On Saturday, a body was discovered below the Tomoiwa cliff of Arafune mountain in the Gunma prefecture. The next day, authorities recovered the body and determined it to be that of mangaka Yoshito Usui (51), who was best known as the creator of "Crayon Shin-chan."

Usui had been reported missing since September 11, when he left for one of his frequent hiking trips in Gunma but did not return. He had told his family that he was planning to climb the Arafune mountain, which is more than 1,400 meters tall.

Usui's body was discovered on Saturday by another climber, about 120 meters below the Tomoiwa cliff. It appears that he accidentally fell from the cliff on the afternoon of September 11 and died from the injuries sustained upon impact. Authorities found his belongings nearby, including a digital camera and a backpack that contained his mobile phone and wallet.

The body was recovered from the mountain by helicopter on Sunday afternoon. An examination of the body found that it matched Usui's, and his family further confirmed his identity.

Usui, whose actual given name was Yoshihito, debuted as a manga artist in 1987 with "Darakuya Store Monogatari." In 1990, he started "Crayon Shin-chan," which has become widely popular in Japan and internationally. An anime series based on the manga has been on the air since 1992 and has had a theatrical film released every year since 1993.

Although nothing has been officially decided yet, it seems likely that the anime will continue, based on comments by people involved in its production. Other popular shows, such as "Sazae-san" and "Doraemon," both continued after their creators' deaths.