Biography
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.
Wrote 23
2010s
- 2016
My Name is Shingo
Original Story
- 2015
Tales of the Bizarre 25th Anniversary Spring Special: Popular Manga Artist Competition
Comic Book
- 2014
2000s
- 2008
Orochi - Blood
Comic Book, Story
- 2006
Cat-Eyed Boy
Comic Book
- 2005
Kazuo Umezu's Horror Theater: Snake Girl
Original Story
Kazuo Umezu's Horror Theater: Death Make
Original Story
Kazuo Umezu's Horror Theater: Present
Writer, Original Story
Kazuo Umezu's Horror Theater: The Wish
Original Story
Kazuo Umezu's Horror Theater: Diet
Original Story
Kazuo Umezu's Horror Theater: House of Bugs
Original Story
- 2002
Long Love Letter
Novel
1990s
- 1996
Baptism of Blood
Original Story
- 1995
Drifting School
Author
- 1990
The Curse of Kazuo Umezu
Original Story
1980s
- 1987
The Drifting Classroom
Novel, Comic Book
- 1985
Evil Heart
Writer
- 1980
1970s
- 1976
Cat-Eyed Boy
Writer, Comic Book
- 1975
A Remodeled Beauty
Original Story
1960s
- 1968
The Snake Girl and the Silver-Haired Witch
Original Story
Acted in 15
2010s
- 2016
吉祥寺だけが住みたい街ですか？
Kazuo Umezu · 1 episode
2000s
- 2008
Gu Gu, the Cat
Umezu
- 2006
- 2005
Yaji & Kita: The Midnight Pilgrims
Old Man
- 2003
Gozamareji
Movie
1990s
- 1996
Baptism of Blood
Movie
- 1990
Monster Heaven: Ghost Hero
Movie
1980s
- 1987
The Drifting Classroom
Policeman C (special guest)
- 1986
Monster Heaven
Movie
Monday Drama Land: Akuma-kun
Movie
- 1980
1960s
- 1968
The Snake Girl and the Silver-Haired Witch
Taxi Driver
- 1965
Directed 1
2010s
- 2014
Other crew 1
1980s
- 1980
Sound 1
1980s
- 1980
Created 1
1970s
- 1976
Cat-Eyed Boy
Creator
Appearances2
2020s
- 2023
Kaidan. Strange Stories of Japanese Ghosts
Himself
2010s
- 2014
Why Horror?
Self