Fujiko Fujio

Fujiko F. Fujio was a manga artist and screenwriter who was best known for creating the popular and long-running series Doraemon, with the main character becoming a cultural icon of modern Japan. He was born as Hiroshi Fujimoto on December 1, 1933, in Takaoka, Toyama, Japan. He met his future comic drawing partner Motoo Abiko when he was in fifth grade at an elementary school in his native Toyama. He was impressed by the intelligence and thorough nature of Abiko's story writing style even at that age, and started to draw comics together, which continued for over the next 40 years. In 1952, they made their comic debut with a comic titled "Tenshi no Tamachan" and two years later they moved to Tokyo to pursue their professional career. They were mentored briefly by the late Osamu Tezuka, the legendary manga artist of Astro Boy and Kimba the White Lion fame, after coming to Tokyo like so many young comic artists of the time. They formed a close-knit group of comic writer friends with Fujio Akatsuka and Shotaro Ishinomori, who later became famous for their works such as Tensai Bakabon and Kamen Rider. They collaborated and wrote individually under one pen name, Fujiko Fujio, from 1953 until 1987, when they dissolved their partnership due to Fujimoto's illness. Fujimoto then took the pen name Fujiko F. Fujio, while Abiko took the pen name Fujiko Fujio A. Fujimoto and Abiko were mostly known for their popular comedies, including Obake no Q-Tarō, Ninja Hattori-kun, Kaibutsu-kun, Perman, and Doraemon. Doraemon, which started in 1970, was their most successful and influential work, featuring a robotic cat from the future who helps a young boy named Nobita Nobi with various gadgets. The series has been adapted into various media, including anime, movies, video games, and merchandise, and has been translated into many languages. Doraemon is widely considered as one of the most iconic and beloved characters in Japan, and has been recognized by the Guinness World Records as the most widely published comic series in the world. Fujimoto also wrote comics for adults, often depicting the surreal side of society as fiction, such as Manga Michi, which was a semi-autobiographical comic of his life and career. He also created some educational and environmental comics, such as Tebukuro Tecchan and Kiteretsu Daihyakka. Fujimoto married Masako Fujimoto in 1961, and they had two daughters, Rieko and Mariko. He was a fan of baseball and golf, and often incorporated them into his works. He also loved traveling and visited many countries around the world. He died of liver failure on September 23, 1996, at the age of 62, in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. He was buried at Midorigaoka Cemetery in Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan. His legacy lives on through his works, which continue to inspire and entertain millions of people around the world.