Momoko Sakura, creator of the long-running manga and anime series "Chibi Maruko-chan," died of breast cancer earlier this month, her office said Monday. She was 53.Sakura Production said the creator of the semi-autobiographical TV series starring a 9-year-old girl, which became a Sunday evening fixture for many Japanese, died on Aug. 15."Chibi Maruko-chan" recorded a 39.9 percent rating in October 1990, one of the highest figures for an anime series.Friends and co-workers mourned the author's passing. The voice actor known as Tarako, who plays the title character, said, "(Her death) was too…READ FULL ARTICLE
