Kimiya Masago
Kimiya Masago (Japanese: 正子公也), born 1960, Okayama, is a freelance illustrator and emaki artist whose works primarily depict characters from Chinese and Japanese history, particularly those from Romance of the Three Kingdoms, The Water Margin (Suikoden), and various military leaders from the Sengoku period. Masago earned a bachelor's degree majoring in physics at Chuo University in 1983, and became a freelance artist in 1989. His first work, a manga series entitled Clown with Blue Nose, was first published in 1990. He has since gone on to produce many illustrations for numerous publications, even branching into the film industry in 2005, where he became a costume designer for the Chinese film The Promise. Masago provided illustrations for the Pokémon Trading Card Game between 2000 and 2005, depicting a number of Pokémon in a similar fashion to his traditional work, focusing on tone, areas of extreme color, and atmospheric environments. For a list of all cards he has illustrated, go here.
Works
Books and serialized works
| Title | Date | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Clown with Blue Nose (In A-ha issues 4, 7, 9, and 10) | 1990 | Esso |
| XVIII Brief History: Assassin's Wind Emaki (In Animage October 1990 issue) | October 1990 | Tokuma Shoten |
| XVIII Brief History Volume 2: Killer's Song (In Animage April 1991 issue) | April 1991 | Tokuma Shoten |
| RYU TOU YA | April 1994 | Treville |
| Suikoden: One O Eight Outlaws | May 1999 | Graphic-sha |
| Romance of the Three Kingdoms | January 2006 | Kaisei-sha |
| Suiko: One O Eight Outlaws | January 2006 | Kaisei-sha |
| Suiko Vol.1: Fukumakourin | April 10, 2006 | Kaisei-sha |
| Suiko Vol.2: Hokuto no Tou | June 25, 2006 | Kaisei-sha |
| Suiko Vol.3: Kessen En'ourou | August 25, 2006 | Kaisei-sha |
| Suiko Vol.4: Seifuu Mamoru Muhon | October 25, 2006 | Kaisei-sha |
| Suiko Vol.5: Tenkai-boshi Junan | December 25, 2006 | Kaisei-sha |
| Suiko Vol.6: Shukkasou Fuuun | February 25, 2007 | Kaisei-sha |
| Suiko Vol.7: Gunshin Doku Kakou | April 25, 2007 | Kaisei-sha |
| Suiko Vol.8: Taitengyoudou | June 25, 2007 | Kaisei-sha |
| Suiko Vol.9: Taisen Ryouzanpaku | August 25, 2007 | Kaisei-sha |
| Suiko Vol.10: Kesshuu Hyaku Hachi Hoshi | October 25, 2007 | Kaisei-sha |
| Suikoden True Theory: Who was the Strongest Hero!? | March 7, 2008 | Akaneshin-sha |
| IAPONIA | February 21, 2011 | Gakken |
Emaki and other illustrations
| Title | Date | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Illustrations for Three Kingdoms III Military General FILE | July 1992 | Koei Publishing |
| Illustrations for Nobunaga's Ambition: Haōden Military General FILE | February 1993 | Koei Publishing |
| Illustrations for Rise of the Phoenix Handbook | September 1993 | Koei Publishing |
| Illustrations for Three Kingdoms IV Military General FILE | July 1994 | Koei Publishing |
| Cover illustration for Ha Chūgoku Taitei-den | October 1994 | Gakken |
| Cover illustration for Strange Story of the Three Kingdoms | November 1994 | Koei Publishing |
| Cover illustration for Three Kingdoms: Toshinden Legend | February 1995 | Koei Publishing |
| Cover illustration for Sengoku Fighter's Guide | June 1995 | Koei Publishing |
| Cover illustration for Three Kingdoms: Flying Legend | September 1995 | Koei Publishing |
| Illustrations for Nobunaga's Ambition: Tenshōki Military General FILE | September 1995 | Koei Publishing |
| Cover illustration for Haisha no Nipponshi | September 1995 | Gakken |
| Illustrations for Three Kingdoms Graffiti | April 1996 | Koei Publishing |
| Illustrations for Three Kingdoms V Military General FILE | August 1996 | Koei Publishing |
| Illustrations for Nobunaga's Ambition: Shōseiroku Premium Book | March 1997 | Koei Publishing |
| Illustrations for Water Margin: Tenshirube 108 Hoshi Fine Fellow FILE | March 1997 | Koei Publishing |
| Emaki Sangokushi | May 1997 | Koei Publishing |
| Cover illustration for Angelique Love Love Communication Vol.4 | August 1997 | Koei Publishing |
| Cover illustration for Digital Comic Anthology Vol.1 (Web Comics) | September 1998 | Softbank |
| Cover illustration for Soryūkō Kōmori Denki (Top) | December 1998 | Shogakukan |
| Cover illustration for Soryūkō Kōmori Denki (Middle) | December 1998 | Shogakukan |
| Cover illustration for Soryūkō Kōmori Denki (Bottom) | December 1998 | Shogakukan |
| Cover illustration for Henjō Rōshi (1) | June 1999 | Shogakukan |
| Cover illustration for Henjō Rōshi (2) | June 1999 | Shogakukan |
| Cover illustration for Henjō Rōshi (3) | August 1999 | Shogakukan |
| Cover illustration for Henjō Rōshi (4) | August 1999 | Shogakukan |
| Cover illustration for Art Club Vol. 35 | October 1999 | Geijutsu-shuppansha |
| Cover illustration for Taigun Shiden (1) | December 1999 | Gakken |
| Cover illustration for Rise and Fall of the Three Kingdoms (1) | January 2000 | Shueisha |
| Cover illustration for Rise and Fall of the Three Kingdoms (2) | January 2000 | Shueisha |
| Cover illustration for Rise and Fall of the Three Kingdoms (3) | February 2000 | Shueisha |
| Cover illustration for China Stories: Rainbow of Loess | February 2000 | Shodensha |
| Cover illustration for Rise and Fall of the Three Kingdoms (4) | March 2000 | Shueisha |
| Cover illustration for Rise and Fall of the Three Kingdoms (5) | April 2000 | Shueisha |
| Cover illustration for Taigun Shiden (2) | April 2000 | Gakken |
| Cover illustration for Kokū Densetsu: Gaki Sōshi no Shō | July 2000 | Shodensha |
| Cover illustration for Taigun Shiden (3) | August 2000 | Gakken |
| Illustrations for Dynasty Warriors: Road to the Strongest Warrior | September 2000 | Koei Publishing |
| Cover illustration for Kokū Densetsu: Dōki no Shō | September 2000 | Shodensha |
| Cover illustration for Taigun Shiden (4) | November 2000 | Gakken |
| Cover illustration for Taigun Shiden (5) | April 2001 | Gakken |
| Cover illustration for Shoken Onkyūroku (1) | April 2001 | Tokuma Shoten |
| Cover illustration for Shoken Onkyūroku (2) | April 2001 | Tokuma Shoten |
| Cover illustration for Chūgoku Taitei-den | May 2001 | Gakken |
| Cover illustration for Shoken Onkyūroku (3) | May 2001 | Tokuma Shoten |
| Cover illustration for Shoken Onkyūroku (4) | May 2001 | Tokuma Shoten |
| Cover illustration for Hekketsu-ken (1) | July 2001 | Tokuma Shoten |
| Cover illustration for Hekketsu-ken (2) | August 2001 | Tokuma Shoten |
| Cover illustration for Kokū Densetsu: Ao Han'nya no Shō | October 2001 | Shodensha |
| Cover illustration for Kan'ei Yōsei Jōruri | October 2001 | Gakken |
| Illustrations for Three Kingdoms Last Farewell Profile | December 2001 | Koei Publishing |
| Cover illustration for Hekketsu-ken (3) | September 2001 | Tokuma Shoten |
| Cover illustration for Ma Nago | January 2002 | Gakken |
| Cover illustration for Moto Sō Kōbō-shi | March 2002 | Gakken |
| Cover illustration for Sengoku Bushin Den – Bumon no Iji to Tōkon no Gunzō | March 2002 | Gakken |
| Cover illustration for Shibaren Suikoden: Ware-ra Ryōzanpaku no Kōkan (1) | July 2002 | Shueisha |
| Cover illustration for Shibaren Suikoden: Ware-ra Ryōzanpaku no Kōkan (2) | July 2002 | Shueisha |
| Cover illustration for Shibaren Suikoden: Ware-ra Ryōzanpaku no Kōkan (3) | August 2002 | Shueisha |
| Illustrations for Nobunaga's Ambition: Sōtenroku Military General FILE | October 2002 | Koei Publishing |
| Cover illustration for Musashi Miyamoto Strategy – See! Know! Enjoy!! Masterpiece of Timeless Eiji Yoshikawa | December 2002 | Gakken |
| Cover illustration for Three Kingdoms・Wu: Yangtze River Burning (1) | February 2003 | Shueisha |
| Cover illustration for Three Kingdoms・Wu: Yangtze River Burning (2) | February 2003 | Shueisha |
| Cover illustration for Three Kingdoms・Wu: Yangtze River Burning (3) | March 2003 | Shueisha |
| Cover illustration for Three Kingdoms・Wu: Yangtze River Burning (4) | April 2003 | Shueisha |
| Cover illustration for Shōin Yoshida (Top) | April 2003 | Gakuyo Shobo |
| Cover illustration for Shōin Yoshida (Bottom) | April 2003 | Gakuyo Shobo |
| Cover illustration for Three Kingdoms・Wu: Yangtze River Burning (5) | July 2003 | Shueisha |
| Cover illustration for Three Kingdoms・Wu: Yangtze River Burning (6) | August 2003 | Shueisha |
| Cover illustration for Three Kingdoms・Wu: Yangtze River Burning (7) | September 2003 | Shueisha |
| Cover illustration for Three Kingdoms・Wu: Yangtze River Burning (8) | October 2003 | Shueisha |
| Cover illustration for Three Kingdoms・Wu: Yangtze River Burning (9) | November 2003 | Shueisha |
| Cover illustration for Three Kingdoms・Wu: Yangtze River Burning (10) | December 2003 | Shueisha |
| Cover illustration for Sengoku Elegance: Samurai Keiji Maeda | March 2004 | Gakuyo Shobo |
| Illustrations and emaki art for Suikoden (1) | January 5, 2005 | Media Factory |
| Illustrations and emaki art for Suikoden (2) | February 5, 2005 | Media Factory |
| Illustrations and emaki art for Suikoden (3) | March 5, 2005 | Media Factory |
| Cover illustration for Comic Three Kingdoms Magazine: Sōten Onore-shi-gō | March 2005 | Media Factory |
| Cover illustration for Three Kingdoms: Ryū Yo, Sōten ni Mae (Musō FanField Novels 1) | March 19, 2005 | Koei Publishing |
| Illustrations and emaki art for Suikoden (4) | April 5, 2005 | Media Factory |
| Cover illustration for Three Kingdoms: Ōdo no Shishi-tachi (Musō FanField Novels 2) | April 22, 2005 | Koei Publishing |
| Illustrations and emaki art for Suikoden (5) | May 2, 2005 | Media Factory |
| Cover illustration for Comic Three Kingdoms Magazine: Tenkasanbu-kei-gō | May 2005 | Media Factory |
| Illustrations and emaki art for Suikoden (6) | June 3, 2005 | Media Factory |
| Cover illustration for Three Kingdoms: Kirin Yo, Fūun o Kakeyo (Musō FanField Novels 3) | July 1, 2005 | Koei Publishing |
| Illustrations and emaki art for Suikoden (7) | July 5, 2005 | Media Factory |
| Cover illustration for Comic Three Kingdoms Magazine: Hakubi Sairyō-gō | July 2005 | Media Factory |
| Illustrations and emaki art for Suikoden (8) | August 5, 2005 | Media Factory |
| Cover illustration for Kanjuhime | October 21, 2005 | Tokuma Shoten |
| Illustrations for The Promise movie brochure | February 2006 | — |
| Illustrations for The Promise Visual Book | February 26, 2006 | Softbank Creative |
| Cover illustration for Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Chiryaku Sae Mōshō Bēnru Gun'yū Emaki | February 2006 | Gakken |
| Cover illustration for FRIDAY Dynamite Special Issue | May 20, 2006 | Kodansha |
| Illustrations for The Promise DVD booklet | August 4, 2006 | Warner Home Video |
| Illustrations for Dororo movie brochure and postcard | January 2007 | Universal Pictures Japan |
| Illustrations for Dororo Perfect Guide | January 2007 | Media Factory |
| Cover illustration for Three Kingdoms Hero Transcript: Banpufutō no Gōyū, Kiryakujūō no Chibō | January 2007 | Gakken |
| Cover illustration for Lin'an Suikoden | March 2007 | Chuokoron-Shinsha |
| Cover illustration for Kōshu Kikan | September 22, 2007 | Chuokoron-Shinsha |
| Cover illustration for Sengoku Seikyō Kashin-dan: Yūshō・Mōshō・Retsu Masaru Den | February 2008 | Gakken |
| Cover illustration for Extraordinary War: Nobunaga Chronicle (1) | March 2008 | Gakken |
| Cover illustration for Gamō Ujisato (Top) | April 2008 | Dōmonfuyuji |
| Cover illustration for Gamō Ujisato (Bottom) | April 2008 | Dōmonfuyuji |
| Cover illustration for Hanbe Takenaka | May 2008 | Gakuyo Shobo |
| Cover illustration for Extraordinary War: Nobunaga Chronicle (2) | June 2008 | Gakken |
| Cover illustration for Powerful Medicine of Sengoku History | June 2008 | Kasakura Publishing |
| Cover illustration for Bakumatsu Kengō Hiden | July 19, 2008 | Bestsellers |
| Cover illustration for Sakon Shima | August 2008 | Gakuyo Shobo |
| Cover illustration for Powerful Medicine of Sengoku History – History Mystery | September 2008 | Kasakura Publishing |
| Cover illustration for Naoie Ukita | September 2008 | Gakuyo Shobo |
| Cover illustration for Three Kingdoms: Here is the Hero (1) | September 26, 2008 | Takeda Random House Japan |
| Cover illustration for Three Kingdoms: Here is the Hero (2) | September 26, 2008 | Takeda Random House Japan |
| Cover illustration for Women of the Three Kingdoms | October 2008 | Jībī |
| Cover illustration for Three Kingdoms: Warlord Suguru Hyaku | October 2008 | Gakken |
| Cover illustration for Sengoku Bushō Gun'yū Fu: Kokujin・Daimyō・Inō Shū | October 2008 | Gakken |
| Cover illustration for Three Kingdoms: Here is the Hero (3) | October 23, 2008 | Takeda Random House Japan |
| Cover illustration for Three Kingdoms: Here is the Hero (4) | October 23, 2008 | Takeda Random House Japan |
| Cover illustration for Three Kingdoms: Here is the Hero (5) | November 20, 2008 | Takeda Random House Japan |
| Cover illustration for Three Kingdoms: Here is the Hero (6) | November 20, 2008 | Takeda Random House Japan |
| Cover illustration for Takahashi Shōun: Sengoku Banka | December 2008 | Gakuyo Shobo |
| Cover illustration for Kanetsugu Naoe: Tenkabito ni Idomi Tsudzuketa Mei Sanbō | December 2008 | Gakken |
| Cover illustration for Swordsman Battle Royale~Who is the Strongest Samurai!? | January 9, 2009 | Takarajimasha |
| Cover illustration for Powerful Medicine of Sengoku History – The Sealed Truth of 101 | January 2009 | Kasakura Publishing |
| Cover illustration for Motochika Chosokabe | February 2009 | Gakuyo Shobo |
| Cover illustration for Nobutsuna Kamiizumi | June 10, 2009 | Gakuyo Shobo |
| Cover illustration for Shikasuke Yamanaka | August 20, 2009 | Gakuyo Shobo |
| Illustrations for Sengoku Bushō Pia: Yukari no Ji to Shiro o Meguru Tabi | September 10, 2009 | Pia |
| Cover illustration for Yoshitsugu Ōtani | September 20, 2009 | Gakuyo Shobo |
| Cover illustration for Hontōhakowai: Sengoku Bushō-tachi | October 2009 | Issuisya |
| Cover illustration for Yoshiaki Mogami | November 10, 2009 | Gakuyo Shobo |
| Greeting card illustration for Nengajō: Ni Miru Chīsana Bijutsukan | December 1, 2009 | Hokushindo |
| Cover illustration for Koroku Hachisuka (Top) | January 20, 2010 | Gakuyo Shobo |
| Cover illustration for Koroku Hachisuka (Bottom) | January 20, 2010 | Gakuyo Shobo |
| June 1582 ~Honnō-ji Incident Emaki~ (In Samurai Biographies February 2010 issue) | February 2010 | LEED Publishing |
| Cover illustration for Tsunashige Hōjō | February 10, 2010 | Gakuyo Shobo |
| Cover illustration for Nobutada Oda: My Father Nobunaga | March 2010 | Gakuyo Shobo |
| Cover illustration for Narimasa Sassa | April 5, 2010 | Gakuyo Shobo |
| Cover illustration for Nagayoshi Miyoshi | May 10, 2010 | Gakuyo Shobo |
| June 1582 ~Battle of Yamazaki Emaki~ (In Samurai Biographies June 2010 issue) | June 2010 | LEED Publishing |
| Cover illustration for Itsusatsu de Wakaru Irasuto de Wakaru: Three Kingdoms Illustrations | June 29, 2010 | Seibido Shuppan |
| Cover illustration for Yoshihiro Shimazu | September 10, 2010 | Gakuyo Shobo |
| Cover illustration for One-eyed Dragon Masamune | November 2010 | Gakuyo Shobo |
| Cover illustration for Rekishijin Magazine January 2011 issue | December 11, 2010 | Bestsellers |
| Illustrations for Three Kingdoms: Heroes app | 2011 | Headway |
| Illustrations for Three Kingdoms: Legends app | 2011 | Headway |
| Illustrations for Rekishijin Magazine March 2011 issue | February 12, 2011 | Bestsellers |
| Cover illustration for Rekishijin Magazine Complete Edition | March 5, 2011 | Bestsellers |
| Illustrations for Rekishijin Magazine April 2011 issue | March 12, 2011 | Bestsellers |
| Cover illustration for Kiyomori Taira | April 5, 2011 | Gakuyo Shobo |
| Cover illustration for Rekishijin Magazine July 2011 issue | June 10, 2011 | Bestsellers |
| Cover illustration for Rekishijin Magazine August 2011 issue | July 12, 2011 | Bestsellers |
| Illustration for Rekishijin Magazine December 2011 issue | November 11, 2011 | Bestsellers |
| Illustration for Rekishijin Magazine February 2012 issue | January 12, 2012 | Bestsellers |
| Illustrations for Rekishijin Magazine March 2012 issue | February 10, 2012 | Bestsellers |
| Cover illustration for Rekishijin Magazine May 2012 issue | April 12, 2012 | Bestsellers |
| Cover illustration for Nagamasa Kuroda | August 11, 2012 | Gakuyo Shobo |
| Cover illustration for Ano Sengoku Bushō no Igaina Sugao | September 7, 2012 | Shinjinbutsuōraisha |
| Cover illustration for Iehisa Shimazu and Toyohisa Shimazu | September 11, 2012 | Gakuyo Shobo |
| Cover illustration for Ima ni Ikiru: Shokatsukōmei Chiyū no Kotoba | March 19, 2013 | Nagaoka Shoten |
| Cover illustration for Rekishijin Magazine June 2013 issue | May 11, 2013 | Bestsellers |
| Cover illustration for Tsūkai Muhi no Omoshiro-sa! Kūzenzetsugo no do Hakuryoku! Suikoden Maru Wakari | July 11, 2013 | Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha |
| Cover illustration for True Theory: Kanbei Kuroda | September 3, 2013 | Gakuyo Shobo |
| Cover illustration for Shirebashiruhodo Omoshiroi: Shiki no Eiyū-tachi | September 12, 2013 | Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha |
Games
| Title | Platform | Release date | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sangokushi Eiketsuden | PC | February 1995 | Packaging illustration |
| Nobunaga's Ambition・Shosei Book | PC | March 1997 | Character illustrations |
| Suikoden Ten Shirube Ichi Rei Hachi Hoshi | PC | 1997 | Character illustrations |
| Ami-ji Mikuni | PC | 2001 | Packaging illustration |
| Sengoku Efuda Yuugi: Hototogisu Ran | PlayStation Portable | November 13, 2008 | Card illustrations |
| Sengoku Efuda Yuugi: Hototogisu Tairan | PlayStation Portable | September 9, 2010 | Card illustrations |
| Butterfly Sword Online | PC | May 18, 2011 (Open Beta) | Promotional poster illustrations |
| Onimusha: Soul | Browser game | June 28, 2012 | Character illustrations |
Film
| Title | Date | Position |
|---|---|---|
| The Promise | February 11, 2006 (Japan) | Costume Design |
| Dororo | January 27, 2007 | Visual Concept Design |