Veteran manga artist Masako Watanabe, known for works including Garasu no Shiro (The Glass Castle) and Saint Rosalind, died on October 3 at the age of 97, according to an announcement on her official X account. Following the news, the Margaret editorial department and fellow manga artists including Yuki Suetsugu, Chie Shinohara and Motoka Murakami shared messages remembering her work and expressing gratitude for her contributions to manga.
Masako Watanabe’s Death Announced on Her Official Account
Watanabe’s official X account announced that she died at 12:38 a.m. on October 3.
The statement said she had spent her 97 years together with manga and passed away peacefully, “as if falling asleep.” It also thanked readers who had loved her work and supported her throughout her life.
A message written by Watanabe before her death was also shared. She expressed gratitude to her fans, colleagues, family members, caregivers and others who had supported her, writing that she was thankful to have been surrounded by so much love.
Looking back on her life with manga, she described her many memories as treasures and ended her message on a gentle note, telling readers that when they missed her, they could imagine that she was in Paris.
Margaret Editors Remember Her Contribution to Shojo Manga
The Margaret editorial department expressed deep sorrow over Watanabe’s death and reflected on her long association with the magazine.
Watanabe contributed numerous works from the launch of Weekly Margaret in 1963. The editors highlighted Garasu no Shiro in particular, saying its elegant world and dramatic story captivated many readers and helped greatly advance shojo manga as a culture.
They also credited Watanabe with helping lead the magazine from its earliest years and with giving form to the dreams and aspirations of generations of young readers.
The editorial department expressed respect and gratitude for her achievements and offered its condolences.
Fellow Manga Artists Share Memories and Gratitude
Chihayafuru creator Yuki Suetsugu recalled reading Watanabe’s horror and suspense manga as a child, saying the news of her death surprised her while also reflecting on the thoughtful message Watanabe had left behind.
Red River creator Chie Shinohara expressed gratitude to a pioneering artist whose work she had grown up with.
JIN creator Motoka Murakami remembered interviewing Watanabe more than a decade ago for Fuichin Tsaichen!. He recalled hearing about her experiences visiting publishers with her child on her back in the years after World War II and described her as a respected predecessor who helped open the way for modern shojo manga.
A Career Spanning More Than Seven Decades
Born in 1929, Watanabe made her debut as a shojo manga artist in 1952.
She created numerous works including Garasu no Shiro and Saint Rosalind, while the Akujo Series and other stories helped establish a new direction for love-and-hate mysteries set in Japan.
Her career brought numerous honors. In 2002, she received the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award at the 31st Japan Cartoonists Association Awards. In 2006, she became the first female manga artist to receive the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette.
Watanabe remained active late in life. In 2020, at age 91 and 67 years after her debut, she began weekly serialization of the entirely new work Himitsu: Himegoto on the Manga Mee app, drawing attention as the oldest active manga artist at the time.
Her body of work also includes Hitori Matsuri, which was adapted for television, along with many other shojo manga and mystery works produced over the course of her career.
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