Yoshito Usui
Born
Yoshihito Usui (臼井 義人)

(1958-04-21)April 21, 1958
Shizuoka, Japan
DiedSeptember 11, 2009(2009-09-11) (aged 51)
Shimonita, Gunma, Japan
Body discoveredSeptember 19, 2009
OccupationManga artist
Known forCrayon Shin-chan
Children2
Signature

Yoshito Usui (臼井 儀人, Usui Yoshito, April 21, 1958 – September 11, 2009) was a Japanese manga artist known for the popular Crayon Shin-chan series. He was born in Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.

Personal life

In 1977, he graduated from Saitama Kasukabe technical high school (埼玉県立春日部工業高等学校). After graduating he attended a part-time design-related college but dropped out. In 1979, he joined an advertising company called POP Advertising. He made his debut as a cartoonist in 1987 when Weekly Manga Action began running his Darakuya Store Monogatari.

In August 1990, his series Crayon Shin-chan began running in Weekly Manga Action, the series started as a spin-off of the character Shinnosuke Nikaido (二階堂信之介) of Darakuya Store Monogatari. An animated series based on the comics began in 1992, and a Crayon Shin-chan boom followed the release of a 1993 animated film. For a year beginning in 1995, Usui's Super Shufu Tsukimi-San comic strip ran in the magazine Manga Life.

Usui was a devotee of Jehovah’s Witnesses who had a church facility constructed adjacent to his home in 1994. He was known in the industry to read out the New Testament for a full 20 minutes at each meeting with his publisher and handing them out copies of the Bible as a gift.[1]

He and his wife raised two daughters; both had moved out of the house at the time of Usui's death.[2]

Death

Mt. Arafune, where Usui's body was found.

On September 12, 2009, Usui's family reported him missing from his hometown of Kasukabe when Usui did not return from hiking in nearby Gunma Prefecture. On September 19, 2009, a body with clothes matching those described in the report filed by Usui's family was found at the bottom of a cliff at Mount Arafune in Gunma.[3][4][5] The body was identified by dental records and family members the next day as being that of Usui.[6] His camera was recovered and the final shot was taken from the cliff.[7][8]

His funeral was held September 23 in a private service.[9] It was attended by three thousand people.[10]

Works

  • 1985 - Darakuya Store Monogatari (だらくやストア物語, Darakuya Sutoa Monogatari)
  • 1990 - Office Lady Gumi (おーえるグミ, Ōeru Gumi)
  • 1990 - Crayon Shin-chan (クレヨンしんちゃん, Kureyon Shin-chan)
  • 1992 - Unbalance Zone (あんBaらんすゾーン, Anbaransu Zōn)
  • 1992 - Super Shufu Tsukimi-san (スーパー主婦月美さん)
  • 1992 - Scramble Egg (すくらんぶるえっぐ, Sukuramburu Eggu
  • 1992 - Kabushiki-gaisha Kurubushi Sangyō 24-ji ((株)くるぶし産業24時)
  • 1993 - Usui Yoshito no Motto: Hiraki Naotchau zo! (臼井儀人のもっと ひらきなおっちゃうぞ!)
  • 1993 - Hiraki Naotchau zo! (ひらきなおっちゃうぞ!)
  • 1993 - Super Mix (すぅぱあ・みっくす, Supā Mikkusu)
  • 1993 - Mix Connection (みっくす・こねくしょん, Mikkusu Konekushon)
  • 1994 - Usui Yoshito no Buchikama Theater (臼井儀人のぶちかまシアター, Usui Yoshito no Buchikama Shiatā)
  • 1998 - Atashira Haken Queen (あたしら派遣クイーン, Atashira Haken Kuīn)
  • 2000 - Usui Yoshito Connection (臼井儀人こねくしょん, Usui Yoshito Konekushon)
  • 2002 - Shiwayose Haken Gaisha K.K. (しわよせ派遣会社 (株))

References

  1. ↑ Kuchikomi. "Mystery still surrounds death of Crayon Shinchan creator". Japan Today. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Mystery still surrounds death of Crayon Shinchan creator". Japan Today. October 3, 2009. Retrieved October 29, 2018.
  3. ↑ Loo, Egan (September 19, 2009). "Male Remains Found in Gunma Prefecture's Mountains". Anime News Network. Retrieved September 19, 2009.
  4. ↑ "Body found on Mount Arafune may be missing cartoonist Usui". The Japan Times. September 20, 2009. Archived from the original on September 24, 2009. Retrieved September 20, 2009.
  5. ↑ "Body found on mountain may be missing 'Crayon Shinchan' cartoonist". Japan Today. GPlusMedia Co., Ltd. September 20, 2009. Retrieved September 20, 2009.
  6. ↑ "クレヨンしんちゃん：遺体は作者の臼井さんと確認" [Crayon Shin-chan author Usui's body confirmed]. Mainichi Shimbun. September 20, 2009. Archived from the original on September 24, 2009. Retrieved September 20, 2009.
  7. ↑ "Cartoonist took photo from cliff top". Japan Times. Kyodo News. September 22, 2009. Archived from the original on October 9, 2009. Retrieved September 23, 2009.
  8. ↑ "'Crayon Shin-chan' author found dead in Gunma; accidental fall from cliff suspected". The Mainichi. September 21, 2009. Archived from the original on September 24, 2009. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  9. ↑ Relax News (November 30, 2009). "Japan manga fans flock to cartoonist's funeral". Independent. Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  10. ↑ Tolentino, Josh (December 1, 2009). "Three thousand attend Crayon Shin-chan creator's funeral". Japanator. Archived from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
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