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Japanese manga artist Tetsuya Chiba, known for his boxing masterpiece 'Ashita no Joe,' dies at 87
Compiled Oct 27
What happened
Tetsuya Chiba, a legendary Japanese manga artist, has died at age 87.
The detail
He was best known for his boxing series 'Ashita no Joe' ('Fighting for Tomorrow'), about an orphan becoming a professional boxer.
The detail
Chiba died at a Tokyo hospital last Thursday, according to his publisher Kodansha Ltd.
The detail
Fans once held a mock funeral for the series' rival character, showing how popular the manga became.
How it unfolded
January 1939: Tetsuya Chiba is born in Tokyo. · Months after his birth: His family moves to northeastern China during Japan's occupation. · Aug. 15, 1945: At age 6, Chiba and his family mark Japan's surrender while still in China. · 1946: The family flees to Huludao and returns to Japan. · 1956: Chiba debuts as a manga artist, initially drawing comics for girls. · 1961: He debuts a baseball manga in a boys' comic magazine, pioneering sports-themed manga. · Last Thursday: Chiba dies at a Tokyo hospital. · Tuesday: Publisher Kodansha announces his death.
By the numbers
87 age at death · 1939 birth year · 1945 year of Japan's surrender · 1946 year family returned to Japan · 1956 manga debut year
Still unresolved
Kodansha did not specify the cause of Chiba's death.