Jiro Taniguchi, a famous Japanese cartoonist who is well-known to Chinese audiences for his "Solitary Gourmet" series, passed away in Tokyo on February 11 at the age of 69. According to Japanese media reports, Jiro Taniguchi's funeral and farewell ceremony will be attended only by family members.
Jiro Taniguchi and the manga "The Solitary Gourmet"
The comic book "The Solitary Gourmet" has been serialized since 1994. Jiro Taniguchi was responsible for drawing the "The Solitary Gourmet" created by Masayuki Kusumi. The work was adapted into a Japanese TV series in 2012. Japanese actor Yutaka Matsushige played the leading role in the Japanese TV series. He has many fans all over Asia. It has been filmed into five seasons and three unit dramas so far.
The Japanese drama version of "The Solitary Gourmet" starring Matsushige Yutaka
Jiro Taniguchi was born in Tottori City. He made his debut in 1971. His work "The Age of Young Masters" which was serialized in 1987 won the 12th Japan Cartoonists Association Award for Excellence. He was also awarded the Order of Arts and Culture by the French government. In 2015, he came to participate in the Angoulême International Comics Festival in France. In 2012 and 2016, his comics were exhibited at the Royal Abbey Center of Fontevraud and Versailles in France respectively.
His works cover a wide range of subjects, mainly focusing on themes such as nature, family, and childhood memories. He tells the emotional entanglement between people and the environment through an ordinary story that happens around him. Professionals commented on his works and said that reading Jiro Taniguchi and enjoying the elegance of his paintings in his delicate brushstrokes is like a spiritual walk, which makes the heart regain fresh energy.
