Shinji Mizushima, manga creator known for his baseball-themed series such as Dokaben, Abu-san, And Yakȳu-Kyō no Uta, passed away at 82 last year January 10 because of pneumonia. Mizushima he was in hospital as he was being treated for an undisclosed illness. The family has already held the funeral privately, as the artist himself willed.
Born in April 1939 in the prefecture of Niigata, made his debut as a mangaka in 1958 upon reaching the age of 18, and ended his career in December 2020. Upon his retirement, he communicated:
I have worked hard until today, for 63 years, but now I have decided to retire. I pray from the bottom of my heart for continued growth in the world of manga and baseball.
His best known work was Dokaben, launched in 1972 in the magazine Weekly Shōnen Champion from Akita Shoten, a very popular series to receive an anime adaptation and a live action film. He then launched the sequels From Koshien, Dokaben Pro Yakyu-hen, Dokaben Superstars-hen, And Dokaben: Dream Tournament-hen. It ended after 46 years.
Source: NHK Street Anime News Network
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