Via livedoor: Osamu Kobayashi, an animation director and illustrator who worked on “BECK” and “NARUTO Shippuden”, has passed away from kidney cancer on 17th April 2021 at 57 years old. His Twitter account — which had been inactive since January 2021, has posted an announcement regarding his passing.

An unofficial translation follows:

I, Osamu Kobayashi, 57, have left for heaven last night.
I’ve been fighting kidney cancer for two years, but unfortunately, I’m exhausted…
I regret that I still have things I wanted to do and works I wanted to create.
I’m sure I’ll be reborn and create good works!
Adios. From the eternal 23-years-old.

Repose en paix.