Five female manga artists who’ll continue legacy Momoko Sakura left behind when she died
Sakura, who created the much-loved manga and anime series Chibi Maruko-chan, died of breast cancer aged 53, but other female manga artists will continue making their mark on the traditionally male-dominated industry
Momoko Sakura, the Japanese artist behind the much-loved manga and anime series Chibi Maruko-chan, died of breast cancer this month, aged just 53.
Sakura released the first edition of her Chibi Maruko-chan series in 1986. Based on Sakura’s childhood, it follows a girl named Maruko and her family, who live in suburban Japan. In 1990 it was turned into a successful anime series and aired in more than 60 countries, including Hong Kong.
As fans in Japan and around the globe pay tribute to Sakura on social media, it’s important not to forget that she was part of a small but influential group of women who made inroads into the testosterone-driven manga industry (in which some women even have male pen names).
They truly made their mark on the industry. Here are five worthy of mention.
1. Keiko Takemiya
