Best known for GANTZ, Inuyashiki, and GIGANT, veteran cartoonist Hiroya Oku has spent more than three decades in the industry. He had previously revealed in a media interview that retirement was already on his mind.
On October 12, Oku officially announced on his personal X account that he will retire as a cartoonist after completing his latest series, The SWEET Sixty Princess, currently serialized in Big Comic Superior. He said he has been drawing long enough and that the time has come to stop.
“I’ve drawn enough, so I’ll retire after The SWEET Sixty Princess!” Oku wrote on X. His post also featured the works he has created throughout his career, including Hen, HEN, 01 ZERO ONE, GANTZ, Me-teru no Kimochi, Inuyashiki, GIGANT, and The SWEET Sixty Princess.
In fact, Oku had already discussed his decision in an earlier interview with a Kodansha media outlet:
This is enough. I just don’t have the energy to draw Manga anymore. It’s not that I’ve completely lost the desire to create, but developing a story, drawing it, and continuing that process over time all demand an enormous amount of mental and physical energy.
I simply don’t have the strength to do all of that anymore. The SWEET Sixty Princess is my way of wrapping up my life as a cartoonist. The older men in the story reflect creators like myself. I’m drawing this Manga to show readers how the older man chosen as its protagonist will live his life. There won’t be any aliens or UFOs, but I hope everyone will stay with it until the end.
The sudden declaration prompted one fan to reply, “If you ever feel inspired, I’d still be happy to see the occasional short story, even if it’s only published irregularly.” Oku, however, made his feelings perfectly clear: “Please, just let me retire for real this time...”
After such a long career, many fans have grown up reading Oku’s work. Responses to his retirement announcement have largely been filled with well-wishes and gratitude for the Manga that has accompanied readers through so many years.
When another user asked how many volumes The SWEET Sixty Princess was expected to run, or whether he already had a rough plan in place, Oku replied, “Probably around 10 volumes.”
Two collected volumes of The SWEET Sixty Princess have been published so far. Based on Oku’s estimate, the series still has some way to go before reaching its conclusion. By then, perhaps he may feel differently—but for now, his decision appears clear.