History Creator / IkkiKajiwara

Ikki Kajiwara (梶原 一騎), born Asaki Takamori (高森 朝樹, September 4, 1936 -- January 21, 1987) and also known as Asao Takamori (高森 朝雄) was a ''manga'' writer, novelist and film producer mostly known for being the TropeCodifier of the HotBlooded [[Main/GamingAndSportsAnimeAndManga sports ''manga'']] and the FightingSeries genres, two genres which, notoriously, "The Father of ''Manga''" Creator/OsamuTezuka stayed away from[[note]]They would eventually collaborate on the first ''Manga/TomorrowsJoe'' anime adaptation, animated by ''Creator/MushiProductions''[[/note]]. His family includes his youngest brother, [[UsefulNotes/{{Karate}} karateka]] and fellow ''mangaka'' Hisao Maki, and his second ex-wife, Taiwanese celebrity Pai Bing-Bing, whom he fathered his sixth child with, Pai Hsiao-Yen, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Pai_Hsiao-yen who was the center of a sadly controversial incident]]. ('''Reader discretion is advised.''')

TheSeventies would be the decade where karate-themed works would dominate his input, most notoriously the incredibly successful ''manga'' ''Karate Baka Ichidai'', written with the consent of [[UsefulNotes/{{Karate}} Kyokushin Karate]] founder Masutatsu Oyama, the series' protagonist and a personal friend of Kajiwara. However, disputes between Oyama and Kajiwara about issues like the ''manga'''s [[ChangingOfTheGuard new protagonists]] or film adaptation income would gravely strain their relationship for life. It's also on this decade when Kajiwara would ultimately capitalize on his fame and contacts with wrestlers and martial artists to work as a match promoter, like in Wrestling/NewJapanProWrestling's famous "[[MyKungFuIsStrongerThanYours style vs style]]" matches [[note]]During the late 70s-early 80s, Kajiwara tried to create his own wrestling promotion without success - that was the closest thing to accomplishing it[[/note]]. These would culminate on 1980's Wrestling/AntonioInoki vs. Willie Williams match, which Kajiwara heavily pushed in his manga ''Shikakui Jungle'' as the climatic real-life showdown between his two specialities, ProfessionalWrestling against UsefulNotes/{{Karate}} -- nowadays, despite its surrounding controversy[[note]]While the match was very probably a worked shoot, the tension between karate and pro wrestling factions was very real, and secondhand accounts tell of possibilities of a brawl from any side if the match hadn't a rushed and semi-satisfactory ending. Indeed, in one of the alleged explanations of the latter "Inoki Confinement Case", Kajiwara was responsible of gathering karatekas to threaten Inoki when the wrestler was annoying some Karate organizations with his attempts to create his own Kansui-ryu style.[[/note]], it's considered in Japan to be one of the most important professional wrestling matches of all time and one of their predecessors to UsefulNotes/MixedMartialArts.

** '''Shin Kyojin no Hoshi''' (新巨人の星 / ''New Star of the Giants'', 1976-1977 -- ''Yomiuri Weekly''): ''Kyojin no Hoshi''[='=]s much less popular sequel. After dissappearing from the public eye since a career-ending injury, an adult Hyuma Hoshi unexpectedly returns to the Giants as a pinch hitter/runner, and later as a pitcher with his uninjured arm. Unlike most of his old colleagues and rivals, Hyuma seems to be cursed to live a life fully dedicated to baseball -- will he take his body to harmful extremes with the help of his father, just like in the past? Drawn once again by Noboru Kawasaki, whose style became more complex. Recieved a StealthSequel in
'''Kyojin no Samurai Honoo''' (巨人のサムライ炎 / ''The Samurai Flame of the Giants''[[note]]or "Honoo, the Samurai of the Giants"[[/note]], 1979-1980 -- ''Yomiuri Weekly''), drawn by Joya Kagemaru, where Hyuma acts as the titular baseball player Honoo Mizuki's coach.

* '''Kyojin no Hoshi''' (巨人の星 / ''Star of the Giants''[[note]][[DoubleMeaningTitle Can also be read as]] ''Hoshi of the Giants''[[/note]], 1966-1971 -- ''Shōnen Magazine''): Hyuma Hoshi, a frail and impoverished boy, is harshly trained by his father (himself a pre-WWII Baseball player) to become the best baseball pitcher in Japan and one of the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yomiuri_Giants Yomiuri Giants]]' best stars [[PyrrhicVictory at all costs]]. This work, which immediately became one of the ''manga'' industry's biggest hits, [[TropeCodifier singlehandedly codified]] the 60s-70s ''[[GamingAndSportsAnimeAndManga spokon]]'' ("'''Spo'''rts" + "''Ki'''kon'''''" / ''perseverance'') ''manga'' genre, which focused on tropes like [[TrainingFromHell extremely sadistic physical and mental training]], ascetic devotion to self-improvement, near-quixotic self-sacrifice, isolation from friendships and other percieved weaknesses, obsessive rivalries, physics-defying [[SignatureMove signature moves]] and tragic endings. It would receive a much less popular sequel, '''Shin Kyojin no Hoshi''' (新巨人の星, 1976-1977 -- ''Yomiuri Weekly''). Drawn by Noboru Kawasaki, also known for ''Inakappe Taishō'' and ''The Song of Tentomushi'' -- his other major work with Kajiwara was '''Otoko no Jōken''' (男の条件 / ''Qualifications of a man'', 1968-1969 -- ''Magazine/ShonenJump''), a drama about a poor boy [[SelfMadeMan struggling to become]] a ''manga'' artist, which was heavily referenced by ''Manga/{{Bakuman}}''

* '''Kyojin no Hoshi''' (巨人の星 / ''Star of the Giants''[[note]][[DoubleMeaningTitle Can also be read as]] ''Hoshi of the Giants''[[/note]], 1966-1971 -- ''Shōnen Magazine''): Hyuuma Hoshi, the son of a ex-baseball player, turns himself from a poor and frail boy to the best baseball pitcher in Japan for the Yomiuri Giants (after [[Main/TrainingFromHell an extremely sadistic physical and mental training]] that would become a standard of the ''spokon'' genre). The ''manga'' not only transformed Kajiwara into a superstar, it also [[TropeCodifier singlehandedly codified]] the [[GamingAndSportsAnimeAndManga sports manga genre]]. It would receive a much less popular sequel, '''Shin Kyojin no Hoshi''' (新巨人の星, 1976-1977 -- ''Yomiuri Weekly''). Drawn by Noboru Kawasaki, also known for ''Inakappe Taishō'' and ''The Song of Tentomushi'' -- his other major work with Kajiwara was '''Otoko no Jōken''' (男の条件 / ''Qualifications of a man'', 1968-1969 -- ''Magazine/ShonenJump''), a drama about a poor boy [[SelfMadeMan struggling to become]] a ''manga'' artist, which was heavily referenced by ''Manga/{{Bakuman}}''

* '''Niji wo Yobu Ken''' (虹をよぶ拳 / ''Fist calling a rainbow'', 1969-1971 -- ''Bōken Ō''): A [[CompanionShow fictional counterpart]] to ''Kick no Oni'', this time starring a schoolboy that learns karate and pretty much follows Sawamura's kickboxing training and Muay Thai duels. Mostly remembered today as the SpiritualPredecessor of ''Karate Baka Ichidai'', and the start of Kajiwara's obsession with Karate - in fact, Masatsu Oyama is credited as an advisor. Drawn by Jiro Tsunoda, who would go on to do many occult-themed ''manga'' after falling out with Kajiwara.

* '''Karate Baka Ichidai''' (空手バカ一代 / ''A Karate-Crazy Life'', 1971-1977 -- ''Shōnen Magazine''): Kajiwara's major work during the seventies, right after his work on ''Kyojin no Hoshi'' ended. It's a work [[VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory very loosely based on]] Masatsu Oyama's life, from his training to develop full-contact karate to the foundation and expansion of the Kyokushin organization and his disciples, while they meet/fight against famous boxing, judo, wrestling, muay thai, savate, capoeira and kenpo practicioners (and bulls). It turned karate into a household martial art, and made Kajiwara and Oyama close friends... Until the ''manga'' was [[{{Retool}} retooled]] after a change of artists because [[PostScriptSeason Oyama's life had already been completed]], and it started focusing on Kyokushin disciples such as Hideyuki Ashihara more than on Oyama, which helped the ''manga'' recover from its slump -- and to create [[ArrogantKungFuGuy an ideological split]] inside the Kyokushin organization. Drawn By Jiro Tsunoda (first half) and Joya Kagemaru (second half): the former abandoned the ''manga'' after falling out with the Kajiwara brothers (and to deepen the wound, Oyama would push Tsunoda to draw a new manga based on himself, after being disenchanted by the Kagemaru part), and the latter would go on to become a regular Kajiwara collaborator.

** '''Shin Karate Jigoku-hen''' (新カラテ地獄変 / ''New Karate Hell Story'', 1978-1982 -- ''Weekly Sankei''): A prequel to ''Bodyguard Kiba'' about the life of Kiba’s karate teacher. Probably Kajiwara’s most infamous DarkerAndEdgier work, reveling in [[BloodierAndGorier bloody]], [[StrawMisogynist misogynistic]] and [[SexIsEvil sex-filled]] tropes – that said, the ''Karate Jigoku-hen'' series is one of his longest works. Drawn by Ken Nakajo and Joya Kagemaru. It would be followed by '''Seihen Karate Jigoku-hen''' (正編カラテ地獄変, 1982-1983), cancelled after Kajiwara's arrest and also drawn by Ken Nakajo and Joya Kagemaru.

* '''Ore to Kaneyan''' (おれとカネやん / ''Me and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masaichi_Kaneda Kaneyan]]'', 1973-1975 -- ''Shōnen King''): Yet another ''manga'' about a boy working to be a baseball star, but not as successful as ''Kyojin no Hoshi'' or ''Samurai Giants''. Unlike Kajiwara’s other baseball ''manga'', which are associated with the Yomiuri Giants, this one was made to promote the Chiba Lotte Marines. Drawn by Takeshi Koshiro, Kajiwara's longest-lasting artist (from 1963 to 1985), although most of their collaborations were unsuccessful.

* '''Kurenai no Choushensha''' (紅の挑戦者 / ''Crimson Challenger'', or ''Kurenai the Challenger'', 1973-1975 -- ''Shōnen Magazine''): The SpiritualSuccessor to both ''Kick no Oni'' and to a lesser extent ''Tomorrow's Joe'' (and released shortly after the latter ended), the plot follows an ex-football star who takes up kickboxing to defeat Garuda, [[ArrogantKungFuGuy the “god” of Muay Thai]] and a powerful authority on Thailand. Also the last title where the pseudonym "Asao Takamori" was used. Drawn by Ken Nakajo.

* '''God Arm''' (ゴッド・アーム, 1976-1977 -- ''Shōnen Sunday''): Probably Kajiwara's weirdest work, a collaboration with artist Jiro Kuwata (of ''Anime/EighthMan'' fame) done to capitalize on [[{{Toku}} Tokusatsu]]’s enduring fame. It’s about a karateka revived by an [[StupidJetpackHitler evil neonazi organization]] and turned an incredibly strong superhuman that saves the world against mechanical contraptions, beasts, robots, aliens and {{Kaiju}} made of monuments. It was planned to be Kajiwara’s next big hit after ''Karate Baka Ichidai''[='=]s temporary slump, but it never made it anywhere.

TheSeventies would be the decade where karate-themed works would dominate his input, most notoriously the incredibly successful ''manga'' ''Karate Baka Ichidai'', written with the consent of [[UsefulNotes/{{Karate}} Kyokushin Karate]] founder Masutatsu Oyama, the series' protagonist and a personal friend of Kajiwara. However, disputes between Oyama and Kajiwara about issues like the ''manga'''s [[ChangingOfTheGuard new protagonists]] or film adaptation income would gravely strain their relationship for life. It's also on this decade when Kajiwara would ultimately capitalize on his fame and contacts with wrestlers and martial artists to work as a match fixer, like in Wrestling/NewJapanProWrestling's famous "[[MyKungFuIsStrongerThanYours style vs style]]" matches [[note]]During the late 70s-early 80s, Kajiwara tried to create his own wrestling promotion without success - that was the closest thing to accomplishing it[[/note]]. These would culminate on 1980's [[Wrestling/AntonioInoki Antonio]] [[ProfessionalWrestling Inoki]] vs. [[UsefulNotes/{{Karate}} Willie Williams]] match, considered in Japan by some to be the most important professional wrestling match of all time and one of their predecessors to UsefulNotes/MixedMartialArts.

* '''Manga/TomorrowsJoe''' (あしたのジョー / ''Tomorrow's Joe'', 1967-1973)
* '''Manga/TigerMask''' (タイガーマスク, 1968-1971) / '''Tiger Mask Nisei''' (タイガーマスク二世, 1980-1983)

* '''Champion Futoshi''' (チャンピオン太, 1962-1963): Kajiwara's first notable work. Futoshi "Dai" Daito, a small boy talented in many sports, joins the Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance under Wrestling/{{Rikidozan}}'s tutelage and [[ProWrestlingIsReal fights against many heel villains]]. It was cancelled after Rikidozan's murder, and followed in 1964 by the memorial ''manga'' ''Nitoryu Rikidozan'' and the successor ''Senkan Toyonobori'' (Submarine Toyonobori), featuring the titular wrestler who was predicted to be Rikidozan's successor - sadly, he wasn't as successful, so neither was the ''manga''. Drawn by Tatsuo Yoshida, one of the founders of Creator/TatsunokoProduction, who also collaborated with Kajiwara in the boxing ''manga'' ''0-sen Champion'', aviation ''manga'' ''Ōzora Sanshirō'' and the judo-themed ''Harris Mu-dan''.

* '''Shin Senkan Yamato''' (新戦艦大和 / ''New Battleship Yamato'', 1963-1964): A flying Battleship Yamato and its crew defend Japan from the American MadScientist that commissioned it in WWII to TakeOverTheWorld. Mostly remembered today for the titular ship's resemblance to [[Anime/SpaceBattleshipYamato the famous anime that would come out ten years later]]. Drawn by Tetsuya Dan, a pulp novel artist.

* '''Kyojin no Hoshi''' (巨人の星 / ''Star of the Giants''[[note]][[DoubleMeaningTitle Can also be read as]] ''Hoshi of the Giants''[[/note]], 1966-1971): Hyuuma Hoshi, the son of a ex-baseball player, turns himself from a poor boy to the best baseball player in Japan for the Yomiuri Giants (after [[Main/TrainingFromHell an extremely harsh training]], of course). The ''manga'' not only transformed Kajiwara into a superstar, it also [[TropeCodifier singlehandedly codified]] the [[GamingAndSportsAnimeAndManga sports manga genre]]. It would receive a much less popular sequel during 1976-1977, '''Shin Kyojin no Hoshi'''. Drawn by Noboru Kawasaki, also known for ''Inakappe Taishō'' and ''The Song of Tentomushi'' -- his other major work with Kajiwara was '''Otoko no Jōken''' (男の条件 / ''Qualifications of a man''), a drama about a poor boy [[SelfMadeMan struggling to become]] a ''manga'' artist, which was heavily referenced by ''Manga/{{Bakuman}}''

* '''Yuuyake Bancho''' (夕やけ番長 / ''Sunset Bancho'', 1967-1971): Chuuji Akagi is transferred to a school overtaken by a [[Main/JapaneseDelinquents delinquent gang]], mostly formed by members who excel at the many sports clubs there. Akagi, predictably enough, slowly manages to defeat the gang and become an excellent athlete, but there's one of Kajiwara's first twist endings[[note]]Akagi, after beating up his rivals, gets good enough at sports to be admitted into a prestigious sports high school, which is his only way to progress from an empty victory. However, an accident caused by one of Akagi's friends abruptly ends his athlete career, and the guilt makes his friend suicidical.[[/note]]. Notable for being one of the very first delinquent-based ''manga'', a year before the rival hit [[Magazine/ShonenJump Otoko Ippiki Gaki Daishou]] came out. Drawn by Toshio Shoji, who would later make ''Cycle Yaro'', the UrExample of cycling ''manga''.

* '''Judo Icchokusen''' (柔道一直線 / ''Judo Straight Line'', 1967-1971): A [[UsefulNotes/{{Judo}} judo-based]] ''manga'' where the protagonist beats other Japanese and foreign ''judoka'' with outlandish techniques. It was adapted into a popular TV show, mostly known today for being the SpiritualPredecessor of the Series/KamenRider TV show. Drawn by Shinji Nagashima, who also did in the same year with Kajiwara the [[SpyFiction spy]] ''manga'' ''Chōsensha AAA'', and would later become one of the pioneers of the ''{{Seinen}}'' demographic -- although Nagashima would abandon ''Judo Icchokusen'' halfway after creative differences, and the much less known Yuruzu Saito (best known as Dynamite Tetsu) would step up [[WrapItUp to end it]].

* '''Giant Typhoon''' (ジャイアント台風, 1968-1971): A {{Kayfabe}} ''manga'' about [[Wrestling/AllJapanProWrestling Giant Baba]]'s life and his matches against wrestlers as Wrestling/AntoninoRocca, [[Wrestling/VonErichFamily Fritz von Erich]], Wrestling/BuddyRogers, Wrestling/BrunoSammartino or Killer Kowalski. It’s something of a CompanionShow to '' Manga/TigerMask'', since both of them were created by the same writer-artist team (Ikki Kajiwara & Naoki Tsuji) during the same years, although for different publishers. Naoki Tsuji, also known for ''Zero-sen Hayato'' and ''Bakuhatsu Goro'', would become another of Tatsunoko Production's founders.

* '''Kick no Oni''' (キックの鬼 / ''The Kick Demon'', 1969-1971): Kajiwara's first ''manga'' [[VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory based on a real-life martial artist]], kickboxer Tadashi Sawamura. It follows his trials to prove [[UsefulNotes/{{Kickboxing}} Japanese kickboxing]]'s superiority to UsefulNotes/MuayThai. The anime adaptation gained a huge following in Brazil under the name "''Sawamu, o Demolidor''". Drawn by Kentaro "Ken" Nakajo, who would become one of Kajiwara’s most faithful artists and one of his closest friends (both of them had similar reputation as tough big guys [[DaEditor feared by their coworkers]]).

* '''Niji wo Yobu Ken''' (虹をよぶ拳 / ''Fist calling a rainbow'', 1969-1971): A [[CompanionShow fictional counterpart]] to ''Kick no Oni'', this time starring a schoolboy that learns karate and pretty much follows Sawamura's kickboxing training and Muay Thai duels. Mostly remembered today as the SpiritualPredecessor of ''Karate Baka Ichidai'', and the start of Kajiwara's obsession with Karate - in fact, Masatsu Oyama is credited as an advisor. Drawn by Jiro Tsunoda, who would go on to do many occult-themed ''manga'' after falling out with Kajiwara.

* '''Akakichi no Eleven''' (赤き血のイレブン / ''Red-blooded Eleven'', 1970-1971): One of the first notable ''manga'' about UsefulNotes/AssociationFootball, ten years before ''Manga/CaptainTsubasa'' hit big time. Drawn by Mitsuyoshi Sonoda (of ''Akatsuki Sentoutai'' fame. He also drew Kajiwara's ''Seishun kyūjō'', ''Hinotama Racer Kamikaze'' and ''[[Series/CaptainScarletAndTheMysterons Captain Scarlet]]'' in 1967), who was infamous within the industry for being rather unreliable despite his talent -- as was somewhat expected, he had to be replaced later by the virtually unknown Shosuke Fukaoji.

* '''Karate Baka Ichidai''' (空手バカ一代 / ''A Karate-Crazy Life'', 1971-1977): Kajiwara's major work during the seventies. It's a work [[VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory very loosely based on]] Masatsu Oyama's life, from his training to develop full-contact karate to the foundation and expansion of the Kyokushin organization and his disciples, while they meet/fight against famous boxing, judo, wrestling, muay thai, savate, capoeira and kenpo practicioners (and bulls). It turned karate into a household martial art, and made Kajiwara and Oyama close friends... Until the ''manga'' was [[{{Retool}} retooled]] after a change of artists because [[PostScriptSeason Oyama's life had already been completed]], and it started focusing on Kyokushin disciples such as Hideyuki Ashihara more than on Oyama, which helped the ''manga'' recover from its slump -- and to create [[ArrogantKungFuGuy an ideological split]] inside the Kyokushin organization. Drawn By Jiro Tsunoda (first half) and Joya Kagemaru (second half): the former abandoned the ''manga'' after falling out with the Kajiwara brothers (and to deepen the wound, Oyama would push Tsunoda to draw a new manga based on himself, after being disenchanted by the Kagemaru part), and the latter would go on to become a regular Kajiwara collaborator.

* '''Samurai Giants''' (侍ジャイアンツ, 1971-1974): The DenserAndWackier SpiritualSuccessor to Kajiwara’s own ''Kyojin no Hoshi'', though it never managed to be as popular as its predecessor – in fact, it only got renewed at the last minute by the anime adaptation’s popularity. Unlike ''Kyojin no Hoshi'''s protagonist, the one from ''Samurai Giants'' shares more AntiHero traits with Kajiwara’s [[Manga/TomorrowsJoe Joe Yabuki]], right down to his ending. It’s also Kajiwara’s most successful Magazine/ShonenJump ''manga''. Also known for having Creator/MasamiKurumada as one of the assistants to artist Kou Inoue (whose work is mostly baseball ''manga'') during the run.

* '''Judo Sanka''' (柔道讃歌 / ''Judo Eulogy'', 1972-1975): The even more over-the top SpiritualSuccessor to ''Judo Icchokusen'', with a story [[SelfPlagiarism more similar to]] ''Yuuyake Banchou'' and ''Samurai Giants''. Kajiwara’s biggest hit on ''Magazine/ShonenSunday'', although parodied by Creator/GoNagai on his own ''Oira Sukeban'' [[TakeThat on the same magazine at the same time]]. Drawn by Hiroshi Kaizuka, one of the earliest ''Magazine/ShonenJump'' mainstays.

* '''Bodyguard Kiba''' (ボディガード牙, 1972-1974): A fictional DarkerAndEdgier counterpart to ''Karate Baka Ichidai'' in the vein of other contemporary {{Gekiga}} works such as ''Manga/Golgo13'', about the titular bodyguard's karate-filled adventures involving hitmen and mafia. More known for starting one of Creator/SonnyChiba's earliest famous film roles. Drawn by Ken Nakajo. Followed by '''Shin Bodyguard Kiba: Karate Jigoku-hen''' (新 ボディガード牙 カラテ地獄変 / ''New/True Bodyguard Kiba: Hell Karate Story'', 1974-1977), also drawn by Ken Nakajo.
** '''Shin Karate Jigoku-hen''' (新カラテ地獄変 / ''New Karate Hell Story'', 1978-1982): A prequel to ''Bodyguard Kiba'' about the life of Kiba’s karate teacher. Probably Kajiwara’s most infamous DarkerAndEdgier work, reveling in [[BloodierAndGorier bloody]], [[StrawMisogynist misogynistic]] and [[SexIsEvil sex-filled]] tropes – that said, the ''Karate Jigoku-hen'' series is one of his longest works. Drawn by Ken Nakajo and Joya Kagemaru. It would be followed by '''Seihen Karate Jigoku-hen''' (正編カラテ地獄変, 1982-1983), cancelled after Kajiwara's arrest and also drawn by Ken Nakajo and Joya Kagemaru.

* '''Ai to Makoto''' (愛と誠 / ''Ai and Makoto'', or ''[[DoubleMeaningTitle Love and Truth]]'', 1973-1976): A ''manga'' about a [[Main/StarCrossedLovers star-crossed]] Main/InterClassRomance. Kajiwara’s most successful [[RomanceNovel manly romance]] ''manga'', and a SpiritualSuccessor to 1970-72's '''Taiyo no Koibito''' (太陽の恋人 / ''Lovers of the Sun''). It garnered him with critical acclaim, since Kajiwara was mostly seen as a one-note sports author until then. It was so popular that it was adapted into a live-action drama, a film trilogy and a AffectionateParody film by Creator/TakashiMiike[[note]]Miike was also responsible for many DirectToVideo Kajiwara adaptations in his early career, namely a ''Bodyguard Kiba'' trilogy and ''Ningen Kyoki''[[/note]]. Drawn by Takumi Nagayasu, best known overseas for drawing ''Manga/TheLegendOfMotherSarah''.

* '''Ore to Kaneyan''' (おれとカネやん / ''Me and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masaichi_Kaneda Kaneyan]]'', 1973-1975): Yet another ''manga'' about a boy working to be a baseball star, but not as successful as ''Kyojin no Hoshi'' or ''Samurai Giants''. Unlike Kajiwara’s other baseball ''manga'', which are associated with the Yorimuri Giants, this one was made to promote the Chiba Lotte Marines. Drawn by Takeshi Koshiro, Kajiwara's longest-lasting artist (from 1963 to 1985), although most of their collaborations were unsuccessful.

* '''Kurenai no Choushensha''' (紅の挑戦者 / ''Crimson Challenger'', or ''Kurenai the Challenger'', 1973-1975): The SpiritualSuccessor to both ''Kick no Oni'' and ''Tomorrow's Joe'', the plot follows an ex-football star who takes up kickboxing to defeat Garuda, [[ArrogantKungFuGuy the “god” of Muay Thai]] and a powerful authority on Thailand. Drawn by Ken Nakajo.

* '''God Arm''' (ゴッド・アーム, 1976-1977): Probably Kajiwara's weirdest work, a collaboration with artist Jiro Kuwata (of ''Anime/EighthMan'' fame) done to capitalize on [[{{Toku}} Tokusatsu]]’s enduring fame. It’s about a karateka revived by an [[StupidJetpackHitler evil neonazi organization]] and turned an incredibly strong superhuman that saves the world against mechanical contraptions, beasts, robots, aliens and {{Kaiju}} made of monuments. It was planned to be Kajiwara’s next big hit after ''Karate Baka Ichidai'', but it never made it anywhere.

* '''Kakuto-shi Roma no Hoshi''' (格闘士ローマの星 / ''Fighting Rome Star'', 1976-1977): Another unusual Kajiwara work, about a [[GladiatorGames roman gladiator]] fighting under [[UsefulNotes/{{Nero}} Emperor Nero]]’s reign that turns to Christianity for love. It features tropes like ''Kyojin no Hoshi'''s TrainingFromHell, an evil villain organization who sends fighters to one of their own ex-members like ''Manga/TigerMask'' and a Main/InterClassRomance like the one from ''Ai to Makoto''. As might be expected, it features huge amounts of [[ArtisticLicenseHistory historical anachronisms]]. Drawn and partially written by Masami Fukushima, known for his unusual drawing style featuring [[HeroicBuild exaggerated muscle anatomy]].

* '''Shikakui Jungle''' (四角いジャングル / ''Square Jungle'', 1978-1981): A StealthSequel to ''Karate Baka Ichidai''. It starts with a karateka wanting to avenge his brother’s death from the hands of kickboxer Benny Urquidez, but it gradually transforms into a [[VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory pseudo-documentary]] of Japan’s then-current martial arts matches, such as Wrestling/NewJapanProWrestling’s “style vs style” matches (It helps that Kajiwara was [[RealLifeWritesThePlot fixing some the matches and producing documentaries out of them]]). Drawn by Ken Nakajo.

* '''Pro Wrestling Superstar Retsuden''' (プロレススーパースター列伝 / ''Biographies of Pro-Wrestling Superstars'', 1980-1983): One of Kajiwara’s last notable ''manga'', where he goes all-out in creating [[{{Kayfabe}} fictional biographies]] for wrestlers as [[Wrestling/SatoruSayama Tiger Mask]] (whose gimmick Kajiwara lent to NJPW, at the same time he was working on his Tiger Mask revival), the [[Wrestling/TerryFunk Funk]] [[Wrestling/DoryFunkJr family]], Wrestling/StanHansen, Wrestling/AbdullahTheButcher, Wrestling/AndreTheGiant, Wrestling/KarlGotch, Wrestling/RicFlair, Wrestling/HulkHogan, Wrestling/BruiserBrody, [[WeUsedToBeFriends Giant Baba and Antonio Inoki]], Mil Mascaras, Tiger Jeet Singh, and The Great Kabuki. Drawn by Kunichika Harada, who would go on to do ''manga'' based on real life events after Kajiwara's writing style. It was suddenly halted after Kajiwara’s arrest, much like all his other ongoing ''manga''.

* '''Otoko no Seiza''' (男の星座 / ''The constellation of a man'', 1985-1987): An unusually easy-going autobiography of Kajiwara’s own life, from his family relationships and his work with many ''manga'' publishers, to his controversial relationship with wrestlers and martial artists. Kajiwara's most notable work after his arrest, although it was sadly unfinished for the author's death. Drawn by Kunichika Harada of ''Pro Wrestling Superstar Retsuden'', who would volunteer to work with Kajiwara [[UndyingLoyalty even after his infamous scandals]], and dedicated decades later his comeback ''manga'' at age 62 to Kajiwara.

[[AC:{{LiveActionTV}}]]

However, by the late '70s-'80s, he was seen as an outdated author[[note]]ironically, some of his most-known works were on a {{revival}} phase, namely Tiger Mask II and the ''Tomorrow's Joe'' anime continuation[[/note]] and his prolific output slowed down, until he was imprisoned in 1983 after a violent event that brought to light [[BrokenPedestal violent incidents of his past]] and made him an Main/{{Unperson}} to Japanese media[[note]]Kajiwara was arrested on charges of assault to the editor of Monthly Shōnen Magazine, although the police allegedly wanted him for drug-related charges, such as his stimulant addiction or dealing cannabis to close contacts. Following revelations included Kajiwara's forced confinement of Antonio Inoki or his manager Hisashi Shinma (over unpaid Tiger Mask royalties or a karateka's feud, depending on who tells the story), attempted assault at a [[HostClub hostess]] and a friend's ghostwriter, mistreatment to some artists (notably, to first ''Karate Baka Ichidai'' illustrator Jiro Tsunoda, who had a falling out -- the Kajiwara brothers' response was to send him their scripts [[{{Workaholic}} as late as a week or a day before]] the ''manga'''s publication), or his obvious ties with the Yakuza among others[[/note]]. Finally, in 1987, and with a much more relaxed output partly caused by his failing health, he died of pancreatitis [[DiedDuringProduction while writing what would become his final works]]. His work wouldn't be [[VindicatedByHistory critically reevaluated]] until the mid-'90s.

However, by the late '70s-'80s, he was seen as an outdated author[[note]]ironically, some of his most-known works were on a {{revival}} phase, namely Tiger Mask II and the ''Tomorrow's Joe'' anime continuation[[/note]] and his prolific output slowed down, until he was imprisoned in 1983 after a violent event that brought to light [[BrokenPedestal violent incidents of his past]] and made him an Main/{{Unperson}} to Japanese media[[note]]Kajiwara was arrested on charges of assault to the editor of Monthly Shōnen Magazine, although the police allegedly wanted him for drug-related charges, such as his stimulant addiction or dealing cannabis to close contacts. Following revelations included Kajiwara's forced confinement of Antonio Inoki or his manager Hisashi Shinma (over unpaid Tiger Mask royalties or a karateka's feud, depending on who tells the story), attempted assault at a [[HostClub hostess]] and a friend's ghostwriter, mistreatment to some artists (notably, to first ''Karate Baka Ichidai'' illustrator Jiro Tsunoda, who had a falling out -- the Kajiwara brothers' response was to send him their scripts [[{{Karoshi}} as late as a week or a day before]] the ''manga'''s publication), or his obvious ties with the Yakuza among others[[/note]]. Finally, in 1987, and with a much more relaxed output partly caused by his failing health, he died of pancreatitis [[DiedDuringProduction while writing what would become his final works]]. His work wouldn't be [[VindicatedByHistory critically reevaluated]] until the mid-'90s.

However, by the late '70s-'80s, he was seen as an outdated author[[note]]ironically, some of his most-known works were on a {{revival}} phase, namely Tiger Mask II and the ''Tomorrow's Joe'' anime continuation[[/note]] and his prolific output slowed down, until he was imprisoned in 1983 after a violent event that brought to light [[BrokenPedestal violent incidents of his past]] and made him an Main/{{Unperson}} to Japanese media[[note]]Kajiwara was arrested on charges of assault to the editor of Monthly Shōnen Magazine, although the police allegedly wanted him for drug-related charges, such as his stimulant addiction or dealing cannabis to close contacts. Following revelations included Kajiwara's forced confinement of Antonio Inoki or his manager Hisashi Shinma (over unpaid Tiger Mask royalties or a karateka's feud, depending on who tells the story), attempted assault at a [[HostClub hostess]] and a friend's ghostwriter, mistreatment to some artists (notably, to first ''Karate Baka Ichidai'' illustrator Jiro Tsunoda, who had a falling out -- the Kajiwara brothers' response was to send him their scripts [[{{Karoshi}} as late as a week or a day before]] the ''manga'''s publication), or his obvious ties with the Yakuza among others[[/note]]. Finally, in 1987, and with a much more relaxed output partly caused by his failing health, he died of pancreatitis [[AuthorExistenceFailure while writing what would become his final works]]. His work wouldn't be [[VindicatedByHistory critically reevaluated]] until the mid-'90s.

Ikki Kajiwara (梶原 一騎), born Asaki Takamori (高森 朝樹, September 4, 1936 -- January 21, 1987) and also known as Asao Takamori (高森 朝雄) was a ''manga'' writer, novelist and film producer mostly known for being the TropeCodifier of the HotBlooded [[Main/GamingAndSportsAnimeAndManga sports ''manga'']] and the FightingSeries genres, two genres which, notoriously, "The Father of ''Manga''" Creator/OsamuTezuka stayed away from[[note]]They would eventually collaborate on the first ''Manga/AshitaNoJoe'' anime adaptation, animated by ''Creator/MushiProductions''[[/note]]. His family includes his youngest brother, [[UsefulNotes/{{Karate}} karateka]] and fellow ''mangaka'' Hisao Maki, and his second ex-wife, Taiwanese celebrity Pai Bing-Bing, whom he fathered his sixth child with, Pai Hsiao-Yen, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Pai_Hsiao-yen who was the center of a sadly controversial incident]]. ('''Reader discretion is advised.''')

His career started [[TheFifties in 1953]] when he was 17 years old, when he submitted a boxing novel, ''Shōri no kage ni'', to a shonen magazine. He would continue publishing novels and stories until the late sixties - however, his popularity would explode after writing sports ''manga'' in TheSixties, most notoriously the enormously successful baseball ''manga'' ''Kyojin no Hoshi'' -- it started his most successful era, where he managed to write simultaneously many classics for different publishers, like ''Manga/AshitaNoJoe'', ''Manga/TigerMask'', ''[[Main/JapaneseDelinquents Yūyake Banchō]]'', ''[[UsefulNotes/{{Judo}} Judo Icchokusen]]'', ''[[Wrestling/AllJapanProWrestling Giant Typhoon]]'', ''[[UsefulNotes/{{Kickboxing}} Kick no Oni]]'', ''[[UsefulNotes/{{Karate}} Niji o Yobu Ken]]'' or ''[[UsefulNotes/AssociationFootball Akaichi no Eleven]]''... And that's not even [[ArchivePanic half of them]].

However, by the late '70s-'80s, he was seen as an outdated author[[note]]ironically, some of his most-known works were on a {{revival}} phase, namely Tiger Mask II and the ''Ashita no Joe'' anime continuation[[/note]] and his prolific output slowed down, until he was imprisoned in 1983 after a violent event that brought to light [[BrokenPedestal violent incidents of his past]] and made him an Main/{{Unperson}} to Japanese media[[note]]Kajiwara was arrested on charges of assault to the editor of Monthly Shōnen Magazine, although the police allegedly wanted him for drug-related charges, such as his stimulant addiction or dealing cannabis to close contacts. Following revelations included Kajiwara's forced confinement of Antonio Inoki or his manager Hisashi Shinma (over unpaid Tiger Mask royalties or a karateka's feud, depending on who tells the story), attempted assault at a [[HostClub hostess]] and a friend's ghostwriter, mistreatment to some artists (notably, to first ''Karate Baka Ichidai'' illustrator Jiro Tsunoda, who had a falling out -- the Kajiwara brothers' response was to send him their scripts [[{{Karoshi}} as late as a week or a day before]] the ''manga'''s publication), or his obvious ties with the Yakuza among others[[/note]]. Finally, in 1987, and with a much more relaxed output partly caused by his failing health, he died of pancreatitis [[AuthorExistenceFailure while writing what would become his final works]]. His work wouldn't be [[VindicatedByHistory critically reevaluated]] until the mid-'90s.

* '''Manga/AshitaNoJoe''' (あしたのジョー / ''Tomorrow's Joe'', 1967-1973)

* '''Samurai Giants''' (侍ジャイアンツ, 1971-1974): The DenserAndWackier SpiritualSuccessor to Kajiwara’s own ''Kyojin no Hoshi'', though it never managed to be as popular as its predecessor – in fact, it only got renewed at the last minute by the anime adaptation’s popularity. Unlike ''Kyojin no Hoshi'''s protagonist, the one from ''Samurai Giants'' shares more AntiHero traits with Kajiwara’s [[Manga/AshitaNoJoe Joe Yabuki]], right down to his ending. It’s also Kajiwara’s most successful Magazine/ShonenJump ''manga''. Also known for having Creator/MasamiKurumada as one of the assistants to artist Kou Inoue (whose work is mostly baseball ''manga'') during the run.

* '''Kurenai no Choushensha''' (紅の挑戦者 / ''Crimson Challenger'', or ''Kurenai the Challenger'', 1973-1975): The SpiritualSuccessor to both ''Kick no Oni'' and ''Ashita no Joe'', the plot follows an ex-football star who takes up kickboxing to defeat Garuda, [[ArrogantKungFuGuy the “god” of Muay Thai]] and a powerful authority on Thailand. Drawn by Ken Nakajo.

* ''Ashita no Joe'' (1970-1971, Mushi Productions -- 79 ep. + compilation movie)

* ''Ashita no Joe 2'' (1980-1981, Tokyo Movie -- 47 ep. + compilation movie)

* ''Ashita no Joe'' (1970, Nikkatsu)

* ''Ashita no Joe'' (2011, Toei)

Ikki Kajiwara (梶原 一騎), born Asaki Takamori (高森 朝樹, September 4, 1936 –- January 21, 1987) and also known as Asao Takamori (高森 朝雄) was a ''manga'' writer, novelist and film producer mostly known for being the TropeCodifier of the HotBlooded [[Main/GamingAndSportsAnimeAndManga sports ''manga'']] and the FightingSeries genres, two genres which, notoriously, "The Father of ''Manga''" Creator/OsamuTezuka stayed away from[[note]]They would eventually collaborate on the first ''Manga/AshitaNoJoe'' anime adaptation, animated by ''Creator/MushiProductions''[[/note]]. His family includes his youngest brother, [[UsefulNotes/{{Karate}} karateka]] and fellow ''mangaka'' Hisao Maki, and his second ex-wife, Taiwanese celebrity Pai Bing-Bing, whom he fathered his sixth child with, Pai Hsiao-Yen, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Pai_Hsiao-yen who was the center of a sadly controversial incident]]. ('''Reader discretion is advised.''')

! Works with their own pages:

! Other notable works:

* Fictional novel/''manga'' biographies of baseball players[[note]]Masaichi Kaneda, Shigeo Nagashima, Sadaharu Oh, Lou Gehrig, Creator/BabeRuth[[/note]], boxers[[note]]Fighting Harada, Piston Horiguchi, Kazuo Takayama[[/note]], wrestlers [[note]]Wrestling/LouThesz, Wrestling/AntonioInoki[[/note]] and sumo ''rikishi'' [[note]]Wakanohana, Toyonobori[[/note]].

* '''Champion Futoshi''' (チャンピオン太, 1962-1963): Kajiwara's first notable work. Futoshi "Dai" Daito, a small boy talented in many sports, joins the Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance under Wrestling/{{Rikidozan}}'s tutelage and [[ProWrestlingIsReal fights against many heel villains]]. It was cancelled after Rikidozan's murder, and followed in 1964 by the memorial ''manga'' ''Nitoryu Rikidozan'' and the successor ''Senkan Toyonobori'' (Submarine Toyonobori), featuring the titular wrestler who was predicted to be Rikidozan's successor - sadly, he wasn't as successful, so neither was the ''manga''. Drawn by Tatsuo Yoshida, one of the founders of Creator/TatsunokoProduction.

* '''Shin Senkan Yamato''' (新戦艦大和 / ''New Battleship Yamato'', 1963-1964): A flying Battleship Yamato and its crew defend Japan from the American MadScientist that commissioned it in WWII to TakeOverTheWorld. Mostly remembered today for the titular ship's resemblance to [[Anime/SpaceBattleshipYamato the famous anime that would come out ten years later]].

* '''Kyojin no Hoshi''' (巨人の星 / ''Star of the Giants''[[note]][[DoubleMeaningTitle Can also be read as]] ''Hoshi of the Giants''[[/note]], 1966-1971): Hyuuma Hoshi, the son of a ex-baseball player, turns himself from a poor boy to the best baseball player in Japan for the Yomiuri Giants (after [[Main/TrainingFromHell an extremely harsh training]], of course). The ''manga'' not only transformed Kajiwara into a superstar, it also [[TropeCodifier singlehandedly codified]] the [[GamingAndSportsAnimeAndManga sports manga genre]]. It would receive a much less popular sequel during 1976-1977, '''Shin Kyojin no Hoshi'''.

* '''Judo Icchokusen''' (柔道一直線 / ''Judo Straight Line'', 1967-1971): A [[UsefulNotes/{{Judo}} judo-based]] ''manga'' where the protagonist beats other Japanese and foreign ''judoka'' with outlandish techniques. It was adapted into a popular TV show, mostly known today for being the SpiritualPredecessor of the Series/KamenRider TV show.

* '''Giant Typhoon''' (ジャイアント台風, 1968-1971): A {{Kayfabe}} ''manga'' about [[Wrestling/AllJapanProWrestling Giant Baba]]'s life and his matches against wrestlers as Wrestling/AntoninoRocca, [[Wrestling/VonErichFamily Fritz von Erich]], Wrestling/BuddyRogers, Wrestling/BrunoSammartino or Killer Kowalski. It’s something of a CompanionShow to '' Manga/TigerMask'', since both of them were created by the same writer-artist team during the same years, although for different publishers.

* '''Kick no Oni''' (キックの鬼 / ''The Kick Demon'', 1969-1971): Kajiwara's first ''manga'' [[VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory based on a real-life martial artist]], kickboxer Tadashi Sawamura. It follows his trials to prove [[UsefulNotes/{{Kickboxing}} Japanese kickboxing]]'s superiority to UsefulNotes/MuayThai. The anime adaptation gained a huge following in Brazil under the name "''Sawamu, o Demolidor''". Drawn by Ken Nakajo, who would become one of Kajiwara’s most faithful artists.

* '''Niji wo Yobu Ken''' (虹をよぶ拳 / ''Fist calling a rainbow'', 1969-1971): A [[CompanionShow fictional counterpart]] to ''Kick no Oni'', this time starring a schoolboy that learns karate and pretty much follows Sawamura's kickboxing training and Muay Thai duels. Mostly remembered today as the SpiritualPredecessor of ''Karate Baka Ichidai'', and the start of Kajiwara's obsession with Karate - in fact, Masatsu Oyama is credited as an advisor.

* '''Akakichi no Eleven''' (赤き血のイレブン / ''Red-blooded Eleven'', 1970-1971): One of the first notable ''manga'' about UsefulNotes/AssociationFootball, ten years before ''Manga/CaptainTsubasa'' hit big time.

* '''Karate Baka Ichidai''' (空手バカ一代 / ''A Karate-Crazy Life'', 1971-1977): Kajiwara's major work during the seventies. It's a work [[VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory very loosely based on]] Masatsu Oyama's life, from his training to develop full-contact karate to the foundation and expansion of the Kyokushin organization and his disciples, while they meet/fight against famous boxing, judo, wrestling, muay thai, savate, capoeira and kenpo practicioners (and bulls). It turned karate into a household martial art, and made Kajiwara and Oyama close friends... Until the ''manga'' was forcibly [[{{Retool}} retooled]] by a change of artists, and it started focusing on Kyokushin disciples such as Hideyuki Ashihara more than on Oyama and the ''manga'' recovered from its slump, thus creating [[ArrogantKungFuGuy an ideological split]] inside the Kyokushin organization.

* '''Samurai Giants''' (侍ジャイアンツ, 1971-1974): The DenserAndWackier SpiritualSuccessor to Kajiwara’s own ''Kyojin no Hoshi'', though it never managed to be as popular as its predecessor – in fact, it only got renewed at the last minute by the anime adaptation’s popularity. Unlike ''Kyojin no Hoshi'''s protagonist, the one from ''Samurai Giants'' shares more AntiHero traits with Kajiwara’s [[Manga/AshitaNoJoe Joe Yabuki]], right down to his ending. It’s also Kajiwara’s most successful Magazine/ShonenJump ''manga''. Also known for having Creator/MasamiKurumada as one of artist Kou Inoue's assistants during the run.

* '''Judo Sanka''' (柔道讃歌 / ''Judo Eulogy'', 1972-1975): The even more over-the top SpiritualSuccessor to ''Judo Icchokusen'', with a story [[SelfPlagiarism more similar to]] ''Yuuyake Banchou'' and ''Samurai Giants''. Kajiwara’s biggest hit on ''Magazine/ShonenSunday'', although parodied by Creator/GoNagai on his own ''Oira Sukeban'' [[TakeThat on the same magazine at the same time]].

* '''Bodyguard Kiba''' (ボディガード牙, 1972-1974): A fictional DarkerAndEdgier counterpart to ''Karate Baka Ichidai'' in the vein of other contemporary {{Gekiga}} works such as ''Manga/Golgo13'', about the titular bodyguard's karate-filled adventures involving hitmen and mafia. More known for starting one of Creator/SonnyChiba's best-known film roles. Followed by '''Shin Bodyguard Kiba: Karate Jigoku-hen''' (新 ボディガード牙 カラテ地獄変 / ''New/True Bodyguard Kiba: Hell Karate Story'', 1974-1977).
** '''Shin Karate Jigoku-hen''' (新カラテ地獄変 / ''New Karate Hell Story'', 1978-1982): ''Bodyguard Kiba'''s prequel, about the life of Kiba’s karate teacher. Probably Kajiwara’s most infamous DarkerAndEdgier work, reveling in [[BloodierAndGorier bloody]], [[StrawMisogynist misogynistic]] and [[SexIsEvil sex-filled]] tropes – that said, the ''Karate Jigoku-hen'' series is of his longest works.

* '''Ai to Makoto''' (愛と誠 / ''Ai and Makoto'', or ''[[DoubleMeaningTitle Love and Truth]]'', 1973-1976): A ''manga'' about a [[Main/StarCrossedLovers star-crossed]] Main/InterClassRomance. Kajiwara’s most successful [[RomanceNovel manly romance]] ''manga'', and a SpiritualSuccessor to 1970-72's '''Taiyo no Koibito''' (太陽の恋人 / ''Lovers of the Sun''). It garnered him with critical acclaim, since Kajiwara was mostly seen as a one-note sports author until then. It was so popular that it was adapted into a live-action drama, a film trilogy and a AffectionateParody film by Creator/TakashiMiike[[note]]Miike was also responsible for many DirectToVideo Kajiwara adaptations in his early career, namely a ''Bodyguard Kiba'' trilogy and ''Ningen Kyoki''[[/note]].

* '''Ore to Kaneyan''' (おれとカネやん / ''Me and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masaichi_Kaneda Kaneyan]]'', 1973-1975): Yet another ''manga'' about a boy working to be a baseball star, but not as successful as ''Kyojin no Hoshi'' or ''Samurai Giants''. Unlike Kajiwara’s other baseball ''manga'', which are associated with the Yorimuri Giants, this one was made to promote the Chiba Lotte Marines.

* '''God Arm''' (ゴッド・アーム, 1976-1977): Probably Kajiwara's weirdest work, a collaboration with artist Jiro Kuwata of ''Anime/EighthMan'' fame done to capitalize on [[{{Toku}} Tokusatsu]]’s enduring fame. It’s about a karateka revived by an [[StupidJetpackHitler evil neonazi organization]] and turned an incredibly strong superhuman that saves the world against mechanical contraptions, beasts, robots, aliens and {{Kaiju}} made of monuments. It was planned to be Kajiwara’s next big hit after ''Karate Baka Ichidai'', but it never made it anywhere.

* '''Kakuto-shi Roma no Hoshi''' (格闘士ローマの星 / ''Fighting Rome Star'', 1976-1977): Another unusual Kajiwara work, about a [[GladiatorGames roman gladiator]] fighting under [[UsefulNotes/{{Nero}} Emperor Nero]]’s reign that turns to Christianity for love. It features tropes like ''Kyojin no Hoshi'''s TrainingFromHell, an evil villain organization who sends fighters to one of their own ex-members like ''Manga/TigerMask'' and a Main/InterClassRomance like the one from ''Ai to Makoto''. As might be expected, it features huge amounts of [[ArtisticLicenseHistory historical anachronisms]].

* '''Pro Wrestling Superstar Retsuden''' (プロレススーパースター列伝 / ''Biographies of Pro-Wrestling Superstars'', 1980-1983): One of Kajiwara’s last notable ''manga'', where he goes all-out in creating [[{{Kayfabe}} fictional biographies]] for wrestlers as [[Wrestling/SatoruSayama Tiger Mask]] (whose gimmick Kajiwara lent to NJPW, at the same time he was working on his Tiger Mask revival), the [[Wrestling/TerryFunk Funk]] [[Wrestling/DoryFunkJr family]], Wrestling/StanHansen, Wrestling/AbdullahTheButcher, Wrestling/AndreTheGiant, Wrestling/KarlGotch, Wrestling/RicFlair, Wrestling/HulkHogan, Wrestling/BruiserBrody, [[WeUsedToBeFriends Giant Baba and Antonio Inoki]], Mil Mascaras, Tiger Jeet Singh, and The Great Kabuki. It was suddenly halted after Kajiwara’s arrest, much like all his other ongoing ''manga''.

* '''Otoko no Seiza''' (男の星座 / ''The constellation of a man'', 1985-1987): An unusually easy-going autobiography of Kajiwara’s own life, from his family relationships and his work with many ''manga'' publishers, to his controversial relationship with wrestlers and martial artists. Kajiwara's most notable work after his arrest, although it was sadly unfinished for the author's death.

Ikki Kajiwara (梶原 一騎), born Asaki Takamori (高森 朝樹, September 4, 1936 –- January 21, 1987) and also known as Asao Takamori (高森 朝雄) was a manga writer, novelist and film producer mostly known for being the TropeCodifier of the HotBlooded [[Main/GamingAndSportsAnimeAndManga sports manga]] and the FightingSeries genres, two genres which, notoriously, "The Father of Manga" Creator/OsamuTezuka stayed away from[[note]]They would eventually collaborate on the ''Manga/AshitaNoJoe'' anime adaptation[[/note]]. His family includes his youngest brother, [[UsefulNotes/{{Karate}} karateka]] and fellow mangaka Hisao Maki, and his second ex-wife, Taiwanese celebrity Pai Bing-Bing, whom he had his sixth child with, Pai Hsiao-Yen, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Pai_Hsiao-yen who was the center of a sadly controversial incident]]. ('''Reader discretion is advised.''')

His career started in 1953 when he was 17 years old, when he submitted a boxing novel, ''Shōri no kage ni'', to a shonen magazine. He would continue to publish novels and stories until the late '60s - however, his popularity would explode after writing sports manga in the sixties, most notoriously the enormously successful baseball manga ''Kyojin no Hoshi'' -- it started his most successful era, where he managed to write at the same time many classics for different publishers such as ''Manga/AshitaNoJoe'', ''Manga/TigerMask'', ''[[Main/JapaneseDelinquents Yūyake Banchō]]'', ''[[UsefulNotes/{{Judo}} Judo Icchokusen]]'', ''[[Wrestling/AllJapanProWrestling Giant Typhoon]]'', ''[[UsefulNotes/{{Kickboxing}} Kick no Oni]]'', ''[[UsefulNotes/{{Karate}} Niji o Yobu Ken]]'' or ''[[UsefulNotes/AssociationFootball Akaichi no Eleven]]''... And that's not even [[ArchivePanic half of them]].

The '70s would be the decade where karate-themed works would dominate his input, most notoriously the incredibly successful manga ''Karate Baka Ichidai'', written with the consent of [[UsefulNotes/{{Karate}} Kyokushin Karate]] founder Masutatsu Oyama, the series' protagonist and a personal friend of Kajiwara. However, disputes between Oyama and Kajiwara about issues like the manga's [[ChangingOfTheGuard new protagonists]] or film adaptation income would seriously damage their relationship for life. It's also on this decade when Kajiwara would eventually use his fame and contacts with wrestlers and martial artists to work as a match fixer, like in Wrestling/NewJapanProWrestling's famous "[[MyKungFuIsStrongerThanYours style vs style]]" matches [[note]]During the late 70s-early 80s, Kajiwara tried to create his own wrestling promotion without success - that was the closest thing to accomplishing it[[/note]]. These would culminate on 1980's [[Wrestling/AntonioInoki Antonio]] [[ProfessionalWrestling Inoki]] vs. [[UsefulNotes/{{Karate}} Willie Williams]] match, considered in Japan by some to be the most important professional wrestling match of all time and a one of their antecessors to UsefulNotes/MixedMartialArts.

Kajiwara's focus also expanded to cinema, as he went to be an independent film producer after seeing the [[CashCowFranchise success]] of many of his manga's live-action adaptations, like ''Bodyguard Kiba'', ''Ai to Makoto'' or ''Karate Baka Ichidai'': his films were mainly low-budget but highly successful karate / martial arts documentaries, and to a lesser extent, dramas written by himself.

However, by the late '70s-'80s, he was seen as an outdated author[[note]]ironically, some of his most-known works were on a {{revival}} phase, namely ''Ashita no Joe'' and ''Tiger Mask''[[/note]] and his prolific output slowed down, until he was imprisoned on 1983 after a violent event that brought to light [[BrokenPedestal violent incidents of his past]] and made him an Main/{{Unperson}} to Japanese media. Finally, on 1987, and with a much more relaxed output partly caused by his failing health, [[AuthorExistenceFailure he died of pancreatitis while making his final works]]. His work wouldn't be [[VindicatedByHistory critically reevaluated]] until the mid-'90s.

The notable artist disciplined under Kajiwara's line of genre and achieved stardom was Creator/MasamiKurumada, who was an assistant of Kajiwara's lead collaboration artist, Kou Inoue during the run of ''Samurai Giants''. Other notable artists influenced by him includes [[Manga/YawaraAFashionableJudoGirl Naoki Urasawa]], [[Manga/BakiTheGrappler Keisuke Itagaki]], and [[Manga/{{Kinnikuman}} Takashi Shimada]]. He was even name-dropped several times on ''Manga/{{Bakuman}}'' He was also a huge influence on the FightingGame genre on the '80s, specially on the ''VideoGame/HiryuNoKen'' series and ''VideoGame/StreetFighterI''.

Many of his less popular works can be found in Japanese for free [[https://www.sukima.me/book/free/ in this link]], or [[https://manga-bang.com/ in this other link]] searching for his name or under the Group Zero (グループ・ゼロ) category.

* ''Manga/AshitaNoJoe''
* ''Manga/TigerMask''

* ''Champion Futoshi'' (1962-1963): Kajiwara's first notable work. Futoshi "Dai" Daito, a small boy talented in many sports, joins the Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance under Wrestling/{{Rikidozan}}'s tutelage and [[ProWrestlingIsReal fights against many heel villains]]. It was cancelled after Rikidozan's murder, and followed in 1964 by the memorial manga ''Nitoryu Rikidozan'' and the succesor ''Senkan Toyonobori'' (Submarine Toyonobori), featuring the titular wrestler who was predicted to be Rikidozan's successor - sadly, he wasn't as successful, so neither was the manga. Drawn by by Tatsuo Yoshida, one of the founders of Creator/TatsunokoProduction.

* ''Shin Senkan Yamato'' (New Battleship Yamato, 1963-1964): A flying Battleship Yamato and its crew defend Japan from the american MadScientist that commisioned it in WWII to TakeOverTheWorld. Mostly remembered today for the titular ship's resemblance to [[Anime/SpaceBattleshipYamato the famous anime that would come out ten years later]].

* ''Kyojin no Hoshi'' (Star of the Giants[[note]][[DoubleMeaningTitle Can also be read as]] Hoshi of the Giants[[/note]], 1966-1971): Hyuuma Hoshi, the son of a ex-baseball player, turns himself from a poor boy to the best baseball player in Japan for the Yomiuri Giants (after [[Main/TrainingFromHell an extremely harsh training]], of course). The manga not only transformed Kajiwara into a superstar, it [[TropeCodifier singlehandedly codified]] the [[GamingAndSportsAnimeAndManga sports manga genre]]. It would receive a much less popular sequel during 1976-1977, ''Shin Kyojin no Hoshi''.

* ''Yuuyake Bancho'' (Sunset Bancho, 1967-1971): Chuuji Akagi is transferred to a school overtaken by a [[Main/JapaneseDelinquents bancho gang]], mostly formed by members who excel at the many sports clubs there. Akagi, predictably enough, slowly manages to defeat the gang and become an excellent athlete, but there's one of Kajiwara's first twist endings[[note]]Akagi, after beating up his rivals, gets good enough at sports to be admitted into a prestigious sports high school, which is his only way to progress from an empty victory. However, an accident caused by one of Akagi's friends abruptly ends his athlete career, and the guilt makes his friend suicidical.[[/note]]. Notable for being one of the very first Bancho-based manga, a year before the rival hit [[Magazine/ShonenJump Otoko Ippiki Gaki Daishou]] came out. Drawn by Toshio Shoji, who would later make ''Cycle Yaro'', the UrExample of cycling manga.

* ''Judo Icchokusen'' (Judo Straight Line, 1967-1971): A [[UsefulNotes/{{Judo}} judo-based]] manga where the protagonist beats other japanese and foreign judoka with outlandish techinques. It was adapted into a popular TV show, mostly known today for being the SpiritualPredecessor of the Series/KamenRider TV show.

* ''Giant Typhoon'' (1968-1971): A {{Kayfabe}} manga about [[Wrestling/AllJapanProWrestling Giant Baba]]'s life and his matches against wrestlers as Wrestling/AntoninoRocca, [[Wrestling/VonErichFamily Fritz von Erich]], Wrestling/BuddyRogers, Wrestling/BrunoSammartino or Killer Kowalski. It’s something of a CompanionShow to '' Manga/TigerMask'', since both of them were created by the same writer-artist team during the same years, although for different publishers.

* ''Kick no Oni'' (The Kick Demon, 1969-1971): Kajiwara's first manga [[VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory based on a real-life martial artist]], kickboxer Tadashi Sawamura. It follows his trials to prove [[UsefulNotes/{{Kickboxing}} japanese kickboxing]]'s superiority to UsefulNotes/MuayThai. The anime adaptation gained a huge following in Brazil under the name "Sawamu, o Demolidor". Drawn by Ken Nakajo, who would be one of Kajiwara’s most faithful artists.

* ''Niji wo Yobu Ken'' (Fist calling a rainbow, 1969-1971): A [[CompanionShow fictional counterpart]] to ''Kick no Oni'', this time protagonised by a schoolboy that learns karate and pretty much follows Sawamura's kickboxing training and Muay Thai duels. Mostly remembered today as the SpiritualPredecessor of ''Karate Baka Ichidai'', and the start of Kajiwara's obsession with Karate - in fact, Masatsu Oyama is credited as an advisor.

* ''Akakichi no Eleven'' (Red-blooded Eleven, 1970-1971): One of the first notable manga about UsefulNotes/AssociationFootball, ten years before ''Manga/CaptainTsubasa'' hit big time.

* ''Karate Baka Ichidai'' (A Karate-Crazy Life, 1971-1977): Kajiwara's major work during the seventies. It's a work [[VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory very loosely based on]] Masatsu Oyama's life, from his training to develop full-contact karate to the foundation and expansion of the Kyokushin organization and his disciples, while they meet / fight against famous boxing, judo, wrestling, muay thai, savate, capoeira and kenpo practicioners (and bulls). It turned karate into a household martial art, and made Kajiwara and Oyama close friends... Until the manga was forcibly [[{{Retool}} retooled]] by a change of artists, and it started focusing on Kyokushin disciples such as Hideyuki Ashihara more than on Oyama and the manga recovered from its slump, thus creating [[ArrogantKungFuGuy an ideological split]] inside the Kyokushin organization.

* ''Samurai Giants'' (1971-1974): The DenserAndWackier SpiritualSuccessor to Kajiwara’s own ''Kyojin no Hoshi'', though it never managed to be as popular as its predecessor – in fact, it only got renewed at the last minute by the anime adaptation’s popularity. Unlike ''Kyojin no Hoshi'''s protagonist, the one from ''Samurai Giants'' shares more AntiHero traits with Kajiwara’s [[Manga/AshitaNoJoe Joe Yabuki]], right down to his ending. It’s also Kajiwara’s most successful Magazine/ShonenJump manga. Also known for having Creator/MasamiKurumada in his team of assistants during the run.

* ''Judo Sanka'' (Judo Eulogy, 1972-1975): The even more over-the top SpiritualSuccessor to ''Judo Icchokusen'', with a story [[SelfPlagiarism more similar to]] ''Yuuyake Banchou'' and ''Samurai Giants''. Kajiwara’s biggest hit on ''Magazine/ShonenSunday'', although parodied by Creator/GoNagai on his own ''Oira Sukeban'' [[TakeThat on the same magazine at the same time]].

* ''Bodyguard Kiba'' (1972-1974): A fictional DarkerAndEdgier counterpart to ''Karate Baka Ichidai'' in the vein of other contemporary {{Gekiga}} works such as ''Manga/Golgo13'', about the titular bodyguard's karate-filled adventures involving hitmen and mafia. More known for starting one of Creator/SonnyChiba's best-known film roles. Followed by ''Shin Bodyguard Kiba: Karate Jigoku-hen'' (New/True Bodyguard Kiba: Hell Karate Story, 1974-1977).
** ''Shin Karate Jigoku-hen'' (New Karate Hell Story, 1978-1982): ''Bodyguard Kiba'''s prequel, about the life of Kiba’s karate teacher. Probably Kajiwara’s most infamous work, reveling in BloodierAndGorier, [[StrawMisogynist misogynistic]] and SexIsEvil tropes – that said, the ''Karate Jigoku-hen'' series is for some reason one of his longest works.

* ''Ai to Makoto'' (Ai and Makoto / [[DoubleMeaningTitle Love and Truth]], 1973-1976): A manga about a [[Main/StarCrossedLovers star-crossed]] Main/InterClassRomance. Kajiwara’s most successful [[RomanceNovel manly romance manga]], and a SpiritualSuccessor to 1970-72's ''Taiyo no Koibito''. It garnered him with critical acclaim, since Kajiwara was mostly seen as a one-note sports author until then. It was so popular that it was adapted into a live-action drama, a film trilogy and a AffectionateParody film by Creator/TakashiMiike[[note]]Miike was also responsible for many DirectToVideo Kajiwara adaptations in his early career, namely a ''Bodyguard Kiba'' trilogy and ''Ningen Kyoki''[[/note]].

* ''Ore to Kaneyan'' (Me and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masaichi_Kaneda Kaneyan]], 1973-1975): Yet another manga about a boy working to be a baseball star, but not as successful as ''Kyojin no Hoshi'' or ''Samurai Giants''. Unlike Kajiwara’s other baseball manga, which are associated with the Yorimuri Giants, this one was made to promote the Chiba Lotte Marines.

* ''Kurenai no Choushensha'' (Crimson Challenger / Kurenai the Challenger, 1973-1975): The SpiritualSuccessor to both ''Kick no Oni'' and ''Ashita no Joe'', the plot follows an ex-football star who takes up kickboxing to defeat Garuda, [[ArrogantKungFuGuy the “god” of Muay Thai]] and a powerful authority on Thailand. Drawn by Ken Nakajo.

* ''God Arm'' (1976-1977): Probably Kajiwara's weirdest work, a collaboration with artist Jiro Kuwata of ''Anime/EighthMan'' fame done to capitalize on [[{{Toku}} Tokusatsu]]’s enduring fame . It’s about a karateka revived by an [[StupidJetpackHitler evil neonazi organization]] and turned an incredibly strong superhuman that saves the world against mechanical contraptions, beasts, robots, aliens and {{Kaiju}} made of monuments. It was planned to be Kajiwara’s next big hit after ''Karate Baka Ichidai'', but it never made it anywhere.

* ''Kakuto-shi Roma no Hoshi'' (Fighting Rome Star, 1976-1977): Another unusual Kajiwara work, about a [[GladiatorGames roman gladiator]] fighting under [[UsefulNotes/{{Nero}} Emperor Nero]]’s reign that turns to Christianity for love. It features tropes like ''Kyojin no Hoshi'''s TrainingFromHell, an evil villain organization who sends fighters to one of their own ex-members like ''Manga/TigerMask'' and a Main/InterClassRomance like the one from ''Ai to Makoto''. Of course, it features huge amounts of ArtisticLicenseHistory.

* ''Shikakui Jungle'' (Square Jungle, 1978-1981): A StealthSequel to ''Karate Baka Ichidai''. It starts with a karateka wanting to avenge his brother’s death from the hands of kickboxer Benny Urquidez, but it slowly transforms into a [[VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory pseudo-documentary]] of Japan’s then-current martial arts matches, such as Wrestling/NewJapanProWrestling’s “style vs style” matches (It helps that Kajiwara was [[RealLifeWritesThePlot fixing some the matches and producing documentaries out of them]]). Drawn by Ken Nakajo.

* ''Pro Wrestling Superstar Retsuden'' (Biographies of Pro Wrestling Superstars, 1980-1983): One of Kajiwara’s last notable manga, where he goes all-out in creating [[{{Kayfabe}} fictional biographies]] for wrestlers as [[Wrestling/SatoruSayama Tiger Mask]] (whose gimmick Kajiwara lent to NJPW, at the same time he was working on his Tiger Mask revival), the [[Wrestling/TerryFunk Funk]] [[Wrestling/DoryFunkJr family]], Wrestling/StanHansen, Wrestling/AbdullahTheButcher, Wrestling/AndreTheGiant, Wrestling/KarlGotch, Wrestling/RicFlair, Wrestling/HulkHogan, Wrestling/BruiserBrody, [[WeUsedToBeFriends Giant Baba and Antonio Inoki]], Mil Mascaras, Tiger Jeet Singh, and The Great Kabuki. It was suddenly stopped after Kajiwara’s arrest, much like all his other ongoing manga.

* ''Otoko no Seiza'' (The constellation of a man, 1985-1987): An unusually easy-going autobiography of Kajiwara’s own life, from his family relationships and his work with many manga publishers, to his controversial relationship with wrestlers and martial artists. Kajiwara's most notable work after his arrest, although it was sadly unfinished for the author's death.

* Manga adaptations of WesternAnimation/TheKingKongShow, Series/CaptainScarletAndTheMysterons, Literature/MobyDick and Literature/TheCountOfMonteCristo.

* Fictional novel/manga biographies of baseball players[[note]]Masaichi Kaneda, Shigeo Nagashima, Sadaharu Oh, Lou Gehrig, Creator/BabeRuth[[/note]], boxers[[note]]Fighting Harada, Piston Horiguchi, Kazuo Takayama[[/note]], wrestlers [[note]]Wrestling/LouThesz, Wrestling/AntonioInoki[[/note]] and sumo rikishi [[note]]Wakanohana, Toyonobori[[/note]].

The notable artist disciplined under Kajiwara's line of genre and achieved stardom was Creator/MasamiKurumada, who was an assistant of Kajiwara's lead collaboration artist, Kou Inoue during the run of ''Samurai Giants''. Other notable artists influenced by him includes [[Manga/YawaraAFashionableJudoGirl Naoki Urasawa]], [[Manga/BakiTheGrappler Keisuke Itagaki]], and [[Manga/{{Kinnikuman}} Takashi Shimada]]. He was even name-dropped several times on ''Manga/{{Bakuman}}'' He was also a huge influence on the FightingGame genre on the '80s, specially on the ''Hiryu no Ken'' series and ''VideoGame/StreetFighterI''.

The notable artist disciplined under Kajiwara's line of genre and achieved stardom is Creator/MasamiKurumada, who was an assistant of Kajiwara's lead collaboration artist, Kou Inoue during the run of ''Samurai Giants''. Other notable artists influenced by him includes [[Manga/YawaraAFashionableJudoGirl Naoki Urasawa]], [[Manga/BakiTheGrappler Keisuke Itagaki]], and [[Manga/{{Kinnikuman}} Takashi Shimada]]. He was even name-dropped several times on ''Manga/{{Bakuman}}'' He was also a huge influence on the FightingGame genre on the '80s, specially on the ''Hiryu no Ken'' series and ''VideoGame/StreetFighterI''.

The notable artist disciplined under Kajiwara's line of genre and achieved stardom is Creator/MasamiKurumada, who was an assistant of Kajiwara's longtime collabration artist, Kou Inoue. Other notable artists influenced by him includes [[Manga/YawaraAFashionableJudoGirl Naoki Urasawa]], [[Manga/BakiTheGrappler Keisuke Itagaki]], and [[Manga/{{Kinnikuman}} Takashi Shimada]]. He was even name-dropped several times on ''Manga/{{Bakuman}}'' He was also a huge influence on the FightingGame genre on the '80s, specially on the ''Hiryu no Ken'' series and ''VideoGame/StreetFighterI''.

* ''Samurai Giants'' (1971-1974): The DenserAndWackier SpiritualSuccessor to Kajiwara’s own ''Kyojin no Hoshi'', though it never managed to be as popular as its predecessor – in fact, it only got renewed at the last minute by the anime adaptation’s popularity. Unlike ''Kyojin no Hoshi'''s protagonist, the one from ''Samurai Giants'' shares more AntiHero traits with Kajiwara’s [[Manga/AshitaNoJoe Joe Yabuki]], right down to his ending. It’s also Kajiwara’s most successful Magazine/ShonenJump manga.

The notable artist disciplined under Kajiwara's line of genre is Creator/MasamiKurumada, who was an assistant of Kajiwara's longtime collabration artist, Kou Inoue. Other notable artists influenced by him includes [[Manga/YawaraAFashionableJudoGirl Naoki Urasawa]], [[Manga/BakiTheGrappler Keisuke Itagaki]], and [[Manga/{{Kinnikuman}} Takashi Shimada]]. He was even name-dropped several times on ''Manga/{{Bakuman}}''. He was also a huge influence on the FightingGame genre on the '80s, specially on the ''Hiryu no Ken'' series and ''VideoGame/StreetFighterI''.

Notable artists influenced by him include [[Manga/YawaraAFashionableJudoGirl Naoki Urasawa]], [[Manga/BakiTheGrappler Keisuke Itagaki]] or [[Manga/{{Kinnikuman}} Takashi Shimada]], and he was even name-dropped several times on ''Manga/{{Bakuman}}''. He was also a huge influence on the FightingGame genre on the '80s, specially on the ''Hiryu no Ken'' series and ''VideoGame/StreetFighterI''.

The '70s would be the decade where karate-themed works would dominate his input, most notoriously the incredibly successful manga ''Karate Baka Ichidai'', written with the consent of [[UsefulNotes/{{Karate}} Kyokushin Karate]] founder Masutatsu Oyama, the series' protagonist and a personal friend of Kajiwara. However, disputes between Oyama and Kajiwara about issues like the manga's [[ChangingOfTheGuard new protagonists]] or film adaptation income would seriously damage their relationship for life. It's also on this decade when Kajiwara would eventually use his fame and contacts with wrestlers and martial artists to work as a match fixer, like in Wrestling/NewJapanProWrestling's famous "[[MyKungFuIsStrongerThanYours style vs style]]" matches [[note]]During the late 70s-early 80s, Kajiwara tried to create his own wrestling promotion without success - that was the closest thing to accomplishing it.[[/note]]. These would culminate on 1980's [[Wrestling/AntonioInoki Antonio]] [[ProfessionalWrestling Inoki]] vs. [[UsefulNotes/{{Karate}} Willie Williams]] match, considered in Japan by some to be the most important professional wrestling match of all time and a one of their antecessors to UsefulNotes/MixedMartialArts.

Notable artists influenced by him include [[Manga/YawaraAFashionableJudoGirl Naoki Urasawa]], [[Manga/BakiTheGrappler Keisuke Itagaki]] or [[Manga/{{Kinnikuman}} Takashi Shimada]], and he was even name-dropped several times on ''Manga/{{Bakuman}}''. He was also a huge influence on the FightingGame genre on the '80s, specially on the ''Hiryu no Ken'' series and VideoGame/StreetFighterI.

Many of his less popular works can be found in Japanese for free [[https://manga-bang.com/ here]] under the Group Zero (グループ・ゼロ) publisher category, or searching for his name.

* ''Ai to Makoto'' (Ai and Makoto / [[DoubleMeaningTitle Love and Makoto]], 1973-1976): A manga about a [[Main/StarCrossedLovers star-crossed]] Main/InterClassRomance. Kajiwara’s most successful [[RomanceNovel manly romance manga]], and a SpiritualSuccessor to 1970-72's ''Taiyo no Koibito''. It garnered him with critical acclaim, since Kajiwara was mostly seen as a one-note sports author until then. It was so popular that it was adapted into a live-action drama, a film trilogy and a AffectionateParody film by Creator/TakashiMiike[[note]]Miike was also responsible for many DirectToVideo Kajiwara adaptations in his early career, namely a ''Bodyguard Kiba'' trilogy and ''Ningen Kyoki''[[/note]].

* ''Ore to Kaneyan'' (Me and Kaneyan, 1973-1975): Yet another manga about a boy working to be a baseball star, but not as successful as ''Kyojin no Hoshi'' or ''Samurai Giants''. Unlike Kajiwara’s other baseball manga, which are associated with the Yorimuri Giants, this one was made to promote the Chiba Lotte Marines.

* ''Kurenai no Choushensha'' (Crimson Challenger, 1973-1975): The SpiritualSuccessor to both ''Kick no Oni'' and ''Ashita no Joe'', the plot follows an ex-football star who takes up kickboxing to defeat Garuda, [[ArrogantKungFuGuy the “god” of Muay Thai]] and a powerful authority on Thailand. Drawn by Ken Nakajo.

* ''God Arm'' (1976-1977): Probably Kajiwara's weirdest work, a collaboration with artist Jiro Kuwata of ''Anime/EighthMan'' fame done to capitalize on [[{{Toku}} Tokusatsu]]’s enduring fame . It’s about a karateka revived by an [[StupidJetpackHitler evil neonazi organization]] and turned an incredibly strong superhuman that saves the world against mechanical contraptions, beasts, robots, aliens and {{Kaiju}} made of monuments. It was planned to be Kajiwara’s next biggest hit after ''Karate Baka Ichidai'', but it never made it anywhere.

* ''Otoko no Seiza'' (The constellation of a man, 1985-1987): An unusually easy-going autobiography of Kajiwara’s own life, from his family relationships and his work with many manga publishers, to his controversial relationship with wrestlers and martial artists. His most (or only) notable work after Kajiwara's arrest, although it was sadly unfinished for the author's death.

* ''Champion Dai'' (1962-1963): Kajiwara's first notable work. Futoshi "Dai" Daito, a small boy talented in many sports, joins the Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance under Wrestling/{{Rikidozan}}'s tutelage and [[ProWrestlingIsReal fights against many heel villains]]. It was cancelled after Rikidozan's murder, and followed in 1964 by the memorial manga ''Nitoryu Rikidozan'' and the succesor ''Senkan Toyonobori'' (Submarine Toyonobori), featuring the titular wrestler who was predicted to be Rikidozan's successor - sadly, he wasn't as successful, so neither was the manga. Drawn by by Tatsuo Yoshida, one of the founders of Creator/TatsunokoProduction.

* ''Taiyo no Koibito'' (Lovers of the Sun, 1970-1972), also known as ''Asashi no Koibito'' (Lovers of the Morning Sun) and ''Yuhi no Koibito'' (Lovers of the Sunset): Kajiwara’s first successful attempt at a [[RomanceNovel manly romance manga]].

* ''Ai to Makoto'' (Ai and Makoto / [[DoubleMeaningTitle Love and Makoto]], 1973-1976): An SpiritualSuccessor to ''Taiyo no Koibito'', that follows an [[Main/StarCrossedLovers star-crossed]] Main/InterClassRomance. It’s Kajiwara’s most successful [[RomanceNovel manly romance manga]], to the point that it garnered him a manga award and critical acclaim.

* ''Shikakui Jungle'' (Square Jungle, 1978-1981): A StealthSequel to ''Karate Baka Ichidai''. It starts with a karateka wanting to avenge his brother’s death from the hands of kickboxer Benny Urquidez, but it slowly transforms into a [[VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory pseudo-documentary]] of Japan’s then-current martial arts matches, such as Wrestling/NewJapanProWrestling’s “style vs style” matches (It helps that Kajiwara was [[RealLifeWritesThePlot working at booking]] some of them). Drawn by Ken Nakajo.

His focus would expand in the '70s to cinema, as an independent producer of low-budget but highly successful films based on his own works. This decade would also be the one where karate-themed works would dominate his input, most notoriously the incredibly successful manga ''Karate Baka Ichidai'', written with the consent with Kyokushin Karate founder Masutatsu Oyama, the manga's protagonist and a personal friend of Kajiwara. However, disputes between Oyama and Kajiwara about issues like the manga's [[ChangingOfTheGuard new protagonists]] or film adaptation income would seriously damage their relationship. It's also on the '70s when Kajiwara would eventually use his fame and contacts with professional wrestlers and martial artists (it helps that Kajiwara [[HistoricalHeroUpgrade was famous for making mostly fictional biographies]]) to book some matches, like of Wrestling/NewJapanProWrestling's famous "style vs style" martial arts matches [[note]]During the late 70s-early 80s, Kajiwara tried to create his own wrestling promotion without success.[[/note]]. These would culminate on the [[UsefulNotes/{{Karate}} Kyokushin Karate]] vs ProfessionalWrestling / Wrestling/AntonioInoki vs. Willie Williams match, considered in Japan by some to be the most important professional wrestling match of all time.

However, by the late '70s and especially the '80s, he was seen as an outdated, old-school author and his prolific output slowed down, until he was imprisoned on 1983 after a violent event that brought to light some incidents of his past (violence, threats, drug abuse...) that made him an Main/{{Unperson}} to Japanese media. Finally, on 1987, and with a much more relaxed output partly caused by his failing health, [[AuthorExistenceFailure he died of pancreatitis while making his final works]]. His work wouldn't be [[VindicatedByHistory critically reevaluated]] until the mid-'90s.

Ikki Kajiwara (梶原 一騎), born Asaki Takamori (高森 朝樹, September 4, 1936 –- January 21, 1987) and also known as Asao Takamori (高森 朝雄) was a manga writer, novelist and film producer mostly known for being the TropeCodifier of the FightingSeries and [[Main/GamingAndSportsAnimeAndManga sports manga]] genres, two genres which, notoriously, "The Father of Manga" Creator/OsamuTezuka stayed away from[[note]]They would eventually collaborate on the ''Manga/AshitaNoJoe'' anime adaptation[[/note]]. His family includes his youngest brother, [[UsefulNotes/{{Karate}} karateka]] and fellow mangaka Hisao Maki, and his second ex-wife, Taiwanese celebrity Pai Bing-Bing, whom he had his sixth child with, Pai Hsiao-Yen, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Pai_Hsiao-yen who was the center of a sadly controversial incident]]. ('''Reader discretion is advised.''')

* ''Kyojin no Hoshi'' (Star of the Giants, 1966-1971): Hyuma Hoshi, the son of a ex-baseball player, turns himself from a poor boy to the best baseball player in Japan for the Yomiuri Giants (after [[Main/TrainingFromHell an extremely harsh training]], of course). The manga not only transformed Kajiwara into a superstar, it [[TropeCodifier singlehandedly codified]] the [[GamingAndSportsAnimeAndManga sports manga genre]]. It would receive a much less popular sequel during 1976-1977, ''Shin Kyojin no Hoshi''.

* ''Yuuyake Banchou'' (Sunset Bancho, 1967-1971): Chuuji Akagi is transferred to a school overtaken by a [[Main/JapaneseDelinquents bancho gang]], mostly formed by members who excel at the many sports clubs there. Akagi, predictably enough, slowly manages to defeat the gang and become an excellent athlete, but there's a twist ending: Akagi, after beating up his rivals, gets good enough at sports to be admitted into a prestigious sports high school, which is his only way to progress from an empty victory. However, an accident caused by one of Akagi's friends abruptly ends his athlete career, and the guilt makes his friend suicidical. Notable for being one of the very first Bancho-based manga, a year before the rival hit [[Magazine/ShonenJump Otoko Ippiki Gaki Daishou]] came out. Drawn by Toshio Shoji, who would later make ''Cycle Yaro'', the UrExample of cycling manga.

* ''Niji wo Yobu Ken'' (Fist calling a rainbow, 1969-1971): A [[CompanionShow fictional counterpart]] to ''Kick no Oni'', this time protagonised by a schoolboy that learns karate and pretty much follows Sawamura's kickboxing training and Muay Thai duels. Mostly remembered today as the start of Kajiwara's obsession with Karate - in fact, Masatsu Oyama is credited as an advisor.

* ''Akakichi no Eleven'' (Red-blooded Eleven, 1970-1971): One of the first notable manga about soccer, ten years before ''Manga/CaptainTsubasa'' hit big time.

* ''Bodyguard Kiba'' (1972-1974): A fictional DarkerAndEdgier counterpart to ''Karate Baka Ichidai'' in the vein of other contemporary {{Gekiga}} works such as ''Manga/Golgo13'', about the titular bodyguard's karate-filled adventures involving hitmen and mafia. More known for starting one of Creator/SonnyChiba's best-known film roles.
** ''Shin Karate Jigoku-hen'' (New Karate Hell Hen, 1978-1982): ''Bodyguard Kiba'''s prequel, about the life of Kiba’s karate teacher. Probably Kajiwara’s most infamous work, reveling in BloodierAndGorier, [[StrawMisogynist misogynistic]] and SexIsEvil tropes – that said, the ''Karate Jigoku-hen'' series is for some reason one of his longest works.

* ''Kurenai no Choshen-cha'' (Crimson Challenger, 1973-1975): The SpiritualSuccessor to both ''Kick no Oni'' and ''Ashita no Joe'', the plot follows an ex-football star who takes up kickboxing to defeat Garuda, [[ArrogantKungFuGuy the “god” of Muay Thai]] and a powerful authority on Thailand. Drawn by Ken Nakajo.

Notable artists influenced by him include [[Manga/YawaraAFashionableJudoGirl Naoki Urasawa]], [[Manga/BakiTheGrappler Keisuke Itagaki]] or [[Manga/{{Kinnikuman}} Takashi Shimada]], and he was even name-dropped several times on ''Manga/{{Bakuman}}''. He was also a huge influence on the FightingGame genre on the '80s, specially on the ''Hiryu no Ken'' series and VideoGame/StreetFighterI. Many of his less popular works can be found in Japanese for free [[https://manga-bang.com/free/search?type=keyword&keyword=%E6%A2%B6%E5%8E%9F%E4%B8%80%E9%A8%8E here]].

Notable artists influenced by him include [[Manga/YawaraAFashionableJudoGirl Naoki Urasawa]], [[Manga/BakiTheGrappler Keisuke Itagaki]] or [[Manga/{{Kinnikuman}} Takashi Shimada]], and he was even name-dropped several times on ''Manga/{{Bakuman}}''. He was also a huge influence on the FightingGame genre on the '80s, specially on the ''Hiryu no Ken'' series and VideoGame/StreetFighterI.

His career started in 1953 when he was 17 years old, when he submitted a boxing novel, ''Shōri no kage ni'', to a shonen magazine. He would continue to publish novels and stories until the late '60s - however, his popularity would explode after writing sports manga in the sixties, most notoriously the enormously successful baseball manga ''Kyojin no Hoshi'' (Star of the Giants) - it started his most successful era, where he managed to write at the same time many classics for different publishers such as ''Manga/AshitaNoJoe'', ''Manga/TigerMask'', ''[[Main/JapaneseDelinquents Yūyake Banchō]]'', ''[[UsefulNotes/{{Judo}} Judo Icchokusen]]'', ''[[Wrestling/AllJapanProWrestling Giant Typhoon]]'', ''[[UsefulNotes/{{Kickboxing}} Kick no Oni]]'', ''[[UsefulNotes/{{Karate}} Niji o Yobu Ken]]'' or ''[[UsefulNotes/AssociationFootball Akaichi no Eleven]]''... And that's not even [[ArchivePanic half of them]].

His focus would expand in the '70s to cinema, as an independent producer of low-budget but highly successful films based on his own works. This decade would also be the one where karate-themed works would dominate his input, most notoriously the incredibly successful manga ''Karate Baka Ichidai'', written with the consent with Kyokushin Karate founder Masutatsu Oyama, the manga's protagonist and a personal friend to Kajiwara. However, disputes between Oyama and Kajiwara about issues like the manga's [[ChangingOfTheGuard second protagonist]] or film adaptation income would seriously damage their relationship. It's also on the '70s when Kajiwara would eventually use his fame and contacts with professional wrestlers / martial artists such as Wrestling/{{Rikidozan}} or Wrestling/AntonioInoki (it helps that Kajiwara [[HistoricalHeroUpgrade would paint martial artists in a good light]]) to book some matches, like of Wrestling/NewJapanProWrestling's famous "style vs style" martial arts matches. These would culminate on the Kyokushin vs Pro Wrestling / Antonio Inoki vs. Willie Williams match, considered in Japan by some to be the most important pro wrestling match of all time. [[note]]Ikki Kajiwara planned to create his own wrestling promotion in the late 70s-early 80s, “Dai Nihon Puroesu”, with sumo wrestlers Takamiyama Daigorō and Chiyonofuji as the main stars. It didn’t work out for stakeholder-related issues.[[/note]]

However, by the '80s he was seen as an outdated, old-school author and his prolific output slowed down, until he was imprisoned on 1983 after a violent incident that brought to light some incidents of his past (violence, threats, drug abuse...) that made him an Main/{{Unperson}} to Japanese media. On 1985, he started his final work, an [[CreatorsOddball unusually easy-going]] autobiography of his own life that didn't finish [[AuthorExistenceFailure for his own death by pancreatitis]]. His work wouldn't be [[VindicatedByHistory critically reevaluated]] until the mid-'90s. Notable artists influenced by him include [[Manga/YawaraAFashionableJudoGirl Naoki Urasawa]], [[Manga/BakiTheGrappler Keisuke Itagaki]] or [[Manga/{{Kinnikuman}} Takashi Shimada]], and he was even name-dropped several times on ''Manga/{{Bakuman}}''.

* ''Champion Dai'' (1962-1963): Kajiwara's first notable work. Futoshi "Dai" Daito, a small boy talented in many sports, joins the Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance under Wrestling/{{Rikidozan}}'s tutelage and [[ProWrestlingIsReal fights against many heel villains]]. It was cancelled after [[AuthorExistenceFailure Rikidozan's murder]], and followed in 1964 by the memorial manga ''Nitoryu Rikidozan'' and the succesor ''Senkan Toyonobori'' (Submarine Toyonobori), featuring the titular wrestler who was predicted to be Rikidozan's successor - sadly, he wasn't as successful, so neither was the manga. Drawn by by Tatsuo Yoshida, one of the founders of Creator/TatsunokoProduction.

* ''Judo Icchokusen'' (Judo Straight Line, 1967-1971): A [[UsefulNotes/{{Judo}} judo-based]] manga where the protagonist beats other japanese and foreign judoka with outlandish techinques. It was adapted into a popular TV show, mostly known today for [[ProductionPosse creating the production crew]] that would later make the original Series/KamenRider show.

* ''Kick no Oni'' (The Kick Demon, 1969-1971): Kajiwara's first manga [[VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory based on a real-life martial artist]], kickboxer Tadashi Sawamura. It follows his trials to prove [[UsefulNotes/{{Kickboxing}} japanese kickboxing]]'s superiority to UsefulNotes/MuayThai. The anime adaptation gained a [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff huge following in Brazil]] under the name "Sawamu, o Demolidor". Drawn by Ken Nakajo, who would be one of Kajiwara’s most faithful artists.

* ''Samurai Giants'' (1971-1974): The DenserAndWackier SpiritualSuccessor to Kajiwara’s own ''Kyojin no Hoshi'', though it never managed to be as popular as its predecessor – in fact, it only got [[OnlyBarelyRenewed renewed at the last minute]] by the anime adaptation’s popularity. Unlike ''Kyojin no Hoshi'''s protagonist, the one from ''Samurai Giants'' shares more AntiHero traits with Kajiwara’s [[Manga/AshitaNoJoe Joe Yabuki]], right down to his ending. It’s also Kajiwara’s most successful Magazine/ShonenJump manga.

* ''Ai to Makoto'' (Ai and Makoto / [[DoubleMeaningTitle Love and Makoto]], 1973-1976): An SpiritualSuccessor to ''Taiyo no Koibito'', that follows an [[Main/StarCrossedLovers star-crossed]] Main/InterClassRomance. It’s Kajiwara’s most successful [[RomanceNovel manly romance manga]], to the point that it garnered him a [[GrowingTheBeard manga award]] and critical acclaim.

* ''God Arm'' (1976-1977): Probably Kajiwara's [[CreatorsOddball weirdest work]], a collaboration with artist Jiro Kuwata of ''Anime/EighthMan'' fame done to capitalize on [[{{Toku}} Tokusatsu]]’s enduring fame . It’s about a karateka revived by an [[StupidJetpackHitler evil neonazi organization]] and turned an incredibly strong superhuman that saves the world against mechanical contraptions, beasts, robots, aliens and {{Kaiju}} made of monuments. It was planned to be Kajiwara’s next biggest hit after ''Karate Baka Ichidai'', but it never made it anywhere.

* ''Kakuto-shi Roma no Hoshi'' (Fighting Rome Star, 1976-1977): An unusual Kajiwara work, about a [[GladiatorGames roman gladiator]] fighting under [[UsefulNotes/{{Nero}} Emperor Nero]]’s reign that turns to Christianity for love. It features tropes like ''Kyojin no Hoshi'''s TrainingFromHell, an evil villain organization who sends fighters to one of their own ex-members like ''Manga/TigerMask'' and a Main/InterClassRomance like the one from ''Ai to Makoto''. Of course, it features huge amounts of ArtisticLicenseHistory.

* ''Shikakui Jungle'' (Square Jungle, 1978-1981): An StealthSequel to ''Karate Baka Ichidai''. It starts with a karateka wanting to avenge his brother’s death from the hands of kickboxer Benny Urquidez, but it slowly transforms into a [[VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory pseudo-documentary]] of Japan’s then-current martial arts matches, such as Wrestling/NewJapanProWrestling’s “style vs style” matches (It helps that Kajiwara was [[RealLifeWritesThePlot working at booking]] some of them). Drawn by Ken Nakajo.

* ''Pro Wrestling Superstar Retsuden'' (Biographies of Pro Wrestling Superstars, 1980-1983): One of Kajiwara’s last notable manga, where he goes all-out in creating [[{{Kayfabe}} fictional biographies]] for wrestlers as [[Wrestling/SatoruSayama Tiger Mask]] (whose gimmick Kajiwara lent to NJPW, at the same time he was working on his Tiger Mask revival), the [[Wrestling/TerryFunk Funk]] [[Wrestling/DoryFunkJr family]], Wrestling/StanHansen, Wrestling/AbdullahTheButcher, Wrestling/AndreTheGiant, Wrestling/KarlGotch, Wrestling/RicFlair, Wrestling/HulkHogan, Wrestling/BruiserBrody, [[WeUsedToBeFriends Giant Baba and Antonio Inoki]], Mil Mascaras, Tiger Jeet Singh, and The Great Kabuki. It was suddenly stopped after Kajiwara’s arrest.

* ''Otoko no Seiza'' (The constellation of a man, 1985-1987): An autobiography of Kajiwara’s own life, from his family relationships and his work with many manga publishers, to his controversial relationship with wrestlers and martial artists. Sadly unfinished for [[AuthorExistenceFailure his own death by pancreatitis]].

* ''Kakuto-shi Roma no Hoshi'' (Fighting Rome Star, 1976-1977): An unusual Kajiwara work, about a [[GladiatorGames roman gladiator]] fighting under [[UsefulNotes/Nero Emperor Nero]]’s reign that turns to Christianity for love. It features tropes like ''Kyojin no Hoshi'''s TrainingFromHell, an evil villain organization who sends fighters to one of their own ex-members like ''Manga/TigerMask'' and a Main/InterClassRomance like the one from ''Ai to Makoto''. Of course, it features huge amounts of ArtisticLicenseHistory.

However, by the '80s he was seen as an outdated, old-school author and his prolific output slowed down, until he was imprisoned on 1983 after a violent incident that brought to light some incidents of his past (violence, threats, drug abuse...) that made him an Main/Unperson to Japanese media. On 1985, he started his final work, an [[CreatorsOddball unusually easy-going]] autobiography of his own life that didn't finish [[AuthorExistenceFailure for his own death by pancreatitis]]. His work wouldn't be [[VindicatedByHistory critically reevaluated]] until the mid-'90s. Notable artists influenced by him include [[Manga/YawaraAFashionableJudoGirl Naoki Urasawa]], [[Manga/BakiTheGrappler Keisuke Itagaki]] or [[Manga/{{Kinnikuman}} Takashi Shimada]], and he was even name-dropped several times on ''Manga/{{Bakuman}}''.

* ''Bodyguard Kiba'' (1972-1974): A fictional DarkierandEdgier counterpart to ''Karate Baka Ichidai'' in the vein of other contemporary {{Gekiga}} works such as ''Manga/Golgo13'', about the titular bodyguard's karate-filled adventures involving hitmen and mafia. More known for starting one of Creator/SonnyChiba's best-known film roles.
** Shin Karate Jigoku-hen (New Karate Hell Hen, 1978-1982): ''Bodyguard Kiba'''s prequel, about the life of Kiba’s karate teacher. Probably Kajiwara’s most infamous work, reveling in BloodierAndGorier, [[StrawMisogynist misogynistic]] and SexIsEvil tropes – that said, the ''Karate Jigoku-hen'' series is for some reason one of his longest works.

Ikki Kajiwara (梶原 一騎), born Asaki Takamori (高森 朝樹, September 4, 1936 –- January 21, 1987) and also known as Asao Takamori (高森 朝雄) was a manga writer, novelist and film producer mostly known for being the TropeCodifier of the FightingSeries and [[Main/GamingAndSportsAnimeAndManga sports manga]] genres, two genres which, notoriously, "The Father of Manga" Creator/OsamuTezuka stayed away from[[note]]They would eventually collaborate on the ‘’Manga/AshitaNoJoe’’ anime adaptation[[/note]]. His family includes his youngest brother, [[UsefulNotes/{{Karate}} karateka]] and fellow mangaka Hisao Maki, and his second ex-wife, Taiwanese celebrity Pai Bing-Bing, whom he had his sixth child with, Pai Hsiao-Yen, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Pai_Hsiao-yen who was the center of a sadly controversial incident]]. ('''Reader discretion is advised.''')

* ''Manga/TigerMask''