Keisuke Itagaki

, better known by the pen name , is a Japanese manga artist. He is best known for his martial arts series Baki the Grappler (1991–1999) and its many sequels, which together have sold over 100 million copies, making it one of the best-selling manga series in history. Itagaki lives in Fuchū, Tokyo, and has been a Musashi Province Fuchū Ambassador since 2014. He is the father of fellow manga artist Paru Itagaki.

Career As a teenager, Itagaki admired karate master Mas Oyama and dedicated himself to working out. He holds a second degree black belt in Shorinji Kempo. Wanting a career where he would be praised for his physical regimen, Itagaki served five years in the 1st Airborne Brigade of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. During his service he practiced amateur boxing and competed in the National Sports Festival. Because he was already married with children at this point, he took the classes, which together cost ¥180,000, very seriously. A book collecting the four published at the time was released on January 1, 2023.

Itagaki designed a special costume for Bruce Irvin in Tekken 5 (2004).

In November 2010, Itagaki began Dogesen, a manga centered around dogeza, with his friend and fellow manga artist Rin Kasahara. After coming up with the initial idea, Itagaki attended plot meetings and supervised, while Rin wrote and illustrated the work for Weekly Manga Goraku. However, disagreements resulted in the dissolving of the partnership in October 2011. Itagaki began Daku Jotaro in the October issue of Play Comic. He wrote the manga, while Seisaku Kano illustrated it. However, despite the second chapter announcing it would be moved to Young Champion, the series has not resumed. Instead, Itagaki decided to start a new manga with the dogeza theme.

Itagaki starred in the television show , which was broadcast on BS-TBS on March 20, 2021. It follows as he visits dojos for various martial arts, including Jeet Kune Do and Krav Maga. He illustrated the para taekwondo section of the official programme for the 2020 Summer Paralympics and created the key visual for the 2021 Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival.

Works Make-Upper (1989–1991)

, adaptation of the novel series

, side story of the novel series

, planning and cooperation, written and illustrated by Rin , author, illustrated by Seisaku Kano

, collects four entries in Itagaki's Waga Seishun no Narashino Dai-ichi Kūtei-dan series