TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japanese manga artist Kazuo Umezu, known for horror pieces like "Hyoryu Kyoshitsu" (The Drifting Classroom) and his signature red-and-white-striped shirt, has died in Tokyo, publisher Shogakukan Inc. said Tuesday. He was 88.

Umezu, who died on Oct. 28, had been undergoing treatment for stomach cancer, it said.

A native of Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, Umezu grew up in the neighboring Nara Prefecture and started drawing cartoons in the fourth grade of elementary school.

He made his debut during high school and released horror manga such as "Hebi Shojo" (Reptilia) and "Nekome Kozo" (Cat Eyed Boy) in the 1960s.

He won Shogakukan's manga award in 1975 for works including "The Drifting Classroom" series, which depicts elementary school students traveling in time to the devastated future world.

Aside from his horror pieces, his "Makoto-chan" gag strip series became a social phenomenon, with kids nationwide imitating the iconic "gwash" hand gesture of the main character, kindergartener Makoto Sawada, by folding their middle and pinky fingers.

The science fiction comic "Watashi wa Shingo" (My Name is Shingo), featuring a robot that develops emotions, was given the Heritage Award in 2018 at the Angouleme International Comics Festival, one of the largest comic festivals in Europe.

Umezu was also a popular TV personality, typically appearing in his trademark shirt. In 2007, he made news by painting his house in red and white stripes, sparking protests from some local residents who felt it clashed with the serene aesthetic of their Tokyo neighborhood.