Hiroya Oku

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Hiroya Oku
Born (1967-09-16) September 16, 1967
Fukuoka, Japan
NationalityJapanese
PseudonymKuon Yahiro (久遠 矢広)
Notable works
AwardsRunner-up in Young Jump Youth Manga Awards (1988, Hen)

Hiroya Oku (奥 浩哉, Oku Hiroya; born September 16, 1967)[1] is a Japanese manga artist, known for his works Hen, Gantz, Inuyashiki, and Gigant, the first two of which have been serialized in Weekly Young Jump. Originally influenced by Katsuhiro Otomo and Ryoichi Ikegami,[2] his manga often contain explicit violence, sexual depictions, and matters that are considered taboo by the public, and he is known as a pioneer in the use of digital processing for manga backgrounds.

His debut manga Hen was a runner-up in the 1988 Young Jump Youth Manga Awards. The pseudonym he used at the time of its serialization was Kuon Yahiro (久遠 矢広).[3]

Oku designed a character for Namco Bandai's Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 fighting game Soulcalibur IV, named Shura.[4]

Works

  • Hen (変; lit. 'Strangeness') (1989–1994): published in Shueisha's Weekly Young Jump and collected in 13 tankōbon volumes.[5]
  • Hen (1995–1997): published in Shueisha's Weekly Young Jump and collected in eight tankōbon volumes.[6]
  • Zero One (1999–2000): published in Shueisha's Weekly Young Jump and collected in three tankōbon volumes.[7][8]
  • Gantz (2000–2013): published in Shueisha's Weekly Young Jump and collected in 37 tankōbon volumes.[9]
  • Maetel no Kimochi (め～てるの気持ち; lit. 'Maetel's Feelings') (2006–2007): published in Shueisha's Weekly Young Jump and collected in three tankōbon volumes.[10]
  • Inuyashiki (いぬやしき) (2014–2017): published in Kodansha's Evening and collected in ten tankōbon volumes.[11][12]
  • Gantz:G (2015–2017): written by Oku (first volume) and Tomohito Ohsaki (volumes 2 and 3) and illustrated by Keita Iizuka.[13][14] Published in Shueisha's Miracle Jump and Shōnen Jump+ (final chapter only) and collected in three tankōbon volumes.[15][16]
  • Gigant (2017–2021): published in Shogakukan's Big Comic Superior and collected in ten tankōbon volumes.[17]
  • Gantz:E (2020–present): illustrated by Jin Kagetsu. Published in Shueisha's Weekly Young Jump (2020–2023) and YanJan! (since 2024) and collected in nine tankōbon volumes (as of February 2026).[18][19]
  • Kanrekihime (還暦姫; lit. 'The 60-Year-Old Princess') (2025–present): published in Shogakukan's Big Comic Superior and collected in one tankōbon volume (as of May 2026).[20][21]

References

  1. 奥浩哉. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. Archived from the original on March 18, 2024. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
  2. 奥浩哉の「いぬやしき」特集、山本直樹×奥浩哉の師弟対談. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. January 14, 2014. p. 1. Archived from the original on February 1, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  3. 奥浩哉. Web YoungJump (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on October 8, 2002. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  4. Loo, Egan (May 14, 2008). "Gantz's Oku Also Designs Soul Calibur IV Character". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 8, 2026. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  5. 変［HEN］. Kotobank (in Japanese). Voyage Marketing. Archived from the original on August 31, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  6. "HEN". Mangapedia (in Japanese). Digitalio. Archived from the original on August 31, 2023. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  7. Web YoungJump – カバー コンテンツ – 1999年14号～27号. Web Young Jump (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on December 20, 2002. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  8. 01 (ZERO ONE) 3件中1～3件. s-book.com (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on May 7, 2003. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  9. 「GANTZ」連載13年でついに完結、戦いの結末を目撃せよ. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. June 20, 2013. Archived from the original on September 30, 2019. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  10. G. Sanz, Agustín (August 30, 2023). "Hiroya Oku en Exclusiva". Ivreality (in Spanish). Editorial Ivrea. Archived from the original on September 14, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  11. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (May 23, 2017). "Inuyashiki Manga's Last Volume Slated for Late September". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 13, 2026. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  12. 「いぬやしき」が完結！イブニングに奥浩哉とアニメの籔田修平監督との対談も - コミックナタリー. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. July 25, 2017. Archived from the original on May 29, 2019. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  13. GANTZ:G 2 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on July 11, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  14. GANTZ:G 3 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on July 11, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  15. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (October 16, 2015). "Hiroya Oku, Keita Iizuka Launch Gantz Spinoff Manga in November". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on July 11, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  16. Ressler, Karen (March 1, 2017). "Miracle Jump Magazine Goes on Hiatus, Prepares for Renewal". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on May 5, 2017. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  17. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (September 9, 2021). "Hiroya Oku's Gigant Manga Ends Serialization on September 24". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on February 8, 2026. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  18. Sherman, Jennifer (January 9, 2020). "Hiroya Oku Writes New Gantz:E Historical Spinoff Manga". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on February 26, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  19. ヤンジャン！【青年漫画アプリ】 [@ynjn_jp] (January 9, 2024). 「ヤンジャン！」にて 『#GANTZ:E』 アプリオリジナル移籍連載開始!! (Tweet) (in Japanese). Archived from the original on June 3, 2026. Retrieved June 3, 2026 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  20. 「GANTZ」の奥浩哉が描く新連載、6人のおじさんオタクによる共同生活「還暦姫」. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. December 26, 2025. Archived from the original on December 26, 2025. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  21. 還暦姫 1 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Retrieved June 3, 2026.