
Takehiko Inoue Spots in Japan
Takehiko Inoue, born on January 12, 1967, is a Japanese manga artist whose real name is Takehiko Nariai. He is from Isa City, Kagoshima Prefecture, and is known for major works such as SLAM DUNK, Vagabond, and Real. His style is recognized for its realistic portrayals of sports and human drama.
During high school, he served as captain of the basketball team. After dropping out of Kumamoto University, he moved to Tokyo, worked as an assistant to Tsukasa Hojo, and made his debut in 1988 when his work Kaede Purple (under his real name) was selected for the Tezuka Award. Starting in 1990, he serialized SLAM DUNK in Weekly Shonen Jump, sparking a nationwide basketball boom.
Since then, he has released works such as Vagabond (1998– ) and Real (1999– ). In 2022, he released the animated film THE FIRST SLAM DUNK, for which he served as both director and scriptwriter.
[SPOTS]