The official website for Nakayoshi announced on March 14 that Mia Ikumi, one of the two authors behind mahou shoujo (magical girls) manga series Tokyo Mew Mew, passed away on March 7, 2022.
Nakayoshi (owned by Kodansha) is the shoujo magazine that published the Tokyo Mew Mew manga from 2000 to 2003. Tokyo Mew Mew, like many other manga series, was made by a duo of mangaka: the author Reiko Yoshida, and the 2nd author + illustrator Mia Ikumi.
Tokyo Mew Mew illustrator Mia Ikumi passes away from subarachnoid hemorrhage
Nakayoshi announced that Mia Ikumi passed away due to subarachnoid hemorrhage on March 7, 2022. Mia Ikumi was 42 years old. A funeral was already held with her close relatives. Nakayoshi's editors and staff offered their prayers and condolences.
Mia Ikumi debuted as a mangaka in 1998 with the manga Super Doll Licca-chan, a manga based on Licca-chan. An iconic doll in Japanese culture, made by toy manufacturer Takara (now Takara Tomy). Licca-chan was first released in 1967 and was created by Miyako Maki, one of the most influential shoujo mangaka of all time and the first-ever woman to write manga for a mature audience. Miyako Maki is also the wife of Leiji Matsumoto. The fact that Mia Ikumi was entrusted with a project as iconic as a Licca-chan manga shows how talented she was even during her debut.
Tokyo Mew Mew was Mai Ikumi's masterpiece and her most popular manga, most notably thanks to its anime adaptation in 2002. Tokyo Mew Mew is one of the most popular magical girl shows of the early 2000s, and it was aired in several countries outside Japan, most notably in Europe and in France.
Mia Ikumi supervised the upcoming Tokyo Mew Mew New anime reboot
The Tokyo Mew Mew anime is getting a new reboot titled Tokyo Mew Mew New, planned for July 2022. Nakayoshi explained that Mia Ikumi was supervising the reboot's production for over two years now, and was looking forward to its release. The anime's production will continue, inheriting her wishes.
The original Tokyo Mew Mew manga also got a special perfect edition reprint announced in February 2022 in Japan, to celebrate the anime reboot. Mia Ikumi personally drew new illustration covers for all 10 volumes of this new edition.
Before the anime reboot, story writer Reiko Yoshida and illustrator Mia Ikumi also released in 2020 a oneshot manga titled Tokyo Mew Mew 2020 Re-Turn.
The Tokyo Mew Mew New reboot was first announced in April 2020, with the first trailer, cast, staff, and key visuals revealed in 2021. While time didn't permit me to cover it, a special announcement showcase and stage greeting with the cast also happened on February 22, 2022. You can watch it on YouTube below.
We offer our sincere condolences to the family of Mia Ikumi.