Manga artist Tetsuya Chiba dies at 87 in Tokyo
The creator of Ashita no Joe died of myelodysplastic syndrome on October 22, 2026; the Japan Cartoonists Association announced his passing.
Manga artist Tetsuya Chiba died at a hospital in Tokyo on October 22, 2026, at the age of 87. The cause of death was myelodysplastic syndrome. The Japan Cartoonists Association, where Chiba served as director general and chairperson, announced his passing on its official website and X account, according to Crunchyroll.
The funeral was held as a private family service.
Kodansha issued a statement on his achievements, noting that its Tetsuya Chiba Award for new talent has run for 46 years.
A career that spanned decades
Chiba was born in Tokyo on January 11, 1939, and spent his early childhood in former Manchuria, now northeastern China. He was in the area when World War II ended and was repatriated to Japan in 1946. He debuted as a manga artist with a rented manga book in 1956 at age 17.
Ashita no Joe, written by Asao Takamori and drawn by Chiba, was serialized in Kodansha's Weekly Shonen Magazine from 1968 to 1973. The death of Joe Yabuki's rival Toru Rikiishi became a social phenomenon, including an actual funeral for the character, and the series was later adapted into TV anime, live-action movies and stage plays. Since the 1970s Chiba created works including Notari Matsutaro and Ashita Tenki ni Naare, and spoke about the tragedy of war and the importance of peace.
His autobiographical manga Hinemosu Notari Nikki ran in Shogakukan's Big Comic from December 2015 until it went on hiatus in September 2026. Chiba received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette in 2012, was named a Person of Cultural Merit in 2014 and was awarded the Order of Culture in 2024.
Quick answers
How did Tetsuya Chiba die?
He died of myelodysplastic syndrome at a hospital in Tokyo on October 22, 2026, at age 87.
What was Tetsuya Chiba best known for?
He was known for works including Ashita no Joe, written by Asao Takamori, along with Notari Matsutaro and Ashita Tenki ni Naare.
Will there be a public funeral for Tetsuya Chiba?
The funeral was held as a private family service.