Yoshito Usui, the popular Japanese cartoonist who created the comic ``Crayon Shin-chan,'' was found dead on a mountain north of Tokyo after apparently falling to his death off a cliff, the Mainichi Daily and other Japanese media reported Monday, citing police.

Usui, 51, had been missing since Sept. 11 after telling his family he was going for a day-hike in the mountains.

His body was discovered by a hiker Saturday at the bottom of one of the steep cliffs of Mt. Arafune, about 90 miles northwest of Tokyo. Rescue and police officers hiked up to the body's location and had it airlifted out by helicopter in the late afternoon, Sunday.

Police identified the author's body from dental records. A regular climber, Usui left his home on the morning of Sep. 11, saying he was taking a trip to Mt. Arafune. His wife filed a search request with police the following day, after he failed to return.

A cell phone, wallet and broken digital camera were found with the body. No suicide note was discovered and police believe Usui may have fallen by accident.

An autopsy concluded that Usui likely died around Sept. 11 after his chest was crushed from the impact of the fall.

The cause of the incident is still being investigated, but his family did not believe Usui to be suicidal. Crayon Shin-chan is a comic and cartoon revolving around the antics of a foul-mouthed kindergartener, Shinnosuke Nohara, and his family in Kasukabe.

It first appeared in a weekly magazine published by Futabasha in 1990. It was turned into a TV anime series in 1992, followed by numerous theatrical releases.

The city of Kasukabe had recently issued a special residence card to the Nohara family to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the municipality.

The future of the Shin-chan cartoon is ``to be determined,'' according to the editorial staff at Futabasha's Manga Town magazine.

chojh@koreatimes.co.kr