At the end of the Sino-Japanese War, Chiba's family lived in the attic of a work-acquaintance of his father until they could find a way to get back to Japan. In 1956 while still in high school, Chiba wrote Fukushuu no Semushi Otoko for a publisher that produced rental books and was paid ¥12,315. In 1958, he made his professional debut in Shoujo Book with Butoukai no Shōjo. In the 60s, he wrote shounen and shoujo manga at the same time. He won the Shogakukan Manga Award in 1977. Won the Kodansha 100th Anniversary Commemoration special prize in 2009.

He was the chairman of Japan Cartoonists Association from 2012 to 2018.

CHIBA Akio & NAMI Taro are his younger brothers. His wife is CHIBA Yukiko.

Among his assistants there were KAWA Sanbanchi, KURATA Yoshimi, NAGATOSHI Yasunari, MASAOKA Toshiya, UMEMOTO Sachio, ISHII Sadayoshi, MURAO Tadayoshi & ABE Ritsuko.