Hideo Azuma, who has been described as the trigger to the “manga lolicon boom”, has unfortunately passed away at 69, presumably succumbing to esophageal cancer (which he was undergoing treatment for).

Making his debut in 1969, Hideo Azuma is revered for having works of various types, such as works that depict beautiful girls like Nanako SOS, gag manga like Futari to Go-Nin, and Fujouri Nikki, a manga with themes of “absurd” comedy.

In 2005, he published Shissou Nikki (Disappearance Diary), which detailed his numerous disappearances and struggles with alcohol dependency – the creation earned him several prizes, such as the Japan Mangaka Association Grand Prize Award and the Osamu Tezuka Cultural Prize for Manga.

The mangaka is said to be responsible for causing the “manga lolicon boom” as he published “Cybele” in 1979, which is said to be Japan’s first ever lolicon doujinshi.