Manga artist Sadao Shoji, celebrated for his extensive work depicting the lives of Japanese salarymen, passed away on April 5th in Tokyo due to heart failure. He was 88 years old.
Shoji made his manga debut in 1967 and is most recognized for his enduring series Tanma-kun. This manga captivated readers for an astounding 57 years, serializing in Bungeishunjū's Shūkan Bunshun from 1968 until its conclusion in 2025. His other significant work, Salaryman Senka, published in Kodansha's Shūkan Gendai, ran for 55 years between 1969 and 2024.
Beyond his major series, Shoji was also known for the four-panel manga Asatte-kun, which appeared in the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper's morning edition from 1974 to 2014, accumulating 13,479 installments. His artistic contributions were widely recognized, earning him accolades such as the Japan Cartoonists Association Award grand prize in 2001 for Asatte-kun. He was further honored with the prestigious Japanese national award, the Medal with Purple Ribbon, in 2000, followed by the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, in 2011.
