George Akiyama

, better known as , was a Japanese manga artist known for dealing with controversial and incendiary topics in many of his works. He made his major debut in 1966 with the gag-manga Gaikotsu-kun, which was published in Bekkan Shōnen Magazine, and shocked readers in 1970 with Asura, which contained numerous unsettling depictions of human life. The first chapter of Asura contains a scene where a woman commits cannibalism to prevent herself from dying of starvation, and later attempts to eat her own child as well. The August 2, 1970, edition of Weekly Shōnen Magazine, which first published this chapter, was banned in several regions as a result of this scene, propelling Akiyama to infamy within the manga industry. Asura was adapted into an anime film by Toei Animation in 2012.

Akiyama continued his career with Kokuhaku , which began serialization in the 11th edition of Weekly Shōnen Sunday in 1971. This manga took on an unprecedented format where Akiyama would make a confession each week (for instance, in one chapter he confesses that he is a murderer), only to admit that his confession was a lie in the following week's chapter. The series ended in 2017, and spanned 112 volumes since its inception in 1973. The series was also adapted into an anime film by Toei Animation and Madhouse in 1982.

Akiyama died on May 12, 2020, at the age of 77 of unspecified causes.

Notable works Title Year Collected 1967–1968 5 , Weekly Shōnen Magazine, KodanshaRecipient of the Kodansha Jidō Manga Award. 1969–1970 2 , Weekly Shōnen Jump, ShueishaThe volumes were titled because they were released after the 1975 remake. 1969–1970 5 , Weekly Shōnen Magazine, Kodansha 1970–1971 3 , Weekly Shōnen Magazine, Kodansha 1970–1971 5 , Weekly Shōnen Sunday, Shogakukan 1971 1 , Weekly Shōnen Sunday, Shogakukan 1971–1972 3 , Weekly Shōnen Jump, Shueisha 1972–1973 4 , Weekly Shōnen Sunday, Shogakukan 1973–2017 112 , Big Comic Original, Shogakukan Hana no Yotarō 1974–1979 15 , Weekly Shōnen Champion Derorinman 1975–1976 3 , Weekly Shōnen Magazine, KodanshaRemake of the 1969 manga, which differs significantly from the original version. Bonkura Dōshin 1976–1977 4 , Weekly Shōnen Magazine, Kodansha Gyara 1979–1981 8 , Shōnen King Pink no Curtain (ピンクのカーテン) 1980–1984 Part 1: 15 , Part 2: 6 , Weekly Manga Goraku Chōjin Haruko 1982–1984 3 , Weekly Morning Kaijin Gonzui 1984 1 , Weekly Shōnen Jump Koiko no Mainichi 1985–1992 32 , Weekly Manga Action Kudoki-ya Joe 1986–1987 4 , Big Comic Superior Lovelin Monroe 1989–1993 13 , Young Magazine Onnagata Kisaburō 1993–2002 7 , Big Comic Original Sōkan Hakuai no Hito 1993–1996 8 , Big Gold Dobugero-sama 1995–1996 1 , Monthly Shōnen Gangan Sutegataki Hitobito 1996–1999 5 , Big Gold Ikinasai Kiki 2001–2002 4 Who Are You 2002 1 , Big Comic Original SōkanAuthor listed as Yūji Akiyama during serialization. Manga Chūgoku Nyūmon: Yakkai na Rinjin no Kenkyū 2005 Published by Asukashinsha.