Manga creator Tetsuya Chiba, renowned for his foundational work on the boxing series Ashita no Joe, passed away in a Tokyo hospital on October 22 at the age of 87. According to reports, his death was caused by myelodysplastic syndrome. Chiba had recently placed his autobiographical manga Hinemosu Notari Nikki on hiatus in September due to declining health. Throughout his career, Chiba was a significant figure in the industry, serving as the chair of the Japan Cartoonists Association and becoming one of the first two manga creators nominated to the Japan Art Academy in 2022. In 2024, he became the first manga artist to receive the prestigious Order of Culture, an honor recognizing outstanding contributions to Japanese culture. His most famous work, Ashita no Joe, remains a cultural mainstay, having inspired multiple anime adaptations and serving as the narrative foundation for the 2018 series Megalobox and its 2021 sequel, Megalobox 2: Nomad.