Takehiko Inoue

Takehiko Inoue
Inoue in Tokyo, 2024
Born	Takehiko Nariai (1967-01-12) 12 January 1967 (age 57) Ōkuchi, Japan
Area(s)	Manga artist
Notable works	Slam Dunk Vagabond Real
Awards	Tezuka Award (1988) Shogakukan Manga Award (1995) Kodansha Manga Award (2000) Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize (2002)

Takehiko Inoue (井上 雄彦, Inoue Takehiko, born 12 January 1967) is a Japanese manga artist. He is best known for the basketball series Slam Dunk (1990–1996), and the jidaigeki manga Vagabond, which are two of the best-selling manga series in history. Many of his works are about basketball, Inoue himself being a huge fan of the sport. His works sold in North America through Viz Media are Slam Dunk, Vagabond and Real, although Slam Dunk was earlier translated by Gutsoon! Entertainment. In 2012, Inoue became the first recipient of the Cultural Prize at the Asia Cosmopolitan Awards.