There are people whose dedication to work speaks louder than any tribute. Ritsuhiro Mikami, a mangaka known for series like Bakuroku, World End: Debugger, and I Failed to Be Reincarnated as a Villainess and Became the Triumphant Heroine, passed away on April 17, 2026 due to an illness. He had the second half of a special one-shot for the first anniversary of one of his completed series pending, leaving the manuscript nearly finished, with only a few pages left to complete.

The editorial department of FLOS COMIC was the first to share the news, describing Mikami as someone with a bright personality full of energy, comparing him to the sun for his positive attitude even during his medical treatment. They noted that despite his condition, he continued creating 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 his debut in the industry, also published a tribute highlighting his work on Bakuroku and World End: Debugger. They expressed sadness over his passing at a young age and thanked him for his contributions to the medium.

Mikami’s family shared a statement through official channels confirming his passing in the early hours of April 17. They thanked the support of the editors who accompanied him, the colleagues who shared his friendship, and the readers who loved his work. They described Mikami as a hardworking and passionate artist, whose kindness and creations brought smiles to many people. In their words, they feel he continues to smile and draw the images he loved so much, and hope his works will continue to be appreciated.

About Ritsuhiro Mikami

Ritsuhiro Mikami was a mangaka whose career included several titles distributed across different publishing platforms. He debuted through Zero-Sum with works like Bakuroku and World End: Debugger. Later, he 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, the original novel by Teiru Yuzuhara, and the manga Momotaro-kun Won’t Listen to What He’s Told. Those who knew him in the industry remember not only his work but also his presence: someone who, according to testimonials from his editors and family, brought joy to his surroundings until the end.