986
月曜ドラマランド 悪魔くん
movie月曜ドラマランド 悪魔くん
1986
movieEvil Heart
1985 · Writer
Umezu Kazuo no Gyaru 10 Island
movieUmezu Kazuo no Gyaru 10 Island
1983 · Himself, Director, Writer
movieMakoto-chan
1980 · , Creator, Theme Song Performance, Comic Book
tvCat-Eyed Boy
1976 · Writer, Comic Book, Creator
movieA Remodeled Beauty
1975 · Original Story
movieThe Snake Girl and the Silver-Haired Witch
1968 · Taxi Driver, Original Story
movieHoodlum Soldier
1965