was a manga writing duo formed by Japanese manga artists and . They debuted in 1951 as a duo under their real names. The Fujiko Fujio name was used for their respective works from 1953 until 1987, when Fujimoto became too ill to work consistently.
The pair was best known for their popular children's manga series, including Obake no Q-Tarō, Ninja Hattori-kun, Kaibutsu-kun, Perman, Kiteretsu Daihyakka and Doraemon. Some of their influences include Osamu Tezuka as well as international cartoons and comic books. Both artists base their writing style on a mix of morals with a subversive and wry sense of humor; their styles would evolve to the point of diversion, where Fujimoto focused on speculative science fiction in addition to children's works, while Abiko leaned towards the surreal and black comedy.
Their work received critical acclaim and, on Fujimoto's part, universal recognition, with Doraemon being officially recognized as a cultural icon of modern Japan.
Pen names For many years after their debut, they collaborated and wrote individually under one pen name. However, after 1988, they published under separate names. + Pen names of each era AD Fujimoto collaboration Abiko December 1951– Hiroshi Fujimoto — Motoo Abiko November 1952– Ashizuka Fujio July 1953–February 1988 Fujiko Fujio February 1988– Fujiko Fujio F — Fujiko A. Fujio January 1989– Fujiko F. Fujio
Fujiko Fujio From July 1953 to around January 1988, the two published both collaborations and individual works under one pen name, .
Fujiko F. Fujio Fujimoto used the pen name Fujiko F. Fujio, stylized as , from 1989 until his death.
Fujiko A. Fujio Abiko used the pen name Fujiko Fujio A, stylized as , from 1988 until his death. His pen name is romanized as Fujiko A. FujioLegendary manga creator Fujiko A. Fujio passes away at 88 – CrunchyrollIGN in Western publications.
Biography Hiroshi Fujimoto and Motoo Abiko were both from Toyama Prefecture. Fujimoto was born on December 1, 1933, and Abiko on March 10, 1934. Abiko transferred to Fujimoto's elementary school in Takaoka City and happened to see Fujimoto drawing in a notebook. The two became lifelong friends, and during the early years of their friendship kept their illustrations hidden from friends and classmates out of embarrassment.
In junior high school they were greatly influenced by Osamu Tezuka and his manga series Shin Takarajima. Fujimoto built a homemade episcope and together they wrote a piece for it called Tenküma, which was their first collaborative work. They started submitting work to periodicals such as Manga Shōnen and opened a joint savings account through Japan Post to which they both contributed funds and which they used to purchase art supplies. They divided all income and expenses equally between each other, a practice they continued throughout the life of their partnership.
In high school, they made their publishing debut, Tenshi no Tama-chan being adopted for serialization by Mainichi Shogakusei Shimbun in 1951. That same year they paid a visit to Tezuka's residence in Takarazuka, Hyōgo and showed him illustrations for their work titled Ben Hur. Tezuka complimented the two's abilities, some years later commenting that he knew then they were going to be major figures in the manga industry. Abiko and Fujimoto treasured the meeting with the respected Tezuka, and kept the Ben Hur illustrations for their entire lives. It was at this time they decided to make their partnership permanent. The two initially adopted the name Tezuka Fujio out of respect, but later changed it to Ashizuka Fujio as they perceived the use of the name "Tezuka" as too close to that of their idol.
Because both Fujimoto and Abiko were eldest sons respectively, they decided to take company jobs after graduating from high school in 1952. Fujimoto found employment with a confectionery company, and Abiko began working for the Toyama Newspaper Company. However, Fujimoto quit within a matter of days. Fujimoto then dedicated his time to submitting work to periodicals, with Abiko assisting him on the weekends. Their first serial as Ashizuka Fujio was terminated in a few episodes, followed by success with the post-apocalyptic science fiction series .
At Fujimoto's urging, they elected to move to Tokyo in 1954 as professional manga artists, Abiko only reluctantly as he had steady employment at the Toyama Newspaper Company. Their first place of residence was a two-tatami mat room at the second floor of a watch shop. They eventually moved to the Tokiwa-sō apartment complex when Tezuka offered them a room that he was moving out of. Together with Hiroo Terada and several other manga artists of the period, they formed a collaborative group called . At the apartment complex where the group was based, they enjoyed a period of productivity that had Fujimoto and Abiko carry up to six serials a month for publication. Additionally, Abiko contributed to Tezuka's works as an artist assistant, such as drawing a blizzard on the last page of Jungle Emperor.
The workload proved excessive, and in 1955 on return to Toyama for Japanese New Year the pair missed all the deadlines for their serials. The loss of credibility with publishers hurt Fujimoto and Abiko for a year. During the Tokiwa-sō era, they purchased a television set in Akihabara and made independent films with an 8mm camera. By 1959 they left Tokiwa-sō and moved to Kawasaki in Kanagawa Prefecture. In the 1960s, Fujimoto and Abiko founded Fujiko Studio Co., Ltd., a joint manga production company. Fujimoto got married on October 31, 1962, at the age of 28.
In 1963, Fujimoto and Abiko established Studio Zero with Shin'ichi Suzuki, Shotaro Ishimori, Jirō Tsunoda and Kiyoichi Tsunoda. Later Fujio Akatsuka joined, and at its peak the studio employed about 80 people. The studio produced several animated series and stood in for Mushi Production for an episode of Astro Boy. These were some of the duo's most productive years, resulting in series such as Obake no Q-Tarō which eventually were made into anime series on television. Abiko got married in 1966, at the age of 32. Fujimoto concentrated on titles for children, with a particular interest in science fiction.
In 1968, Abiko started making manga for a more mature audience, with titles such as Kuroi Salesman. In the 1970s, Abiko focused on both adult and boys' manga. The style was full of black humor. Fujimoto focused on both adult and childhood manga. His style was notable for its sense of wonder.
Doraemon was created in 1969. Since around 1974, its popularity has skyrocketed among Japanese children. CoroCoro Comic released its first issue in 1977 to showcase the works of Fujiko Fujio. With syndication of Doraemon on TV Asahi in 1979, a surge of popularity saw up to a dozen collaborative and solo works by Fujimoto and Abiko picked up for publication and syndication throughout the 1980s. Doraemon is the only work by the duo to ever get an official release in English-speaking countries, most notably the United States, though English dubs of work such as Perman and Ninja Hattori-kun have aired in Asia to less fanfare. Bones have produced an adaptation of Fujimoto's series Time Patrol Bon for Netflix, an unusual move due to the original series' obscurity.
In 1987, citing creative differences, Fujimoto and Abiko ended their long partnership to concentrate on solo projects. From now on, Abiko would work at Fujiko Studio K.K. and Fujimoto in Fujiko F. Fujio Pro K.K. Abiko adopted the pen name Fujiko A. Fujio, while Fujimoto adopted the pen name Fujiko F. Fujio.
According to Abiko, the cause for the dissolution of the partnership was due to Fujimoto discovering he had stomach cancer in 1986, and both Fujimoto and Abiko had a desire to settle copyright and financial issues before the other died.
Fujimoto died of liver failure at a hospital in Shinjuku on September 23, 1996.
A documentary was aired on TV Asahi on February 19, 2006, chronicling the life and times of Fujiko F. Fujio.
The Fujiko F. Fujio Museum opened in Kawasaki, Kanagawa on September 3, 2011, which features a reproduction of Fujio's studio and a display of their artwork.
Abiko died of natural causes at his home in Kawasaki on April 6, 2022.
Awards Fujiko Fujio 1963 – Shogakukan Manga Award (Susume Roboket and Tebukuro Tecchan) 1973 – Japan Cartoonists Association Award Excellence Award (Doraemon) 1981 – Kawasaki City's (Fujiko Fujio) 1982 – Shogakukan Manga Award for children's manga (Doraemon) 1984 – "Movie day" Special Achievement Medal (Fujiko Fujio) 1984 – (Movie Doraemon)
Fujiko F. Fujio 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, and more – (Movie Doraemon etc.) 1989 – "Movie day" Certificate of appreciation (Fujiko F. Fujio) 1994 – Japan Cartoonists Association Award Minister of Education Award (Doraemon) 1995 – Fujimoto Award Encouragement Award (Fujiko F. Fujio (Movie Doraemon series production)) 1996 – "Movie day" Special Achievement Medal (Fujiko F. Fujio) 1997 – The first Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize Grand Prize (Doraemon)
Fujiko A. Fujio 1990 – Fujimoto Award Special prize (Fujiko A. Fujio (Movie Shonen jidai producer)) 1990 – Yamaji Fumiko Cultural Foundation Special Award (Fujiko A. Fujio (Shonen jidai producer)) 2005 – Japan Cartoonists Association Award Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award (All works) 2008 – Order of the Rising Sun (Fujiko A. Fujio) 2014 – Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize Special Award ( and Ai... Shirisomeshi Koro ni...)
Works All works (Japanese) Fujiko Fujio's Serialization list Fujiko Fujio's One-shot list
Fujiko Fujio's works (collaboration) English titleOfficial title or literal or parallel translation. Japanese title Year Angel Tama-chanLiteral translationUnder the names "Abiko Motoo, Fujimoto Hiroshi". 1951–1952 Drifting for 40,000 YearsUnder pen name "Ashizuka Fujio". 1953 UTOPIA: The Final World War 1953 Prince of the Sea 1959–1965 Invisible Racing Car 1963 Little Ghost Q-Taro 1964–1966 Wakatono 1964–1965 Great Dog Tintin 1965–1968 Beret Shin-chan 1965–1966 Jirokichi 1965–1966 Gloves Te-chan (1966) 1966 Perman (1966)Perman (1983) is Fujimoto's solo work. 1966–1968 Chintara Kami-chan 1967 New Little Ghost Q-Taro 1971–1973, 1976 Senbe 1971–1972
Fujiko Fujio's works (Fujimoto alone) English title Japanese title Year Gloves Te-chan (1960) 1960–1963 1961–1965 21 Emon: The 21st Century Kid 1967–1969, 1981 Super-san (one-shot) 1968 Plum Star DenkaLiteral translation. is a pun on umeboshi, Japanese pickled ume fruits or "salted plums", and the word . is the main character's name. 1968–1970 Mojacko 1969–1970 Doraemon 1969–1988 Pokonyan(Rocky Rackat!TV anime series title.) 1970–1978 Bonom: Sokonuke-sanSokonuke-san means Mr. Bottomless. (one-shot) 1970 Dojita Dojiro's Luck (one-shot) 1970 Adventures of Dobinson 1971–1972 Old Bachelor (one-shot) 1970 Self Meeting (one-shot) 1972 Jungle Kurobe 1973 1973–1974 Mokkoro-kun 1973–1975 Bakeru-kun 1974–1976, 1984 Nostaljii (one-shot) 1974 Kiteretsu 1974–1977 Zo-kun and Risu-chan 1974–1975 Mikio and MIKIO 1974–1975 Red-Haired Anko (one-shot) Re-titled in later short story compilations. 1974 Fourth Dimension Hat P-Poko 1975–1976 33,000 Square Meters (one-shot) 1975 Lone War of the Worlds (one-shot) 1975 Ultra-Super-Deluxeman (one-shot) 1975 Bellavo 1968–1969 U-Bow 1976–1978 Minister Bowbow 1976 Captain Bon 1976 Mami the Psychic 1976–1983 Alien Report: Sample A and B (one-shot) 1977 Middle-aged Superman Mr. Saenai 1977–1978 That Idiot Aims for the Wilderness (one-shot) 1977 Time Patrol Bon 1978–1985 His Time Machine (one-shot) 1979 Mira-cle-1 1979 One Day... (one-shot) 1982 Worldscope (one-shot) 1982 Perman (1983)Perman (1966) is a collaboration. 1983–1986 Chu-Poko 1983 Toppi the Space Puppy 1983–1984 Chimpui 1985–1988
Fujiko Fujio's works (Abiko alone)