Author Tetsuya Chiba , 82, revealed today that he began feeling unwell shortly after this year's summer ended, and several days ago he checked himself into a hospital in Tokyo.

Chiba said he began to experience abnormalities, one after another, in his heart valve, coronary artery and throat. The author apologized for any trouble caused and said he is steadily recovering and plans to make a full recovery.

Tetsuya Chiba debuted as a manga in 1956. He is perhaps best known for his boxing manga “ Ashita no Joe ,” which ran from 1968 to 1973, and remained a staple in Japanese popular culture for decades.

Source: ANN