Anime and game illustrator Yasushi Nirasawa succumbs to kidney failure, leaves behind legacy of masterful horror

Japanese game illustrator Yasushi Nirasawa, known for character designs in Kamen Rider Series entries Kamen Rider Blade, Kamen Rider Kabuto, and Kamen Rider Den-O and the creatures in the GARO series, as well as the man responsible for some of the boss designs in Shin Megami Tensei IV, has passed away at the age of 52. The news of Nirasawa’s passing was first announced on his Twitter account, which confirmed the artist had passed away due to kidney failure.

Nirasawa was known for creating some truly terrifying creatures with a distinct, inside-out aesthetic. One of my favorite games featuring the monster master’s work was the import Sega Saturn title Deep Fear, which sported some rather unsettling aquatic creatures that stalked you throughout a derelict underwater facility. Sure, the game may have been more or less a generic Resident Evil clone with a submerged setting, but Nirasawa’s ghoulish monster designs worked well to make the game an exceptionally unnerving experience. You can see an example of his work from Deep Fear below:

Our condolences go out to go out to Yasushi Nirasawa’s friends and family. He was truly a truly talented nightmare visionary, and his passing is a loss for horror fans worldwide.

So, do you have any fond memories of Nirasawa’s macabre masterpieces? Be sure to share them with us in the comments section below.