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Tatsunoko Production Co-Founder Ippei Kuri Passes Away

Tatsunoko Production revealed on Wednesday that Ippei Kuri (birth name Toyoharu Yoshida), former CEO and co-founder of Tatsunoko Production along with older brothers Tatsuo Yoshida and Kenji Yoshida, passed away on July 1. Immediate family held a funeral for Kuri on July 10. He was 83.

Kuri was born on January 1, 1940 in Kyoto. He co-founded Tatsunoko Production with his two brothers in October 1962. He was the youngest of the three "Yoshida brothers." He served as CEO from 1987 to 2005.

Kuri served as a character designer on Judo Boy, Gatchaman The Movie, Space Ace, Toshi Gordian, and Robotech II: The Sentinels. He was a director on Judo Boy, Speed Racer, and Decision. He was a producer on Gatchaman, Samurai Pizza Cats, and Tekkaman Blade II, among others.

Sources: Tatsunoko, Catsuka's Twitter account