Anime News

Manga Author Isami Ishii Passes Away at 80

750 Rider by Isami Ishii

 

It was announced today that manga author Isami Ishii, the creator of titles including Rider 750 and Kutabare! Namida-kun, passed away on September 17 due to heart failure. He was 80 years old.

 

Ishii made his debut as a manga author while still in high school, with 1957’s Takeuma Brothers in Kodansha’s Shonen Club magazine. He would go on to write the soccer manga Kutabare!! Namida-kun starting in 1969 for Shogakukan’s Weekly Shonen Sunday. In 1975, he began 750 Rider, syndicated in Akita Shoten’s Weekly Shonen Champion. The series, about a group of teenage motorcycle fans, ran for 50 volumes, and is still considered a mainstay of shonen manga in Japan to this day.

 

RELATED: Baseball Manga Dokaben Author Shinji Mizushima Passes Away at 82

 

Ishii’s passing was announced today on Akita Shoten’s official website, with a spokesperson adding, “We would like to express our deepest gratitute for the continued joy he brought to our readers.” His funeral and memorial services have already taken place, and were attended by close relatives.

 

Source: LivedoorComic Natalie

 

 

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Kara Dennison is an author of fiction and non-fiction, avid tabletop gamer, and regular Otaku USA Magazine features writer. Follow her on Twitter @RubyCosmos, and read more at KaraDennison.com.