Anpanman Manga/Anime Creator Takashi Yanase Passes Away

Anpanman manga and anime creator Takashi Yanase passed away due to heart failure in a Tokyo hospital on Sunday, October 13 at 3:08 a.m. He was 94.

Yanase gained widespread popularity when the Soreike! Anpanman television anime premiered in 1988 and became a hit — not only in Japan, but overseas as well. His superhero character Anpanman has appeared in over three dozen anime projects since then.

Yanase was not only the oldest elder statesmen in the manga world, but he was also accomplished in music. He wrote the lyrics for the late Taku Izumi's song "Te no Hira wo Taiyō ni." (Izumi composed the music for the various Soreike! Anpanman anime projects.)

Before he became a full-time manga creator, Yanase worked in the Mitsukoshi department store chain's advertising department and contributed to its wrapping paper designs and other work. He was an ardent supporter of his hometown in Kami District, Kōchi Prefecture and designed the Gomen Ekio-kun character for Tosa Kuroshio Railway's Gomen Nahari Line.

Yanase served as the head of the Japan Cartoonists Association from 2000 until last year, when he retired due to his age and health.