The anime and manga industry has lost another icon—Momoko Sakura, the creator of the popular long-running manga series Chibi Maruko-chan has passed away at age 53 on August 15 due to breast cancer. A private wake and funeral services was already held and attended by her family.
Born on May 8, 1965 in Shimizu City, Shizuoka, Momoko Sakura debut as a manga artist when she was still in college in 1984. Her popular comedy manga work Chibi Maruko-chan was serialized in Ribon from 1986 to 1996. It sold over 32 million copies in print. A four-panel version of the manga was released in 2007 in a Japanese newspaper but ended in 2011.
The manga’s popularity also paved way to an anime adaptation which reached a total of more than 1,100 episodes to date.
Rest in Peace, Momoko Sakura. You will never be forgotten through your icon work and your legacy will live on forever.
Source: Hachima Kiko, Oricon, and Momoko Sakura’s official blog, via Anime News Network