Enrique Medina

Again, we just lost another legend today 😔 Legendary mangaka Tetsuya Chiba, best known for creating Ashita no Joe alongside writer Asao Takamori, has passed away at 87. Through the unforgettable journey of Joe Yabuki, Chiba helped create one of the most influential sports manga ever published, a work whose imagery, characters, and emotional ending became deeply embedded in Japanese popular culture. But Chiba’s legacy stretched far beyond the boxing ring. Across a career that began professionally in the 1950s, he created stories about sumo, golf, baseball, school life, war, and everyday people, with many eventually reaching television and film. Some of his most notable works included: • Ashita no Joe — Artist, with writer Asao Takamori • Notari Matsutarō — Creator • Ore wa Teppei — Creator • Ashita Tenki ni Naare — Creator • Harris no Kaze / Harris no Senpū — Creator • Akane-chan — Original Manga Creator • Kaze no Yō ni / Like the Wind — Original Story Creator • Yuki no Taiyō — Creator • Shidenkai no Taka — Creator • 1•2•3 to 4•5•Roku — Creator • Hinemosu Notari Nikki — Creator • Chikai no Makyū — Artist • Misokkasu — Creator • Shōnen yo Racket o Idake — Creator • Mama no Violin — Creator His achievements were recognized at the highest levels of Japanese culture. Chiba received numerous manga honors throughout his career and, in 2024, became the first manga artist to receive Japan’s Order of Culture, one of the country’s highest distinctions. Rest in peace, Tetsuya Chiba. Joe Yabuki may have burned until only white ash remained, but the stories Chiba drew will continue inspiring manga artists and readers for generations. 🕊️