Fujiko Fujio, co-creator of Doraemon, passed away Thursday at the age of 88, according to manga industry reports.
In 2022, the manga industry is larger and more profitable than ever before, with millions of weekly readers and millions of dollars traded.
But, the manga industry’s current prosperity can only be attributed to the history and popularity of the series that broke the mold and introduced manga to a global audience.
Today, the global manga community mourns the passing of a great creator, Fujiko Fujio A, who was 88 years old.
Fujiko Fujio Dead At The Age Of 88
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Fujiko, co-creator of the popular Doraemon manga series, passed away in his Tokyo residence on April 7 at the age of 88.
The police were called to his residence at 8:40 a.m. after getting a report of a guy lying down on the grounds, according to local news reports.
The manga author was already deceased when the police came, and while an investigation is ongoing,
“there were no obvious injuries to the body.”
Fujiko, whose true name was Motoo Abiko, started a collaboration with his buddy Hiroshi Fujimoto in 1951, under the moniker “Fujiko Fujio.” The two would thereafter use the alias “Fujiko Fujio” for their work, with Hiroshi referred to as “Fujiko Fujio F.”
The writing team disbanded in 1987, and Hiroshi Fujimoto died of liver cancer at the age of 62 in 1996.
A Manga Legacy Suitable For All Ages
The cooperation of Fujiko Fujio and Fujiko Fujio is most known for developing the renowned Doraemon manga series, which debuted in 1969. Over the course of its existence, 45 tankobon manga volumes and over 1,345 chapters were issued.
In 2019, over 250 million copies of the manga have been sold, making Doraemon one of the most successful series in the industry’s history.
Doraemon is one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time, generating about $6.04 billion worldwide, according to Wikipedia’s ongoing rankings.
The franchise has made more money than, among others, Shrek, Friends, My Little Pony, Mamma Mia, Roblox, Mission: Impossible, and Madden NFL.
Yet, the legacy of both Fujiko Fujio A (Motoo Abiko) and Fujiko Fujio F (Hiroshi Fujimoto) extends far beyond Doraemon, since both men authored a multitude of popular manga series.
His other significant works include Ninja Hattori (1964-1971), Perman (1967-1986), The Laughing Salesman (1968-1971), Mojacko (1969-1997), Jungle Kurobe (1973), New Q-Taro (1971-1973), Rocky Racket (1975-1978), Mami the Psychic (1977-1982), and Ultra-B. (1984-1989).
Fans Recall The Co-Creator Of Doraemon
As news of the manga artist’s passing spreads throughout the internet, people from all around the world are sending their respects. When a manga author passes away, followers rush to honor their work and legacy.
This is especially true for the Doraemon franchise, which has become an icon of modern Japanese society and influenced the lives of countless millions of people worldwide.
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