Tekken mourns Tetsuya Chiba, the Ashita no Joe creator who opened the doors of manga to him

Comedian and artist Tekken said goodbye to Tetsuya Chiba, creator of Ashita no Joe, with a message full of gratitude. The author passed away at 87, and Tekken dedicated an Instagram post to him on October 27, calling him "a benefactor."

In the text, Tekken said his connection with Chiba began when he was a high school student. He submitted a work to Young Magazine for the Chiba Tetsuya Award, the prize for new talent founded by the mangaka, and won. "For me, who dreamed of becoming a mangaka, it was the big push to enter the world of manga," he wrote.

From the dream of manga to the stage

That recognition did not lead him directly to a career as an author. Tekken admitted he failed several times and took a huge detour. It was only when he became a comedian and started drawing parapara manga —those page-by-page animated drawings— that he returned to the world he had left behind.

The reunion with Chiba came in 2013. The Japan Cartoonists Association, of which Chiba was president, gave him the Special Award. Tekken recalled feeling that the medium welcomed him back: "It made me happy that they received me with an award, me who had returned to the path of manga after leaving it once."

At the ceremony, Chiba approached him and said, "I remember you." Tekken doesn't know if it was a joke or not, but he confessed it moved him deeply.

A farewell with drawings and a promise

The post included three images: a photo of the two taken in life, an illustration of both made by Tekken himself, and a drawing of Joe Yabuki, the protagonist of Ashita no Joe, Chiba's most famous work.

Tekken closed the message thanking the author for giving him the chance to enter manga and for crossing his path again when he returned. "I will keep doing my best in my own way," he promised.

Did you know the story of Tekken and Tetsuya Chiba? Tell us in the comments which work by the author left the biggest mark on you.