The facts

  1. Kodansha said Chiba died at a Tokyo hospital, AP reported. The Japan Illustration Association independently issued a memorial confirming the 22 October date. [1][2]

  2. Chiba and writer Asao Takamori, also known as Ikki Kajiwara, began Ashita no Joe in 1968. His other works included Ore wa Teppei and Notari Matsutaro. [1][3]

  3. The association records his 2024 Order of Culture and his service as Japan Cartoonists Association chairman from 2012 to 2018. [1]

  4. Jiji Press reported myelodysplastic syndrome as the cause of death. The publisher announcement quoted by AP did not specify a cause. [2][3]

Sources

References support the numbered facts above. Source checks: 29 Oct 2026, 00:15 UTC.

  1. Institutional memorial for Tetsuya Chiba

    Japan Illustration Association (JILLA) · Primary source · 27 Oct 2026

    Japanese. Confirms the death date, work and honors.

  2. Publisher confirms Tetsuya Chiba’s death

    The Associated Press · Reporting · 27 Oct 2026

  3. Tetsuya Chiba obituary

    Jiji Press, via Nippon.com · Reporting · 27 Oct 2026

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