Artist of the boxing manga Ashita no Joe

Tetsuya Chiba was a Japanese manga artist best known for drawing the boxing saga Ashita no Joe (1968–1973), written by Asao Takamori, one of the most influential sports manga ever published. His other works included Ore wa Teppei and Notari Matsutarō. He led the Japan Cartoonists Association and was the first manga artist to receive the Order of Culture. He died in Tokyo on 22 October 2026, aged 87.

Born in Tokyo on 11 January 1939, he spent much of his early childhood in Shenyang, China, and made his professional debut in 1958.

Life in brief

  1. 1939Born in Tokyo, Japan
  2. 2026 Died in Tokyo, Japan, aged 87

The death report

Published 27 October 2026 Tetsuya Chiba, artist of the boxing manga Ashita no Joe, dies at 87 Chiba's Ashita no Joe shaped Japanese sports manga. He worked for about 70 years and was the first manga artist to receive the Order of Culture. Read the full report →

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