Author/creator of “Crayon Shin-chan” found dead

September 20, 2009 by J!-ENT

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Mainichi Daily news reported:

A body found at the bottom of a cliff on a mountain in Gunma Prefecture has been identified as that of Yoshito Usui, author of the popular manga “Crayon Shin-chan.”

Police identified the author’s body from dental records. Gunma Prefectural Police said that Usui appeared to have fallen 120 meters from Tomoiwa cliff on Mount Arafune, which straddles Gunma and Nagano Prefectures.

Usui’s camera and his backpack, which contained his cell phone, wallet and some clothing, were found on a slope about 50 meters away.

A climber found the body on Saturday morning, and a Gunma Prefectural Police helicopter lifted it out of the area on Sunday afternoon. An autopsy conducted at Shimonita Police Station concluded that Usui likely died around Sept. 11 after his lungs were crushed from the impact of the fall.