Puppet animation producer Kawamoto dies

Puppet animation producer Kawamoto dies

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken in March 2006 shows Japan's leading puppet animation producer Kihachiro Kawamoto, who died of pneumonia on Aug. 23, 2010, at the age of 85.

Puppet animation producer Kawamoto dies

Puppet animation producer Kawamoto dies

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken in March 2007 shows Japan's leading puppet animation producer Kihachiro Kawamoto (R) and a puppet of Zhuge Liang, a figure in the NHK series ''Sangokushi'' (The Romance of the Three Kingdoms). Kawamoto died of pneumonia on Aug. 23, 2010, at the age of 85.

Kihachiro Kawamoto

Kihachiro Kawamoto

Kihachiro Kawamoto, doll animation cartoonist (photo taken on March 03, 2006)

Puppet animation producer Kawamoto dies

Puppet animation producer Kawamoto dies

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken in March 2007 shows Japan's leading puppet animation producer Kihachiro Kawamoto (R) and a puppet of Zhuge Liang, a figure in the NHK series ''Sangokushi'' (The Romance of the Three Kingdoms). Kawamoto died of pneumonia on Aug. 23, 2010, at the age of 85. (Kyodo)

Puppet animation producer Kawamoto dies

Puppet animation producer Kawamoto dies

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken in March 2006 shows Japan's leading puppet animation producer Kihachiro Kawamoto, who died of pneumonia on Aug. 23, 2010, at the age of 85. (Kyodo)

Ueno Park

Ueno Park

In 1717, the 8th Shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune planted 100 cherry trees along the Mukojima riverbank, and the spot became popular for cherry blossom viewing. In 1883, when Okura Kihachiro planted an additional 1,000 trees here, the riverbank became full of cherry blossoms. Many simple teahouses were built along the riverbank for the use of visitors.==Date:unknown, Place:Tokyo, Photo:unknown, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number47‐8‐0]