Photo: 環境省 / CC BY 4.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Monkey Punch was credited as a mangaka, screenwriter and film director. Born on May 26, 1937, Monkey Punch was from Hamanaka, Hokkaidō, Japan. Death is recorded on April 11, 2019, at the age of 81. Education on record includes Tokyo University of Technology. Awards on record include Inkpot Award (1981).
My Take
Monkey Punch, born Kazuhiko Kato in rural Hokkaido, is one of those creators whose work outgrew him entirely. Lupin III is impossibly cool, cheeky, and free, and you can feel his love of American comic energy fused with a distinctly modern Japanese wit. That 1981 Inkpot Award signals he had international appeal long before manga went global. What moves me most is how the character keeps running long after his 2019 passing. To me that is the truest mark of a great artist: the creation slips loose and lives on, generation after generation, well beyond its maker.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Monkey Punch
- Name (Japanese)
- モンキー・パンチ
- Reading
- もんきー・ぱんち
- Born
- May 26, 1937 – April 11, 2019
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Gemini / Ox
- Origin
- Hamanaka, Hokkaidō, Japan
- Occupation
- mangaka / screenwriter / film director / television director / director
2. Background
- University
- Tokyo University of Technology
Awards & achievements
- 1981 Inkpot Award
3. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Lupin III | — |
4. Links
- Official sitehttp://www.monkeypunch.com
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey%20Punch
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%A2%E3%83%B3%E3%82%AD%E3%83%BC%E3%83%BB%E3%83%91%E3%83%B3%E3%83%81
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1370780
5. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-21
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Monkey Punch born?
Born May 26, 1937.
When did Monkey Punch die?
Died April 11, 2019, aged 81.
Where was Monkey Punch from?
Monkey Punch was from Hamanaka, Hokkaidō, Japan.
What did Monkey Punch do?
Monkey Punch worked as mangaka, screenwriter, film director, television director, director.
What was Monkey Punch known for?
Notable works include Lupin III.
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