“Lone Wolf and Cub” and “Crying Freeman” mangaka Koike Kazuo has passed away

Another prolific mangaka has passed away this month.

“Lone Wolf and Cub” and “Crying Freeman” writer, Koike Kazuo (82) has passed away.

Koike worked with illustrator Goseki Kojima for “Lone Wolf and Cub” and “Samurai Executioner”, with Kamimura Kazuo for “Lady Snowblood” (and even wrote the script for the 1973 film), “Hanappe Bazooka” with Nagai Go, “Wounded Man”, “Crying Freeman” with Ikegami Ryoichi and many more.

Just a few days after tweeting about “Lupin III” mangaka Monkey Punch (who he considered his rival) days after his death and how they worked together on an animation titled “Secret Bird”.  A tweet was posted today that Koike has passed away from pneumonia.

モンキーパンチさんとは40年前、漫画アクションの初期に『ルパン三世』と『子連れ狼』で人気争いをしたライバルでもあった。一緒に組んで『書記官鳥（セクレタリーバード）』という漫画も作ったなあ。
淋しくなるなあ。

— 小池一夫 (@koikekazuo) April 17, 2019

The tweet reads:

Koike Kazuo, who had been hospitalized for a long time, passed away during his sleep on April 17th due to pneumonia. Thank you very much for many people who loved Koike Kazuo and his work. The funeral was held only by relatives according to the will of the deceased. Thank you all very much.

かねてより入院療養中であった小池一夫は肺炎により４月１７日永眠いたしました。
生前は多くの方々に小池一夫と小池一夫作品を愛していただき、心より感謝申し上げます。
なお故人の遺志により葬儀は親族のみで執り行いました。
皆様には大変お世話になり、ありがとうございました。

— 小池一夫 (@koikekazuo) April 19, 2019

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