The mangaka passed away due to heart failure.
The world of manga loses another gem as the legendary creator Kunichika Harada dies at age 73. According to a report by the Publisher Bungeishunjū, the manga artist passed away due to a Myocardial Infarction, commonly known as a heart attack. He died on 7 May, 2025, although the news was made public a few days later.
Pro Wrestling Superstar Retsuden manga cover (Image: Ikki Kajiwara/ Kunichika Harada/ Shogakukan)
Harada started working in the manga industry back in 1978. His most notable work is the art of the popular wrestling manga Pro Wrestling Superstar Retsuden. The manga was written by Ikki Kajiwara. It was published from 1980-1983 and contained dramatised life stories of popular pro-wrestlers. This manga is based on Ikki Kajiwara and Naoki Tsuji’s Tiger Mask manga.
Other notable works of Harada include the art for Kimura, written by Toshinari Masuda. It chronicles the life of Masahiko Kimura, a judo practitioner who defeated the Brazilian martial artist Helio Gracie in a phenomenal move now known as The Kimura. This series was serialised from 2013-2016.
Harada’s family held a private funeral to pay respect to the legend. The manga and anime industry mourns his passing.
Source: PR Times
