The manga industry is mourning the loss of Shin'ichi Abe, who passed away on September 4 at the age of 76. His son, musician Kōsei Abe, confirmed the news on Sunday, noting that the artist had been battling submandibular gland cancer. A private funeral service has already been held for the family.
Abe first entered the professional manga scene in 1970 with Yasashii Hito, establishing a career that spanned decades and left a distinct mark on the medium. He was perhaps best known for his contributions to the influential alternative manga anthology AX and his poignant work That Miyoko Asagaya Feeling.
His legacy continues to reach international readers through publishers like Glacier Bay Books, which handles the English-language release of That Miyoko Asagaya Feeling. The title earned significant critical recognition in 2020 when it was nominated for a Will Eisner Comic Industry Award in the Best Archival Collection/Project—Comic Books category. Beyond his print work, Abe's storytelling also saw adaptation, most notably in a 2009 live-action film project.
