View source for Koyoharu Gotouge

{{Short description|Japanese manga artist}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox comics creator
| name_nonEN    = 吾峠 呼世晴
| nonUS         = ja
| image         = 
| image_size    = 
| caption       = 
| alt           = 
| bodyclass     = 
| birth_date    = {{birth date and age|1989|5|5}}
| birth_place   = [[Fukuoka Prefecture]], Japan
| nationality   = Japanese
| area          = [[Manga artist]]
| letter        = 
| color         = 
| alias         = 
| signature     = Gotouge Koyoharu sign.svg
| signature_alt = 
| notable works = ''[[Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba]]''
| collaborators  = 
| awards        = {{ubl|[[Noma Prize]] (2020)|[[Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize]] (2021)|[[Japan Cartoonists Association Award]] (2021)}}
| module        = 
| website       = 
| subcat        = 
| manga artist  = y
}}
{{nihongo|'''Koyoharu Gotouge'''|吾峠 呼世晴|Gotōge Koyoharu|born May 5, 1989|lead=yes}} is a Japanese [[manga artist]], known for the [[manga]] series ''[[Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba]]'' (2016–2020). By February 2021, the manga had over 150 million copies in circulation (including digital copies), making it one of the [[List of best-selling manga|best-selling manga series]] of all time.

Gotouge was included as "Phenoms" in ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''{{'}}s annual list of [[Time 100|100 Most Influential People]], becoming the first manga artist to receive the achievement.

==Early life==
Gotouge was born in [[Fukuoka Prefecture]], Japan, on May 5, 1989.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:ついに最終回！『鬼滅の刃』作者「吾峠呼世晴」ちゃんと読めてる？ファンなら常識クイズ！|url=https://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/18275702/|website=[[Livedoor|News Livedoor]]|access-date=February 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218131105/https://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/18275702/|archive-date=February 18, 2021|language=ja|date=May 18, 2020}}</ref> The author uses a [[pen name]] to maintain anonymity.<ref name="Time100-2021"/>

==Career==
In 2013, Gotouge debuted in the 70th Jump Treasure Newcomer Manga Awards with the [[One-shot (comics)|one-shot]] work {{nihongo|''Kagarigari''|過狩り狩り}}.<ref name="2newseries">{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-01-31/weekly-shonen-jump-launches-2-new-series-in-february/.98081|title=Weekly Shonen Jump Launches 2 New Series in February|last=Ressler|first=Karen|date=January 31, 2016|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=May 27, 2018|archive-date=December 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213090711/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-01-31/weekly-shonen-jump-launches-2-new-series-in-february/.98081|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:2013年のJUMPトレジャー新人漫画賞|url=http://www.shonenjump.com/j/mangasho/treasureread2013.html|website=shonenjump.com|publisher=[[Shueisha]]|access-date=February 24, 2020|language=ja|archive-date=February 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207100345/http://www.shonenjump.com/j/mangasho/treasureread2013.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Three more one-shots followed: {{nihongo|''Monju Shirō Kyōdai''|文殊史郎兄弟}}, published in ''[[Weekly Shōnen Jump#Jump Giga|Jump Next!]]'' in 2014; {{nihongo|''Rokkotsu-san''|肋骨さん}}, published in ''[[Weekly Shōnen Jump]]'' in 2014; and {{nihongo|''Haeniwa no Zigzag''|蠅庭のジグザグ}}, published in ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:ジャンプで新鋭が描く心優しき少年の冒険譚、連載記念に過去の読切も公開|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/176162|website=[[Natalie (website)|Comic Natalie]]|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|access-date=February 24, 2020|language=ja|date=February 15, 2016|archive-date=November 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119144420/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/176162|url-status=live}}</ref>

After ''Haeniwa no Zigzag'' failed to become a series, Tatsuhiko Katayama (Gotouge's first editor) suggested starting a series with an "easy-to-understand theme".<ref name="creation"/> Gotouge's debut work ''Kagarigari'' would serve as a basis for ''[[Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba]]''.<ref name="creation">{{cite web|url=https://mangaplus.shueisha.co.jp/web_pages/234/|title=The birth of "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba"|publisher=Shueisha|website=[[Manga Plus]]|access-date=February 23, 2020|archive-date=February 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200211192748/https://mangaplus.shueisha.co.jp/web_pages/234/|url-status=live}}</ref> The series was published in ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' from February 15, 2016, to May 18, 2020.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:ジャンプで新鋭が描く心優しき少年の冒険譚、連載記念に過去の読切も公開|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/176162|website=[[Natalie (website)|Comic Natalie]]|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|access-date=January 8, 2021|language=ja|date=February 15, 2016|archive-date=November 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119144420/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/176162|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:「鬼滅の刃」4年3カ月の連載に幕|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/379353|website=[[Natalie (website)|Comic Natalie]]|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|access-date=May 17, 2020|language=ja|date=May 18, 2020|archive-date=February 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225002521/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/379353|url-status=live}}</ref> It became a success, with over 150 million copies in circulation (including digital copies) by February 2021, making it one of the [[List of best-selling manga|best-selling manga series]] of all time.<ref>{{cite web|last=Loo|first=Egan|title=Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Manga Tops 150 Million Copies in Circulation|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-02-14/demon-slayer-kimetsu-no-yaiba-manga-tops-150-million-copies-in-circulation/.169500|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=February 14, 2021|date=February 14, 2021|archive-date=February 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214155018/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-02-14/demon-slayer-kimetsu-no-yaiba-manga-tops-150-million-copies-in-circulation/.169500|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:「鬼滅の刃」累計1億5000万部を突破！3月には塗絵帳が2冊同時発売|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/416305|website=[[Natalie (website)|Comic Natalie]]|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|access-date=February 14, 2021|language=ja|date=February 15, 2021|archive-date=February 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214150050/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/416305|url-status=live}}</ref>

In February 2021, Gotouge commented that their next project would be a [[science fiction]] [[romantic comedy]] story.<ref>{{cite web|last=Pineda|first=Rafael Antonio|title=Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Creator Koyoharu Gotouge Wants to Make Sci-Fi Romantic Comedy Next|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-02-03/demon-slayer-kimetsu-no-yaiba-creator-koyoharu-gotouge-wants-to-make-sci-fi-romantic-comedy-next/.169127|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=February 19, 2021|date=February 3, 2021|archive-date=February 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217212650/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-02-03/demon-slayer-kimetsu-no-yaiba-creator-koyoharu-gotouge-wants-to-make-sci-fi-romantic-comedy-next/.169127|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Influences==
Gotouge has mentioned [[Hirohiko Araki]]'s ''[[JoJo's Bizarre Adventure]];'' [[Masashi Kishimoto]]'s ''[[Naruto]];'' [[Tite Kubo]]'s ''[[Bleach (manga)|Bleach]];'' and [[Hideaki Sorachi]]'s ''[[Gintama]]'' as influences on their work.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:『鬼滅の刃』完結?ジョジョ方式で続く?予想合戦が過熱 過去ジャンプ作品から展開考察|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2162167/full/|website=[[Oricon]]|access-date=February 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200521010227/https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2162167/full/|archive-date=May 21, 2020|language=ja|date=May 15, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:『鬼滅の刃』大ブレイクの陰にあった、絶え間ない努力―――初代担当編集が明かす誕生秘話|url=https://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/17760339/|website=[[Livedoor|News Livedoor]]|access-date=February 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205084601/https://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/17760339/|archive-date=February 5, 2020|language=ja|date=February 5, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Schley|first=Matt|title=Koyoharu Gotoge Reveals the Manga That Inspired Demon Slayer|url=https://otakuusamagazine.com/koyoharu-gotoge-reveals-manga-inspired-demon-slayer/|website=[[Otaku USA]]|access-date=February 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101053107/https://otakuusamagazine.com/koyoharu-gotoge-reveals-manga-inspired-demon-slayer/|archive-date=November 1, 2020|date=October 21, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Awards and honors==
In 2020, Gotouge received the 2nd [[Kodansha]]'s [[Noma Prize|Noma Publishing Culture Award]], which honors those who have contributed to "reinventing publishing". Gotouge received the award due to the franchise's sales, which boosted the entire publishing industry from 2019 to 2020.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mateo|first=Alex|title=Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba's Koyoharu Gotouge Wins Noma Publishing Culture Award|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-11-02/demon-slayer-kimetsu-no-yaiba-koyoharu-gotouge-wins-noma-publishing-culture-award/.165882|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=November 2, 2020|date=November 2, 2020|archive-date=November 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201102155820/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-11-02/demon-slayer-kimetsu-no-yaiba-koyoharu-gotouge-wins-noma-publishing-culture-award/.165882|url-status=live}}</ref> In the same year, Gotouge also won the award for best screenplay/original story at the [[Tokyo Anime Award|Tokyo Anime Award Festival]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Uta no Prince-sama Movie Nabs TAAF 2019 Anime Fan Vote|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2020-02-06/uta-no-prince-sama-movie-nabs-taaf-2019-anime-fan-vote/.156181|website=[[Anime News Network]]|last=Loveridge|first=Lynzee|date=February 6, 2020|access-date=September 29, 2021|archive-date=September 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929045230/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2020-02-06/uta-no-prince-sama-movie-nabs-taaf-2019-anime-fan-vote/.156181|url-status=live}}</ref>

In February 2021, Gotouge was included as "Phenoms" in ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''{{'}}s annual list of [[Time 100|100 Most Influential People]], making them the first manga artist to receive the achievement.<ref name="Time100-2021">{{cite magazine|last=Moon|first=Kat|title=Koyoharu Gotouge Is on the TIME100 Next 2021 List|url=https://time.com/collection/time100-next-2021/5937744/koyoharu-gotouge/|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=February 18, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210218125709/https://time.com/collection/time100-next-2021/5937744/koyoharu-gotouge/|archive-date=February 18, 2021|date=February 17, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Mateo|first=Alex|title=Time Magazine Selects Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba's Koyoharu Gotouge on Time100 Next List|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-02-17/time-magazine-selects-demon-slayer-kimetsu-no-yaiba-koyoharu-gotouge-on-time100-next-list/.169605|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=February 18, 2021|date=February 17, 2021|archive-date=February 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217203831/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-02-17/time-magazine-selects-demon-slayer-kimetsu-no-yaiba-koyoharu-gotouge-on-time100-next-list/.169605|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2021, Gotouge won the Newcomer Award in the media fine arts category of the [[Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology|2020 Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Fine Arts Recommendation Awards]].<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:「巡り合わせていただいた御縁に感動」…「鬼滅」作者の吾峠呼世晴さん|url=https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/culture/20210303-OYT1T50173/|website=[[Yomiuri Shimbun]]|access-date=March 3, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210303214041/https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/culture/20210303-OYT1T50173/|archive-date=March 3, 2021|language=ja|date=March 3, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:「作品通した縁に感動」 漫画家の吾峠呼世晴さん、芸術選奨新人賞|url=https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2021030300969&g=soc|website=[[Jiji Press]]|access-date=March 3, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210303214601/https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2021030300969&g=soc|archive-date=March 3, 2021|language=ja|date=March 3, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Pineda|first=Rafael Antonio|title=Director Masaaki Yuasa, Demon Slayer's Gotouge Wins Agency for Cultural Affairs' Media Arts Award|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-03-04/director-masaaki-yuasa-demon-slayer-gotouge-wins-agency-for-cultural-affairs-media-arts-award/.170193|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=March 4, 2021|date=March 4, 2021|archive-date=March 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304082609/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-03-04/director-masaaki-yuasa-demon-slayer-gotouge-wins-agency-for-cultural-affairs-media-arts-award/.170193|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2021, Gotouge received the Special Prize of the 25th annual [[Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Loo|first=Egan|title=Demon Slayer, Jujutsu Kaisen, Promised Neverland Nominated for Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-02-25/demon-slayer-jujutsu-kaisen-promised-neverland-nominated-for-tezuka-osamu-cultural-prize/.169984|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=February 26, 2021|date=February 25, 2021|archive-date=March 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318150852/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-02-25/demon-slayer-jujutsu-kaisen-promised-neverland-nominated-for-tezuka-osamu-cultural-prize/.169984|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Pineda|first=Rafael Antonio|title=Land, Frieren, Demon Slayer Manga Win Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prizes|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-04-27/land-frieren-demon-slayer-manga-win-tezuka-osamu-cultural-prizes/.172197|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=April 28, 2021|date=April 27, 2021|archive-date=April 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428022316/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-04-27/land-frieren-demon-slayer-manga-win-tezuka-osamu-cultural-prizes/.172197|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2021, Gotouge won the Comic division's grand prize of the 50th [[Japan Cartoonists Association Award]]s.<ref>{{cite web|last=Pineda|first=Rafael Antonio|title=Demon Slayer Manga Wins Japan Cartoonists Association Award|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-07-26/demon-slayer-manga-wins-japan-cartoonists-association-award/.175581|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=July 27, 2021|date=July 26, 2021|archive-date=July 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727021055/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-07-26/demon-slayer-manga-wins-japan-cartoonists-association-award/.175581|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Works==
*{{nihongo|''Kagarigari''|過狩り狩り}} (2013; [[one-shot (comics)|one-shot]])
*{{nihongo|''Monju Shirō Kyōdai''|文殊史郎兄弟}} (2014; one-shot published in [[Shueisha]]'s ''Jump Next!'')
*{{nihongo|''Rokkotsu-san''|肋骨さん}} (2014; one-shot published in Shueisha's ''[[Weekly Shōnen Jump]]'')
*{{nihongo|''Haeniwa no Zigzag''|蠅庭のジグザグ}} (2015; one-shot published in Shueisha's ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'')
*{{nihongo|''[[Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba]]''|鬼滅の刃|Kimetsu no Yaiba}} (2016–2020; serialized in Shueisha's ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'', and collected in 23 {{Lang|ja-latn|[[tankōbon]]}} volumes)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=978-4-08-880723-2&mode=1|script-title=ja:鬼滅の刃 1|publisher=[[Shueisha]]|language=Japanese|access-date=May 27, 2018|archive-date=May 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180509231147/http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=978-4-08-880723-2&mode=1|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.shueisha.co.jp/items/contents.html?isbn=978-4-08-882495-6|script-title=ja:鬼滅の刃 23|publisher=[[Shueisha]]|language=Japanese|access-date=August 15, 2020|archive-date=February 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225003034/https://books.shueisha.co.jp/items/contents.html?isbn=978-4-08-882495-6|url-status=live}}</ref>
*{{nihongo|''[[Koyoharu Gotouge Before Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba]]''|吾峠呼世晴短編集|Gotōge Koyoharu Tanpenshū}} (2019; collected volume of Gotouge's four one-shots published by Shueisha)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Anime News Network|people|163967}}

{{Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba}}
{{Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize}}
{{Tokyo Anime Award for Best Screenplay}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gotouge, Koyoharu}}
[[Category:1989 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Manga artists from Fukuoka Prefecture]]
[[Category:Winner of Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize (Special Award)]]
[[Category:21st-century pseudonymous writers]]