It reached national circulation via the Asahi Shimbun in 1949,[2] and ran daily until Hasegawa decided to retire in February 1974.

[3] She successfully published several in magazines and newspapers, such as Sazae-san (サザエさん, 1946–1974),[4] Ijiwaru Bā-san (いじわるばあさん, "Granny Mischief", 1966–1971),[5] Epuron Oba-san (エプロンおばさん, "Aunt Apron", 1957–1965),[6] and a few that only ran for a short while.

Towards the end of her life she stopped appearing in public and on television, and her death was kept a secret for 35 days after her private funeral as requested in her will.

As a result of this case, new copyright laws were established that extended protection for fictional characters as individual identities, not just within their series of origin.

[10] She was the first female manga artist to receive Japan's Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon in 1982.