Born: 30 January 1920, Japan
Died: 27 May 1992
Country most active: Japan
Also known as: 長谷川町子
The following bio was written by Emma Rosen, author of On This Day She Made History: 366 Days With Women Who Shaped the World and This Day In Human Ingenuity & Discovery: 366 Days of Scientific Milestones with Women in the Spotlight, and has been republished with permission.
Machiko Hasegawa (長谷川町子) was a pioneering Japanese manga artist best known for creating the popular comic strip “Sazae-san” in 1946. Her work achieved national circulation in 1949 and ran daily until her retirement in 1974. In addition to the most famous Sazae-san (サザエさん, 1946–1974), Hasegawa also published Ijiwaru Bā-san (いじわるばあさん, “Granny Mischief”, 1966–1971), and Epuron Oba-san (エプロンおばさん, “Aunt Apron,” 1957–1965) which were also much liked and popular. Hasegawa’s comics were characterized by a consistent four-panel layout that became a standard in the industry. She never married and lived with her sister Mariko, with whom she co-founded the Shimaisha Publishing Company. Hasegawa received numerous awards during her career, including Japan’s Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon in 1982. She died in 1992.