Maki Kaji, the Japanese puzzle enthusiast better known as the ‘godfather of Sudoku’, has died of bile cancer at the age of 69.
Nikoli, his magazine which specialises in games, broke the news in a statement via its website on Monday.
According to the statement, Jaki breathed his last on August 10 at his home in Tokyo amid his battle with the ailment.
“Maki Kaji, who spread the love of puzzles in the world as ‘godfather of Sudoku’ passed away at 10:54 pm on August 10, 2021 at home in Tokyo,” it read.
“The cause of death was bile duct cancer. He was 69 years old. Nikoli will hold a memorial gathering and will announce at Nikoli’s url.”
Kaji was born in the northern Japanese city of Sapporo in 1951.
The deceased launched Nikoli after he dropped out of Keio University, and published its first edition in August 1980.