The creator of the Japanese animated football series "Captain Tsubasa," known in Arab countries as "Captain Majid," has blown the final whistle on Friday, after 43 years since the release of this work that achieved immense success worldwide. The manga story, launched by Yoichi Takahashi for the first time in 1981 in the weekly magazine "Shonen Jump," features the young football talent Tsubasa Ozora, who has inspired players who became legends in football such as Zinedine Zidane, Kylian Mbappe, and Lionel Messi. Over the decades, the series has seen various adaptations in animations and video games, and has even inspired statues in the neighborhood where Takahashi was born in Tokyo.
However, the 63-year-old artist announced in the final issue of "Captain Tsubasa" that the series will conclude at the beginning of April next year, attributing the decision to his declining health and the evolution of the manga industry. In a message to readers, he wrote, "It wasn't easy to make this decision that may disappoint and sadden those who enjoy reading Captain Tsubasa, but I hope you understand my decision." Takahashi stated that his characters will continue to exist in different forms.
Yoichi Takahashi, who became addicted to football while watching the 1978 World Cup on television, which was hosted and won by Argentina, told AFP in February 2023 that he wanted to promote this sport in Japan through his work, as the Japanese league did not emerge until 1993. He is also the president and owner of the football club "Nankatsu SC." The manga creator explained, "In Europe, it's completely normal to support your local club, but we didn't have this culture in Japan," adding, "I didn't have a local club, so I wanted to create a club myself." It is worth noting that the famous animated series has been broadcast in more than 100 countries, and approximately 90 million copies of the manga stories have been sold worldwide, according to the specialized website Mangazink.
