Akio Chiba

was a Japanese manga artist. Early life On 29 January 1943, Chiba was born in Shenyang, Manchukuo (now part Liaoning, China). His father worked in a paper factory in China. Chiba had two brothers, Tetsuya Chiba and Shigeyuki Chiba. At the end of the Sino-Japanese War, Chiba's family lived in the attic of a work-acquaintance of his father until they could find a way to get back to Japan. Career Chiba was known for publishing his works in both shōnen and shōjo magazines. Chiba made his professional debut in 1967 with his manga Sabu to Chibi while working as an assistant to his older brother, Tetsuya. In 1977, he won the 22nd Shogakukan Manga Award for shōnen for his work on Captain and Play Ball.