Katsushi Murakami, mechanical designer and toy planner, died on July 20 at age 83. He was born on September 23, 1942 in Gifu, Japan. Murakami began his career at Bandai in 1961 and later worked for its subsidiary Popy. He contributed mechanical design to anime series such as Shin Tetsujin 28, Gold Lightan, Machine Robo: Battle Hackers, Video Warrior Laserion, Reideen the Brave, Gekisō! Rubenkaiser, Kishin Taisen Gigantic Formula, and Space Adventure Cobra, and designed vehicles for the F‑Zero Falcon Densetsu anime. He served as planner for 3x3 Eyes, Little Twins, and Super Dimensional Fortress Macross II: The Movie, and created toys for tokusatsu and sentai programs including Kamen Rider. He is known for developing the Chogokin line of metal robot toys, which referenced the Chogokin alloy used in the Mazinger Z mecha. His health had been poor earlier in the year, and the cause of death was not disclosed publicly.