kreznick

Today is 15th July... last year on this day, at 13:50hours, Yoshida Sunao - mastermind and creator of the wonderful Neo-Baroque opera-iques series of Trinity Blood - passed away, at the age of 34-yr-old, an age when most men are in the prime of their lives. The reason for his passing: Blockage of the lungs and surrounding arteries brought about (partially) by overwork/over-exertion and excessive smoking.

The literary world lost a genius and a gem, a star, and we, the fans, lost a favourite author. I remembered last year when I first receievd the news of Yoshida-sensei's passing, I took it very very badly... I actually broke down and cried in public (which freaked quite a number of people out...hehe...^^;;)

One year has already passed, how time flies. And wherever Yoshida-sensei is now, he would be glad that his creation has grown so big and the popularity so wide-spread and across international boundaries within the span of a year, thanks to the manga and the anime (although i still do not agree with the latter).

I offer my sincerest prayer to his immortal soul. ～主よ、彼の御冥福を深くお祈り致します・・・アーメン。～

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I've included a copy of the translated version (pardon my lousy Japanese-English understanding) of Thores Shibamoto's report on the wake and funeral of Yoshida-sensei last year, from her official online diary, below (for the benefits of those not within my personal circle of friends who are fans of  Yoshida Sunao & Trinity Blood) :

Official Report and My Personal Report on Yoshida Sunao-sensei’s Passing

http://www4.zero.ad.jp/thores/diary

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Yoshida Sunao-sensei – the author of ‘Trinity Blood’ series and various other works, passed away, at the age of 34 years old, on 15^th July 2004 at 13:50 hours. Cause of death: ‘肺梗塞’(haikousai) - lung  blockage brought about (partially) by overexertion/overwork.

I am certain most of the fans and all related personnel working with Yoshida-sensei would have already known this sad and shocking news by now – Kadokawa Publishings having also issued an official notice on their website. And I am certain the next issue of ‘The Sneakers’ will also publish a more detailed report on this.

And thus, I am posting this diary entry only now – partially due to the fact that I was very busy with dealing with the editorial teams on said matter; and partially because I’ve only just managed to calm down from the overwhelming grief and sense of loss I’ve felt at the death of such a close friend and co-worker. I also figured it would be rather redundant to post an entry on news of his passing at such a time (since the official announcement was already out), and so waited till after attending his funeral service before I post a full, detailed report. I hereby offer my sincerest apologies and regrets for my delay and tardiness.

I was originally informed, on 15^th July 2004 – slightly before noon, that Yoshida-sensei had suffered a sudden relapse. At that time, I was just finishing up the final details on the character designs for ‘Reborn on the Mars’ (R.O.M.) VII 「極光の牙」(gokukou no kiba) – scheduled for release in September 2004 – and was waiting for the appropriate time to visit him in Kyoto in his apartment, where he had taken leave from work and was recuperating in after his last successful operation a month back, to show him my works; and also to receive from him the draft for R.O.M. 2^nd Chapter (sequel to the first, set approximately 6 months after Esther Blanchett’s coronation) so that my team and I could get started on the character designs and illustrations drafts.

And thus, when the sudden news of him suffering a relapse came from his aide – calling from a certain hospital in Kyoto where he was admitted for emergency treatment – at this most unexpected time, I felt it like a punch delivered in my guts, one that momentarily took my breath away. And it was with much trepidation and anxiety that I waited for updates and communication, before the much-dreaded, official fax bearing ill news of Yoshida-sensei’s death came from the offices of Kadokawa Publishings late on the night of the 15^th.

I was momentarily stunned, before I regained my wits, and within a few hours I was on board the late-night train bound for Fukuoka (in Kyushu) – which was Yoshida-sensei’s hometown – and where his funeral service was scheduled to be held.

Upon arrival at the wake, I saw familiar faces – a lot of people from the writing, publishing and other related professions, already there. Amongst those present were the veteran novelists like Mizuno Ryo and Akahori Satoru. Yoshida-sensei’s close friend – novelist Yasui Kentaro, and his wife – were also there. There were also Trinity Blood editorial team crew and amongst them, manga artist Kujo Kiyo-san. Of course, the various editorial section heads of Kadokawa Publishing and Fujimi Books and Publishing (a subsidiary publisher under Kadokawa), along with many others from similarly-affiliated professions, as well as the friends and family of Yoshida-sensei were present too.

And not only people from the writing and publishing profession, because with the recent finalisation of plans for Trinity Blood to be made into TV animation series come 2005, there were also present the various representatives from GONZO Digimation (the production company undertaking the Trinity Blood anime project), and others from similar industries – like Broccoli Productions, GAINAX and Nitroplex & Takara. Other Sneaker-affiliated novelists like Mikumo Gakuto-san and Asuka Shota-san were present as well; as were celebrities in the writers/artists profession – like Oozuka Eiji (the mastermind behind ‘Leviathan’, ‘Psycho Detective’ & ‘Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service’, etc.); Hikawa Reiko-san (mastermind behind various fantasy-genre novels); and artist/illustrator Yamada Akihito-san (illustrator for various novel series like ‘Jyuuni Kokki’ <12 Kingdoms>, and works like ‘Raxephon’). Trinity Blood drama-CD voice artists Ichijo Kazuya-san (voice for Abel Nightroad) and Hisakawa Aya-san (voice for Kate Scott) were present as well. Yes, they were all there, all these people, whose names you only know from book covers or magazine interviews; all of whom have worked with or known the easy-going, jovial Yoshida Sunao-sensei; all of them in sombre mourning black, milling about talking in whispered tones – out of respect for Yoshida-sensei’s family.

The night wore on, and some people left, promising to return the next days and for the funeral service. Yoshida-sensei’s family offered to arrange for accommodations and lodgings for those few who chose to stay the next few days till after the funeral service at nearby hotels/inns. Towards the early hours of the dawn of 16^th July 2004, amongst those who stayed – myself, Kujo Kiyo-san, and several other Kadokawa and Sneaker magazine writers and/or editorial staff – sat and talked over the proffered sake and snacks, exchanging personal anecdotes and working experience with the late Yoshida-sensei – the ‘Respected and beloved baka yarou Yoshida Sunao’ – always so full of (crazy) ideas, took work most seriously, and yet always ready with a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on for anyone. And as we reminisced about him…we were once again deeply reminded why we loved him so, young and talent and successful as he was, he was not ‘the novelist Yoshida Sunao’, but more like a dear friend to all of us…

…And, if we have felt such sentiments, what of those closer to Yoshida-sensei? His parents, for instance, whom may play the roles of the perfect host to those of us who have come all the way here from all parts of Japan, yet one just couldn’t help but notice that they too felt the heavy burden of pain, of loss and of overwhelming grief...the slight drooping hunch of their shoulders and the puffiness in Mrs. Yoshida’s eyes betrayed as much as one who is observant enough should see... and in times as such, no amounts of ‘I’m sorry for your loss’, no amounts of gentle words of condolences are enough for one to overcome the pain of the death of a beloved son...after all, no parents deserved to bury their own child... Despite the slight little upward-twist of the lips in attempts to smile as should any gracious host in the traditionally correct, socially-accepted gesture of gratitude, the hushed small talks and the ‘thank you for coming all the way here’, even if I’m not writing this, I’m am certain anyone who have been present would, and should, understand the amount of grief as reflected through the eyes of all who were present – it would be disrespectful not to...

And on the day when the Shinto priests performed the final traditional rites and all who were present at the crematorium (Yoshida-sensei’s family, relatives, friends/acquaintances and colleagues), I can’t help but to admire Mrs. Yoshida her strength, her dignified stance – standing proud and holding her head up, even when tears were streaming down her face as the priests sent her beloved son on his final passage... If I were in her position, I would have crumbled into a weeping wreck. The gathering parted and we went on our separate ways after the cremation and picking out the deceased’s bones and placing them in the ceremonial urn...

I recall my very last telephone conversation with Yoshida-sensei...it was just after he was transferred out of Intensive Care after the success of his operation in June. Then, I was both grateful and happy to hear his voice, because all the previous reports – from the time he’d collapsed at work, rushed to hospital for surgery till the fateful telephone call – had seemed too surreal to me. Then, Yoshida-sensei (I called him that, to his great chagrin, out of respect for his literary talents and boundless imaginations – he wasn’t much older than I am after all) and I chatted about the ways of life, of how short the mortals’ lifespan seemed as compared to the longer years of his created vampires and characters...it was a semi-serious, semi-joking conversation...and he mentioned that if the human mortality were much longer, he could think of so much more things he would have like to do, so much more stories to write – for the fans, for the gratification of his own restless mind/imagination... and yet never once did he mentioned about his own health conditions...and thus it came as such a shock – the news of his passing...

And with this, I draw a close to my diary entry...and I myself have some yet-to-finish works related to ‘Trinity Blood’...which I guess would never be finished now...unless until the editorial team and Kadokawa Publishing have decided to have someone else continue Yoshida-sensei’s lifework (to try to follow as closely to his writing style as before)...otherwise, I guess I would just have to archive these unfinished pieces away... But if the series would be continued, I promise that I’d provide my utmost support for whoever would be taking over and produce the best illustrations as accompaniment – this is the least I could do as an illustrator in the memory of Yoshida-sensei...a great fellow and a true friend.

I hereby offer my most sincere prayers for the eternal peace of the beloved late Yoshida Sunao.