Kazuki Takahashi, a dear friend I have never met who changed my life
I broke down crying before bed yesterday. This year has been beating me over the head as it is, and I know it's been hard for others as well. To lose Kazuki Takahashi is to lose a dear friend. This year marks 20 years of knowing and loving YGO. When JP wanted me to watch The Powerpuff Girls while it was on Kids WB, the trailers for YGO intrigued me even though most of them were silly, cheeky things. I just knew I had to watch it. One episode (The Evil Spirit of the Ring, a classic), and I was hooked. JP was skeptical and didn't think it would last as an interest, but I knew I'd found something special. The characters, the plot, the humor (yes, I enjoyed the 4Kids humor) ... ! It all combined to make an intense and beautiful series about friendship, villain redemption, and forgiveness.
There are so many stories I could tell about how and why YGO is important to me and how magical it was looking for merchandise. Many stories I've already told. I'll admit I've never been as fond of the manga as I am the anime, and it took me a long time to try the manga after hearing of some of the darker elements in it. But it was there for me when I was ready for it, and nothing would exist without the manga and those first, rough versions of the characters. Kazuki Takahashi created so many of the beloved YGO DM characters and designed some of the spin-off characters. I wish I knew if he designed Radley and Kalin. Over the Nexus lists him as a character designer as though all the characters in it were his designs. I am so grateful he had the ideas for the manga and the characters. He brought something incredible to life that will continue to live on in his memory.
Here's a tale I'm not sure I ever shared publicly. I dreamed about YGO before I even knew what it was. Honestly, I'm the first to be skeptical about people thinking all answers are to be found in dreams. But I do think every now and then, there can be a meaningful or even a prophetic dream. I have no idea why I would be sent a dream of YGO, but I like to think it was because God knew it would literally change my life in many positive ways. I dreamed it was the day after my birthday and I was watching a show on TV. It was part four of the Yugi and Pegasus duel, the part when Yugi sacrifices himself and Pegasus is mocking him. The computer was also involved in the dream; I think I was looking stuff up about the next episode. I woke up utterly baffled and dismissed it as nonsense. Months, even years later, the dream was fulfilled every whit and I remembered it. That was a moment. That's one thing about my dreams; the few times I actually have a prophetic one, it's told to me straight out, no silly symbolism or whatnot. I don't know why. I guess God knows I want it told to me straight? I'll still be confused about it if I have no idea about any of the things in the dream.
I could never document all the ways YGO is special to me or tell every amazing experience I've had because of it. If you look through the tag of YGO on my journals, you'll find accounts of many such experiences. Those times seeking merchandise are often some of my most happy memories. It was a more innocent time, when anime was fresh and newly becoming part of established pop culture. Because of YGO, I improved my writing, I learned how to draw people, and I met so many wonderful people. Some are even still my friends. And I'm still meeting new wonderful people too. YGO brings people together, and that is something Kazuki Takahashi hoped for, as recorded in one of his anecdotes from the beginning of a manga volume.
I don't understand why he had to be taken so soon. He was still young. It's even more heartbreaking because as I understand it, he was on a vacation and just trying to have a little relaxation and fun exploring sea life. I'm just heartbroken, as is the whole YGO fanbase. I was just about to post a story when I heard the news. I decided to dedicate it to him even though it's 5Ds. All YGO exists because of his first ideas. (And he even created the first Turbo Duel, as Marik is dueling through Strings while riding his motorcycle in the manga!) I also decided to hold off posting until after sleeping and doing one more proofread. I never like to rush a post and realize I should have added something more later, and especially in his honor, I wanted to make sure it was as good as it could be. I posted it in the afternoon after some important tweaks.
In my room I am surrounded by YGO merchandise, much of it official and some of it custom-made by me or other fans. I tried my hand at customizing dolls and figures to be YGO characters. I made plushies and plan to make more. I put together cosplays as characters. I drew and drew, and wrote and wrote and wrote. YGO inspires me, and if all the different things I've written for are added up, I'm pretty sure I've written more for YGO than for anything else. There are so many characters, angles, new plots and adventures they can go on! Right now, 5Ds Week/Month is getting underway. Azureweek (Seto/Tea) will be in a couple of months. And there are many other events for creativity based around YGO. The fans still love YGO all these years later and are always finding new ways to express that love. Kazuki Takahashi created something truly special. The duels and card game are fun, but the real meat of it is the characters, the plots, and the bonds that form because of it all.
Thank you so much for giving me such a wondrous thing to explore, my friend. I hope someday I can tell you in person how deeply much YGO means to me. And in the meantime, I hope you can find happiness in learning how many people are still touched by YGO. It makes me very happy.
There are so many stories I could tell about how and why YGO is important to me and how magical it was looking for merchandise. Many stories I've already told. I'll admit I've never been as fond of the manga as I am the anime, and it took me a long time to try the manga after hearing of some of the darker elements in it. But it was there for me when I was ready for it, and nothing would exist without the manga and those first, rough versions of the characters. Kazuki Takahashi created so many of the beloved YGO DM characters and designed some of the spin-off characters. I wish I knew if he designed Radley and Kalin. Over the Nexus lists him as a character designer as though all the characters in it were his designs. I am so grateful he had the ideas for the manga and the characters. He brought something incredible to life that will continue to live on in his memory.
Here's a tale I'm not sure I ever shared publicly. I dreamed about YGO before I even knew what it was. Honestly, I'm the first to be skeptical about people thinking all answers are to be found in dreams. But I do think every now and then, there can be a meaningful or even a prophetic dream. I have no idea why I would be sent a dream of YGO, but I like to think it was because God knew it would literally change my life in many positive ways. I dreamed it was the day after my birthday and I was watching a show on TV. It was part four of the Yugi and Pegasus duel, the part when Yugi sacrifices himself and Pegasus is mocking him. The computer was also involved in the dream; I think I was looking stuff up about the next episode. I woke up utterly baffled and dismissed it as nonsense. Months, even years later, the dream was fulfilled every whit and I remembered it. That was a moment. That's one thing about my dreams; the few times I actually have a prophetic one, it's told to me straight out, no silly symbolism or whatnot. I don't know why. I guess God knows I want it told to me straight? I'll still be confused about it if I have no idea about any of the things in the dream.
I could never document all the ways YGO is special to me or tell every amazing experience I've had because of it. If you look through the tag of YGO on my journals, you'll find accounts of many such experiences. Those times seeking merchandise are often some of my most happy memories. It was a more innocent time, when anime was fresh and newly becoming part of established pop culture. Because of YGO, I improved my writing, I learned how to draw people, and I met so many wonderful people. Some are even still my friends. And I'm still meeting new wonderful people too. YGO brings people together, and that is something Kazuki Takahashi hoped for, as recorded in one of his anecdotes from the beginning of a manga volume.
I don't understand why he had to be taken so soon. He was still young. It's even more heartbreaking because as I understand it, he was on a vacation and just trying to have a little relaxation and fun exploring sea life. I'm just heartbroken, as is the whole YGO fanbase. I was just about to post a story when I heard the news. I decided to dedicate it to him even though it's 5Ds. All YGO exists because of his first ideas. (And he even created the first Turbo Duel, as Marik is dueling through Strings while riding his motorcycle in the manga!) I also decided to hold off posting until after sleeping and doing one more proofread. I never like to rush a post and realize I should have added something more later, and especially in his honor, I wanted to make sure it was as good as it could be. I posted it in the afternoon after some important tweaks.
In my room I am surrounded by YGO merchandise, much of it official and some of it custom-made by me or other fans. I tried my hand at customizing dolls and figures to be YGO characters. I made plushies and plan to make more. I put together cosplays as characters. I drew and drew, and wrote and wrote and wrote. YGO inspires me, and if all the different things I've written for are added up, I'm pretty sure I've written more for YGO than for anything else. There are so many characters, angles, new plots and adventures they can go on! Right now, 5Ds Week/Month is getting underway. Azureweek (Seto/Tea) will be in a couple of months. And there are many other events for creativity based around YGO. The fans still love YGO all these years later and are always finding new ways to express that love. Kazuki Takahashi created something truly special. The duels and card game are fun, but the real meat of it is the characters, the plots, and the bonds that form because of it all.
Thank you so much for giving me such a wondrous thing to explore, my friend. I hope someday I can tell you in person how deeply much YGO means to me. And in the meantime, I hope you can find happiness in learning how many people are still touched by YGO. It makes me very happy.