Famous Japanese manga artist Tetsuya Chiba has died at the age of 87 after suffering from a
rare bone marrow disorder. He was widely known for creating Ashita no Joe which became one
of Japan’s most famous boxing manga series.

According to The Japan Times Chiba died at a hospital in Tokyo on Thursday October 22, 2026.
His death was caused by myelodysplastic syndrome which affects the production of healthy
blood cells.

Chiba was born in Tokyo in 1939 and spent part of his childhood outside Japan. When he was
two years old his family moved to the Korean Peninsula and later lived in Manchuria which is
now part of northeastern China.

During his childhood he experienced the difficult conditions of World War II and the violence that
followed the war. His family eventually returned to Japan in 1946 where he continued growing
up and developed an interest in drawing.

Chiba began his professional career as a manga artist at the age of 17. His talent gradually
earned recognition in Japan’s publishing industry. In 1962 he received a children’s manga award
from the Japanese publishing company Kodansha.

Throughout his long career Chiba created several popular manga series. One of his works was
Shiden-Kai no Taka which explored the experiences of a fighter pilot during World War II. He
also created Harris no Kaze which became a popular sports manga and was later adapted into
a television anime series.

Other well-known works by Chiba included Notari Matsutaro which focused on professional
sumo wrestling. He also created Ashita Tenki ni Naare which explored the world of golf and Ore
wa Teppei which followed a young boy learning the Japanese martial art of kendo.
However his most famous work remained Ashita no Joe. The boxing series became highly
influential in Japan and helped shape the country’s sports manga industry.

Chiba also made history by becoming the first manga artist to receive Japan’s prestigious Order
of Culture. This honour recognised his major contribution to Japanese culture and creative arts.
His death marks the loss of an important figure in Japanese manga history. His stories and
characters continue to represent a significant part of Japan’s entertainment and publishing
culture.

Source: News Provided

Fatima Khan