Photo: Selbymay / CC BY-SA 4.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Okay, the first time I actually looked at a Ryoichi Ikegami page, I did a double take, his figures look like they're about to climb out of the panel and shake your hand. That dense, oil-painting gekiga shading, the chiseled men with eyes that could stop traffic, the sweat and muscle rendered like he's showing off, it barely reads as comics to me. Born in Fukui back in 1944, which means by 2024 he's pushing eighty and still gripping a pen, and that alone earns my respect. Sanctuary, Crying Freeman, Otokogumi, all soaked in this hard-boiled world of men, and he sells you both the danger and the sex appeal in a single glance. He won the American Inkpot Award too, so the love clearly crosses borders. Quiet guy, loud art, total master in my book.
Overview
Ryoichi Ikegami is a Japanese manga artist born on May 29, 1944, in Takefu City, Fukui Prefecture. He is best known for his signature gekiga-style artwork featuring intense, detailed linework and powerful character depictions in series such as Otokogumi, Crying Freeman, and Sanctuary. In 1995 he received the Inkpot Award, presented at San Diego Comic-Con, recognizing his international influence on the comics medium. He has also worked as a university lecturer alongside his career as a manga artist.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Ryoichi Ikegami
- Name (Japanese)
- 池上遼一
- Reading
- いけがみ りょういち
- Born
- May 29, 1944 (age 82)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Gemini / Monkey
- Origin
- Takefu City, Fukui Prefecture, Japan
- Occupation
- Manga Artist / University Lecturer
2. Background
Awards & achievements
- 1995 — Inkpot Award
3. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable Work | Otokogumi | — | Unknown |
| Notable Work | Crying Freeman | — | Unknown |
| Notable Work | Sanctuary | — | Unknown |
| Notable Work | HEAT -Shakunetsu- | — | Unknown |
4. Links
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%B1%A0%E4%B8%8A%E9%81%BC%E4%B8%80
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1332841
5. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
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 Ryoichi Ikegami born?
Born May 29, 1944 (age 82).
Where is Ryoichi Ikegami from?
Ryoichi Ikegami is from Takefu City, Fukui Prefecture, Japan.
What does Ryoichi Ikegami do?
Ryoichi Ikegami works as Manga Artist, University Lecturer.
What is Ryoichi Ikegami known for?
Notable works include Otokogumi, Crying Freeman, Sanctuary.