Manga
Ashita no Joe: Manga artist Tetsuya Chiba dies at 87
The chairman of the Japanese manga artists' association died in Tokyo on October 22.
Manga artist Tetsuya Chiba died on October 22, 2026, at the age of 87 in a hospital in Tokyo. The Japan Cartoonists Association confirmed this on October 27 in an official statement. Chiba was best known as the artist of the boxing manga Ashita no Joe and had helped shape Japan's comics industry for decades.
Ashita no Joe shaped Japanese sports manga
Chiba was born in Tokyo on January 11, 1939, and spent part of his childhood in what was then Manchuria. After returning to Japan, he turned to drawing at an early age. He made his professional manga debut in 1956 with a work published for the rental-book market.
Among his most important works is Ashita no Joe, which appeared in the Weekly Shonen Magazine from 1968. The story of the boxer Joe Yabuki was created in collaboration with the writer Ikki Kajiwara, who wrote under the pseudonym Asao Takamori. The manga became a social phenomenon and received several anime adaptations. The combination of boxing, social contrasts and the protagonist's life path influenced later sports manga.
Besides Ashita no Joe, Chiba also drew Ore wa Teppei, Notari Matsutaro, Ashita Tenki ni Naare and Harris no Kaze. His works covered a range of themes, from sports to family and everyday life.
Decades of commitment to manga artists
Chiba did not work only as an artist. He also led the Japan Cartoonists Association, serving as its chairman until his death. The association honors his commitment to promoting manga, supporting creative work, and the standing of cartoonists in society.
In 2002 he received the Medal with Purple Ribbon, in 2012 the Order of the Rising Sun, and in 2024 the Order of Culture. Between 1995 and 1998 the publisher Homesha released a collected edition of his work comprising 149 volumes. His obituary also highlights Chiba's dedication to training younger artists.
According to the association, the funeral was held among the closest family. No cause of death is given in the available official statements. The Japan Cartoonists Association and the publisher Homesha published their obituaries on October 27.