Kazuki Motoyama, the writer and illustrator of Kodansha’s Super Mario manga, has died at 69, according to reports citing an announcement by his sister, Lisa Motoyama. He created a manga adaptation of Mario—not Mario, Nintendo’s character or video-game franchise. His sister did not disclose a cause of death, and the cited reports do not establish an exact date.
What Kazuki Motoyama created
Motoyama wrote and illustrated a Super Mario manga published by Kodansha. The series appeared in the magazine Comic BomBom from 1988 through 1998, according to Time Extension’s 2025 report; Nintendojo also gives those years in its November 12, 2025 report.
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Super Mario Manga Mania | $10.19 | Buy on Amazon |
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Super Mario Adventures | $15.04 | Buy on Amazon |
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Super Mario Manga Adventures T01 | $22.40 | Buy on Amazon |
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Super Mario for Piano: 34 Super Mario Themes Arranged for Easy Piano | $17.41 | Buy on Amazon |
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The Big Book of Super Mario: The Unofficial Guide to Super Mario and the Mushroom Kingdom | $11.08 | Buy on Amazon |
The manga adapted Mario games, including Super Mario 64. That makes Motoyama the creator of this Mario manga, not the creator of the games or the franchise. “Super Mario creator” can therefore be misleading without that distinction.
What is known about his death
Motoyama’s sister, Lisa Motoyama, announced his death, and the cited coverage reports that he was 69. Time Extension says she did not reveal the cause and thanked those who cared for her brother during his lifetime. The available reporting does not verify a precise date of death or reproduce a direct family statement, so neither should be inferred.
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His manga in print
A bibliography lists Japanese Kodansha volumes, including Super Mario 64: Yoshi Story 2. That bibliographic listing does not establish whether the volume is currently available or whether that particular book has an English edition. Anyone looking for it should check the language and edition stated in an individual listing rather than assume it is an English release.
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