[Japanese Side] Did He Leave to Meet Maetel... Galaxy Express 999 Original Creator Matsumoto Reiji

Passed away at 85... A Great Legacy in the History of Comics
The Dream of Drawing Earth from Space Remained Unfulfilled

Editor's NoteJapan, a country close yet far away. Many have heard the name but wonder who these figures are. An international department reporter covering Japanese news introduces notable Japanese figures who made headlines over the past week, along with related stories.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jin-young] “When the train breaks through the darkness and crosses the Milky Way”

Many of you may feel your hearts flutter just hearing this song. This week, we bring you the news of the passing of Leiji Matsumoto (松本零士), the original creator of "Galaxy Express 999," which was wildly popular as a TV animation in Korea during the 1980s.

Matsumoto passed away on the 13th from acute heart failure at the age of 85. Japan is also in a mood of mourning the loss of this master, with reports reflecting on his chronicles of space travel. Since he left many memories for numerous people in Korea as well, this segment will take a moment to look back on the life of Matsumoto, who embarked on an eternal space journey.

Matsumoto Reiji is showing the content published in a magazine. (Photo by Matsumoto Reiji Official Fan Club Homepage)

Born in 1938 in Fukuoka Prefecture, Matsumoto showed talent in drawing from a young age. He started drawing at six and began creating comics at nine. Then, in 1954, when he was a first-year high school student, his work "The Adventures of the Honeybee" was selected for the magazine "Manga Shonen," marking his debut and the start of serialization.

He began serialization in a girls' manga magazine, and from 1971 started serializing his representative work Galaxy Express 999. The manga tells the story of Tetsuro, who lost his mother to the Machine Count and dreams of revenge while journeying through space with Maetel. During its serialization, it was adapted into a TV animation and even made into a theatrical film, gaining tremendous popularity in Japan. Additionally, in 1974, he participated in the animation work of "Space Battleship Yamato," sparking a major trend called the "Matsumoto Boom" in the Japanese animation industry of the 1970s. He continued his creative activities with works like "Space Pirate Captain Harlock."

Most of his manga are set in the future and in space. His love for space began early. He often heard from his father, who served as a pilot in the Japanese Army, that "night flights to the south feel like flying over a sea of stars." Naturally, Matsumoto developed a longing for space and frequently read space-related books during his school days. He regarded "Great Space Travel" by Japanese astronomer Toshima Araki as a book that greatly influenced his manga career.

During his lifetime, he once joked with a Yomiuri reporter, saying, "At my age now, I thought I would be on Mars." He emphasized the reason he kept drawing space was because "to protect Earth's nature and all life, humanity has no choice but to venture into space."

A scene from the remastered version of Galaxy Express 999.

Although he drew many space-themed manga, his love for Galaxy Express 999 was special. In 2018, he attended the unveiling of the Galaxy Express 999 design train and said, "The train is life itself because the final station cannot be seen," which became a topic again. The motif for Galaxy Express 999 came from Matsumoto's real-life experience.

At 18, Matsumoto took a night train from his hometown Fukuoka to Tokyo, a 24-hour journey. The ticket to Tokyo was bought by a magazine official, but he had no money for the return trip. At that time, he resolved "I will never return even if I die" and headed to Tokyo. The facing wooden seats and floor colors from that journey left vivid memories for the artist and were reflected in Galaxy Express 999.

After making a name as a manga artist, he also served as a professor at an art university, nurturing future talents. Thanks to the love for his manga worldwide, he received the French Order of Arts and Letters in 2012.

However, his body did not always keep up with his passion. In 2019, he collapsed while attending a Space Pirate Captain Harlock event in Italy and was hospitalized in the local intensive care unit. This incident was widely reported in Japanese media. He returned to Japan in a wheelchair but continued to have poor health and was hospitalized afterward.

Memorials continue in Japan. The manga museum where Matsumoto served as honorary director set up a flower offering stand and a memorial space, along with photo panels featuring characters from Galaxy Express 999.

Jiji Press also reported, "Matsumoto's last wish was to draw the real Earth as seen from space," adding, "Though he could not fulfill this wish, he will continue to travel through space."

Matsumoto Reiji answering the phone at home. (Photo by Matsumoto Reiji Official Fan Cafe)

Perhaps Matsumoto has now begun the space journey he longed for, alongside Tetsuro and Maetel. We would like to support his journey with the eulogy written on Matsumoto's official website, announced by his eldest daughter, Makiko Matsumoto.

Manga artist Leiji Matsumoto has embarked on a journey to the sea of stars. He always said that we would meet again somewhere far where the ring of time reaches. We believe those words and await the day we meet again. We sincerely thank all the fans who supported him. Thank you very much.