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The
Asahi Shimbun paper
reported on Saturday that
Takashi Yanase, the 93-year-old manga creator of
Soreike! Anpanman, is retiring as the head of the Japan Cartoonists Association. Yanase served in that role since 2000, but the newspaper reports that he is retiring in consideration for his age and health. His superhero character
Anpanman has appeared in over three dozen anime projects since its creation in 1988.