Tetsuya Chiba

Tetsuya Chiba (千葉 徹彌 or ちばてつや, Chiba Tetsuya; (January 11, 1939 – October 22, 2026) was a Japanese manga artist. Considered a major figure in the history of manga, many of his early titles are still in print due to continued popularity. He is most famous for his sports stories, having been described as "the biggest contributor to the rise of sports manga", in particular for works such as Ashita no Joe, his best known work, and Notari Matsutarō.[edit]

In the final years of his life, Tetsuya Chiba remained active in Tokyo, drawing upon childhood memories from the end of World War II for new projects that reflected on the war's impact. The artist passed away at the age of 87, with the announcement of his death made by major Japanese news agencies on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. While some initial queries suggested an earlier date of October 22, authoritative reports from Jiji Press and Kyodo News confirm the public disclosure occurred on the 27th. Tributes immediately followed across international media outlets, including The Japan Times and Anime News Network, which highlighted his status as the creator of Ashita no Joe and described him as the biggest contributor to the rise of sports manga.

His recent receipt of the Order of Culture in 2024 underscored the high regard held by the Japanese government prior to his passing. Arrangements for the funeral and memorial service were handled privately by his family and publishers, with no public ceremony details released to the press. At the time of his death, work continued on unfinished historical pieces, suggesting potential posthumous releases managed by his long-time publisher, Kodansha.[edit]