Manga creator Masako Watanabe dies at 97

Masako Watanabe, the manga creator known for Glass Castle, Hitori Matsuri and Himegoto, has died aged 97. Her death was announced by her X/Twitter account and reported by Anime News Network, which said she died on 3 October at 12:38 a.m. JST. ¹

A career spanning seven decades

Born in Tokyo on 16 May 1929, Watanabe made her manga debut in 1952 with Suama-chan. She later became known for work in the shojo and josei genres, with a career that continued well into her nineties. ¹

Watanabe launched Himegoto in 2020, aged 91, a late-career achievement that drew attention to the breadth of her working life. ¹

Her 1971 series Glass no Shiro, known in English as Glass Castle, won the 16th Shogakukan Manga Award. Hitori Matsuri, published in 1985, later inspired a live-action television drama. ¹

Her honours also included the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award at the 31st Japan Cartoonists Association Awards in 2002. In 2006, she became the first female manga creator to receive the Order of the Rising Sun decoration. She also served as director of the Japan Cartoonists Association. ¹²

Remembering Masako Watanabe

Watanabe's other credited works include Dai-San no Onna, Hakuba no Shōjo, Mimi to Nana and Saint Rosalind. Anime News Network's report cites Watanabe's account and Japanese publication Comic Natalie for its reporting. ¹²

Our opinion

Watanabe's death closes a remarkable chapter in manga history, but the shape of her career is just as important as its length. A debut in the early 1950s, major recognition in the 1970s and new work in her nineties show a creator whose contribution was not confined to one era. Her long service to manga, including her leadership at the Japan Cartoonists Association, makes this a moment to remember both the stories she created and the doors her longevity helped keep open for other women in the industry.