Takuzō Nagano

• Name — Takuzo Nagano • Native Name — 長野 拓造 • Born — 1 June 1979 • Birthplace — Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan • Occupation — * Video game artist • Character designer • Illustrator • Years Active — 2000s–present • Employer — Level-5 Inc. • Known for — * Professor Layton series • Inazuma Eleven series • Yo-kai Watch series • Notable Works — * Professor Layton • Inazuma Eleven • Yo-kai Watch • Mobile Suit Gundam AGE

Nagano was born on June 1, 1979, in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. He studied at Tama Art University before joining Level-5 Inc., a video game development company founded by Akihiro Hino, where he became one of the company's lead character designers and art directors.

Nagano created the original character designs for Level-5's soccer-themed RPG franchise Inazuma Eleven, which became phenomenally popular in Japan and Europe. His distinctive art style, characterized by expressive characters with dynamic poses and colorful designs, helped define the visual identity of the franchise across multiple games, anime series, and films. His work spans numerous installments, including the original series, Inazuma Eleven GO, Inazuma Eleven GO: Chrono Stone, Inazuma Eleven GO Galaxy, Inazuma Eleven: Ares no Tenbin (2018), and Inazuma Eleven: Orion no Kokuin (2018–2019). He also provided original character designs for several theatrical films. In 2024, Nagano returned as original character designer for Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road and its compilation film Inazuma Eleven: The Movie (2025).

In 2010, when Level-5 began developing Yo-kai Watch, art director Nagano was tasked by company president Akihiro Hino to design characters and settings. He worked alongside Miho Tanaka to create human characters and hundreds of yo-kai. Nagano's first drafts drew inspiration from classic yo-kai manga like GeGeGe no Kitarō, but the final direction was adjusted to be more child-friendly, inspired by Doraemon. He focused on recognizable silhouettes and a "timeless" aesthetic blending modern-day settings with traditional yo-kai imagery. He served as character and yo-kai designer for the entire Yo-kai Watch video game series, including Yo-kai Watch (2013), Yo-kai Watch 2 (2014), Yo-kai Watch 3 (2016), and subsequent entries. He also provided designs for anime series and films, including Yo-kai Watch: The Movie (2014) and the mixed live-action/animated film Yo-kai Watch the Movie 2016. Designs extended to spin-offs such as Yo-kai Watch Shadowside, Yo-kai Gakuen Y, and Yōkai Watch ♪.

In 2011, Nagano provided original character designs for Mobile Suit Gundam AGE, marking a collaboration between Level-5 and the long-running Gundam franchise. He focused on young-audience-friendly, easily readable characters, with Michinori Chiba adapting his concepts for animation. He continued through the compilation OVA Mobile Suit Gundam AGE: Memory of Eden (2013).

• Danball Senki – Original character designs for the mecha franchise and its sequel Danball Senki W • Megaton Musashi – Original character designs and animation supervisor (2021–2023) • Wonder Flick – Boss monster design (2013) • Fantasy Life – Character design contributions (2012)

Nagano occasionally shares artwork on social media. Work requests should go through Level-5 Inc.

• Year — Title — Role — Platform(s) • 2007 — Professor Layton and the Curious Village — Character Designer — Nintendo DS • 2008 — Inazuma Eleven — Original Character Designer — Nintendo DS • 2009 — Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box — Character Designer — Nintendo DS • 2009 — Professor Layton and the Unwound Future — Character Designer — Nintendo DS • 2009 — Inazuma Eleven 2 — Original Character Designer — Nintendo DS • 2010 — Professor Layton and the Last Specter — Character Designer — Nintendo DS • 2010 — Inazuma Eleven 3 — Original Character Designer — Nintendo DS • 2011 — Danball Senki — Original Character Designer — PlayStation Portable • 2011 — Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask — Character Designer — Nintendo 3DS • 2011 — Inazuma Eleven GO — Original Character Designer — Nintendo 3DS • 2012 — Danball Senki W — Original Character Designer — PlayStation Portable • 2012 — Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney — Character Concept Artist (Layton Series) — Nintendo 3DS • 2012 — Fantasy Life — Character Designer — Nintendo 3DS • 2012 — Inazuma Eleven GO 2: Chrono Stone — Original Character Designer — Nintendo 3DS • 2013 — Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy — Character Designer — Nintendo 3DS • 2013 — Wonder Flick — Boss Monster Designer — Multiple • 2013 — Inazuma Eleven GO Galaxy — Original Character Designer — Nintendo 3DS • 2013 — Yo-kai Watch — Character and Yo-kai Designer — Nintendo 3DS • 2014 — Yo-kai Watch 2 — Character and Yo-kai Designer — Nintendo 3DS • 2016 — Yo-kai Watch 3 — Character and Yo-kai Designer — Nintendo 3DS • 2017 — Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires' Conspiracy — Character Designer — Nintendo 3DS, Mobile • 2017 — Yo-kai Watch Busters 2 — Character and Yo-kai Designer — Nintendo 3DS • 2018 — Yo-kai Watch 4 — Character and Yo-kai Designer — Nintendo Switch • 2019 — Yo-kai Watch 4++ — Character and Yo-kai Designer — Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 • 2021 — Megaton Musashi — Original Character Designer — Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 • 2024 — Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road — Original Character Designer — Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, Mobile