Tetsuya Chiba: key obituary facts
Is Tetsuya Chiba dead? Yes. Tetsuya Chiba died on October 27, 2026, at age 87.
Cause of death: Tetsuya Chiba's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Tetsuya Chiba known for?
He was a Japanese manga artist.
More about Tetsuya Chiba
Born: 11 January 1939.
Place of birth: Tsukiji.
Gender: male.
Occupation: mangaka, actor, artist, comics artist.
Nationality: Japan.
Employer: Bunsei University of Art.
Notable work: Ashita no Joe, Ore wa Teppei, Notari Matsutarō, Ashita Tenki ni Naare.
Awards: Medal with Purple Ribbon, Person of Cultural Merit.
Known for: Manga.
Tetsuya Chiba, the Japanese manga artist best known for the sports series “Ashita no Joe,” died October 27, 2026, aged 87.
Born January 11, 1939, in Tsukiji, Tokyo, Chiba became a major figure in manga, with a body of work that included popular sports stories. Though born in Tokyo, he spent much of his early childhood in Shenyang, Liaoning, where his father worked in a paper factory, during the period when northeast China was colonized by Japan.
Chiba was described as a leading contributor to the rise of sports manga. Alongside “Ashita no Joe,” his notable works included “Notari Matsutarō,” “Ore wa Teppei” and “Ashita Tenki ni Naare.” Many of his early titles remained in print because of their continued popularity. His recognition in Japan included the Medal with Purple Ribbon and designation as a Person of Cultural Merit. He was also employed by Bunsei University of Art.