Akio Chiba

Akio Chiba (ちばあきお or 千葉 亜喜生, Chiba Akio, 29 January 1943 – 13 September 1984) was a Japanese manga artist.^{[1][user-generated source]}

On 29 January 1943, Chiba was born in Shenyang, Manchukuo (now part Liaoning, China).^{[1][user-generated source]} His father worked in a paper factory in China. Chiba had three brothers, Tetsuya Chiba the oldest brother , and Shigeyuki Chiba both were also manga artists, and another brother name Ken.

At the end of the Sino-Japanese War, Chiba's family lived in the attic of a work-acquaintance of his father until they could find a way to get back to Japan.^[2]

Chiba was known for publishing his works in both shōnen and shōjo magazines. Chiba made his professional debut in 1967 with his manga Sabu to Chibi while working as an assistant to his older brother, Tetsuya. In 1977, he won the 22nd Shogakukan Manga Award for shōnen for his work on Captain and Play Ball.^[3]

On 13 September 1984, Chiba committed suicide due to issues related to bipolar disorder. He was 41 years old.^{[1][user-generated source][4]}

Listed chronologically.

• Kōsha Ura no Eleven (February 1971, Bessatsu Shōnen Jump, Shueisha)
• Han-chan (September 1971, Bessatsu Shōnen Jump)
• Michikusa (January 1972, Bessatsu Shōnen Sunday)
• Captain (26 volumes, 1972–1979, Bessatsu Shōnen Jump, made into an anime series in 1980)
• Play Ball (22 volumes, 1973–1978, Weekly Shōnen Jump)
• Fushigi Tōbo-kun (1982–1983, Weekly Shōnen Jump, written by Tarō Nami)
• Champ (April–November 1984, Weekly Shōnen Jump, written by Tarō Nami)
  • This was his last work.

Sources:^{[1][user-generated source][4][5]}

• List of manga artists
• Tetsuya Chiba

• Akio Chiba at Anime News Network's encyclopedia