Personal Information
After completing high school, Yokusaru Shibata relocated to Tokyo, where he served as an assistant to Makoto Kobayashi, Harold Sakuishi, and Jun Watanabe. He made his professional debut in 1992 with the serialization of Tanikamen in Young Animal magazine. His most renowned work is Air Master, a long-running series that was adapted into a TV anime in 2003. Having been a member of an amateur wrestling club during his high school years, Shibata infused the series with descriptions drawn directly from his personal experiences. He eventually transitioned from Young Animal to Weekly Young Jump, citing that he could no longer create the content he truly desired in his previous publication. Shibata originally aspired to become a professional shogi player during his childhood. His skills were recognized when he competed against professionals in an exhibition match, earning a letter of appreciation from the Japan Shogi Association in 2008. Another of his popular titles is 81 Diver, which spawned a live-action TV series and various video game adaptations for the Playstation 2, Nintendo DS, and Nintendo Wii, alongside pachinko machines featuring animated scenes from the manga. Beyond manga creation, Shibata contributed character designs for the PS Vita game Samurai & Dragons. He is also a noted fan of Tokusatsu and Super Sentai, with a particular affinity for Super Hero Taisen.
