Comic Natalie reported on Friday that manga artist Kou Kojima passed away on Tuesday. He was hospitalized last November due to a cerebral hemorrhage. He was 87.

Kojima began his long-running adult manga Sennin Buraku ( Hermit Village ) in 1956, and in 2006 it set the record for longest-running serialized comic by a single cartoonist. The series was adapted into a 1963-1964 anime: the first late-night anime, airing at 11:40 p.m. Kojima's work is best known for his distinctive character designs, particularly of beautiful women.

In 1990 Kojima won Japan's Medal with Purple Ribbon for academic and artistic achievements, and in 2000 was awarded The Fourth Class Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette. He also served as honorary president of The Japan Cartoonists Association.

Manga artist Moyoco Anno is his niece.

The funeral will be held in Tokyo on April 28.