There are
people whose dedication to work speaks louder than any tribute. Ritsuhiro
Mikami, a mangaka known for series such as Bakuroku, World
End: Debugger, and I Failed to Be Reincarnated as a Villainess
and Became the Triumphant Heroine, died on April 17, 2026 after
an illness. He had the second half of a special one-shot pending for the first
anniversary of one of his completed series, and left the manuscript almost
finished, with only a few pages to complete.
The
editorial department of FLOS COMIC was the first to share the
news, describing Mikami as someone with a bright and energetic personality,
whom they compared to the sun for his positive attitude even during his medical
treatment. They noted that despite his condition, he continued to create manga
with the same passion as always and that plans to publish the remaining pages
of the one-shot will be announced in the future.
The
editorial department of Zero-Sum, through which Mikami made her
debut in the industry, also published a tribute highlighting her work on Bakuroku and World
End: Debugger. They expressed their sadness at his departure at a young age
and thanked him for his contributions to the medium.
Mikami's
family shared a statement through official channels confirming his death in the
early hours of April 17. They thanked the support of the editors who
accompanied him, the colleagues who shared their friendship and the readers who
loved his work. They described Mikami as someone who was hardworking and
passionate about drawing, whose kindness and creations brought smiles to many
people. In his words, they feel that he continues to smile and draw the images
he loved so much, and they hope that his works will continue to be appreciated.
About
Ritsuhiro Mikami
Ritsuhiro
Mikami was a
mangaka whose career included several titles distributed among different
publishing platforms. He debuted through Zero-Sum with works
such as Bakuroku and World End: Debugger. He later
worked with FLOS COMIC on more recent projects, including the
adaptation of I Failed to Be Reincarnated as a Villainess and Became
the Triumphant Heroine, an original novel by Teiru Yuzuhara,
and the Momotaro-kun manga Won't Listen to What He's Told. Those
who knew him in the medium remember not only his work but also his presence:
someone who, according to the testimonies of his editors and family, brought
joy to the environment around him until the end.
