Shōjo Manga Pioneer Masako Watanabe Dies at 97, Leaving Behind The Castle of Glass

Masako Watanabe, the renowned Japanese shōjo manga artist best known for The Castle of Glass, has died at the age of 97. According to Kyodo News, Watanabe passed away on October 3, with news of her death reported on October 13, 2026. Watanabe became prominent during the 1960s through works such as The White Horse Girl and Mother. Her stories explored emotional bonds between mothers and daughters and between sisters, helping shape shōjo manga focused on girls’ inner lives, relationships,…