Fans of manga will undoubtedly be familiar with the legendary artist Masakazu Katsura, whose iconic 90s works like "Video Girl Ai," "I"s," and "Shadow Lady" left an indelible mark. His first full-length serialized work in years, "Wingman," even got a well-received live-action drama adaptation in 2024.
Recently, a buzz on X (formerly Twitter) in Japan crowned "Masakazu Katsura as the strongest butt artist in manga," sparking a wave of nostalgia for his classic depictions. Katsura himself jumped into the fray, sharing several of his "buttocks" illustrations on his own X account, igniting a fiery discussion among netizens.
The whole thing kicked off on the 16th when young artist Tanukichi posted, "I heard Masakazu Katsura-sensei draws the strongest butts in manga, so who's the strongest chest artist?"
While the question was about chests, the consensus on Katsura-sensei being the "strongest butt artist" was almost unanimous. Even after decades in the industry, many agree that virtually no one can rival his mastery in this particular domain.
Many netizens commented that while preferences for "chest artists" might vary, when it comes to butts, Masakazu Katsura stands alone as a true artist. His dedication and precision are mind-boggling, especially in how he captures the subtle indentations of underwear on flesh, or how he can make a pair of pants reveal an alluring form.
This recent buzz prompted Katsura-sensei to post on X himself, simply writing, "Drawing little by little." He then shared another incredibly realistic illustration, once again showcasing his delicate and masterful artistic prowess.
Katsura later explained that this particular series isn't about vibrant, lively colors; instead, he deliberately darkens the background. "I intentionally drew it so it wouldn't immediately scream 'buttocks,' but rather appear more like a silhouette, almost photographic," he wrote. This gives the whole piece a more artistic vibe, which he hoped would prevent it from being perceived as overly erotic. His initial thought? "I really want to print this image on a T-shirt!"
Nowadays, he's a bit more casual about it. If he feels like drawing a butt, he just draws it, though he still maintains that artistic flair in his work. Essentially, he's just enjoying his hobby, drawing little by little.
The artwork immediately blew up online, with countless netizens exclaiming, "I genuinely thought it was a real photo, I almost dropped my phone!" "It looks exactly like a real shot." "That butt shape is just gorgeous." "Thank you, God of Butts!" "The layering of shadows is so intricate, it's like you can tell the exact lighting position and distance – absolutely insane!"
Even at 63, Masakazu Katsura frequently shares glimpses of his drawing process on social media. It's truly amazing to see how the artist, dubbed the "strongest butt" for decades, continues to wield such an artistic hand and deliver stunning works that leave everyone in awe. XD