Ojarumaru Creator Dies of Apparent Suicide

files/pictures/picture-35.jpgCreator of long-running Japanese children's cartoon series OJARUMARU, Rin Inumaru, has apparently committed suicide by jumping off the roof of a 14-story apartment building in Tokyo, various news sources have reported. Police have informed the press that Inumaru left suicide notes to her mother, expressing trouble with her work.

The 48-year-old cartoonist leapt from the roof on Sept. 10, 2006, landing on the roof of a five-story building below. She died of her injury shortly after the fall.

Inumaru, who lived on the seventh floor of the apartment building, was found by a neighbor, who responded after hearing a loud sound.

OJARUMARU, which is also known as PRINCE MACKAROO, was adapted into an animated TV series, which began airing in 1998, running for 630 episodes on government network NHK. Recently, the network commissioned another 270 episodes. In 200, SUMMER OF PROMISES, a 30-minute theatrical film based on the series, was released.

The story chronicled the adventures of a five-year-old boy from 1,000 years in the past who is transported to present day Japan.

Inumaru also wrote children's picture storybooks and novels.