Author of 1982-83 Weekly Shonen Jump series was 56

The Yomiuri Shimbun reported on Friday that Kickoff manga creator Taku Chiba (real name Yoshikazu Itakura) passed away on February 27 due to renal pelvic cancer. He was 56.

Chiba's Kickoff school romantic comedy manga ran in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine from 1982-1983. Shueisha compiled the manga into 12 volumes, and then later re-released a "wide edition" in seven volumes.

Chiba also published the Shōri!! , No Side , and Niji no Runner manga in Weekly Shonen Jump . Each manga had two compiled volumes.

Chiba's funeral has already been held. The chief mourner was his wife Sachiyo Chiba.

[Via Yaraon!]