The last few days have marked a sad, tragic time in the manga world, as one of Japan's most beloved manga artists, Yoshito Usui, was confirmed dead at 51.

Usui was reported missing from his hometown of Kasukabe on September 12th after failing to return from a hiking trip. The body wearing clothes matching the report was found at the foot of a cliff near Gunma prefecture's Mount Arafune. Usui's identity was confirmed from dental records and by his family September 19th.

Usui was most famous for creating the manga Crayon Shin-chan, a weekly serial published in Weekly Manga Action. First debuting in 1990, the series follows the comedic adventures of five-year-old Shinnosuke "Shin" Nohara and his family, friends and neighbors. The manga and its 1992 anime adaptation have been regarded by some as Japan's equivalent to The Simpsons, and is popular worldwide, aired in Spain, the US, Indonesia, Korea, the Philippines, Poland, Vietnam and other countries.

Prior to his death Usui had submitted art for more installments of the manga, and publication will continue in Manga Town magazine until its December issue. The anime's fate is currently undecided, as it was already on seasonal hiatus until October 16th.