[Obituary] Manga Artist Ritsuhiro Mikami Passes Away; Editors Pay Tribute to His “Bright, Sun-Like Personality”

Manga artist Ritsuhiro Mikami passed away on April 17, 2026. The announcement was made through official X (formerly Twitter) accounts operated by the FLOS COMIC Editorial Department and the Zero-Sum Editorial Department. A statement from Mikami’s family was also posted on the artist’s official X account.

In a written statement titled “Notice of the Passing of Ritsuhiro Mikami”, FLOS COMIC expressed its condolences to readers:

“Thank you for your continued support of FLOS COMIC. We regret to inform you that manga artist Ritsuhiro Mikami, who serialized I Failed to Be Reincarnated as a Villainess and Became the Triumphant Heroine (original story by Teiru Yuzuhara) in our publication, passed away on April 17, 2026.”

The editorial department revealed that Mikami had been battling an illness, stating:
“Despite undergoing medical treatment, he always remained cheerful and possessed a bright, sun-like personality. He continued to devote himself passionately to creating manga until the very end. He even completed nearly all of the manuscript for the second half of the one-shot commemorating the first anniversary of the series’ conclusion, leaving only a few pages unfinished.”

The statement added that details regarding the publication of the second half and other future plans would be announced at a later date.
“We would like to express our deepest gratitude for his many accomplishments and mourn his untimely passing. Everyone at the editorial department sincerely prays for his peaceful rest.”

The Zero-Sum Editorial Department also released a tribute:
“On April 17, 2026, Ritsuhiro Mikami passed away. He made his debut through our company and later contributed many wonderful works, including Bakuroku and World End: Debugger. We are deeply saddened by the news of his passing at such a young age. We once again express our respect and gratitude for his achievements and offer our heartfelt prayers for his repose. We also extend our deepest condolences to his family.”

A message from Mikami’s family was posted on his official X account:
“We regret to inform you that manga artist Ritsuhiro Mikami passed away in the early morning of April 17, 2026, following a battle with illness. We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the editors who supported him, the fellow creators who shared friendships with him, and the readers who loved and supported his works.”
The family also reflected on his character:

“He was one of the hardest-working people we knew and truly loved drawing. His kindness and his works brought smiles to many people. Even now, we feel as though he is still smiling in his own way and continuing to draw the pictures he loved so much. We hope the works he left behind will continue to be cherished by everyone. Once again, we sincerely thank you for all the kindness and support shown to him during his lifetime.”

Mikami was known for works including I Failed to Be Reincarnated as a Villainess and Became the Triumphant Heroine: Giving Up on a Family Ending with the Villainess’s Brother and Aiming for a Lover Ending (original story by Teiru Yuzuhara) and Momotaro-kun Won’t Listen to What He’s Told.

Source : ORICON NEWS