Born in Miyagi Prefecture in 1954. He made his debut with the short manga A Gun Report (1973). His Domu (1980) made him the first manga artist to win the Japan SF Grand Prize. He later adapted Akira, serialized in Young Magazine, into the 1988 animated feature of the same name. With its meticulous direction and striking cyberpunk vision, the film became a worldwide sensation. His other major directorial works include MEMORIES and Steamboy (2004). He is currently working on a new Akira TV series.
